The UHP lamp (ultra high pressure lamp, usually mercury arc) refers to projector lamps with an internal pressure of over 3000 lbs per square inch. The acronym also stands for ultra high performance. Originally developed by Philips in 1995, it is a common light source for digital data / video front projectors and rear projection televisions because it has very high light output available for the small environments of micro display projectors.

The main characteristics of UHP lamps designed for most digital projection applications are:

- Short arc
- Very high luminance
- Long lamp life
- High luminous efficacy
- Precise color spectrum
- Optimized reflector configuration

UHP lamps are light sources that combine high arc luminance (> 1Gcd/m^2), a long lifetime (2000 - 4000 hours) and a low loss of lumens during that life. The high luminance is achieved by using highly pressurized (>200 bar) mercury vapor as a discharge medium at high power densities of, for example, 120W into an 1.2mm arc gap. High mercury (Hg) pressure also results in improved color characteristics of the light source.

Fundamental for the correct performance of these lamps is the stability of the arc length, the correct dosing of the materials used inside the lamp and the quality of the materials. The electrode distance is kept stable during lifetime by a regenerative chemical cycle which uses oxygen and bromine to transport evaporated tungsten back to the electrodes. This cycle keeps the quartz wall clean which also helps maintain thermal balance.

UHP lamps have to be operated with care because of extremely high temperatures (inner bulb reaches about 1000 degrees C) and the fact that they are operated under high pressure. These lamps also generate ultraviolet (UV) radiation.

UHP lamps (the bulb only, not including the cage and connectors often part of projector replacement module) contain the following materials: mercury, fused quartz, tungsten insoluable compound, molybdenum insoluable compound. If the lamp is broken these materials may be released. Mercury is the material of concern since it is highly toxic. Spent lamps should be treated as toxic waste and preferrably recycled.

Manufacturers of high pressure discharge lamps include:

Iwasaki (HSCR)
Osram (P-VIP)
Panasonic, Matsushita (HS)
Philips (UHP)
Phoenix (SHP)
Ushio (NSH)

For a more detailed discussion of Philips UHP lamp technology download: UHP Lamps for Projection Systems, Pekarski, et al.

List of Philips UHP lamps (current as of 11/2008):

UHP 100W 1.0 E23
UHP 100W 1.0 P22
UHP 100W 1.3 P22.5 (to be phased out)
UHP 100W 1.3 P23
UHP 120W 1.0 E23
UHP 120W 1.0 P21
UHP 120W 1.0 P21.5
UHP 120W 1.0 P22 (to be phased out)
UHP 120W 1.0 P23
UHP 120W 1.3 E19 (to be phased out)
UHP 120W 1.3 P21.5
UHP 120W 1.3 P22
UHP 120W 1.3 P23 (round front glass)
UHP 120W 1.3 P23 (square front glass)
UHP 100W/120W 1.0 P22
UHP 100W/120W 1.3 P23
UHP 100W/120W 1.0 E19.8
UHP 100W/120W 1.0 E22
UHP 100W/120W 1.0 E23
UHP 120W/132W 1.0 E19
UHP 120W/132W 1.0 E22
UHP 120W/132W 1.0 P22
UHP 132W 1.0 E17
UHP 132W 1.0 E19 (to be phased out)
UHP 132W 1.0 P21
UHP 132W 1.0 P21.5
UHP 132W 1.0 P22
UHP 150W 1.0 P19.5
UHP 150W 1.0 P21.5
UHP 150W 1.0 P22
UHP 150W 1.3 P22
UHP 150W 1.3 P23
UHP 170W 1.0 E19.5
UHP 180W/150W 1.0 E21.8
UHP 180W-160W 1.0 E22
UHP 180W-160W 1.0 P22
UHP 180W 1.0 P22
UHP 180W-150W 1.0 E20.6.
UHP 185W-150W 1.0 E20.6
UHP 200W-150W 1.0 E19
UHP 200W-150W 1.0 E19.5
UHP 200W-150W 1.0 E20.6
UHP 200W-170W 1.0 E20.6
UHP 200W-150W 1.0 E19
UHP 200W-150W 1.0 E20.6
UHP 200W-170W 1.0 E19
UHP 220W-150W 1.0 E19.5
UHP 220W-160W 1.0 E19
UHP 220W-170W 1.0 E19
UHP 220W-170W 1.0 E20.6
UHP 220W-150W 1.0 E19.5
UHP 220W-170W 1.0 E19
UHP 220W-170W 1.0 E20.6
UHP 220W-180W 1.0 E19.
UHP 200W 1,3 P22
UHP 200W 1.0 E17.8
UHP 200W 1.0 E19
UHP 200W 1.0 E19.5
UHP 200W 1.0 P21.5
UHP 200W 1.0 P22
UHP 200W 1.3 P22
UHP 200W 1.3 P22.5
UHP 200W 1.5 P22
UHP 200W 1.5 P23.
UHP 250W 1.3 E21.8
UHP 250W 1.35 E21.8
UHP 250W 1.35 P22
UHP 250W 1.35 P22.5
UHP 260W-220W 1.0
UHP 260W-220W 1.0 E20.6
UHP 280W-245W 1.1 E21.7
UHP 300W-250W 1.3 E21.8
UHP 300W 1.3 E21.6
UHP 300W-250W 1.3 E21.8  

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