IE65581B1 - Fluorescent lighting system - Google Patents

Description

This invention relates to fluorescent type lighting systems.

Fluorescent lighting systems are well known. In general, conventional fluorescent lighting systems comprise a fluorescent lighting tube containing a mixture of noble gases such as neon, argon, and possibly a secondary gas such as mercury, and provided with a pair of filament electrodes which are coated with a material having the property of readily emitting electrons when heated. When electrical current is introduced such filaments heat up and emit electrons with the filaments alternatively acting as an anode and a cathode. In such prior art fluorescent tubes, extremely high voltages between the electrodes are required in order to initiate the noble gas discharge. Thus, such prior art fluorescent lighting systems require high initial input of electrical energy and further necessitate the use of starters and ballasts for initiation of the self-sustaining discharge. Utilisation of such systems provides for a complicated system and increases the cost expenditures for production of such systems.

Also in general, conventional fluorescent lighting systems require a fluorescent tube which is linearly or arcuately extended and which is of a specified diameter. The diameters for such fluorescent tubes are selected for efficient operation. Thus, such prior art fluorescent tubes are restricted in their design as a function of operation efficiency.

In conventional fluorescent type lighting tubes, during each cycle of operation, the electrons flow in a single direction creating a concentration at one end of the prior art fluorescent tube which allows ions to recombine on the wall of the tube with the electrons they capture, and instead of recombining to produce radiation, energy is lost on the wall of the tube. Thus, such prior art systems provide for a limitation as to the minimum diameter since a very small diameter would increase the occurrence of the recombination of electrons with ions without the production of ultraviolet radiation.

Prior art fluorescent type systems are also limited in operating efficiency due to the re-absorption of ultraviolet radiation by the metallic gas composition material. As photons of ultraviolet radiation are emitted with the collision of electrons and ions, the photons may be attenuated by the metallic gas. Thus, the limitation is related to the distance that the photons must travel and this in effect limits the maximum diameter of such prior art fluorescent lighting systems. The re-absorption is a function of both the distance that the photons must travel and the gas pressure within the fluorescent lighting tubes.

This invention is more particularly concerned with a fluorescent lighting device of the electrodeless type comprising: an outer bulb translucent to visible light and coated internally with a fluorescent coating capable of converting ultraviolet radiation impinging thereon into visible light; an ionizable inert gas composition contained within the bulb and capable of emitting the ultraviolet radiation when bombarded with electrons; means for generating electrons within the bulb and accelerating the electrons into the inert gas composition to generate the ultraviolet light, the electron generating and accelerating means comprising a toroidal coil for generating an enclosed magnetic field, an induced electric field substantially parallel and in the same direction as the enclosed magnetic field and a radiating electric field orthogonal to the enclosed magnetic field, the magnetic field and induced electric field being produced at substantially the same frequency for accelerating and directing the electrons for collision with the gas composition.

Such a device is known from Figures 1 to 6 of patent specification US-A-4171503. In that device, the inert gas fills the bulb and the coil is in the inert gas in the bulb. The device therefore suffers from the reabsorption problem and also radiates an electric field.

The device according to the present invention is characterised by a hollow, solid-walled toroid which is within the outer bulb, which encloses the ionizable inert gas composition, and about which the toroidal coil is wound; and an electrostatic shield member located within the bulb and substantially encompassing the toroidal coil for containing the radiating electric field.

Thus, any metallic gas in the gas composition can be confined with the toroid, and the shield reduces any radiated electric field.

Preferably, the ionizable inert gas composition is totally enclosed within the toroid, and preferably also the space within the bulb external to the toroid is evacuated.

Figure 7 of US-A-4171503 shows a toroidal fluorescent tube with an excitation coil would around it. Thus, in this case, the visible light is generated within the coil and the windings of the coil obscure a portion of the generated visible light.

Three different embodiments of an electrodeless fluorescent lighting device according to this invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an eievational view, partially cut-away, showing a first embodiment of an electrodeless lighting system according to this invention; Figure 2 is a sectional view of the electrodeless lighting system taken along the Section Line 2-2 of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a sectional view of a second embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4 is an eievational view of a third embodiment which includes a permanent magnet excitation mechanism; Figure 5 is a sectional view of the third embodiment taken along the Section Line 5-5 of Figure 4; and Figure 6 is a sectional view of a coated wire for use in the toroidal coil used in the second embodiment of the present invention shown in Figure 3.

Referring now to Figures 1 and 2, there is shown a preferred embodiment of the electrodeless fluorescent type lighting system 10 for producing visible light emission having a higher efficiency and extended operating lifetime when taken with respect to prior art lighting systems. The basic operating concept of lighting system 10 is directed to electron collision with gas composition atoms to produce ultraviolet radiation. The ultraviolet radiation isotropically is transported to a phosphor coating for impingement therewith resulting in re-emission of the ultraviolet radiation into the visible portion of the electromagnetic bandwidth.

In particular, electrodeless lighting system 10, as will be seen in following paragraphs, produces combined magnetic and electrical fields where the magnetic fields are each contained within a substantially closed volume. The combination of a magnetic field and an electrical' field for focusing electrons has been successfully used in a number of applications, such as for the focusing of electrons in cathode ray tube applications. The concept of the subject invention directs itself to submitting electrons to the combination of forces developed by the induced electrical field and the magnetic field, in order to increase the probability of collisions of electrons with gas composition atoms over the probability of collision if an electron was being transported under the effect of only one of the fields resulting in a collision with only randomly moving gas composition atoms.

One of the main electrical disturbances in the external environment may result from the magnetic field produced. In order to obviate this type of disturbance, as will be seen in following paragraphs, the magnetic field interference is cancelled by enclosing the magnetic field in what is generally termed a magnetic bottle conceptually utilised in high acceleration particle devices. Lighting system 10 as will be shown operates at a realtively high frequency in the order of 10.0 MHz and the magnetic field produced, if not contained and confined, would possibly disturb transmission telecommunication over a large area. As will be seen, radiated electrical field external effects are minimised by the introduction of an electrostatic shield internal to lighting system 10.

By confining the path and collision of the electrons within a substantially closed volume, lighting system 10 does not transport electrons to a tube or housing wall which would otherwise lower the visible light efficiency of the operating system by recombination of ions and electrons on the wall of the tube, as is the case in standard fluorescent lighting systems. In general, standard fluorescent tubes may have an overall efficiency within the range of 15% to 20%. Nor is the present system subject to the two phenomena which influence the life of prior art fluorescent lighting tubes, viz. evaporation of the filaments and the formation of deposits on the internal surface of the tube after a predetermined number of lighting operations. This latter phenomena is in part due to the deterioration of the gas pressure as the result of the continued bombardment by heavy particle ions and/or electrons.

Electrodeless fluorescent lighting system 10 includes excitation mechanism 12 for. generating a permanent magnetic field, an enclosed magnetic field and an induced electrical field which is substantially parallel and in the same direction as the alternating magnetic field. The alternating magnetic and induced electrical fields are applied at substantially the same frequency for accelerating and directing electrons for collision with predetermined gas composition atoms contained within gas housing chamber 16 of closed contour gas housing 14. The alternating current flow at high frequency as previously described within overall toroidal coil 18 creates an electrical potential gradient between individual windings of coil 18. The electrical potential gradient obviously is created due to the increase and decrease of the current passing through the individual windings. The electrical potential gradient thus results in an electrical field substantially parallel to the magnetic field.

Thus, current passage through toroidal coil 18 creates both a magnetic and induced electrical field which accelerates end directs the electrons in a predetermined path for collision with metallic gas composition atoms contained within closed contour gas housing 14 and in particular, gas housing chamber 16. Thus such collisions occur within the confines of the toroidal coil 18, i.e. away from the outer envelope of the device, and away from the phosphor coating 20.

Ultraviolet radiation produced by such collisions is then radiated outward in all directions ultimately to strike the phosphor coating 20 applied to the inner surface of bulb housing 22 which then re-emits at least a portion of the absorbed ultraviolet energy as visible light. Moreover, since the energy is generated in the plasma confined within the excitation mechanism 12, the coating 20 is bombarded solely with ultraviolet radiation, and without producing any chemical reaction or structural degradation therein. As has been shown in prior paragraphs, this has the effect of Increasing the operating lifetime of lighting system 10 as well as increasing the efficiency of lighting system 10 when taken with respect to prior art fluorescent lighting systems.

Additionally, excitation mechanism 12 as provided in the preferred embodiment of lighting system 10 shown in Figures 1 and 2 provides for a self-contained gas composition that is isolated atmospherically from bulb member 22 so that a vacuum may be maintained within bulb member chamber 24 to minimise heat transfer effects from excitation mechanism 12 to the external environment.

The particular structure of excitation mechanism 12 essentially makes it independent of the temperature generated and such may be used at a higher pressure of gas contained within gas housing chamber 15 than prior art systems. High pressure lighting systems are known which may be used for street lighting and other applications for emitting large quantities of light over large areas, however, in such high pressure systems, there still are contained cylindrical tubes where pressures may reach several atmospheres and prodivde very high intensity. The voltages applied in such high pressure lighting systems which are applied to start the tube and maintain the discharge, are extremely high and thus, the electrodes that have to be bombarded and that are submitted to the electrical field are immersed in the gas composition which deleteriously effects the life of such high pressure operating light systems.

In the present electrodeless fluorescent lighting system 10, there is no metal composition internal to excitation mechanism 12, with the exception of the gas composition or possible metal composition formed as part of the closed contour gas housing 14. Thus, beyond these considerations, there is nothing in contact with the electrical field being generated.

In lighting system 10, the vapour that is ionized and forms the plasma inside closed contour gas housng 14 is not in contact with the toroidal coil 18 and only contacts the internal envelope of gas housing chamber 16.

Excitation mechanism 12 includes toroidal coil 18 for generating the alternating magnetic and electrical fields. Additionally, closed contour gas housing 14 having a substantially doughnut contour is positionally located internal toroidal coil 18, as is shown in Figures 1 and 2. Electrical charge is passed through toroidal coil 18 in a helical direction as is evident by the coil contour shown in the Figures. The alternation of current within toroidal coil .18 creates an electrical potential gradient between the individual windings of coil 18 as current increases or decreases. This gradient induces an electric field substantially parallel to the magnetic field. The magnetic flux generated by toroidal coil 18 is contained totally within closed contour gas housing 14. The magnetic field that surrounds closed contour gas housing 14 maintains the electrons in a motion that is cylindrical in nature internal to closed contour gas housing 14 which provides for an excited plasma circulating between the internal diameter and external diameter of gas housing 14. In this manner, there is a concentration of electrons and ions that are confined within gas housing chamber 16 due to the magnetic field.

In order to maintain an efficiently operating system, electrodeless lighting system 10 operates at a relatively high frequency and allows for the generation of a high enough magnetic field to maintain and confine the path direction of the electrons circulating within gas housing chamber 16.

Experimentally, lighting system 10 has been efficiently operated at a frequency range in the order of 0.1 to 50 MHz and in one particular highly efficient operating embodiment, lighting system 10 has been operationally utilised at a frequency of 10 MHz.

The diameter of the conducting wire for the toroidal coil 18 is relatively small and the spacings between the individual coils of toroidal coil 18 is relatively large, in order that ultraviolet radiation which is generated within closed contour gas housing 14 is substantially unimpeded and unblocked by toroidal coil 18 in the ultraviolt radiation passage to coating composition 20 on the internal surface of bulb member or bulb housing 22. Individual coils of toroidal coil 18 may be formed of thin electrically conducting wire in the diameter range of 0.5 mm with spacing between the coils approximating 20 mm.

Gas housing 14 is formed of an ultraviolet radiation transparent composition which may be a glass composition, e.g. fused quartz. If a glass composition is used, the ultraviolet transparency would mean a glass composition deprived of iron. In order to have appreciable radiation, there must consequently be an appreciable cross-section of the plasma and in experimental operations, the cross-sectional area of gas housing chamber 16 has been varied from 4.8 to 6.45 cm3 (0.75 to 1.0 square inches), wherein the internal and external radii of the doughnut shaped housing is varied between approximately 30 to 40 mm.

. Closed contour gas housing 14 contains the predetermined gas composition which may be a metallic gas composition at some predetermined pressure. The predetermined gas composition may be mercury, argon, neon, sodium, or some like gaseous composition, and the pressure maintained with gas housing 14 has been successfully utilised at a pressure approximating 3 torr.

The doughnut shape of gas housing 14 is provided for illustrative purposes only. In fact, gas housing 14 may be square or rectangular in nature, however, it has been found difficult to manufacture a doughnut contour having a small internal radius compared to the diameter. In the subject lighting system 10, the overall doughnut contour may be formed in two separate portions. By moulding pieces of glass forming semi-circle, it is possible to provide two half doughnuts which may then be assembled each to the other by welding or some like technique such ss fritted glass sealing.

Toroidal coil 18 is formed of a substantially highly electrically conductive metallic composition such as copper, silver, or some combination thereof. As has been previously stated, toroidal coil 18 is formed of a plurality of windings, with the windings being spaced apart each from the other by a predetermined distance in order to provide toroidal coil 18 to be substantially transparent to the ulraviolet radiation generated within gas housing chamber 16 of closed contour gas housing 14. The particular coupling of toroidal coil 18 to an electrical source will be discussed in following paragraphs.

The radiated electrical field generated by toroidal coil 18 radiates outwardly in all directions and may create a disturbing influence on various communication systems and similar electrical systems external to the bulb member 22. Thus, electrodeless fluorescent lighting system 10 includes electrostatic shield member 26 substantially encompassing excitation mechanism 12 for containing the radiated electrical fields within lighting system 10. Electrostatic shield member 26 substantially surrounds toroidal coil 18 to prevent egress of the radiated electrical field beyond the confines of lighting system 10.

Electrostatic shield member 26 may be formed from a perforated metallic material, such that photons of ultraviolet radiation may pass therethrough with little interference or reflection. Electrostatic shield member 26 is electrically coupled to ground 28 as is schematically shown in Figure 1, in a direct coupling mode or in series through a capacitor.

Another type of electrostatic shield may be employed by providing a conductive coating on the exterior face of bulb member 22. A spray of tin chloride or some like composition may be used to externally coat bulb member 22 and thus contain the electrical field within lighting system 10.

As was the case for electrostatic shield member 26, the conductive coating is coupled to ground 28 either directly or through a series coupled capacitor (not shown).

Whereas prior art lighting systems require the generation of a high voltage in order to create a discharge within the enclosed gas composition of a tube, lighting system 10 uses a relatively low voltage and requires a current to pass through toroidal coil 18 to generate the required electrical and magnetic fields for generating sufficient energy to allow collisions between electrons and ions to occur within gas housing chamber 16 and generate the ultraviolet radiation. By operation of toroidal coil 18 at high frequency, the voltage which is used to drive lighting system 10 is maintained at a minimum value and the current flowing in the coil 18 may be in the order of 1 to 3 amps. Toroidal coil 18 is coupled to ballast system through leads 34 and 36 which are mounted on external surfaces of structural frame 38 formed of a dielectric material not important to the inventive concept as herein disclosed. Structural frame 38 may be formed of a vertically directed standard having lugs 40 radially directed and coupled to an internal surface of closed contour gas housing 14 to maintain such in a stationary location within bulb member 22. Electrical leads 34 and 36 are coupled on opposing ends to toroidal coil 18 and to ballast system 30 respectively.

Ballast 30 may be the ballast system shown in US-A-4,414,492 entitled Electronic Ballast System or as disclosed in EP-A-0 210 310.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 3, electrodeless fluorescent lighting system 10' provides for bulb member 22 defining enclosing chamber 24*. In this embodiment, excitation mechanism 12' is only formed of toroidal coil 18' which generates a magnetic and electrical field wherein the electrical field is substantially parallel and in the same direction as the magnetic field due to the potential gradient between windings of coil 18', and is further contained within the internal envelope of toroidal coil 18*. In this embodiment, the electrons within the internal envelope of toroidal coil 18' are driven in a helical path and are accelerated for collision with predetermined gas composition atoms within the confines of the interior envelope formed by toroidal coil 18*. In accordance with classical electrodynamic theory, magnetic fields produced by toroidal coil 18* are contained within the toroid envelope. Thus, in the case of toroidal coil 18' the magnetic flux is generated by toroidal coil 18' and the electrons flow within the space bounded by the windings themselves of toroidal coil 18*. The containment of the magnetic field is significant, in that it prevents radiation of the magnetic field external to lighting system 10*.

In this embodiment, enclosing chamber 24' contains a metallic gas composition. The metallic gas may be a mercury gas whose ions are attracted to the magnetic field generated within toroidal coil 18'. The electrical and magnetic fields generated by toroidal coil 18' increases the probability of collision between the electrons and the metallic gas ions over and above that which would occur from free electrons accelerated by a constant field gradient colliding with the metallic gas ions. Sufficient energy applied to these fields causes a radiation in the ultraviolet bandwidth of the electromagnetic spectrum when the collisions occur, as has been previously described for the preferred embodiement of lighting system 10. The radiating electric field generated by toroidal coil 18' is limited in its radiation distance by electrostatic shield 26' which is substantially the same member as provided for electrostatic shield 26 previously shown. Electro5 static shield member 26' may be a perforated electrically conductive metal composition or screen mesh composition wherein the perforations provide for a substantially transparent member when taken with respect to the ultraviolet radiation generated within the core of toroidal coil 18'. Phosphor coating 20 is provided on the inner surface of bulb member 22 for the absorption of the ultraviolet radiation and re-emission of that energy in the form of visible light.

In order to satisfy the skin effect, toroidal coil 18' may be manufactured from a wire whose composition is highly electrically conductive, such as copper, or silver wires. However, in the presence of mercury gas vapour, such highly conductive materials may absorb the mercury atoms over a period of time which would reduce the mercury atoms in the gas compostion and ultimately deleteriously affect the light output of lighting system 10'. As was seen in the preferred embodiment of the electrodeless .fluorescent lighting system 10, such gaseous composition atoms are main20 tained internal to closed contour gas housing 14 and are not in contact with toroidal coil 18. However, in this embodiment, the gaseous composition atoms may come in contact with toroidal coil 18', and thus, such coil 18' may be manufatured of a highly electrically conductive wire which is covered with a dielectric material to prevent the absorption of the mercury atoms. The plating or covering 19 as shown in Figure 6, while insulating or at least not as condutive as the copper and/or silver toroidal coil composition, does protect toroidal coil 18' from absorbing the mercury atoms or molecules. Electrically, the high frequency resistance of toroidal coil 18' is substantially unaffected by the low conductivity plating since' there is formed an equivalent circuit with two resistances in parallel, one extremely small and one reltively large, wherein the net effect is substantially equivalent to the lesser resistance, when the resistances are at least an order of magnitude apart in value. Thus, toroidal coil 18' may be a silver wire plating with iron or other insulating material to form coil 18* which is substantially unaffected by the mercury gas composition within lighting system 10*.

Opposing ends of toroidal coil 18' are coupled to ballast 30 (as was shown for lighting system 10) through electrical leads 34 and 36. Electrostatic shield member 26' is similarly coupled.to ground 28 through a lower portion of bulb member 22.

Referring now to Figures 4 and 5, there is shown electrodeless lighting system 10 which may either be an embodiment of electrodeless lighting system 10 or 10' shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 respectively. Lighting system 10 is based upon the concept that the current required to generate a predetermined magnetic field strength may be reduced by using a vector sum of a constant maqnetic field from permanent magnets aligned orthogonal to the enclosed magnetic field of coils 18 or 18'.

In the embodiment snown in Figures 4 and 5, excitation mechanism 12 includes permanent magnets 42 and 44 for establishing a constant magnetic field which is substantially orthogonal to the alternating magnetic field previously described. The permanent magnetic field thus sums vectorially with the alternating field to generate an increased field strength.

Thus, lighting system 10 will have a predetermined magnetic field strength utilising less current passing through the toroidal coil 18 than would be provided for coils 18 and 18*.

For illustrative purposes, permanent magnet 42 may have a North pole located on one face and a South pole located on an opposing face of magnet 42. Permanent magnet 42 is located above the centre line of the cross-section of gas housing enclosure 14' and within the centre opening of the doughnut shape formed.

The magnetic faces of permanent magnet 42 are substantially parallel to the plane formed by the toroid. Permanent magnet 44 is mounted as a mirror image of permanent magnet 42 below the centre line of the gas housing enclosure 14'. Permanent magnet 44 has its magnetic faces oriented in an opposing manner to that of magnet 42.

For illustrative purposes, permanent magnet 42 has its South pole facing permanent magnet 44. Correspondingly, permanent magnet 44 is then oriented in a manner such that its North pole faces magnet 42. This predetermined orientation of magnets 42 and 44 allows the magnetic field between the outside faces of magnets 42 and 44 to pass through the crosssection of the toroid formed by toroidal coil 18 or closed contour gas housing 14' in a manner such that the permanent magnetic field is perpendicular to the field contained therein. Obviously, the magnetic circuit is completed by the magnetic field which is coupled between the magnetic poles of magnets 42 and 44 which opposingly face each other in the central opening of the general toroid contour.

Claims (12)

1. A fluorescent lighting device, comprising: \ an outer bulb (22) translucent to visible light and coated internally with a fluorescent coating (20) capable of converting ultraviolet radiation impinging thereon into visible light; an ionizable inert gas composition contained within the bulb and capable of emitting the ultraviolet radiation when bombarded with electrons; and means (12) for generating electrons within the bulb and accelerating the electrons into the inert gas composition to generate the ultraviolet light, the electron generating and accelerating means comprising a toroidal coil (18; 18) for generating an enclosed magnetic field, an induced electric field substantially parallel and in the same direction as the enclosed magnetic field and a radiating electric field orthogonal to the enclosed magnetic field, the magnetic field and induced electric field being produced at substantially the same frequency for accelerating and directing the electrons for collision with the gas composition; characterised by: a hollow, solid-walled toroid (14; 14') which is within the outer bulb, which encloses the ionizable inert gas composition, and about which the toroidal coil is wound; and an electrostatic shield member (26) located within the bulb and substantially encompassing the toroidal coil for containing the radiating electric field.

2. A fluorescent lighting device according to claim 1, characterised in that the electric field induced by the toroidal coil accelerates said electrons and the magnetic field produced by the toroidal coil directs said electrons in a predetermined helical path.

3. A fluorescent lighting device according to claim 1, characterised by at least one permanent magnet (42, 44) for establishing a substantially constant magnetic field substantially orthogonal to said enclosed magnetic field.

4. A fluorescent lighting device according to claim 3, characterised by a pair of such permanent magnets which are disc shaped magnets (42, 44) located within the internal diameter of the toroidal coil (18> 18'; 18).

5. A fluorescent lighting device according to any one of claims 1-4, characterised in that said ionizable inert gas composition is totally enclosed within the toroid (14; 14'), which is constructed of a material which is translucent to ultraviolet radia-t-inn,

6. A fluorescent lighting device according to claim 5, characterised in that the space within the bulb (22) external to the gas-containing toroid (14, 14') is evacuated.

7. A fluorescent lighting device according to claim 5 or 6, characterised in that the toroidal coil (18; 18) is constructed of copper or silver.

8. A fluorescent lighting device according to any preceding claim, characterised in that the electrostatic shield (26) is a perforate metallic screen connected to earth.

9. A fluorescent lighting device according to any preceding claim, characterised in that the coil (18; 18) is electrically coupled to a ballast means (30) for electrically driving the toroidal coil at a predetermined frequency.

10. A fluorescent lighting device according to claim 9, characterised in that said predetermined frequency is in the range 0.1 to 50 Megahertz.

11. A fluorescent lighting device according to claim 10, characterised in that said predetermined frequency is about 10 Megahertz.

12. A fluorescent lighting device substantially as hereinbefore described with -reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.