JPH10123516A - Fluorescent discharge lamp device and display device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a fluorescent discharge lamp device which is tough and is easy to handle. SOLUTION: This fluorescent discharge lamp device (BLU) is constituted by embedding a fluorescent discharge lamp 2 into a molded transparent silicone rubber lump (1). The direct application of external force, such as twist and bending, on the fluorescent discharge lamp is averted by the elasticity of the silicone rubber lump, by which the destruction of the vessel of the fluorescent discharge lamp is substantially prevented. Even in case of the destruction, the fluorescent discharge lamp is embedded in the silicone rubber lump and, therefore, the dissipation of the mercury vapor into the atm. is prohibited by the sealability of the silicone rubber lump. Since the silicone rubber lump constitutes a structural body as a casing to elastically support the fluorescent discharge lamp, the number of the parts of the fluorescent discharge lamp device is drastically decreased.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a fluorescent discharge lamp device excellent in safety and ease of handling, and a display device using the fluorescent discharge lamp device as a backlight unit.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art At present, fluorescent discharge lamps are frequently used for backlights of liquid crystal display devices, and are mounted on various electronic circuit devices such as facsimile, video integrated camera, portable information terminal, word processor, and personal computer. At this time, since the fluorescent discharge lamp is provided as it is by filling mercury vapor into a straight tube or a flat glass container provided with a discharge electrode, if the fluorescent discharge lamp is incorporated in the device, the fluorescent discharge lamp is attached. The structure is required to be a structure in which the container is not easily broken, and also requires careful attention when assembling. Otherwise, the container of the fluorescent discharge lamp is easily destroyed, and the mercury vapor inside dissipates into the atmosphere.

[0003] A backlight unit of a liquid crystal display device has, for example, a structure in which a fluorescent discharge lamp is attached to a side of a light guide plate disposed on the back of the liquid crystal display device, and a diffuser plate or the like is attached to the surface of the light guide plate. You. Further, a plurality of fluorescent discharge lamps are mounted on a casing formed on the back surface of the liquid crystal display device, and a diffusion plate is provided on the surface thereof to constitute a backlight unit. Then, such a structure is fixed to the liquid crystal display device via the coupling component.

[0004]

However, when the fluorescent discharge lamp provided with the glass container exposed is mounted on a backlight unit or the like and used, there are various problems by the present inventor. Revealed.
First, there is a limit to how the mechanical structure for attaching the fluorescent discharge lamp can destroy the container. Second, since the fluorescent discharge lamp, the diffusion plate, and the like are separate components and must be assembled integrally, the number of components for obtaining the structure of the backlight unit increases, and the cost increases. . Thirdly, it is expected that the fluorescent lamp will be almost broken by unreasonable handling before the fluorescent lamp mounted on the discarded electronic circuit device is finally disposed of.
Environmental pollution due to mercury vapor cannot be ignored.

An object of the present invention is to provide a fluorescent lamp device which is robust and easy to handle. Another object of the present invention is to provide a fluorescent discharge lamp device that can contribute to simplifying the structure of a backlight unit used for a liquid crystal display device or the like and reducing the number of components. Still another object of the present invention is to provide a fluorescent discharge lamp device that can contribute to prevention of environmental pollution due to mercury vapor.

The above and other objects and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the description of the present specification and the accompanying drawings.

[0007]

The following is a brief description of an outline of a typical invention among the inventions disclosed in the present application.

That is, the fluorescent discharge lamp device is configured such that a fluorescent discharge lamp is embedded in a molded transparent silicone rubber block, and an operating power supply conductor of the fluorescent discharge lamp is exposed outside the silicon rubber block. It is. An external force such as twisting or bending is not directly applied to the fluorescent discharge lamp embedded in the silicon rubber lump due to the elasticity of the silicon rubber lump, thereby alleviating the destruction of the fluorescent discharge lamp container. Even if it is destroyed, the fluorescent lamp is embedded in the silicon rubber mass, so that the sealing properties of the silicon rubber mass prevent the mercury vapor from being emitted into the atmosphere.

Further, since the silicon rubber mass covering the fluorescent discharge lamp also has a heat retaining function of the lamp, the starting characteristics of the fluorescent discharge lamp in a low-temperature atmosphere can be improved.

Further, since the silicon rubber mass forms a structure as a casing that elastically supports the fluorescent discharge lamp,
The number of components of the fluorescent discharge lamp device can be significantly reduced.

[0011] For use in planar light emission using a specific surface of the silicon rubber mass as a light emitting surface, it is preferable to cover the remaining surface with a reflection member so that one surface of the silicon rubber mass serves as a radiation surface. At this time, if the silicon rubber block is formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, and the reflection member is formed as a box so as to serve also as a molding die of the silicon rubber block, the reflection member supplements the mechanical strength of the silicon rubber block, Also, the manufacture of the fluorescent discharge lamp device is facilitated.

In order to make the planar light emission uniform, the radiation surface of the silicon rubber block can be subjected to irregular reflection processing for suppressing the amount of light emitted from directly above the fluorescent discharge lamp and for diffusing the emitted light. Thereby, the number of components such as a diffusion plate for making the planar light emission uniform can be reduced. When the function of the diffusion plate or the like is obtained integrally with the silicon rubber mass, light is undesirably refracted or absorbed by the air layer interposed between the diffusion plate and the diffusion plate when the diffusion plate is used. Radiation loss can be reduced.

The above-described fluorescent discharge lamp device specializing in planar light emission is most suitable for a backlight unit of a liquid crystal display device. Since such a fluorescent discharge lamp device has a small number of components and the fluorescent discharge lamp is sufficiently protected by a silicon rubber block, it is easy to mount the fluorescent discharge lamp device on a liquid crystal display device. In addition, an electronic circuit device employing the liquid crystal display device can exhibit high environmental preservation from the viewpoint of preventing mercury from escaping.

[0014]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a fluorescent discharge lamp device BLU according to an example of the present invention. In the figure, what is indicated by 1 is a molded transparent silicone rubber lump. The silicon rubber lump 1 has, for example, a rectangular parallelepiped shape, and a cold cathode type fluorescent discharge lamp 2 embedded therein, for example, and a lead wire 3 for supplying operating power to the fluorescent discharge lamp 2 is provided on one end surface of the silicon rubber lump 1. , 4 are exposed. In this example, the fluorescent discharge lamp 2 has a glass tube 5 bent in a U-shape, a phosphor film is provided on the inner peripheral surface thereof, the inside of the glass tube 5 is filled with mercury vapor, and Both ends of the tube 5 are sealed with glass stems 6,7. Glass stems 6 and 7 have lead wires 3 and 3, respectively.
A discharge electrode (not shown) that is electrically connected to No. 4 is supported.

The silicone rubber lump 1 is, for example, a so-called RTV (Room Temperature), which is formed by reacting a polymer having a predetermined reactive group at a terminal at room temperature to extend and crosslink a molecular chain to form an elastic body having a three-dimensional structure. Vulcanizatio
n) type silicone rubber, which is a two-part type in which the reaction proceeds by adding a catalyst, or a one-part type in which the reaction is started by the moist temperature in the air. Silicone rubber lump 1
The fluorescent discharge lamp can be formed by arranging the fluorescent discharge lamp in a mold and pouring the undiluted solution into the mold to react.

In FIG. 1, what is indicated by 8 is a box-shaped reflecting member also serving as the molding die, and the inner peripheral surface thereof is, for example, white. In a state where the silicon rubber lump 1 is accommodated in the box-shaped reflection member 8, the exposed surface of the silicon rubber lump 1 is used as the light emission surface 9.

In FIG. 1, what is indicated by reference numeral 10 is a lighting curtain plate superposed on the radiation surface 9. In the lighting curtain plate 10, a pattern 11 of fine lines or dots is formed in accordance with the U-shape of the fluorescent discharge lamp. The thin line or dot pattern 11 suppresses the amount of light transmitted from the fluorescent discharge lamp 2 immediately below, thereby reducing the deviation of the amount of emitted light.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 12 denotes a diffusion plate. The surface of the diffusion plate 12 is, for example, pear ground,
This is a member for diffusing light from below by diffuse reflection to make the emitted light uniform as a whole. The lighting curtain plate 11 and the diffusion plate 12 are formed of, for example, a thin resin plate.

FIG. 2 shows an assembled state of the fluorescent discharge lamp device BLU shown in the perspective view of FIG. The fluorescent discharge lamp device BLU shown in the figure is applied as a backlight unit of a relatively small liquid crystal display device LCDU. The fluorescent discharge lamp unit BLU is clamped and fixed to the liquid crystal display device LCDU by a pair of holders 13 and 14.

According to the fluorescent discharge lamp device BLU,
External forces such as twisting and bending are not directly applied to the fluorescent discharge lamp 2 embedded in the silicon rubber lump 1 due to the elasticity of the silicon rubber lump 1, thereby alleviating the destruction of the container 5 of the fluorescent discharge lamp 2. Is done. Even if the container 5 is broken, the fluorescent discharge lamp 2 is embedded in the silicon rubber lump 1, so that the mercury vapor is prevented from diffusing into the atmosphere by the sealing property of the silicon rubber lump 1. Therefore,
The risk of environmental pollution by mercury can also be prevented.

Since the filling gas of the fluorescent discharge lamp 2 does not leak outside similarly to the mercury vapor, even if the glass tube 5 of the lamp 2 is undesirably cracked or broken, the lamp 2 cannot be immediately turned on. do not become. As a result, even if an unexpected accident or the like in which the lamp 2 breaks is encountered, the light emitting function of the lamp 2 can be maintained, and an emergency can be dealt with. For example,
When the discharge lamp device BLU is used as an emergency light, the reliability of the emergency light at the time of disaster can be improved.
Further, when the discharge lamp device BLU is applied to a backlight unit of a liquid crystal display device, the reliability of the display function of an electronic circuit device equipped with the same can be similarly increased.

The silicone rubber mass 1 forms a structure as a casing that elastically supports the fluorescent discharge lamp 2,
Further, the box-shaped reflecting member 8 supplements the mechanical strength of the silicon rubber lump 1, so that the number of components of the fluorescent discharge lamp device BLU can be significantly reduced. Further, it can be integrated with the lighting curtain plate 11 and the diffusion plate 12 and the fluorescent discharge lamp device BLU can be assembled to the liquid crystal display device LCDU via a small number of connecting members such as the holders 13 and 14.

Further, since the silicon rubber lump 1 covering the fluorescent discharge lamp 2 also has a function of keeping the lamp 2 warm, the starting characteristics of the fluorescent discharge lamp 2 in a low-temperature atmosphere are improved.

FIG. 3 shows the lighting curtain plate 11.
2 is a perspective view of the silicon rubber lump 1 having the function of the diffusion plate 12. That is, the radiation surface 9 is formed on the matte surface 15 in the same manner as the diffusion plate 12, but in particular, the fluorescent discharge lamp 2
The diffused reflection in the region immediately above is increased, and the amount of transmitted light from that portion is suppressed, so that uniform light emission is obtained as a whole. The area where diffuse reflection is increased may have a denser satin finish than the other areas. Such a matte surface is prepared in advance by forming a press mold having a required matte putter, and when forming the silicone rubber lump 1, the surface is pressed with the press mold to form a matte pattern of the mold with silicon. What is necessary is just to transfer to the surface of the rubber lump 1. With this structure, it is possible to omit the lighting curtain plate 11 and the diffusion plate 12 necessary for obtaining uniform planar light emission in the fluorescent discharge lamp device BLU, and it is possible to further reduce the number of components of the backlight unit. Since the function of the diffusion plate and the like is obtained integrally with the silicon rubber lump 1, when the diffusion plate is used, light is undesirably refracted or absorbed by the air layer interposed between the diffusion plate and the diffusion plate. This can reduce the loss of emitted light.

FIGS. 4 to 7 show another example of the fluorescent discharge lamp 2 embedded in the silicon rubber lump 1. A plurality of fluorescent discharge lamps 2 are arranged in parallel as shown in FIG. 4 and arranged substantially along a diagonal line of the silicon rubber lump 1 as shown in FIG. One L-shaped bend may be embedded as illustrated, or two L-shaped bends may be embedded as illustrated in FIG. Furthermore, one or more fluorescent discharge lamps having other shapes can be embedded.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a case where the fluorescent discharge lamp device includes a driving circuit for driving the fluorescent discharge lamp. For example, the fluorescent discharge lamp 2 is driven to be driven in a cold cathode mode. The fluorescent discharge lamp device BLU includes the high-frequency inverter circuit 16 as the lighting drive circuit.

The casing 20 forming the outer shell of the fluorescent discharge lamp unit BLU comprises a storage section 21 for the silicon rubber block 1, a storage section 22 for the high frequency inverter circuit 16, and a lid section 23. The storage portion 21 of the silicon rubber lump 1 covers five surfaces except the radiation surface 9 of the silicon rubber lump 1, and each of the surfaces covering the five surfaces has a function as a reflecting member that reflects light from the fluorescent discharge lamp 2. Further, the storage section 21 can also serve as a mold for the silicon rubber lump 1 as described above. The storage section 22 of the high-frequency inverter circuit 16 is separated from the storage section 21 when the storage section 21 of the silicon rubber lump 1 also serves as a mold. FIG. 8 shows such a case. When the storage portion 21 of the silicon rubber lump 1 does not need to double as the molding die, the partition may be omitted. The output terminal of the high frequency inverter circuit 16 is electrically coupled to the lead wires 24, 25. The high frequency inverter circuit 16 is connected to a power supply circuit (not shown) via power supply lines 26 and 27. The lid portion 23 has a window 28 and is superimposed on the lighting curtain plate 11 and the diffusion plate 12 placed on the radiation surface 9 of the silicon rubber lump 1, and light is emitted from the window 28. Needless to say, the configuration shown in FIGS. 2 to 7 can be adopted also in the configuration shown in FIG.

Although the invention made by the inventor has been specifically described based on the embodiments, it is needless to say that the present invention is not limited thereto and can be variously modified without departing from the gist thereof. No. For example, the high frequency inverter circuit 16 shown in FIG. 8 may be embedded in the silicon rubber lump 1 together with the fluorescent discharge lamp 2. Generally, there is no problem because silicon rubber has excellent heat resistance. In particular, if it does so, the operation power supply line to the high frequency inverter circuit will be drawn from the silicon rubber block. Instead of directly leading the leads 3 and 4 from the silicon rubber lump 1, it is also possible to embed the lead in a state where the lead is coupled to the covering wire in advance, including the coupling portion, in the silicon lump. This can save the trouble of later covering such a joint portion with an insulating tube or the like for safety. Further, it is also possible to embed a pin or a hole to be connected to the female or male connector into the silicon rubber block together with the fluorescent discharge lamp in which the pin or the hole is connected to the lead wire in advance. This makes the fluorescent discharge lamp device easier to use.

Further, a prism plate may be used instead of the diffusion plate 12. The prism plate is for optimizing the directivity of the emitted light in the sense of increasing the amount of light traveling in a direction perpendicular to the radiation surface, and for example, a fine pitch such as 0.5 mm in the short side direction of the transparent plate. And a large number of triangular grooves are formed on the back surface.

Further, the fluorescent discharge lamp device is not limited to the case where it is applied to a backlight unit of a liquid crystal display device, and various other uses can be considered. For example, instead of a liquid crystal display device, it can be used as a unit for illuminating a sign or a nameplate, as an emergency light, or as a decorative lamp. Further, a fluorescent discharge lamp device having a structure in which a fluorescent discharge lamp is embedded in a molded and cured transparent silicon rubber lump, and a conductor for supplying operating power to the fluorescent discharge lamp is exposed on the surface of the silicon rubber lump. As a mold, a plurality of these can be combined and used as a light source of a lighting or an advertising light.
Because silicone rubber is rich in water repellency and heat resistance,
It can be used indoors and outdoors and can be used in relatively humid atmospheres, and its use will be widespread.

[0031]

According to the fluorescent discharge lamp device of the present invention, since the fluorescent discharge lamp is embedded in the molded transparent silicon rubber block, the fluorescent discharge lamp is twisted, bent, etc. by the elasticity of the silicon rubber block. The external force is not directly applied, so that the container of the fluorescent discharge lamp is hardly broken. Even if it is destroyed, the fluorescent lamp is embedded in the silicon rubber mass, so that the sealing properties of the silicon rubber mass prevent the mercury vapor from being emitted into the atmosphere.

Like the mercury vapor, the filling gas of the fluorescent discharge lamp does not leak to the outside, so that even if the lamp is undesirably broken, the lamp is not immediately turned off. As a result, the light emitting function of the lamp can be maintained even in the event of an accident such as the lamp breaking, and it is possible to respond to an emergency.

Also, since the silicon rubber mass forms a structure as a casing that elastically supports the fluorescent discharge lamp,
The number of components of the fluorescent discharge lamp device can be significantly reduced.

When the silicon rubber lump is partially covered with a reflecting member and the fluorescent discharge lamp device is used for planar light emission, if the reflecting member is a box type which also serves as a molding die of the silicon rubber lump, the reflecting member is The mechanical strength of the silicon rubber block is compensated, and the manufacture of the fluorescent discharge lamp device can be facilitated.

By performing the irregular reflection treatment for uniformizing the planar light emission on the radiation surface of the silicon rubber block, the number of components such as a diffusion plate for uniformizing the planar light emission can be reduced.

A fluorescent discharge lamp device specializing in planar light emission is most suitable for a backlight unit of a liquid crystal display device. Such a fluorescent discharge lamp device has a small number of parts, and the fluorescent discharge lamp is sufficiently protected by a silicon rubber block. Therefore, it is easy to attach the fluorescent discharge lamp device to the liquid crystal display device, and the electronic circuit device using such a liquid crystal display device can exhibit high environmental preservation from the viewpoint of preventing mercury from escaping. it can.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a fluorescent discharge lamp device according to an example of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view showing an assembled state of the fluorescent discharge lamp device shown in the perspective view of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a silicone rubber block having the functions of the lighting curtain plate and the diffusion plate.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an example in which a plurality of straight tube type fluorescent discharge lamps are embedded in parallel in a silicon rubber block.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an example in which a fluorescent discharge lamp is embedded substantially along a diagonal line of a silicon rubber lump.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing an example in which one L-shaped fluorescent discharge lamp is embedded in a silicon rubber lump 1;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing an example in which two L-shaped fluorescent discharge lamps are embedded in a silicon rubber lump 1;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a case where a fluorescent discharge lamp device includes a lighting drive circuit of the fluorescent discharge lamp.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Silicon rubber lump 2 Fluorescent discharge lamp 3, 4 Lead wire 5 Glass tube 8 Reflection member 9 Emission surface 10 Lighting curtain plate 11 Fine wire or dot pattern 12 Diffusion plate 13, 14 Holder 15 Pear ground 16 High frequency inverter circuit

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A fluorescent discharge lamp is embedded in a molded transparent silicone rubber mass, and an operating power supply conductor of the fluorescent discharge lamp is led out of the silicon rubber mass. Fluorescent discharge lamp device 2. The fluorescent discharge lamp device according to claim 1, wherein the other surface is covered with a reflecting member so that one surface of the silicon rubber block is used as a radiation surface. 3. The fluorescent discharge lamp according to claim 2, wherein the silicon rubber block has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, and the reflecting member is formed in a box shape and also serves as a mold for the silicon rubber block. apparatus. 4. The fluorescent discharge lamp device according to claim 3, wherein the radiating surface of the silicon rubber block is subjected to irregular reflection processing of light. 5. A display device comprising a fluorescent discharge lamp device according to claim 3 or 4 attached to a back surface of a liquid crystal display device with the radiation surface of the fluorescent discharge lamp device facing the liquid crystal display device. .