NON-ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES USING LUMINESCENCE; LIGHT SOURCES USING ELECTROCHEMILUMINESCENCE; LIGHT SOURCES USING CHARGES OF COMBUSTIBLE MATERIAL; LIGHT SOURCES USING SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES AS LIGHT-GENERATING ELEMENTS; LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

Introduced: September 1968

Classification Context

Section:: MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
Class:: LIGHTING
Subclass:: NON-ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES USING LUMINESCENCE; LIGHT SOURCES USING ELECTROCHEMILUMINESCENCE; LIGHT SOURCES USING CHARGES OF COMBUSTIBLE MATERIAL; LIGHT SOURCES USING SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES AS LIGHT-GENERATING ELEMENTS; LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

Description

Subclass F21K encompasses non-electric and alternative light sources including luminescent materials, electrochemiluminescent systems, combustion-based lighting, and semiconductor light-emitting devices. This classification covers light generation technologies that do not rely on traditional electric filament or gas discharge methods, such as phosphorescent paints, chemiluminescent reactions, LED and laser diodes, and flame-based lighting systems. It serves as a residual category for innovative light sources that do not fit established classifications within the broader F21 lighting section. Adjacent classes in F21 cover electric incandescent lamps (F21B), fluorescent and discharge lamps (F21C/D), and electric lamp details and accessories (F21V/S).

Scope Notes

Glossary: Light source Light sources The entity (e.g. light bulb, gas mantle, combustible charge) that generates light for a lighting device.

4 direct subcodes

Child Classifications

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F21K 2/00 Non-electric light sources using luminescence; Light sources using electrochemiluminescence
F21K 5/00 Light sources using charges of combustible material, e.g. illuminating flash devices
F21K 9/00 Light sources using semiconductor devices as light-generating elements, e.g. using light-emitting diodes [LED] or lasers
F21K 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass