HU182678B - Gas discharge illuminator with cold electrode - Google Patents

Abstract

1. Gas discharge luminous element with cold electrodes the discharge vessel of which is filled with noble gas and/or mercury vapour, characterised in that at least one of the electrodes consists of an electrically conductive glass or is provided with a coating of electrically conductive glass.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a cold-electrode gas discharge luminaire whose efficiency is significantly higher than known devices used hitherto for the luminaire.

Luminaire is a building block widely used in both lighting and display technology (e.g., for advertising purposes, in general for light information purposes, and in particular for displaying instrument data). the quantity and quality of services that can be provided with a given luminaire, the reliability of the service and, last but not least, its impact on the investment and operating costs of a complete installation or network of such luminaires greatly determine the applicability of such luminaires.

One of the major disadvantages of the most widely used incandescent lamp in lighting technology is its poor efficiency in converting electricity into light. It is apparent from the known mechanism of operation of the filament lamp that no significant improvement is expected with respect to the currently available efficiency, generally around 3-5%, and that efficiency of the filament lamp is expected to continue to increase in the future. The thermal effect of the incandescent lamp, which is also the cause of the poor efficiency, has other disadvantages in application technology.

Cold-electrode gas discharge luminaires provide much more efficient efficiency, avoid other effects of heat generation, and better control over time-varying lighting effects than with incandescent bulbs. It is known, for example, that the widespread use of incandescent bulbs in display technology is limited by the fact that due to the long afterglow of the incandescent lamp, it can only produce some of the effects based on the inertia of the eye and with a heavy investment in building components and controls.

However, the theoretically achievable efficiency of cold-electrode gas discharge luminaires cannot be approximated by such devices of known design. The energy requirements of a noble gas discharge lamp vary greatly depending on the type, not only by the distance between the electrodes, but also by the charge pressure. The optimal efficiency would be to determine, based on the known relation, the optimum charge pressure that would provide ignition of the discharge chamber and to operate the discharge tube accordingly. In practice, however, higher filling pressures are required than known solutions. The electrodes arranged in the discharge chamber and the metal particles leaving them during operation absorb gas and the initially optimized charge pressure is reduced and the charge pressure required for continuous operation is not obtained. Therefore, more noble gas is usually injected into the discharge space than would in principle be necessary. Thus, the lifetime is slightly increased, but the power consumption of the plant is correspondingly increased, as is the load on the electrodes. Contamination in the tube also significantly reduces the activity of the lighting medium.

Efficiency, interpreted as the useful luminous power of a unit of electrical power, is further exacerbated by the light-absorbing effect of the light-deflecting devices and mechanical damage protection devices (cover plate, shroud) that may be used frequently. If, for example, they place the luminous body in a good light transmission protective envelope, although much of the light output is permeable to the bulb, it still absorbs a significant portion of the light energy.

The potential for efficiency improvement measures is limited by the fact that they must be selected taking into account the different requirements of the particular light fixture at the particular application site. Therefore, efficiency improvements pose very complex problems, and only a combination of these can achieve a satisfactory result; the main aim of the lighting development activity today is to convert the electricity used as operating expenditure into light energy with the least possible space and time.

The present invention is based on the discovery that optimum reduction of the operating expense of cold-electrode gas discharge luminaires can be achieved by excluding direct material contact between the discharge electrode excitation electrodes and the discharge medium by insulating the electrodes and the discharge medium with one another. which, under the operating conditions of a given discharge rain, is capable of conducting as a conductor the electrical energy discharged from the power source to the electrodes into the discharge space.

It is known that by using certain additives, glass can be transformed into an electrically conductive or semiconductor (hereinafter referred to as "conductive") medium. Such conductive glass has already been used in other applications. If the conductor glass of the cold-electrode discharge tube is conducting at least a portion of the peripheral surface, suitable for conducting an electron or ion current, there is no direct material contact between the electrode (s) and the discharge medium, yet electric space in the discharge space.

In the case of ionic energy transmission, the conductive glass, for example, may also form the entire envelope of the envelope of the high frequency powered luminaire. glass containing sodium oxide or lithium oxide. In the case of electronically transmitted energy, the section of the envelope between at least two adjacent electrodes to be connected to different potentials is made of non-conductive glass and the sections of the envelope which are at least individually contacted with the electrodes are made of conductive glass. Optionally, the electron beam-fed luminaire can also be made with a homogeneous conductive bulb if the power is contacted with a high frequency and single external electrode while the opposite potential is represented by the outside airspace.

As used herein, a high frequency indicator is understood to be a frequency higher than the network.

-2182678

The effect of the present invention can also be achieved by making the electrode protruding through the non-conductive envelope into the discharge space - or arranged inside the envelope - rather than by partially or completely conductive glass. These two variants can be combined: while at least part of the bulb is made of conductive glass, · the metal conductor introduced into the bulb is coated with conductive glass.

The luminaire of the invention can be charged at optimum charge pressure; there is no interaction between the electrode and the discharge medium that influences the pressure conditions of the space, the operating efficiency is significantly improved by a design that does not place an additional constraint on the designer seeking different designs for different services, so the features of the invention they can be combined with a number of other features, and these combinations partially allow the effect of the invention to work with known additional effects, and optionally, the interaction of the combined measures provides a result that is not possible with known cold-electrode gas discharge luminaires.

It also follows from the foregoing that complete isolation of the electrode from the discharge medium not only improves efficiency but also extends the lifetime of the discharge system accordingly. Furthermore, the fact that the value of the ignition voltage and operating current is reduced not only results in efficiency and lifetime, but also creates more favorable conditions in the field of construction (dimensions, choice of material quality, geometry, etc.).

It is also possible to apply a substantially conductive coating (metal oxide) to the inner wall of the partially conductive glass envelope by immersing the conductive metal oxide in a substrate known per se which does not allow the metal oxide particles to diffuse under vacuum, but still does not inhibit the electrical conductivity of the metal oxide.

The luminaire may have a transparent enclosed shield or baffle wall (s) in the vicinity of the discharge envelope, along the envelope or part of the envelope, for protection and / or deflection. form.

If the envelope of the luminaire with the outer covering body is made of a material that not only transmits visible light, but also, for example, even the ultraviolet rays, the illuminating surface can be further increased by applying (applying) luminescent material to the material or the inner surface of the shield or covering body.

The luminaires of the present invention can also take advantage of the feature of cold-electrode gas discharge luminaires in that their shape can be varied in many ways. The shape of the discharge chamber (tube) sail, e.g. select the image to be displayed or the alphanumeric character, and the discharge will display a properly shaped image. Even better, we can match the shape to be displayed and / or the desired coloring of the shape if. in the envelope formed according to the enclosing image, more than one discharge cells are formed which are isolated from one another in terms of galvanic electrical conductivity. Depending on the actual shape and other operating conditions, this may be accomplished by arranging or configuring two electrodes per cell and by providing a luminaire with one central electrode and one counter electrode per cell. There is also an arrangement in which one electrode is preferably arranged per cell r and cascades to form the counter electrode of each of the two adjacent electrodes, whereby a discharge arc is formed between each of the two adjacent electrodes.

The luminaire according to the invention can be operated with a desired powder effect by means of a powder coating.

If the luminaire is multicellular, the inner surface of the bulb may be coated with a powder of the same color throughout the cells, whereby the division into the cells serves only the better representation of the shape or the time-independent representation of the parts. Different coatings may be used, or the same color applied to some of the cells.

Based on the above, the glass and vacuum technician, using the conductive glass literature, will be able to select the additives that will provide the conductivity properties best suited to the particular application, as a material for the (part of) the bulb, as well as for the electrode coating. With the help of literature on cold-electrode gas discharge tubes, you can design a variety of luminaires of the most suitable shape and quality for your application. However, the applicability of the invention will now be illustrated in more detail by a few examples.

Common raw materials for glass production are sand, soda, sodium sulphate, limestone flour, dolomite flour, boric acid, potash, various metal oxides and glass tile. The oxide-containing glass vase is called the so-called glass vase. network modifiers, the network modifiers are located in the cavities of the skeleton. Networking eg. silica and boric acid. The network modifier may be e.g. an oxide of an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal.

Oxides of magnesium, lead, aluminum can be used as both networking and network modifying agents.

The positions of the network-forming ions and the oxygen ions are fixed relative to one another, but under certain conditions the modifying ions move along the path of adjacent cavities under the influence of electric space.

In this way e.g. increasing the sodium content may increase the conductivity of the glass. Growth is relatively slow until the sodium content is below 4%, and at higher values, growth is accelerated.

Ion movement can be improved by the intake of silver, it plays a role. it also affects iron, cobalt, nickel, magnesium, barium and lead in energy transfer, depending on the specific composition at any given time. Ion Conductor-3182678

As 8 picture glass eg. applicable to the following composition:

21.5% Na ₂ , 6.5% CaO, 72% SiO ₂ ;

28% Li ₂ , 3% Ca ₂ O, 4% La ₂ O ₃ , 65% SiO ₂ ;

55% SiO ₂ , 6.5% Al ₂ O ₃ , 11.4% B ₂ O ₃ , 27.1% LiCO ₃ .

For some types of glass, the alkali metal oxide content must be increased to achieve maximum conductivity, ZnO or MgO may be used as divalent metal oxides, and CaO and PbO should be avoided. The effect of an oxide on the conductivity of the glass depends on the amount of oxide and the composition of the parent glass. For this purpose, various elements of Groups III, IV, V and VI of the Periodic Table may be selected.

In the absence of impurity sodium ions, the covalent bonds of the oxide layer can make the glass conductive. In some cases, the ionic bonding additives introduced into the silicate glasses increase the electron conductivity. A similar phenomenon occurs when the glass contains ions of variable valencies. With a content of 10% iron oxide or vanadium oxide (vanadate), silica glass may already be suitable for electron conducting. Example composition of electronically conductive glass:

3% B ₂ O ₃ , 3% PbO, 7% Sb., O ₅ , 65% V ₂ O ₅ , 22%

H ₃ PO ₄ . sulfur, phosphorus, tellurium, selenium, germanium can become good electrically conductive conductors in glassy state.

Pure electron conduction can be achieved with glass alloyed with chalcogenide elements. Two, three or more components can be used.

Example:

26.6% S, 40.1% As, 33.3% Se.

The embodiment of the discharge arm (s) is illustrated in some exemplary embodiments, including the exemplary design of the glass coating of the electrodes.

Figure 1 is a schematic top view of a four-cell light source having a common gas space. Figure 2 is a schematic side elevational view of an array-powered, mains-powered light source. Figure 3 illustrates the coating of the electrode with conductive glass; Figure 4 illustrates the design of the outer electrode. Fig. 5 shows a luminaire made of a non-conductive glass envelope and two conductive glass hemispheres soldered thereto between the two electrodes; Figure 6 illustrates a solution in which the material of the bulb is also conductive glass and furthermore a transparent conductive coating is formed inside or outside the bulb; Figure 7 shows examples of the shape-dependent arrangement of the electrodes.

As shown in Figure 1, the bulb 11 is divided by four partition walls so that the entire interior of the luminaire is filled in by the discharge medium as it passes through them. At the center of gravity of the fitting where the partition walls 12 meet, there is a central electrode in the gap between the ends of the walls 12 and a cell electrode 14 in each of the four cells. Each cell has a coating 15 of a different color powder on the inner wall of the bulb 11. The terminals of the cell electrodes 14 are connected to the corresponding terminals of the electronic ordering switch (not shown), thus allowing the cells to be sequentially activated according to the chosen light play, while of course one or more cells can be controlled simultaneously.

The outer contour of the bulb 21 shown in Fig. 2 is similar to that of the bulb 11 of Fig. 1, but with a single discharge space formed by two electrodes 22 having a relatively large surface area. The depicted surface ratios of the discharge space and the electrodes 22 correctly illustrate the conditions under which the luminous power source of the present invention operates as an illuminating source with the effects of the invention. Fig. 3a shows a bulb 31 of the luminaire, an electrode 32 which is gas-permeable through its wall and covered by a conductive glass coating 34 on its projection 31. This coating 34 is soldered in cross sections 33 to the material 31 of the envelope. The coated electrode 32 is shown in Fig. 3 / b in its ready-to-solder state.

The so-called prior art known in the art. The corresponding illuminating body according to the invention differs from the external electrode discharge lamp in that the part of the all-envelope (Fig. 4) which is in contact with the outer electrode 42 (electrode wire according to the embodiment shown) is made of conductive glass. Figure 4a shows the non-conductive glass envelope portion 411 and the conductive glass envelope portion 412 before soldering, and Figure 4b shows the cross-section 43 already soldered in the assembled condition 41. Also shown is a coating 44 made with the appropriate light powder.

Figure 5 illustrates an embodiment in which the luminaire is powered by two outer electrodes 521 and 522 made of conductive glass 511 and 512, one of the hemispheres 511 with one of the electrodes 521 and the other of the hemispheres 512 with the other 522 The two halves 511 and 512 are soldered together by non-conductive sheaths 53 on both sides of the cross-sections 54 to form a gas-tight sheath 51. Fig. 5a illustrates the semi-envelopes 511 and 512 and the sheath 53 with a powder coating 55 on the inner surfaces prior to soldering; Figure 5b shows the mounted luminaire.

Fig. 6 is a schematic diagram of a luminaire in two embodiments powered by two outer electrodes 621 and 622, the portions 611 and 612 of the bulb 61 carrying electrodes 621 and 622 made of conductive glass and the portions 61 of cylindrical rain 613 made of non-conductive glass. are soldered on two sides in the cross sections 64. It can be seen that the conventional glass tube 613 extends over most of the cylindrical section of the globe 55, much longer than the shell 53 shown in Figure 5. The effectiveness of the coupling here is not ensured by the conductive glass extending nearly the entire longitudinal axis, but by the fact that 613 tubes made of conventional glass are outside (Fig. 6a) or inside (Fig. 6b).

-4182678 is provided with a transparent electrically conductive coating 63 such that it is galvanically coupled to only one external electrode 621 or 622 and insulated from the other electrode 622 or 621 to prevent short circuits. In Fig. 6 / a, this is accomplished by coating from only one of the electrodes 621 along almost the entire length of the tube 613, while in Fig. 6 / b, the two electrodes 621 and 622 are coupled over similarly sized surfaces because both electrodes 621 and 622 have a coating extending along a respective section of tube 613 with an insulating section between them in the middle of tube 613.

Figure 7 illustrates how splitting a common media space into multiple discharge cells serves to better display the current graphical representation, whether regular or irregular. Fig. 7a shows a comb, Fig. 7b shows a T-piece, and Figs 7c shows an A-shape, the walls of the envelopes 711, 712, 713 enclosing an ionization space 73 in which they are surrounded by the extremes of the homogeneous sections ( that is to say, the electrode arranged at any point in the electrode 72, which is capable of producing a discharge to the extreme point due to known gas discharge conditions, can ensure that the arc discharge follows the line of the die.

The illustrations are exemplary; Obviously, the conductive glass parts of the envelopes of the luminaires of the invention and the conductive glass electrode coatings can be made in many variations and embodiments, both in material quality and shape, without departing from the spirit of the invention. The luminaires of the present invention can be designed as light bulbs, light bulbs, as a special dark chamber lamp, or as building blocks of light dot matrices displaying TV or movie programs. The invention can be used to produce a large area illuminated panel, slide projector, x-ray screen, indicator light, numeric display, either from a network, from a battery, or from a separate AC power source.

It is expedient to increase the illuminating surface by pouring light sources into a transparent or translucent frame, so that with an army of elementary light sources of a few mm or a few cm, a homogeneous illuminating surface can be obtained uniformly in all parts and on all sides.

Similarly, a luminaire (army) displaying a caption, figure, numeric display. This not only expands the field of application, but also achieves the aesthetic effect achieved. Instead of pouring it can be used eg. a pre-drawn or cast glass pane configured with a number and arrangement of cavities for the luminaires with an evacuating passageway that can be subsequently closed, through which passage the respective cavity is first covered with the appropriate light powder, then evacuated and soldered, filled with a suitable discharge medium to the specified charge pressure.

Pouring materials, glass panels can also be properly colored, if necessary, using a dye or fluorescent material, either mixed into or coated with the body material.

It goes without saying, hog ⁷ The coating can also be coated with long afterglow light powder. Thus, even in the case of intermittent excitation and in a mode adapted to the inertia of the eye, the feeling of continuous illumination can be evoked by the even better utilization of superimposed energy.

Claims (15)

Cold-electrode luminaire, the envelope of which is filled with noble gas and / or mercury vapor, characterized in that at least a portion of the envelope of the envelope (11, 21, 31, 41, 51, 61) has a so-called electronic or ionic composition. made up of conductive glass. Luminaire according to claim 1, characterized in that the bulb is made entirely of conductive glass. Luminaire according to claim 1, characterized in that the sheath (53) forming a section of the sheath (51) between two adjacent electrodes (521, 522) to be connected to different potentials is made of non-conductive glass and (51) at least a portion, e.g. the two half-shells (511, 512) soldered to the sheath (53) along a single cross-section (54) made of conductive glass. 4. Luminaire according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the conductive glass is made of sodium (oxide), lithium (oxide) or vanadate. 5. Luminaire according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the electrode (s) (32) arranged in the bulb (31) and which extend through the bulb (31) are coated with glass which conductivity additives - e.g. contains sodium oxide, lithium oxide or vanadate -} 6. Luminaire according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the wall (61) of the bulb (61), or at least a part thereof, is provided with a coating (63) comprising a metal or metal oxide in a conductivity distribution in an anti-diffusion support. 7. I-6. Luminaire according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that an outer covering body is provided along the periphery of the bulb (11, 21, 31, 41, 51, 61) defining the discharge area, which is a transparent closed protective cover or a deflector wall (11). ka) t and mine (s) respectively. 8. Luminaire according to claim 7, characterized in that the material of the covering body or the coating of its peripheral surface comprises a luminescent material. 9. Figures 1-8. Luminaire according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it 'comprises more than one gas discharge cell which is isolated from one another in terms of galvanic electrical conductivity. Luminaire according to claim 9, characterized in that each gas discharge cell is formed with a light powder, which may be different from one cell to another, preferably as a coating (15) on the inner surface of the bulb (11). color, or at least part of the cells. 11. Embodiment according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that two electrodes are arranged or formed per cell. 12. Luminaire according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the cells have a common discharge space for each cell and a common discharge space, e.g. it has a central electrode (13) and a cell electrode (14) per cell. 13. The cut 9. A luminaire as ^seven claim 10 embodiment wherein hogj ⁷ the lamp envelope (711, 712, 713) surrounding corresponding to the enlarged display Beams and fitting homogeneous phases of the extremities of an electrode (72) is arranged. 14. Luminaire according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the cells are so-called. after a long time they are covered with light-colored powder. 15. An embodiment of a luminaire according to any one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that it is designed to operate at a higher frequency than the network.