EP0583034A1 - Electric lamp - Google Patents

Electric lamp Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0583034A1
EP0583034A1 EP93202333A EP93202333A EP0583034A1 EP 0583034 A1 EP0583034 A1 EP 0583034A1 EP 93202333 A EP93202333 A EP 93202333A EP 93202333 A EP93202333 A EP 93202333A EP 0583034 A1 EP0583034 A1 EP 0583034A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
lamp
lamp cap
light source
shell
base
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
EP93202333A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0583034B1 (en
Inventor
Lambertus J.M. c/o INT. OCTROOIBUREAU BV Bouwman
Guillaume M.P.G. Hermes
Cornelis J. c/o INT. OCTROOIBUREAU BV Janson
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.)
Koninklijke Philips NV
Original Assignee
Koninklijke Philips Electronics NV
Philips Electronics NV
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 Koninklijke Philips Electronics NV, Philips Electronics NV filed Critical Koninklijke Philips Electronics NV
Priority to EP19930202333 priority Critical patent/EP0583034B1/en
Publication of EP0583034A1 publication Critical patent/EP0583034A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0583034B1 publication Critical patent/EP0583034B1/en
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
    • H01J5/00—Details relating to vessels or to leading-in conductors common to two or more basic types of discharge tubes or lamps
    • H01J5/50—Means forming part of the tube or lamps for the purpose of providing electrical connection to it
    • H01J5/54—Means forming part of the tube or lamps for the purpose of providing electrical connection to it supported by a separate part, e.g. base

Definitions

  • the invention relates to an electric lamp comprising
  • Such an electric lamp is known from European Patent Application 156439.
  • the known lamp is designed for use in the same applications in which traditionally an incandescent lamp was used.
  • a major advantage of the known lamp over an incandescent lamp is that the luminous efficacy of the known lamp is considerably higher than the luminous efficacy of an incandescent lamp.
  • a disadvantage, however, is the fact that the length of the known lamp is greater than that of an incandescent lamp, so that the known lamp is less suitable as a replacement for an incandescent lamp in some applications. It is accordingly desirable to reduce the length of the known lamp in order to increase the range of application of this lamp.
  • a further reduction in the length of the lamp is often accompanied by a size reduction of the housing, whereby the capacitive coupling between the ballast means often present in the housing and the contacts on the lamp cap increases.
  • This capacitive coupling increases even further when the ballast means are partly provided in the lamp cap in order to facilitate a further size reduction of the lamp.
  • the ballast means may consist, for example, of a coil when the electric lamp is operated with a current whose frequency is identical to that of the mains voltage with which the lamp is supplied. In that case there is a low-frequency lamp operation.
  • the ballast means may comprise a circuit arrangement for generating a high-frequency current from the mains voltage, with which the electric lamp is supplied, for operating the electric lamp.
  • the ballast means cause a comparatively high degree of interference in the supply voltage mains during lamp operation, especially when the electric lamp is operated at a high frequency.
  • the invention has for its object inter alia to provide an electric lamp of a comparatively small length which causes a comparatively low degree of interference in the supply voltage mains during lamp operation.
  • this object is achieved in an electric lamp of the kind mentioned in the opening paragraph in that the further contact is formed by a band of conducting material around the lamp cap, which band directly adjoins the base at one side and adjoins a band of insulating material around the lamp cap at another side.
  • the further contact extends over substantially the entire surface area of the lamp cap shell.
  • Such a comparatively large surface area of the further contact causes a comparatively strong capacitive coupling between the further contact and the ballast means.
  • the size of the further contact is much smaller than in the known lamp.
  • the further contact is arranged at a comparatively great distance from the space surrounded by the housing and from a major portion of the space surrounded by the lamp cap since this contact directly adjoins the base. This comparatively great distance and the considerably smaller size of the further contact have the result that the capacitive coupling between the ballast means and the further contact is much weaker.
  • the ballast means comprise a circuit arrangement for generating a high-frequency current from the mains voltage, a comparatively strong decrease of the interference in the supply voltage mains was found.
  • the shell of the lamp cap of the known lamp is made from metal, so that the shell at the same time constitutes the further contact. Since the further contact of an electric lamp according to the invention, however, does not extend over substantially the entire external surface area of the lamp cap shell, but only over a comparatively small portion of the lamp cap, the idea suggests itself to manufacture the lamp cap from an insulating synthetic material and to provide the contact thereon. Since the housing of the electric lamp is also preferably manufactured from a synthetic material, it is possible to integrate the lamp cap and the housing of an electric lamp according to the invention into one component made of synthetic material. As a result, such a lamp comprises fewer components and the assembling costs of these lamp components are strongly reduced.
  • the lamp caps shown in Figs. 1a and 1b are both of the Edison type.
  • the shell is threaded for fastening the lamp cap in a lampholder.
  • Metal parts of the lamp cap are shown in black and synthetic-resin parts in white.
  • 5 denotes the base of the lamp cap
  • 1 denotes the first contact and 2 the further contact.
  • the boundary between base and shell is indicated with a broken line.
  • the lamp cap has a shell 3.
  • the shell 3 is formed by the band of insulating material around the lamp cap and the component 4 formed from metal which is electrically insulated from the first contact 1 and the further contact 2.
  • Component 3 in both cases forms a integral unit with the base of the lamp cap.
  • lamp caps other than those of the Edison type such as, for example, bayonet type lamp caps.
  • FIG. 2 components corresponding to the components of the lamp caps shown in Fig. 1 have the same reference numerals as in Fig. 1.
  • Reference numeral 6 denotes the wall of the housing and A and B are boundary planes, indicated with broken lines, between the shell and the base of the lamp cap and between the lamp cap and the housing, respectively. It can be seen that the housing and the lamp cap have been integrated into one unit formed from synthetic resin.
  • 7 denotes the space surrounded by the housing and the lamp cap in which ballast means, for example comprising a circuit arrangement for generating a high-frequency current for operating the light source, are accommodated (not shown in Fig. 2)
  • 8 denotes a discharge vessel which forms part of the light source, which is sealed in a gastight manner and which transmits radiation.
  • Fig. 3 shows two frequency spectra of the interference caused by two compact low-pressure mercury lamps of a power rating of 11 W in the supply mains.
  • the low-pressure mercury lamps were operated at a frequency of 45 kHz.
  • the power of the interference caused is indicated on the vertical axis in decibels.
  • the frequency is plotted on the horizontal axis in MHz. It is also shown in both frequency spectra by means of the curve M how great the intensity of the interference caused is allowed to be at most according to the CISPR standard.
  • the first lamp provided with a lamp cap of the Edison type whose shell was completely formed from metal yielded a frequency spectrum of the interference caused by the lamp in the supply mains as indicated in Fig. 3a.
  • Fig. 3b shows the frequency spectrum of the interference generated in the supply mains by a lamp according to the invention. This second lamp was provided with a lamp cap as shown in Figs. 1a and 2. It is visible from Fig. 3b that the interference caused by a lamp according to the invention lies below the maximum admissible value throughout the entire frequency range.

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  • Non-Portable Lighting Devices Or Systems Thereof (AREA)

Abstract

The invention relates to an electric lamp comprising
  • a light source provided with a discharge vessel (8) which is sealed in a gastight manner and which transmits radiation,
  • a lamp cap having a shell (3) and a base (5),
  • a housing (6) connected to the light source and to the lamp cap,
  • ballast means which are electrically connected to the light source for operating the light source and which are arranged at least partly in a space surrounded by the housing and the lamp cap, and
  • contacts which are connected with electrical conduction to the ballast means at least during lamp operation, one of said contacts being provided on the base and a further one on the shell.
According to the invention, the further contact (2) is formed by a band of conducting material around the lamp cap, which band directly adjoins the base at one side and adjoins a band of insulating material around the lamp cap at another side. It is achieved by this that the interference generated in the supply mains by the lamp is suppressed to a considerable degree.

Description

  • The invention relates to an electric lamp comprising
    • a light source provided with a discharge vessel which is sealed in a gaslight manner and which transmits radiation,
    • a lamp cap having a shell and a base,
    • a housing connected to the light source and to the lamp cap,
    • ballast means which are electrically connected to the light source for operating the light source and which are arranged at least partly in a space surrounded by the housing and the lamp cap, and
    • contacts which are connected with electrical conduction to the ballast means at least during lamp operation, one of said contacts being provided on the base and a further one on the shell.
  • Such an electric lamp is known from European Patent Application 156439. The known lamp is designed for use in the same applications in which traditionally an incandescent lamp was used. A major advantage of the known lamp over an incandescent lamp is that the luminous efficacy of the known lamp is considerably higher than the luminous efficacy of an incandescent lamp. A disadvantage, however, is the fact that the length of the known lamp is greater than that of an incandescent lamp, so that the known lamp is less suitable as a replacement for an incandescent lamp in some applications. It is accordingly desirable to reduce the length of the known lamp in order to increase the range of application of this lamp. A further reduction in the length of the lamp, however, is often accompanied by a size reduction of the housing, whereby the capacitive coupling between the ballast means often present in the housing and the contacts on the lamp cap increases. This capacitive coupling increases even further when the ballast means are partly provided in the lamp cap in order to facilitate a further size reduction of the lamp. The ballast means may consist, for example, of a coil when the electric lamp is operated with a current whose frequency is identical to that of the mains voltage with which the lamp is supplied. In that case there is a low-frequency lamp operation. Alternatively, however, the ballast means may comprise a circuit arrangement for generating a high-frequency current from the mains voltage, with which the electric lamp is supplied, for operating the electric lamp. In the latter case there is a high-frequency lamp operation. The frequency of the high-frequency lamp current is often of the order of 10 kiloHerz. Owing to the increased capacitive coupling between the ballast means and the contacts of the lamp cap, the ballast means cause a comparatively high degree of interference in the supply voltage mains during lamp operation, especially when the electric lamp is operated at a high frequency.
  • The invention has for its object inter alia to provide an electric lamp of a comparatively small length which causes a comparatively low degree of interference in the supply voltage mains during lamp operation.
  • According to the invention, this object is achieved in an electric lamp of the kind mentioned in the opening paragraph in that the further contact is formed by a band of conducting material around the lamp cap, which band directly adjoins the base at one side and adjoins a band of insulating material around the lamp cap at another side.
  • In the known electric lamp, the further contact extends over substantially the entire surface area of the lamp cap shell. Such a comparatively large surface area of the further contact causes a comparatively strong capacitive coupling between the further contact and the ballast means. In an electric lamp according to the invention, however, the size of the further contact is much smaller than in the known lamp. In addition, the further contact is arranged at a comparatively great distance from the space surrounded by the housing and from a major portion of the space surrounded by the lamp cap since this contact directly adjoins the base. This comparatively great distance and the considerably smaller size of the further contact have the result that the capacitive coupling between the ballast means and the further contact is much weaker. This leads to a considerable decrease of the interference in the supply voltage mains caused by the electric lamp during lamp operation. Especially when the ballast means comprise a circuit arrangement for generating a high-frequency current from the mains voltage, a comparatively strong decrease of the interference in the supply voltage mains was found.
  • The shell of the lamp cap of the known lamp is made from metal, so that the shell at the same time constitutes the further contact. Since the further contact of an electric lamp according to the invention, however, does not extend over substantially the entire external surface area of the lamp cap shell, but only over a comparatively small portion of the lamp cap, the idea suggests itself to manufacture the lamp cap from an insulating synthetic material and to provide the contact thereon. Since the housing of the electric lamp is also preferably manufactured from a synthetic material, it is possible to integrate the lamp cap and the housing of an electric lamp according to the invention into one component made of synthetic material. As a result, such a lamp comprises fewer components and the assembling costs of these lamp components are strongly reduced.
  • To increase the mechanical strength of the lamp cap of an electric lamp according to the invention, it is possible to form part of the surface of the shell from metal which is electrically insulated from the contacts.
  • Embodiments of the invention will be explained with reference to a drawing, in which
    • Fig. 1 shows two different embodiments of a lamp cap suitable for use in an electric lamp according to the invention;
    • Fig. 2 shows an electric lamp according to the invention in side elevation, partly in cross-section; and
    • Fig. 3 shows a frequency spectrum of the intensity of the interference in the supply mains caused by an electric lamp according to the invention and a frequency spectrum of the intensity of the interference in the supply mains caused by an electric lamp provided with a lamp cap whose shell was completely formed from metal.
  • The lamp caps shown in Figs. 1a and 1b are both of the Edison type. The shell is threaded for fastening the lamp cap in a lampholder. Metal parts of the lamp cap are shown in black and synthetic-resin parts in white. In both Figures, 5 denotes the base of the lamp cap, 1 denotes the first contact and 2 the further contact. The boundary between base and shell is indicated with a broken line. In Fig. 1a, the lamp cap has a shell 3. In Fig. 1b the shell 3 is formed by the band of insulating material around the lamp cap and the component 4 formed from metal which is electrically insulated from the first contact 1 and the further contact 2. Component 3 in both cases forms a integral unit with the base of the lamp cap. The lamp cap shown in Fig. 1b has an enhanced mechanical strength compared with the lamp cap shown in Fig. 1a. Although there is a certain degree of capacitive coupling between contact 2 and component 4 in a lamp cap as shown in Fig. 1b, practically no difference in the interference caused in the supply mains at an operating frequency of the order of 10 kHz was found between electric lamps provided with a lamp cap as shown in Fig. 1a and electric lamps provided with a lamp cap as shown in Fig. 1b.
  • It is obviously possible to apply the invention to lamp caps other than those of the Edison type such as, for example, bayonet type lamp caps.
  • In Fig. 2, components corresponding to the components of the lamp caps shown in Fig. 1 have the same reference numerals as in Fig. 1. Reference numeral 6 denotes the wall of the housing and A and B are boundary planes, indicated with broken lines, between the shell and the base of the lamp cap and between the lamp cap and the housing, respectively. It can be seen that the housing and the lamp cap have been integrated into one unit formed from synthetic resin. 7 denotes the space surrounded by the housing and the lamp cap in which ballast means, for example comprising a circuit arrangement for generating a high-frequency current for operating the light source, are accommodated (not shown in Fig. 2), and 8 denotes a discharge vessel which forms part of the light source, which is sealed in a gastight manner and which transmits radiation.
  • Fig. 3 shows two frequency spectra of the interference caused by two compact low-pressure mercury lamps of a power rating of 11 W in the supply mains. The low-pressure mercury lamps were operated at a frequency of 45 kHz. The power of the interference caused is indicated on the vertical axis in decibels. The frequency is plotted on the horizontal axis in MHz. It is also shown in both frequency spectra by means of the curve M how great the intensity of the interference caused is allowed to be at most according to the CISPR standard. The first lamp provided with a lamp cap of the Edison type whose shell was completely formed from metal yielded a frequency spectrum of the interference caused by the lamp in the supply mains as indicated in Fig. 3a. It is apparent that the maximum admissible interference is widely exceeded, especially in the frequency range from 300 kHz to 1 MHz. Fig. 3b shows the frequency spectrum of the interference generated in the supply mains by a lamp according to the invention. This second lamp was provided with a lamp cap as shown in Figs. 1a and 2. It is visible from Fig. 3b that the interference caused by a lamp according to the invention lies below the maximum admissible value throughout the entire frequency range.

Claims (4)

  1. An electric lamp comprising
    - a light source provided with a discharge vessel which is sealed in a gastight manner and which transmits radiation,
    - a lamp cap having a shell and a base,
    - a housing connected to the light source and to the lamp cap,
    - ballast means which are electrically connected to the light source for operating the light source and which are arranged at least partly in a space surrounded by the housing and the lamp cap, and
    - contacts which are connected with electrical conduction to the ballast means at least during lamp operation, one of said contacts being provided on the base and a further one on the shell,
    characterized in that the further contact is formed by a band of conducting material around the lamp cap, which band directly adjoins the base at one side and adjoins a band of insulating material around the lamp cap at another side.
  2. An electric lamp as claimed in Claim 1, characterized in that the ballast means comprise a circuit arrangement for generating a high-frequency lamp current from a supply voltage.
  3. An electric lamp as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the lamp cap and the housing are integrated into one component formed from synthetic resin.
  4. An electric lamp as claimed in Claim 1,2 or 3, characterized in that part of the surface of the shell is made of metal which is electrically insulated from the contacts.
EP19930202333 1992-08-10 1993-08-09 Electric lamp Expired - Lifetime EP0583034B1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP19930202333 EP0583034B1 (en) 1992-08-10 1993-08-09 Electric lamp

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP92202455 1992-08-10
EP92202455 1992-08-10
EP19930202333 EP0583034B1 (en) 1992-08-10 1993-08-09 Electric lamp

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0583034A1 true EP0583034A1 (en) 1994-02-16
EP0583034B1 EP0583034B1 (en) 1996-11-13

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EP19930202333 Expired - Lifetime EP0583034B1 (en) 1992-08-10 1993-08-09 Electric lamp

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Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE29706588U1 (en) * 1997-04-14 1997-07-31 Mass Technology (H.K.) Ltd., Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon Base for lamp
EP0975000A1 (en) * 1998-07-18 2000-01-26 Mass Technology (H.K.) Ltd. Electric lamp
US6384521B1 (en) * 1998-06-22 2002-05-07 U.S. Philips Corporation Electric lamp with a comparatively robust lamp cap

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4495443A (en) * 1984-01-27 1985-01-22 Cummings John H Compact fluorescent lamp combination, and method of making it
EP0156439A1 (en) * 1984-03-23 1985-10-02 Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. Electrical circuit arrangement for igniting and feeding a gas and/or vapour discharge tube

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4495443A (en) * 1984-01-27 1985-01-22 Cummings John H Compact fluorescent lamp combination, and method of making it
EP0156439A1 (en) * 1984-03-23 1985-10-02 Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. Electrical circuit arrangement for igniting and feeding a gas and/or vapour discharge tube

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE29706588U1 (en) * 1997-04-14 1997-07-31 Mass Technology (H.K.) Ltd., Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon Base for lamp
US6384521B1 (en) * 1998-06-22 2002-05-07 U.S. Philips Corporation Electric lamp with a comparatively robust lamp cap
EP0975000A1 (en) * 1998-07-18 2000-01-26 Mass Technology (H.K.) Ltd. Electric lamp
US6344708B1 (en) 1998-07-18 2002-02-05 Mass Technology (H. K.) Ltd. Energy saving lamp with plastic base

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0583034B1 (en) 1996-11-13

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