Abstract:
A surface mountable miniature incandescent lamp assembly has an elongated substantially cylindrical glass envelope (20) wherein a filament (22) is contained in contact with metal members (26) and (36) having glass-to-metal seals with the glass envelope (20). A substantial portion of the outer surface of the glass envelope (20) is coated with a light reflective metal coating (50), with a non-coated elongated window (52) transparent to light being left on the surface. The metal members (26) and (36) extend axially to the outside from the envelope and, when mounted to a circuit board provide electric contact for the lamp. At least one of the end members includes a unique surface feature, such as a flat portion (54) of an otherwise cylindrical surface, which is directionally coupled relative to the window (52) of the glass envelope (20) and which acts as a key or indexing surface for mounting the lamp assembly to the receiving surface (circuit board) with the window (52) disposed in the desired direction.