EP0054959A1 - Strahlungs-Fluoreszenzlampe - Google Patents

Strahlungs-Fluoreszenzlampe Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0054959A1
EP0054959A1 EP81110674A EP81110674A EP0054959A1 EP 0054959 A1 EP0054959 A1 EP 0054959A1 EP 81110674 A EP81110674 A EP 81110674A EP 81110674 A EP81110674 A EP 81110674A EP 0054959 A1 EP0054959 A1 EP 0054959A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
anode
cathode
fill material
envelope
ultraviolet radiation
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP81110674A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
Joseph M. Proud
Robert K. Smith
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Verizon Laboratories Inc
Original Assignee
GTE Laboratories Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by GTE Laboratories Inc filed Critical GTE Laboratories Inc
Publication of EP0054959A1 publication Critical patent/EP0054959A1/de
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01J—ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS
    • H01J63/00—Cathode-ray or electron-stream lamps
    • H01J63/06—Lamps with luminescent screen excited by the ray or stream

Definitions

  • This invention relates to compact fluorescent lamps and, more particularly, to a fluorescent lamp wherein an electron beam causes discharge in a relatively field-free discharge region.
  • incandescent lamps are inexpensive and convenient to use, they are considerably less efficient than fluorescent lamps. Typically, incandescent lamps produce light with an efficacy of less than 20 lumens per watt of electrical input power, whereas fluorescent lamps typically produce 80 lumens per watt.
  • fluorescent lamps have been optimized for overhead lighting in the form of elongated straight tubes and circular tubes. The straight tubes require application of power to both ends.
  • fluorescent lamps require a ballast circuit to limit operating current. Thus, fluorescent lamps are not well adapted to many lighting needs presently met by the incandescent lamp. Numerous attempts have been made to provide a fluorescent lamp having the general configuration of an incandescent lamp. Such fluorescent lamps have been known as compact fluorescent lamps or incandescent replacements.
  • an electrodeless compact fluorescent lamp is disclosed by Hollistar in U. S. Patent No. 4,010,400, issued March 1, 1977.
  • a discharge lamp having the outer shape of an incandescent lamp utilizes inductive excitation of the fill material.
  • U. S. Patent No. 4,189,661 issued February 19, 1980 to Haugsjaa et al, an electrodeless fluorescent light source has an electrodeless lamp mounted in a termination fixture which is coupled to a high frequency power source. The termination fixture matches a low pressure discharge in the electrodeless lamp to the high frequency power source.
  • the beam mode fluorescent lamp includes a light transmitting envelope enclosing a fill material which emits ultraviolet radiation upon excitation.
  • a phosphor coating on an inner surface of the envelope emits visible light upon absorption of ultraviolet radiation.
  • a cathode for emitting electrons is located within the envelope.
  • An anode for accelerating the electrons and forming an electron beam in response to a voltage applied between the anode and the cathode is located within the envelope.
  • the anode is spaced apart from cathode by a distance which is less than the electron range in the fill material and has a structure which permits the electron beam to pass therethrough.
  • the fluorescent lamp further includes a drift region within the envelope through which the-electron beam drifts after passing through the anode.
  • the drift region has a dimension in the direction of travel of the electron beam which is greater than the electron range in the fill material. Electrons in the electron beam collide with atoms of the fill material in the drift region, thereby causing excitation of a portion of the fill material atoms and emission of ultraviolet radiation and causing ionization of another portion of the fill material atoms and emission of secondary electrons.
  • the secondary electrons cause further emission of ultraviolet radiation.
  • the fill material typically includes mercury and can include a noble gas at low pressure.
  • the anode is typically in the form of a conductive wire mesh.
  • a vacuum-tight lamp envelope 10 made of a light transmitting substance, such as glass, encloses a discharge volume.
  • the discharge volume contains a fill material which emits ultraviolet radiation upon excitation.
  • a typical fill material includes mercury and can include a noble gas or mixtures of noble gases at low pressure.
  • the inner surface of the lamp envelope 10 has a phosphor coating 12 which emits visible light upon absorption of ultraviolet radiation.
  • a cathode 14 and an anode 16 are also enclosed within the discharge volume by the lamp envelope 10 .
  • the cathode 14 and the anode 16 can have various configurations as described hereinafter.
  • a voltage is applied to the heater element 18 causing heating of the cathode 14 and thermionic emission of electrons.
  • a dc voltage applied to the anode 16 causes acceleration of the electrons in the direction of the anode 16 and formation of an electron beam 22. Due to the open configuration of the anode 16, most of the electrons in the electron beam 22 pass through the anode 16 into the drift region 20.
  • the drift region 20 is relatively field-free in comparison with the region between the cathode 14 and the anode 16 and little further acceleration of the electron beam 22 occurs.
  • the anode 16,-as shown in FIG. 1, is generally dome shaped around the cathode 14, causing dispersal of the electron beam over a wide angle.
  • the anode 16 and the cathode 14 are closely spaced to prevent electron multiplication in the region between the anode 16 and the cathode 14 and possible current runaway conditions, such as can occur in positive column fluorescent lamps.
  • electrons on the average travel a distance known as the electron range before collision with atoms of the fill material.
  • secondary electrons can be liberated.
  • the secondary electrons are accelerated and can cause further liberation of electrons, thereby providing an avalanche effect.
  • current runaway conditions occur and a stabilizing device or ballast circuit is required to limit the discharge current.
  • the drift region 20 has a dimension L in the direc-- tion of electron beam travel which is greater than the electron range. Therefore, the electrons in the electron beam 22 have a high probability of suffering collisions with the fill material atoms in the drift region 20. A portion of the collisions results in ionization of the fill material atoms and production of secondary electrons. Another portion of the collisions results in the excitation of mercury atomic energy levels which result in the production of ultraviolet radiation near 254 nanometers, as is known in the fluorescent lamp art. The ultraviolet radiation provides effective excitation of the phosphor coating 12 to yield visible light. The secondary electrons produced by the electron beam 22 also collide with mercury atoms and result in the production of ultraviolet radiation.
  • the drift region 20 Since the drift region 20 is relatively field-free, the secondary electrons produced therein are not substantially accelerated and further ionization is inhibited. Thus, the problem of current runaway is alleviated.
  • the secondary electrons produced in the drift region 20 are collected by the anode 16. Since the drift region 20 is relatively field-free, the secondary electrons have low energies and do not cause significant heating of the anode 16. Furthermore, the diffusion of secondary electrons within the drift region 20 provides a uniform discharge.
  • the lamp fill material typically includes mercury and can include a noble gas or mixtures of noble gases at low pressure.
  • a noble gas or mixtures of noble gases at low pressure.
  • a small droplet of mercury, for example 3 milligrams, or a mercury-containing amalgam is used.
  • the noble gas pressure is typically 0.1 torr or less to provide a substantial electron range in the drift.region 20.
  • the beam mode fluorescent lamp can be operated with no noble gas included in the fill material.
  • helium and neon are preferred because these lighter noble gases provide a greater electron range and more extensive diffusion of mercury atoms in the drift region 20.
  • the electron range for 10-100 electron volt electrons is on the order of several centimeters. Therefore, when the dimension D between the anode 16 and the cathode 14 is about one (1) centimeter, the majority of electrons emitted by the cathode 14 pass through the anode 16 without collision with the fill material atoms.
  • the dimension L of the drift region 20 is larger than the electron range, that is, at least about five (5) centimeters, the electron beam 22 is largely absorbed by collisions with the fill material atoms which result in the production of ultraviolet radiation and the consequent excitation of the phosphor coating 12.
  • FIGS. 2A-2E there are shown various anode and cathode configurations which are suitable for use in the beam mode fluorescent lamp of the present invention.
  • the anode has an open structure which permits the electrons emitted by the cathode to pass through the anode and has a large area in comparison with the area of the cathode so that the resultant electron beam is spread over a wide angle.
  • the wide angle electron beam ensures maximum excitation of ultraviolet radiation in the drift region and a uniform discharge.
  • FIG. 2A illustrates a'directly heated hot cathode 30 supported by leads 32.
  • a wire mesh anode 34 has a generally cylindrical shape and is supported by a lead 36.
  • FIG. 2B illustrates a hot cathode 40 supported by leads 42 and a generally planar wire mesh anode 44 supported by a lead 46.
  • the planar anode 44 is positioned just above the cathode 40 and can have any convenient shape.
  • FIG. 2C illustrates a hot cathode 50 supported by leads 52 and a semi-cylindrical wire mesh anode 54 supported by lead 56.
  • the axis of the semi-cylindrical anode 54 is collinear with the axis of the cathode 50.
  • FIG. 2D illustrates an indirectly heated cathode 60 which is heated by a heater element 61 and supported by the leads 62.
  • the indirectly heated cathode 60 can be utilized to provide an extended flat cathode surface.
  • a planar anode 64 is similar to the anode 44 in FIG. 2B.
  • FIG. 2E illustrates a hot cathode 70 supported by leads 72 and an anode 74 in the form of a conductive loop supported.by a lead 76.
  • a preferred embodiment of the beam mode fluorescent lamp, which provides direct replacement for an incandescent lamp, is illustrated in FIG. 3.
  • a light transmitting envelope 80 is generally pear shaped, as is characteristic of incandescent lamps.
  • the envelope 80 includes a phosphor coating 82 on the inner surface thereof and encloses a fill material such as mercury which emits ultraviolet radiation upon excitation.
  • the fill material can also include a noble gas at low pressure.
  • a cathode 84 and an anode 86 having the characteristics described hereinabove in connection with FIGS. 1 and 2, are mounted within the lamp envelope 80 at a spacing which is less than the electron range in the fill material.
  • One output of the power supply 92 is coupled to the anode 86 by a support wire 94 which also provides - mechanical support for the anode 86.
  • Power supply 92 has another output coupled to the cathode 84 by support wires 96 which also provide mechanical support for the cathode 84.
  • One suitable power supply includes a stepdown transformer to provide 60Hz, 6 volt ac power to heat the cathode 84 and includes a dc power supply which provides an anode voltage of about 20 volts dc. Since the power supply 92 is self-contained within the light source of FIG. 3, the disclosed light source can directly replace incandescent lamps.
  • a compact fluorescent lamp which has a single ended input and which can replace incandescent lamps in many applications.
  • a fluorescent lamp wherein ionization by secondary electrons is inhibited and the problem of current runaway is alleviated.

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  • Discharge Lamp (AREA)
EP81110674A 1980-12-23 1981-12-22 Strahlungs-Fluoreszenzlampe Withdrawn EP0054959A1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US21956480A 1980-12-23 1980-12-23
US219564 1994-03-29

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0054959A1 true EP0054959A1 (de) 1982-06-30

Family

ID=22819786

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP81110674A Withdrawn EP0054959A1 (de) 1980-12-23 1981-12-22 Strahlungs-Fluoreszenzlampe

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0054959A1 (de)
JP (1) JPS57130364A (de)

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0083874A2 (de) * 1982-01-04 1983-07-20 GTE Laboratories Incorporated Leuchtstofflampe vom Strahltyp
EP0084268A2 (de) * 1982-01-04 1983-07-27 GTE Laboratories Incorporated Leuchtstofflampe vom Strahltyp mit Einfachkathode für Gleichstrom
FR2575598A1 (fr) * 1984-12-28 1986-07-04 Dumas Pierre Ampoule fluorescente a un culot a contact a emission transversale sur pied
DE3700875A1 (de) * 1986-01-14 1987-07-16 Matsushita Electric Works Ltd Elektronische lichtstrahlungsroehre
DE3920511A1 (de) * 1988-06-27 1989-12-28 Matsushita Electric Works Ltd Beleuchtungseinrichtung mit veraenderbaren farben

Families Citing this family (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS60136158A (ja) * 1983-12-23 1985-07-19 Matsushita Electric Works Ltd 光放射電子管
JPS60136157A (ja) * 1983-12-23 1985-07-19 Matsushita Electric Works Ltd 光放射電子管
JPS61101948A (ja) * 1984-10-24 1986-05-20 Matsushita Electric Works Ltd 光放射電子管
JPH0636352B2 (ja) * 1985-02-19 1994-05-11 松下電工株式会社 光放射電子管
JPH0670899B2 (ja) * 1986-05-26 1994-09-07 松下電工株式会社 光放射電子管
JPS62285358A (ja) * 1986-06-02 1987-12-11 Matsushita Electric Works Ltd 片口金型螢光ランプ
JPH0620285Y2 (ja) * 1986-12-05 1994-05-25 松下電工株式会社 光放射電子管
JPH0261058U (de) * 1989-11-02 1990-05-07
JPH06111787A (ja) * 1992-09-25 1994-04-22 Matsushita Electric Works Ltd 紫外線放射電子管

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4010400A (en) * 1975-08-13 1977-03-01 Hollister Donald D Light generation by an electrodeless fluorescent lamp
US4093893A (en) * 1976-11-22 1978-06-06 General Electric Company Short arc fluorescent lamp
US4117378A (en) * 1977-03-11 1978-09-26 General Electric Company Reflective coating for external core electrodeless fluorescent lamp
US4171503A (en) * 1978-01-16 1979-10-16 Kwon Young D Electrodeless fluorescent lamp
US4189661A (en) * 1978-11-13 1980-02-19 Gte Laboratories Incorporated Electrodeless fluorescent light source

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4010400A (en) * 1975-08-13 1977-03-01 Hollister Donald D Light generation by an electrodeless fluorescent lamp
US4119889A (en) * 1975-08-13 1978-10-10 Hollister Donald D Method and means for improving the efficiency of light generation by an electrodeless fluorescent lamp
US4093893A (en) * 1976-11-22 1978-06-06 General Electric Company Short arc fluorescent lamp
US4117378A (en) * 1977-03-11 1978-09-26 General Electric Company Reflective coating for external core electrodeless fluorescent lamp
US4171503A (en) * 1978-01-16 1979-10-16 Kwon Young D Electrodeless fluorescent lamp
US4189661A (en) * 1978-11-13 1980-02-19 Gte Laboratories Incorporated Electrodeless fluorescent light source

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0083874A2 (de) * 1982-01-04 1983-07-20 GTE Laboratories Incorporated Leuchtstofflampe vom Strahltyp
EP0084268A2 (de) * 1982-01-04 1983-07-27 GTE Laboratories Incorporated Leuchtstofflampe vom Strahltyp mit Einfachkathode für Gleichstrom
EP0084268A3 (de) * 1982-01-04 1984-05-02 GTE Laboratories Incorporated Leuchtstofflampe vom Strahltyp mit Einfachkathode für Gleichstrom
EP0083874A3 (en) * 1982-01-04 1984-05-02 Gte Laboratories Incorporated Dual cathode beam mode fluorescent lamp
FR2575598A1 (fr) * 1984-12-28 1986-07-04 Dumas Pierre Ampoule fluorescente a un culot a contact a emission transversale sur pied
DE3700875A1 (de) * 1986-01-14 1987-07-16 Matsushita Electric Works Ltd Elektronische lichtstrahlungsroehre
US4780645A (en) * 1986-01-14 1988-10-25 Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd. Electronic light radiation tube
DE3920511A1 (de) * 1988-06-27 1989-12-28 Matsushita Electric Works Ltd Beleuchtungseinrichtung mit veraenderbaren farben

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JPS57130364A (en) 1982-08-12

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PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

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Effective date: 19811222

AK Designated contracting states

Designated state(s): DE FR GB NL

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION IS DEEMED TO BE WITHDRAWN

18D Application deemed to be withdrawn

Effective date: 19840229

RIN1 Information on inventor provided before grant (corrected)

Inventor name: SMITH, ROBERT K.

Inventor name: PROUD, JOSEPH M.