Imagine a wireless, glowing globe hovering inside another glass globe, as a floor lamp or hanging over your dining room table. The inner, spherical, induction bulb emits light when excited by the outer sphere's electromagnetic field, while floating in a low-density liquid.

The induction 'bulb' is coated on the inside with fluorescent phosphors. The outer globe has an induction coil as a thin, insulated band, wrapped horizontally or vertically on its perimeter, and allows for expansion of its liquid contents.

An advantageous effect is the movement of the radiant orb as heat initiates currents around it. Shifting within the electromagnetic field, its light would softly shimmer, aurorally.
-- FarmerJohn, Feb 21 2003

Induction Lamps http://www.pseg.com...ting/induction.html
The technology for electrode-less lamps exists, but I can't find if anyone has made them float yet. [DrCurry, Oct 04 2004, last modified Oct 21 2004]

wooden lightbulb http://mashable.com...2/wooden-lightbulb/
[theircompetitor, May 23 2012]

Aurora http://en.wikipedia...rora_%28aircraft%29
[not_morrison_rm, May 23 2012]

Woooooo. Sharper Image?
-- FloridaManatee, Feb 21 2003


Is there anything you can't think of? Pastry coming at ya.
-- Zircon, Feb 21 2003


I was first thinking of having the orb on a shelf-like track (EM field generated at the contact point) along the wall, to roll the light to where it is needed.
-- FarmerJohn, Feb 21 2003


I like the way your brain works. (+)
-- 2 fries shy of a happy meal, Feb 21 2003


I want one.
-- Worldgineer, Feb 21 2003


I knew who wrote this by the middle of the first paragraph. I like this orb, although I don't really understand how it works. Not that the idea is poorly explained; I'm just a dim bulb.
-- snarfyguy, Feb 21 2003


Sorry, in a existing induction lamps the coil is in the bulb. Its EM field excites mercury in the gas fill causing UV radiation. The UV causes the phosphors to emit light, similar to fluorescent lighting.

In this case the lamp is just a sphere with the gas fill and phosphor coating, and the coil is on the outer sphere.
-- FarmerJohn, Feb 21 2003


Could set the mood for auroral sex, whatever that is.
-- bristolz, Feb 21 2003


What the Eskimos get up to in that long Arctic night, I would imagine.
-- DrCurry, Feb 21 2003


Aurora Orbealis?

//auroral sex//
Includes listening and talking? Nah, that'd surely never work.
-- half, Feb 21 2003


Mineral oil is inert in RF fields. Just try warming some up in a microwave oven. The orb could float in that if the glass is thick enough to weigh it down. It would be tricky to balance, I think.

Now to pump enough energy into the coil to light up the orb while meeting FCC emission requirements. Sounds tough.
-- bradbits, Jul 16 2003


If you'd turn the outside sphere into a standing cylinder, and add multiple inner spheres (with different diameters), could you create an auroral lava lamp?
-- Forthur, May 23 2006


Why stop there .. make a whole wall of it!
-- kuupuuluu, May 23 2006


Ahh, not anything to do with certain black project plane? Oh well, I'll just have to satisfied with my SR-71 lava lamp for now.

Or "An aura" lamp, mit zer Kirlian aura?
-- not_morrison_rm, May 23 2012



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