EP0407160A2 - Système de tube à décharge - Google Patents

Système de tube à décharge Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0407160A2
EP0407160A2 EP90307289A EP90307289A EP0407160A2 EP 0407160 A2 EP0407160 A2 EP 0407160A2 EP 90307289 A EP90307289 A EP 90307289A EP 90307289 A EP90307289 A EP 90307289A EP 0407160 A2 EP0407160 A2 EP 0407160A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
discharge tube
fill
discharge
visible light
metal
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.)
Granted
Application number
EP90307289A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0407160B1 (fr
EP0407160A3 (en
Inventor
Ulrich Greb
Stuart Albert Mucklejohn
David Osborn Wharmby
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.)
GE Lighting Ltd
Original Assignee
GE Lighting Ltd
Thorn EMI PLC
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 GE Lighting Ltd, Thorn EMI PLC filed Critical GE Lighting Ltd
Publication of EP0407160A2 publication Critical patent/EP0407160A2/fr
Publication of EP0407160A3 publication Critical patent/EP0407160A3/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0407160B1 publication Critical patent/EP0407160B1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01J—ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS
    • H01J61/00—Gas-discharge or vapour-discharge lamps
    • H01J61/02—Details
    • H01J61/12—Selection of substances for gas fillings; Specified operating pressure or temperature
    • H01J61/125—Selection of substances for gas fillings; Specified operating pressure or temperature having an halogenide as principal component
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01J—ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS
    • H01J65/00—Lamps without any electrode inside the vessel; Lamps with at least one main electrode outside the vessel
    • H01J65/04—Lamps in which a gas filling is excited to luminesce by an external electromagnetic field or by external corpuscular radiation, e.g. for indicating plasma display panels
    • H01J65/042—Lamps in which a gas filling is excited to luminesce by an external electromagnetic field or by external corpuscular radiation, e.g. for indicating plasma display panels by an external electromagnetic field
    • H01J65/046—Lamps in which a gas filling is excited to luminesce by an external electromagnetic field or by external corpuscular radiation, e.g. for indicating plasma display panels by an external electromagnetic field the field being produced by using capacitive means around the vessel

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a discharge tube arrangement and in particular to such an arrangement for use as a light source.
  • the discharge tube could be a generic fluorescent lamp discharge tube containing a mix of inert gases and mercury vapour (e.g. argon gas and mercury vapour) and having on its inner surface a phosphor which converts 254nm U.V. radiation to visible light.
  • the discharge tube could be a generic germicidal or curing lamp discharge tube constructed of quartz glass and containing a mix of inert gases and mercury vapour, but with no phosphor.
  • the discharge is produced as a single turn loop forming the secondary of a transformer; the primary is formed by a coil, which may have a high permeability core. It has been found that low pressure metal halide discharges operated in this mode exhibit a wide range of instabilities and so are impractical as light sources.
  • the discharge vessel is placed between the plates of a capacitor excited by a high frequency source.
  • the current to sustain the discharge has to flow as displacement current through the glass or silica wall of the discharge vessel and so it is difficult to produce a discharge having a significant amount of power.
  • the current increases with the frequency of excitation, so also does the dielectric loss due to the glass or silica wall, resulting in significant power losses in the wall of the discharge vessel.
  • a method of generating visible light from a discharge tube having walls made of a light-transmissive dielectric material, the discharge tube containing a fill comprising at least one compound selected from a group consisting of metal halides and metal oxyhalides comprising the step of applying a radio frequency (r.f.) electric field over a part of a wall of the discharge tube at a power sufficient to excite a surface wave in the fill, whereby the fill is excited to generate visible light.
  • r.f. radio frequency
  • the inventors have surprisingly found that it is possible to achieve a stable, well-behaved, low pressure metal halide discharge in a discharge tube without electrodes by exciting the discharge using surface waves.
  • the metal halide is at least partially dissociated and light is emitted in the visible region from both atomic and molecular fragments. It is envisaged that metal oxyhalides will exhibit a similar behaviour to metal halides.
  • a discharge tube arrangement for generating visible light, the arrangement comprising a discharge tube having walls made of a light-transmissive dielectric material, the discharge tube containing a fill comprising at least one of a group consisting of metal halides and metal oxyhalides; the arrangement further comprising means for applying a radio frequency (r.f.) electric field over a part of a wall of the discharge tube at a power sufficient to excite a surface wave in the fill, whereby, in use, the fill is excited to generate visible light.
  • r.f. radio frequency
  • a discharge tube arrangement provided in accordance with this aspect of the present invention can be used to generate visible light by the method provided in accordance with the first aspect of the present invention.
  • the means for applying an r.f. electric field comprises an r.f. power generator and a launcher.
  • the applying means can be arranged so as not to substantially obscure the discharge and the discharge itself can have a length of the order of centimetres to metres and a diameter of the order of millimetres to centimetres depending on the power used.
  • a discharge tube arrangement comprises a discharge tube 20 mounted in a launcher 22.
  • the discharge tube 20 is formed of a light-transmissive, dielectric material, such as glass, and contains a fill 24.
  • the launcher 22 is made of an electrically conductive material, such as brass, and formed as a coaxial structure comprising an inner tube 26 and an outer tube 28.
  • a first plate 30, at one end of the outer tube, provides a first end wall for the launcher structure.
  • a second plate 31, integral with the outer tube 28, provides a second end wall.
  • the inner tube 26 is shorter than the outer tube 28 and so positioned within the outer tube 28 as to define a first annular gap 32 and a second annular gap 33.
  • Each of the first plate 30 and second plate 31 has an aperture for receiving the discharge tube 20.
  • the outer tube 28, the first plate 30 and the second plate 31 form an unbroken electrically conductive path around, but not in electrical contact with, the inner tube 26 to provide an r.f. screening structure therearound.
  • Suitable dimensions for the launcher of Figure 1 are as follows: Launcher length 7-20 mm Launcher diameter (outer tube 28 diameter) 25-35mm but depends on size of discharge tube 20. Inner tube 26 length 3-18mm Inner tube 26 diameter 13mm but depends on size of discharge tube 20. Length of Launching gap (first gap 32) 0.5-3mm Length of second gap 33 1-10mm
  • the thickness of the electrically conductive material is of the order of millimetres, or less, depending on the construction method used.
  • An r.f. power generator 34 (shown schematically) is electrically connected to the inner tube 26 of the launcher 22 via a coaxial cable 35 and an impedance matching network 36 (shown schematically as comprising capacitor 37 and inductor 38).
  • the r.f. power generator 34, the impedance matching network 36, the coaxial cable 35 and the launcher 22 constitute an r.f. powered excitation device to energise the fill to produce a discharge.
  • a body 40 of dielectric material inside the launcher 22 is provided as a structural element, to keep the size of the gaps 32, 33 constant and to hold the inner tube 26 in position.
  • the body 40 also helps in shaping the electric field in the gaps 32, 33 for ease of starting or other purposes.
  • Suitable dielectric materials which exhibit low loss at r.f. frequencies include glass, quartz and PTFE.
  • the launcher may be partially or completely air filled, provided that means to support the inner tube are provided.
  • an oscillating electric field having a frequency typically in the range of from 1MHz to 1GHz, is set up inside the launcher 22. At the first and second gaps 32, 33, this electric field is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the discharge tube 20. If sufficient power is applied, the consequent electric field produced in the fill 24 is sufficient to create a discharge through which an electromagnetic surface wave may be propagated in a similar manner to the arrangement of EP 0225753A2. Accordingly, the launcher 22 powered by the r.f. power generator 34 creates and sustains a discharge in the fill - the length and brightness of the discharge depending, inter alia, on the size of the discharge tube 20 and the power applied by the r.f. power generator 34. Such a discharge tube arrangement may therefore be used as a light source.
  • the fill 24 may comprise a noble gas, such as argon, together with a compound selected from the group consisting of metal halides and metal oxyhalides. Mercury may also be added.
  • a noble gas such as argon
  • the inventors have tried a fill which contained the noble gas, argon (Ar), together with aluminium chloride (AlCl3). This was found to produce a stable discharge, emitting visible light, when excited by a surface wave.
  • Halides of metals from the transition series of the periodic table can advantageously be used. These halides are sufficiently volatile to produce a vapour pressure at which a discharge can be generated at the wall operating temperatures of the discharge tube. They can be dissociated by electron impact. The resulting excited atoms, ions and molecules emit radiation; the metal atoms have large numbers of relatively low-lying energy levels giving rise to radiation throughout the visible region.
  • Halides of neodymium (Nd) and other rare earth metals on excitation also give rise to radiation throughout the visible region. They are relatively involatile but can form complexes with other metal halides (known as complexing agents).
  • the vapour pressure of the complex so formed can be factor of 105 greater than that of the rare earth metal halide.
  • the complex should have a total vapour pressure exceeding about 10 ⁇ 3 torr at the operating temperature of the lamp, e.g. up to 250 o C.
  • complexing agents include the halides (ie chlorides, bromides or iodides - X is Cl, Br or I) of aluminium (AlX3), indium (InX3), gallium (GaX3), tin (SnX4), titanium (TiX4) as well as the compound di-iron (III) chloride (Fe2Cl6).
  • halides ie chlorides, bromides or iodides - X is Cl, Br or I
  • AlX3 aluminium
  • InX3 indium
  • GaX3 gallium
  • tin (SnX4) titanium
  • TiX4 titanium
  • complexing agents include the halides (ie chlorides, bromides or iodides - X is Cl, Br or I) of aluminium (AlX3), indium (InX3), gallium (GaX3), tin (SnX4), titanium (TiX4) as well as the compound di-iron (III) chloride (Fe2
  • the argon is used to increase overall vapour pressure and may be replaced by other noble gases, such as neon, helium or krypton.
  • oxy-halides i.e. oxychlorides, oxybromides or oxyiodides - X is Cl, Br or I
  • certain metals such as chromium (CrO2X2) and vanadium (VOX2 and VOX3), molybdenum (MoO2X2 and MoOX4), and tungsten (WO2X2 and WOX4)
  • chromium CrO2X2
  • VOX2 and VOX3 vanadium
  • MoO2X2 and MoOX4 molybdenum
  • WO2X2 and WOX4 tungsten
  • Such oxy-halides are volatile liquids at room temperature.

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Electromagnetism (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Plasma & Fusion (AREA)
  • Discharge Lamps And Accessories Thereof (AREA)
  • Discharge Lamp (AREA)
  • Vessels And Coating Films For Discharge Lamps (AREA)
EP19900307289 1989-07-07 1990-07-04 Système de tube à décharge Expired - Lifetime EP0407160B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB8915611 1989-07-07
GB898915611A GB8915611D0 (en) 1989-07-07 1989-07-07 A discharge tube arrangement

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0407160A2 true EP0407160A2 (fr) 1991-01-09
EP0407160A3 EP0407160A3 (en) 1991-07-31
EP0407160B1 EP0407160B1 (fr) 1994-09-14

Family

ID=10659694

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19900307289 Expired - Lifetime EP0407160B1 (fr) 1989-07-07 1990-07-04 Système de tube à décharge

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0407160B1 (fr)
JP (1) JP2875860B2 (fr)
DE (1) DE69012460T2 (fr)
GB (1) GB8915611D0 (fr)

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2654255A1 (fr) * 1989-11-08 1991-05-10 Matsushita Electric Works Ltd Dispositif de lampe a decharge a haute intensite.
WO2004025688A2 (fr) * 2002-09-11 2004-03-25 Philips Intellectual Property & Standards Gmbh Lampe a decharge gazeuse basse pression contenant une charge de gaz a teneur en etain
WO2005031795A1 (fr) * 2003-09-30 2005-04-07 Philips Intellectual Property & Standards Gmbh Lampe a decharge gazeuse a basse pression comportant un moyen de liaison de l'oxygene et de l'eau
WO2006068887A2 (fr) * 2004-12-20 2006-06-29 General Electric Company Compositions exemptes de mercure et de sodium et sources de rayonnement les comprenant
WO2006111902A2 (fr) * 2005-04-20 2006-10-26 Philips Intellectual Property & Standards Gmbh Lampe a decharge gazeuse basse pression comportant des halogenures d'indium et de sodium
WO2007132368A2 (fr) * 2006-05-15 2007-11-22 Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. Lampe à décharge basse pression présentant une efficacité accrue
US7825598B2 (en) 2004-12-20 2010-11-02 General Electric Company Mercury-free discharge compositions and lamps incorporating Titanium, Zirconium, and Hafnium

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2001127167A (ja) * 1999-10-28 2001-05-11 Mitsumi Electric Co Ltd 半導体装置

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3720855A (en) * 1972-02-28 1973-03-13 Gte Laboratories Inc Electric discharge lamp
US4480213A (en) * 1982-07-26 1984-10-30 Gte Laboratories Incorporated Compact mercury-free fluorescent lamp
US4591759A (en) * 1984-09-10 1986-05-27 General Electric Company Ingredients for solenoidal metal halide arc lamps
EP0225753A2 (fr) * 1985-12-10 1987-06-16 The Regents Of The University Of California Excitation instantanée et efficace par onde de surface d'un ou plusieurs gaz à basse pression
EP0357452A1 (fr) * 1988-09-02 1990-03-07 Ge Lighting Limited Système de tube à décharge
EP0416839A2 (fr) * 1989-09-05 1991-03-13 THORN EMI plc Système de tube à décharge

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3720855A (en) * 1972-02-28 1973-03-13 Gte Laboratories Inc Electric discharge lamp
US4480213A (en) * 1982-07-26 1984-10-30 Gte Laboratories Incorporated Compact mercury-free fluorescent lamp
US4591759A (en) * 1984-09-10 1986-05-27 General Electric Company Ingredients for solenoidal metal halide arc lamps
EP0225753A2 (fr) * 1985-12-10 1987-06-16 The Regents Of The University Of California Excitation instantanée et efficace par onde de surface d'un ou plusieurs gaz à basse pression
EP0357452A1 (fr) * 1988-09-02 1990-03-07 Ge Lighting Limited Système de tube à décharge
EP0416839A2 (fr) * 1989-09-05 1991-03-13 THORN EMI plc Système de tube à décharge

Cited By (14)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2654255A1 (fr) * 1989-11-08 1991-05-10 Matsushita Electric Works Ltd Dispositif de lampe a decharge a haute intensite.
CN100375220C (zh) * 2002-09-11 2008-03-12 皇家飞利浦电子股份有限公司 具有含锡的气体填充物的低压气体放电灯
WO2004025688A2 (fr) * 2002-09-11 2004-03-25 Philips Intellectual Property & Standards Gmbh Lampe a decharge gazeuse basse pression contenant une charge de gaz a teneur en etain
WO2004025688A3 (fr) * 2002-09-11 2005-04-07 Philips Intellectual Property Lampe a decharge gazeuse basse pression contenant une charge de gaz a teneur en etain
US7391154B2 (en) 2002-09-11 2008-06-24 Koninklijke Philips Electronics, N.V. Low-pressure gas discharge lamp with gas filling containing tin
WO2005031795A1 (fr) * 2003-09-30 2005-04-07 Philips Intellectual Property & Standards Gmbh Lampe a decharge gazeuse a basse pression comportant un moyen de liaison de l'oxygene et de l'eau
WO2006068887A2 (fr) * 2004-12-20 2006-06-29 General Electric Company Compositions exemptes de mercure et de sodium et sources de rayonnement les comprenant
US7847484B2 (en) 2004-12-20 2010-12-07 General Electric Company Mercury-free and sodium-free compositions and radiation source incorporating same
WO2006068887A3 (fr) * 2004-12-20 2007-05-24 Gen Electric Compositions exemptes de mercure et de sodium et sources de rayonnement les comprenant
US7825598B2 (en) 2004-12-20 2010-11-02 General Electric Company Mercury-free discharge compositions and lamps incorporating Titanium, Zirconium, and Hafnium
WO2006111902A3 (fr) * 2005-04-20 2007-03-08 Philips Intellectual Property Lampe a decharge gazeuse basse pression comportant des halogenures d'indium et de sodium
WO2006111902A2 (fr) * 2005-04-20 2006-10-26 Philips Intellectual Property & Standards Gmbh Lampe a decharge gazeuse basse pression comportant des halogenures d'indium et de sodium
WO2007132368A3 (fr) * 2006-05-15 2008-01-24 Koninkl Philips Electronics Nv Lampe à décharge basse pression présentant une efficacité accrue
WO2007132368A2 (fr) * 2006-05-15 2007-11-22 Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. Lampe à décharge basse pression présentant une efficacité accrue

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JPH0367455A (ja) 1991-03-22
GB8915611D0 (en) 1989-08-23
JP2875860B2 (ja) 1999-03-31
EP0407160B1 (fr) 1994-09-14
EP0407160A3 (en) 1991-07-31
DE69012460T2 (de) 1995-05-11
DE69012460D1 (de) 1994-10-20

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