EP1705691B1 - Electrodeless fluorescent lamp and its operating device - Google Patents

Electrodeless fluorescent lamp and its operating device Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1705691B1
EP1705691B1 EP05726203.2A EP05726203A EP1705691B1 EP 1705691 B1 EP1705691 B1 EP 1705691B1 EP 05726203 A EP05726203 A EP 05726203A EP 1705691 B1 EP1705691 B1 EP 1705691B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
amalgam
bulb
fluorescent lamp
induction coil
electrodeless fluorescent
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.)
Ceased
Application number
EP05726203.2A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP1705691A4 (en
EP1705691A1 (en
Inventor
Kouji MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC WORKS LTD. HIRAMATSU
Atsunori MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC WORKS LTD. OKADA
Shigeki MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC WORKS LTD. MATSUO
Shinji MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC WORKS LTD. HIZUMA
Kazuhiko MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC WORKS LTD. SAKAI
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.)
Panasonic Corp
Original Assignee
Panasonic Corp
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Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Panasonic Corp filed Critical Panasonic Corp
Publication of EP1705691A1 publication Critical patent/EP1705691A1/en
Publication of EP1705691A4 publication Critical patent/EP1705691A4/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1705691B1 publication Critical patent/EP1705691B1/en
Ceased 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
    • H01J61/24—Means for obtaining or maintaining the desired pressure within the vessel
    • H01J61/28—Means for producing, introducing, or replenishing gas or vapour during operation of the lamp
    • 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
    • H01J65/048—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 an excitation coil

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an electrodeless fluorescent lamp and a lighting apparatus thereof.
  • an electrodeless fluorescent lamp no electrode is provided in a bulb which is made of a glass, so that non-lighting due to blowout of electrode or erosion of emitter (thermo-electronic emission material) may not occur, and thereby, it has a characteristic of longer operating life in comparison with a general fluorescent lamp in which a pair of electrodes is arranged in a glass tube.
  • FIG. 3 A constitution of a conventional electrodeless fluorescent lamp which is, for example, shown in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 7-272688 is shown in FIG. 3 .
  • This electrodeless fluorescent lamp has a bulb 20 formed of a transparent material such as a glass, and into which a rare gas and a metal (for example, mercury) that can be vaporized are filled.
  • An outer shape of the bulb 20 is a rotation symmetric body of substantially spherical, and a cavity 21 of substantially cylindrical shape is formed around an axis of the rotation symmetry.
  • a fluorescent material film 22 is formed on an inner wall of the bulb 20.
  • a high frequency electromagnetic field occurs in the bulb 20 by applying a high frequency current to the induction coil 24 from a high frequency power source 25 through cables 26, so that rare gas filled in the bulb 20 discharges electricity due to the high frequency electromagnetic field.
  • the bulb 20 is heated by the electric discharge, and thereby mercury is evaporated (vaporized), and mercury vapor is further excited in a discharge space of the bulb 20, so that ultra-violet rays are emitted. Ultra-violet rays are further converted to visible lights with the fluorescent material film 22 formed on the inner wall of the bulb 20.
  • an amalgam comprised of an alloy of a base substance metal and mercury is enclosed in the bulb for a purpose of getting stable quantity of light in a broad temperature environment.
  • Mercury vapor pressure in the discharge space is controlled with saturated vapor pressure at a temperature of a point where the amalgam is disposed. If the temperature of the base substance metal is constant, mercury vapor pressure in the discharge space does not vary. However, there are going out and coming in of mercury on a surface of the amalgam even in the saturated state, so that evaporation and liquefaction of mercury are repeated.
  • the electrodeless fluorescent lamp when the electrodeless fluorescent lamp has been lighted for a long time, mercury included in the amalgam is consumed, and an amount of mercury corresponding to the consumption is evaporated from the surface of the amalgam and supplied to the discharge space.
  • a quantity of the amalgam enclosed in the bulb is generally several tens to several hundreds mg, and a rate of content of mercury is several %.
  • an amount of mercury necessary for maintaining the mercury vapor pressure in the discharge space is several _g, there is enough amount of mercury for consumption.
  • the electrodeless fluorescent lamp when the electrodeless fluorescent lamp is lighted under a state where the temperature in the bulb is not sufficiently increased such as for use in cool-temperature environment or in dimming lighting, or when the amalgam is enclosed at a position where the temperature is lower in the bulb, the temperature of the amalgam may be lower and the amalgam may be in solid-phase even though the electrodeless fluorescent lamp is lighted.
  • mercury may evaporate from the surface of the amalgam to be supplied as mercury consumed in the discharge space.
  • the amalgam since the amalgam is in solid-phase, diffusion of mercury is slower, and suppliance of mercury from inside to surface of the amalgam needs long time. Thus, mercury on the surface of the amalgam which is to be supplied to the discharge space becomes insufficient, and output of light of the electrodeless fluorescent lamp may be deteriorated.
  • US 5 773 926 A discloses an electrodeless fluorescent RF lamp which includes a bulbous lamp envelope with a top, a bottom and a fil of rare gas and vaporizable amalgam therein.
  • a reentrant cavity is disposed adjacent the bottom of the envelope and at least one tubulation extends from the envelope to hold at least a portion of the vaporizable amalgam.
  • An induction coil is disposed on lead wires and coupled with a radio frequency exitation generator for generation of a plasma to produce radiation.
  • EP 1 050 897 A discloses an electrodeless fluorescent lamp whereby a ferrite core is utilized to generate magnetic and electric fields to maintain the discharge, and wherein a specific core material of Mn-Zn combination is used which is added to Fe203 base to obtain favorable grain boundary and crystalline structure.
  • US 2001/000941 A1 discloses an electrodeless lamp including an envelope containing a fill of discharge gas, a magnetic core, an induction coil wound around the magnetic core, a driver circuit for supplying an electric current to the induction coil, a socket for receiving electrical power, and heat conduction means for conducting heat gnerated in the magnetic core.
  • a purpose of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problem and to provide an electrodeless fluorescent lamp and a lighting apparatus thereof with which enough quantity of metal vapor can be supplied to a discharge space in a bulb from an amalgam, even when the electrodeless fluorescent lamp is lighted in a state where the temperature in the bulb is not increased sufficiently such as for use in cool-temperature environment or in dimming lighting.
  • the amalgam becomes the mixture of liquid-phase and solid-phase because the amalgam is heated, so that mercury can be evaporated from a surface of the amalgam and enough amount of mercury can be supplied to the discharge space in the bulb. Consequently, deterioration of light output of the electrodeless fluorescent lamp due to insufficiency of mercury on the surface of the amalgam which is to be supplied to the discharge space can be prevented.
  • an electrodeless fluorescent lamp and a lighting apparatus thereof in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention are described with reference to drawing.
  • an amalgam is heated to be mixture of liquid-phase and solid-phase even when the electrodeless fluorescent lamp is lighted under a state where a temperature in a bulb is not increased sufficiently such as for use in cool-temperature environment or in dimming lighting, so that deterioration of light output of the electrodeless fluorescent lamp is prevented with evaporation of mercury from a surface of the amalgam and suppliance of enough amount of mercury to a discharge space in the bulb, as mentioned above.
  • the electrodeless fluorescent lamp in accordance with this embodiment is constituted by a lamp unit 1 and a power coupler unit 10, and the lamp unit 1 is detachably attached to the power coupler unit 10.
  • the lamp unit 1 has a bulb 2 formed of a transparent material such as a glass, and a ferule 3 of a substantially tubular shape fixed on a neck portion of the bulb 2.
  • An outer shape of the bulb 2 is rotation symmetry of a substantially spherical shape, and a cavity 4 of a tubular shape having a bottom is formed around an axis of the rotation symmetry.
  • a tubular shaped body serving as the cavity 4 is adhered to a substantially spherical shaped body which is formed to be opened at a bottom of a neck portion, so as to close the bottom of the neck portion and to protrude inwardly toward the inside of the bulb 2.
  • a ventilation pipe 5 is further adhered on the bottom of the tubular shaped body so as to be coaxial with the center axis of the tubular shaped body.
  • the inside of the bulb 2 is communicated with an exterior through the ventilation pipe 5, so that air in the inside of the bulb 2 is exhausted and a rare gas (for example, argon gas) is filled into the inside of the bulb 2 through the ventilation pipe 5.
  • a rare gas for example, argon gas
  • a fluorescent material film 6 is formed on inner peripheral faces of the bulb 2 (an inner peripheral surface of the substantially spherical shaped body and an outer peripheral surface of the substantially cylindrical shaped body (SIC)) with spreading a fluorescent material. Then, the inside of the bulb 2 serves as a discharge space.
  • Material of the ventilation pipe 5 is not limited in particular, it, however, is preferable to be formed of a material, which has a higher thermal conductivity than that of a glass, such as a metal or a ceramic (for example, aluminum oxide, aluminum nitride, boron nitride, silicon carbide, silicon nitride, beryllium oxide).
  • a metal or a ceramic for example, aluminum oxide, aluminum nitride, boron nitride, silicon carbide, silicon nitride, beryllium oxide.
  • the metal container 7 is formed in a shape of capsule inside of which is hollowed, and through-holes (not illustrated) are formed on a side face thereof.
  • the amalgam is contained in the inside of the metal container 7, and mercury goes out from and comes into a surface of the amalgam through the through-holes.
  • the amalgam contains mercury at component proportion of 3.5% to base substance metal consisting of an alloying with, for example, bismuth and indium.
  • a flag 9a to which a metallic compound (for example, hydration cesium) having a small work function is applied, is fixed at another end portion of the supporting member 9 drawn from the ventilation pipe 5 toward the inside space of the bulb 2.
  • the metallic compound applied to the flag 9a bears a function for increasing a number of electrons at starting up of the electrodeless fluorescent lamp.
  • the power coupler unit 10 comprises a heat radiation cylinder 11 of substantially cylindrical shape and having an outward flange portion 11a formed at a lower end thereof, a cylindrical ferrite core 12 fixed on an upper end face of the heat radiation cylinder 11, and the induction coil 13 wound around an outer periphery of the ferrite core 12. Then, as shown in FIG. 1A , the power coupler unit 10 is attached to the lamp unit 1 in a manner so that the ventilation pipe 5 is inserted into an inside of the ferrite core 12, the heat radiation cylinder 11, the ferrite core 12 and the induction coil 13 of the power coupler unit 10 are fit into the cavity 4 of the lamp unit 1. In a state that the power coupler unit 10 is attached to the lamp unit 1, as shown in FIG. 2 , the metal container 7 containing the amalgam is located between an upper end A and a bottom end B of the induction coil 13 inside the induction coil 13.
  • the metal container 7 containing the amalgam Since the metal container 7 containing the amalgam is located inside the induction coil 13 in the ventilation pipe 5, that is, in the vicinity of a position where electric discharge occurs in the inside space of the bulb 2, the amalgam contained in the metal container 7 is heated by heat generation of the induction coil 13 or heat generation due to electric discharge under a state that the induction coil 13 is energized, that is, in a state that the electrodeless fluorescent lamp is lighted. Therefore, the amalgam can easily become a mixture of liquid-phase and solid-phase.
  • the temperature of the amalgam in the metal container 7 is increased during a relatively short time, and the amalgam becomes the mixture of liquid-phase and solid-phase, so that mercury can be evaporated from a surface of the amalgam for supplying mercury consumed in the discharge space.
  • the induction coil 13 of the power coupler unit 10 is connected to a lighting apparatus 15 which comprises a high frequency power source, and a high-frequency current (for example, a sinusoidal current of frequency 130 kHz) is applied to the induction coil 13 from the high frequency power source. Thereby, electric discharge occurs in the discharge space inside the bulb 2, and the electrodeless fluorescent lamp is lighted.
  • a high-frequency current for induction heating is superimposed on an output current of the high frequency power source with applying amplitude modulation of high frequency (for example, 500 kHz), according to need. According to the superimposed high frequency current, it is possible to heat the metal container 7 directly by induction heating with high frequency magnetic field generated in the induction coil 13.
  • the amalgam contained in the metal container 7 can be heated with induction heating of the metal container, so that the amalgam can become the mixture of liquid-phase and solid-phase, and can easily be maintained in such state.
  • the metal container 7 is located inside the induction coil 13, the induction heating can be performed effectively. Since mercury is easily diffused in liquid-phase, it is possible to maintain enough amount of mercury on the surface of the amalgam for supplying mercury vapor to the discharge space.
  • timing and term for superimposing the high frequency current for induction heating on the output current of the high frequency power source is mot limited in particular, it may be performed in, for example, a constant term from starting up of lighting of the electrodeless fluorescent lamp, or it may be performed when a detected temperature of a sensor is equal to or lower than a predetermined threshold with using the sensor such as a thermistor.
  • the electrodeless fluorescent lamp in accordance with the present invention is not limited to the above mentioned embodiment. It is sufficient to comprise: a bulb formed of a transparent material, into which a rare gas and a metal which can be vaporized are filled, and having a cavity protruding inward; a tubular shaped portion formed in the cavity that an inside thereof is communicated to an inside of the bulb; a fluorescent material film formed on an inner wall of the bulb; an induction coil wound around a periphery of the tubular portion along an axial direction and contained in the cavity; an amalgam containing the metal and disposed in the tubular portion; and a heating means for heating the amalgam so that the amalgam becomes a mixture of liquid-phase and solid-phase in a state where electric discharge occurs in a discharge space inside the bulb.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Electromagnetism (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Plasma & Fusion (AREA)
  • Discharge Lamps And Accessories Thereof (AREA)
  • Non-Portable Lighting Devices Or Systems Thereof (AREA)
EP05726203.2A 2004-01-05 2005-01-05 Electrodeless fluorescent lamp and its operating device Ceased EP1705691B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP2004000557A JP4258380B2 (ja) 2004-01-05 2004-01-05 無電極蛍光ランプ及びその点灯装置
PCT/JP2005/000014 WO2005067002A1 (ja) 2004-01-05 2005-01-05 無電極蛍光ランプ及びその点灯装置

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1705691A1 EP1705691A1 (en) 2006-09-27
EP1705691A4 EP1705691A4 (en) 2007-11-28
EP1705691B1 true EP1705691B1 (en) 2013-05-01

Family

ID=34746953

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP05726203.2A Ceased EP1705691B1 (en) 2004-01-05 2005-01-05 Electrodeless fluorescent lamp and its operating device

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1705691B1 (ja)
JP (1) JP4258380B2 (ja)
WO (1) WO2005067002A1 (ja)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20140145617A1 (en) * 2012-11-26 2014-05-29 Lucidity Lights, Inc. Dimmable induction rf fluorescent lamp with reduced electromagnetic interference

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JP2008053178A (ja) * 2006-08-28 2008-03-06 Matsushita Electric Works Ltd 無電極放電灯装置及び照明器具
JP4844444B2 (ja) * 2007-03-27 2011-12-28 パナソニック電工株式会社 無電極放電ランプ及びそれを用いた照明器具
US9305765B2 (en) 2012-11-26 2016-04-05 Lucidity Lights, Inc. High frequency induction lighting
US9129792B2 (en) 2012-11-26 2015-09-08 Lucidity Lights, Inc. Fast start induction RF fluorescent lamp with reduced electromagnetic interference
US10529551B2 (en) 2012-11-26 2020-01-07 Lucidity Lights, Inc. Fast start fluorescent light bulb
US9524861B2 (en) 2012-11-26 2016-12-20 Lucidity Lights, Inc. Fast start RF induction lamp
US8872426B2 (en) 2012-11-26 2014-10-28 Lucidity Lights, Inc. Arrangements and methods for triac dimming of gas discharge lamps powered by electronic ballasts
US8975829B2 (en) 2013-04-25 2015-03-10 Lucidity Lights, Inc. RF induction lamp with isolation system for air-core power coupler
US9129791B2 (en) 2012-11-26 2015-09-08 Lucidity Lights, Inc. RF coupler stabilization in an induction RF fluorescent light bulb
US9245734B2 (en) 2012-11-26 2016-01-26 Lucidity Lights, Inc. Fast start induction RF fluorescent lamp with burst-mode dimming
US10141179B2 (en) 2012-11-26 2018-11-27 Lucidity Lights, Inc. Fast start RF induction lamp with metallic structure
US8941304B2 (en) 2012-11-26 2015-01-27 Lucidity Lights, Inc. Fast start dimmable induction RF fluorescent light bulb
US9460907B2 (en) 2012-11-26 2016-10-04 Lucidity Lights, Inc. Induction RF fluorescent lamp with load control for external dimming device
US9209008B2 (en) 2012-11-26 2015-12-08 Lucidity Lights, Inc. Fast start induction RF fluorescent light bulb
US8901842B2 (en) 2013-04-25 2014-12-02 Lucidity Lights, Inc. RF induction lamp with ferrite isolation system
US20140375203A1 (en) 2012-11-26 2014-12-25 Lucidity Lights, Inc. Induction rf fluorescent lamp with helix mount
EP2923373A4 (en) * 2012-11-26 2016-09-07 Lucidity Lights Inc RF INDUCTION FLUORESCENT LAMP
US9161422B2 (en) 2012-11-26 2015-10-13 Lucidity Lights, Inc. Electronic ballast having improved power factor and total harmonic distortion
KR101387080B1 (ko) * 2013-05-30 2014-04-18 (주)화신이앤비 무전극 램프
USD745982S1 (en) 2013-07-19 2015-12-22 Lucidity Lights, Inc. Inductive lamp
USD746490S1 (en) 2013-07-19 2015-12-29 Lucidity Lights, Inc. Inductive lamp
USD745981S1 (en) 2013-07-19 2015-12-22 Lucidity Lights, Inc. Inductive lamp
USD747507S1 (en) 2013-08-02 2016-01-12 Lucidity Lights, Inc. Inductive lamp
USD747009S1 (en) 2013-08-02 2016-01-05 Lucidity Lights, Inc. Inductive lamp
JP6530455B2 (ja) * 2017-08-28 2019-06-12 プロライト株式会社 電源装置
USD854198S1 (en) 2017-12-28 2019-07-16 Lucidity Lights, Inc. Inductive lamp
US10236174B1 (en) 2017-12-28 2019-03-19 Lucidity Lights, Inc. Lumen maintenance in fluorescent lamps

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JP2000340380A (ja) * 1999-05-26 2000-12-08 Matsushita Electric Works Ltd 無電極放電灯点灯装置
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* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20140145617A1 (en) * 2012-11-26 2014-05-29 Lucidity Lights, Inc. Dimmable induction rf fluorescent lamp with reduced electromagnetic interference

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO2005067002A1 (ja) 2005-07-21
JP2005197031A (ja) 2005-07-21
EP1705691A4 (en) 2007-11-28
EP1705691A1 (en) 2006-09-27
JP4258380B2 (ja) 2009-04-30

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