JP2002008593A - Rare gas discharge lamp - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a rare gas discharge lamp of shorter total lamp length and a compact lamp unit, with high reliability in electric connection of a power- feeding harness and power-feeding terminal as well as that of the power-feeding terminal and a power-feeding part. SOLUTION: With the rare gas discharge lamp consisting of a discharge envelope formed by a glass tube, a pair of electrodes furnished at a tube wall of this glass tube, a power-feeding part furnished at an outer periphery face of the glass tube, a power-feeding terminal fixed to the power-feeding part with a conductive adhesive, and a power-feeding harness connected to the power- feeding terminal, a whole body of the power-feeding terminal is situated within an area between both ends of the discharge envelope and a concave part is formed at an outer periphery face of the discharge envelope. Further, it is desirable that a connecting part of the power-feeding terminal and the power- feeding harness is contained in the concave.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a rare gas discharge lamp used as a light source for illuminating a document in information equipment such as a facsimile, a copying machine, an image reader, and other light sources.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view for explaining a power supply structure for electrodes in a conventional rare gas discharge lamp, omitting the inside of a glass tube 1, and FIG. Lamp unit 2 with holder
FIG. 2 is an explanatory cross-sectional view showing a power supply structure for an electrode at 0 A, omitting the inside of a glass tube 1. The rare gas discharge lamp 20 has an internal electrode formed of a substantially strip-shaped conductive film formed on the inner peripheral wall surface of the glass tube 1 and an outer electrode 4 formed of a substantially band-shaped conductive film formed on the outer peripheral wall surface. And a power supply unit 3 made of a conductive film is used for the internal electrode and the glass tube 1.
Is formed in an electrically continuous state on the corresponding outer peripheral wall surface with the tube wall interposed therebetween. The power supply unit 3 includes a glass tube 1
A belt-shaped metal power supply terminal member 15 extending in the tube axis direction is fixed by a conductive material 14, and a power supply harness 17 is connected at a connection portion 16 at an outer end of the power supply terminal member 15. A similar band-shaped metal power supply terminal member 15A is provided on the outer end portion of the external electrode 4 with a conductive material 14A.
A, and the power supply harness 17A
The power supply terminal member 15A is connected at a connection portion 16A at the outer end.

As shown in FIG. 11, the rare gas discharge lamp 20 is provided with an insulating tube (not shown) so as to cover the entire outer peripheral surface thereof, is insulated, and has an outer end portion. Is inserted into the opening of the cylindrical lamp holder 31, and the power supply harness 17, 17A extending in the circumferential direction of the glass tube 1 is drawn out from the power supply harness outlet 34 formed in the peripheral wall of the lamp holder 31. In this state, the adhesive 32 is injected from an adhesive injection port 33 formed in the bottom wall of the lamp holder 31, thereby connecting the power supply harness 17, 17A and the power supply terminal member 15, 15A. Are integrally fixed to form a lamp unit 20A.

However, this rare gas discharge lamp 20
In this case, one end T of the pair of power supply terminal members 15 and 15A projects outward by a distance D from the outer end P of the discharge vessel. , 16A are formed, so that in the manufacture of the lamp unit 20A, the power supply harnesses 17, 1A are provided.
In the step of withdrawing 7A from the harness outlet 34,
When a large force acts on the connection portions 16 and 16A,
There is a problem that the protruding portions 41 and 41A are bent or the fixing of the power supply terminal members 15 and 15A is released and falls off.

In the lamp unit 20A,
The lamp holder 31 needs to have a large length in the tube axis direction, and there is a problem that the entire length of the lamp unit 20A becomes long.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, a metal power supply terminal member connected to a power supply harness is fixed with a large strength, and the overall length of the lamp can be reduced, so that the lamp unit can be downsized. Another object of the present invention is to provide a rare gas discharge lamp having high reliability of electrical connection in a power supply unit.

[0007]

A rare gas discharge lamp according to the present invention is constituted by a glass tube, in which a rare gas is sealed, and a tube axis formed on a wall of the glass tube constituting the discharge container. A pair of electrodes provided so as to extend in the direction, at least facing each other with a dielectric interposed therebetween, and a power supply unit comprising a conductive film provided on the outer peripheral wall surface of the glass tube in a state of being electrically connected to the electrodes. And a metal power supply terminal member fixed to the power supply portion by a conductive material, and a connection portion to a power supply harness provided on the power supply terminal member. The entire member is located in a region between both ends of the discharge vessel. It is preferable that a recess is formed on the outer peripheral wall surface of the discharge vessel, and at least a part of a connection portion between the power supply terminal member and the power supply harness is housed in the recess.

[0008]

According to the rare gas discharge lamp described above, since the entire metal power supply terminal member exists in the region between both ends of the rare gas discharge lamp, the entirety of the power supply terminal of the discharge vessel is made of a conductive material. And a sufficiently large fixing strength can be obtained, so that the reliability of the electric connection in the power supply structure is high, and the power supply terminal member does not protrude outward. Can be smaller. Furthermore, since at least a part of the connection portion is accommodated in the recess formed on the outer peripheral wall surface of the rare gas discharge lamp, the projecting distance of the connection portion protruding from the outer peripheral wall surface of the discharge vessel is reduced, and as a result, The whole can be downsized even in the radial direction.

[0009]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail. FIG. 1 is an explanatory cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a rare gas discharge lamp according to an embodiment of the present invention, with a part of a cross section taken along an axis of a discharge vessel omitted, and FIG. 2 is a line L in FIG. It is explanatory sectional drawing which shows the state of the cross section along -L. In this rare gas discharge lamp 20, an internal electrode 2 made of a substantially band-shaped conductive film extending in the tube axis direction is formed on the inner peripheral wall surface of a cylindrical glass tube 1 forming a discharge vessel. A phosphor layer 5 covering the internal electrode 2 is formed except for a part in the circumferential direction, and a light extraction aperture 8 is formed by a part where the phosphor layer 5 is not formed.

On the outer peripheral wall surface of the glass tube 1, a feed portion 3, which extends in the tube axis direction in the outer end region and is formed of a substantially strip-shaped conductive film, sandwiches the internal electrode 2 and the tube wall of the glass tube 1. An external electrode 4 formed of a substantially strip-shaped conductive film extending in the tube axis direction is formed at a position corresponding to the power supply unit 3 and separated from the power supply unit 3 in the circumferential direction. The internal electrodes 2 are opposed to each other via a glass tube wall which is a dielectric. A relay conductive portion 7 made of a conductive film is formed on the outer end surface of the glass tube 1, and the internal electrode 2 and the power supply portion 3 are electrically connected by the power supply conductive portion 7. Has been achieved.

An elongated metal power supply terminal member 15 extending in the tube axis direction of the glass tube 1 is fixed to the power supply portion 3 by a conductive material 14 so as not to protrude outside the discharge vessel as a whole. . As shown in FIG. 3, the power supply terminal member 15 has a connection portion 16 formed of a bent portion at one end of an elongated strip, and the connection portion 16 is provided with a leading end of a power supply harness 17 inserted therein. Are connected by caulking. A similar power supply terminal member 15A is fixed to the outer end portion of the external electrode 4 by a conductive material 14A as a whole so as not to protrude outward from the discharge vessel. A power supply harness 17A is connected to a connection portion 16A at the outer end. Reference numeral 6 denotes a chip portion.

A protruding plug portion 13 formed on the plug-shaped closing member 18 and having an outer diameter adapted to the inner diameter of the glass tube 1 is disposed so as to fit into the opening of the glass tube 1 and has a low melting point. The glass tube 1 is hermetically sealed via the power supply conductive portion 7 formed on the outer end surface of the glass tube 1 by the sealing material 11 made of, thereby forming a discharge vessel. For example, the rare gas discharge lamp 20 is configured by being filled with an excimer generation gas.

As shown in FIG. 4, the above-mentioned rare gas discharge lamp 20 is provided with a heat-resistant resin lamp holder 31 which is provided with an insulating tube 35 and an insulating treatment on its outer peripheral wall surface. As a result, the lamp unit 20A is obtained. In the lamp unit 20A, the power supply unit 3 and the power supply terminal member 1 in the discharge vessel are provided.
Outer end portions including substantially the entirety of 5, 15A are inserted into the lamp holder 31. As shown in FIG. 5, the lamp holder 31 has an adhesive inlet 33 formed of a through hole on the bottom wall surface (left wall surface in FIG. 5), and a harness outlet formed of a through hole on the peripheral wall surface. 34.

The power supply harnesses 17 and 17A extending from the power supply terminal members 15 and 15A are curved and led out from a harness outlet 34, and in this state, the adhesive injection port 3
3 and is fixed by the adhesive 32 injected. The adhesive 32 is filled in the gap formed by the lamp holder 31 and the discharge vessel, and thereby, the power supply harnesses 17 and 17A and the connection portions 16 and 1
6A is fixed, and the lamp holder 31 and the discharge vessel are fixed.

The glass tube 1 constituting the discharge vessel is made of a light-transmitting glass, and is made of, for example, lead glass, soda-lime glass, aluminosilicate glass, borosilicate glass, or the like.
Lead-free glass such as barium glass and the like, quartz glass and the like can be mentioned, but lead glass can be particularly preferably used.

The material of the internal electrode 2 or the external electrode 4 is not particularly limited as long as it is conductive. For example, gold, silver, nickel, carbon, gold palladium, silver palladium, platinum and the like are preferably used. Can be used. The internal electrode 2 or the external electrode 4 is made of, for example, a conductive paste (for example, a so-called silver paste) in which a low-melting glass powder, a metal powder, and a binder are dispersed in an appropriate organic medium.
A screen printing method, a vapor deposition method, an immersion method, for example, a pipe-shaped rod is inserted, and a pressing means such as a dispenser is used to extrude and apply a conductive paste from the tip of the rod material. It can be formed by applying it to a target location or area surface of the glass tube 1 by utilizing it and baking it. Further, it is also possible to form the internal electrode 2 by using a method of inserting and arranging a so-called green sheet so as to be laminated with the phosphor layer 5.

The material of the power supply section 3 or the power supply conductive section 7 is as follows.
The material is not particularly limited as long as it is conductive. For example, gold, silver, nickel, carbon, gold palladium, silver palladium, platinum and the like can be suitably used. The power supply unit 3 or the power supply conductive unit 7 is formed by, for example, screen printing, vapor deposition, or dipping a conductive paste similar to the above in which a low-melting glass powder, a metal powder, and a binder are dispersed in an appropriate organic medium. The glass tube 1 can be formed by applying a film on a target portion or an area surface of the glass tube 1 using a coating method using a dispenser or the like, and firing the film.

As the material of the power supply terminal members 15, 15A and the conductive materials 14, 14A, conventionally known materials can be used. The fixing area in the power supply unit 3 is 20 mm
It is preferably at least ² .

As the material of the phosphor layer 5, a known fluorescent substance such as a rare earth phosphor or a halophosphoric phosphor can be used. For example, in order to obtain red visible light, Y ₂ O ₃ can be used. : Eu, (YGd) BO ₃ : Eu, etc., and LaPO ₄ : Ce, Tb, Zn ₂ S for obtaining green visible light.
In order to obtain blue visible light, (SrCaBaMg) ₅ (PO ₄ ) ₃ Cl: iO ₄ Mn, Y ₂ SiO ₄ : Tb, etc.
Eu, 3 BaMgEu) such as O · 8 Al ₂ O ₃ can be mentioned. Such a phosphor layer 5 is formed by sucking a suspension containing the above-mentioned phosphor dispersed in the glass tube 1, applying the suspension by spraying or pouring, and firing the suspension. .

The material forming the plug-shaped closing member 18 is as follows:
There is no particular limitation, and examples thereof include lead-free glass such as lead glass, soda-lime glass, aluminosilicate glass, borosilicate glass, and barium glass, and quartz glass. The material forming the lamp holder 31 is not particularly limited. For example, polycarbonate (PC), polyphenylene sulfide (PP)
It is preferable to use a heat-resistant resin such as S). Also,
A rare gas such as xenon, krypton, argon, and helium can be preferably used as the excimer generating gas sealed in the discharge vessel.

Examples of dimensions of the rare gas discharge lamp 20 and the lamp unit 20A having such a configuration are as follows. The length a of the power supply terminal members 15 and 15A shown in FIG. 1 is 5 to 20 mm, and the lamp holder shown in FIG. The length b at 31 is 10 to 20 mm. Further, the width c of the external electrode 4 shown in FIG. 6 in the circumferential direction is 3 to 8 mm, the portion d of the phosphor layer 5 extending beyond the external electrode 4 in the circumferential direction is 2 mm, and extends beyond the internal electrode 2 in the circumferential direction. The portion e of the phosphor layer 5 is 1.5 mm, the width f in the circumferential direction of the internal electrode 2 is 2 to 8 mm, and the center angle α in the aperture 8 is 55 to 75 °.

In the rare gas discharge lamp 20 described above,
The inner electrode 2 and the outer electrode 4 are made of a glass tube 1 which is a dielectric.
When a high voltage is applied, a dielectric barrier discharge occurs between them, whereby the obtained excimer light excites the phosphor layer 5, and The emitted visible light is emitted from the aperture section 8.

According to the rare gas discharge lamp 20 having the above-described structure, since the entirety of the power supply terminal members 15 and 15A are present in the region between both ends of the discharge vessel, substantially no change occurs. The power supply unit 3 is entirely made of conductive materials 14 and 14A.
And the outer electrode 4 can be fixed, and as a result, the fixing strength is high, and the connecting portion 16, 16A is not detached or bent by the force acting on the connecting portion 16, 16A. The reliability of a dynamic connection can be increased. Moreover, in the configuration of the lamp unit 20A, it is not necessary to form an extra space between the bottom wall surface of the lamp holder 31 and the outer end surface of the discharge vessel, so that the overall length of the lamp unit 20A is shortened. Therefore, the size of a product using the lamp unit 20A can be reduced.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a rare gas discharge lamp according to another embodiment of the present invention, in which a cross-section along a tube axis of a discharge vessel is partially omitted. 8
FIG. 8 is an explanatory end view showing an end face on the closing member side in the rare gas discharge lamp according to FIG. 7. In this embodiment, a step-shaped recess 36 is formed radially inward on the outer peripheral surface of the plug-shaped closing member 18 forming the discharge vessel over the entire circumference.
The power supply terminal members 15 and 15A are fixed to the power supply unit 3 with a part of each of the power supply terminals 16A accommodated therein. The power supply harnesses 17 and 17A are connected so as to extend in the circumferential direction from the connection portions 16 and 16A, and are further housed in the recessed portions 36 so as to extend in the circumferential direction as shown in FIG. Other configurations are the same as those of the rare gas discharge lamp 20 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 described above.

According to the rare gas discharge lamp 20 described above, the connecting portions 16 and 16A do not protrude in the radial direction of the discharge vessel, or the degree of protrusion can be greatly reduced. In addition, miniaturization is achieved in the radial direction.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described example, and various modifications can be made. For example, the pair of power supply terminal members fixed to the power supply unit is not limited to a state where the pair of power supply terminal members are fixed to opposite positions on the outer periphery of the glass tube.
In the circumferential direction of the outer peripheral wall surface of the glass tube, when the lamp unit is used as a lamp unit, the lamp unit may be fixed to a position deviated in the direction in which the harness outlet exists. Then, as shown in FIG. 9, for example, the position of the metal power supply terminal members 15 and 15A in the power supply unit 3 or the external electrode 4 is changed in one direction where the harness outlet is located when the lamp holder is mounted to form a lamp unit ( If the power supply harnesses 17 and 17A are connected so as to extend in the circumferential direction, the power supply harnesses 17 and 17A can be easily pulled out in the process of forming the lamp unit. Becomes Here, the power supply harness in the connection portion can be fixed by using, for example, only solder, or a combination of the bent and raised portion and solder.

The conductive materials 14 and 14A may have either a semi-permanent adhesive function or a temporary adhesive function for temporary fixing. In the latter case, the shrink tube may be mounted on the outer periphery of the glass tube where the power supply terminal member is located, and the shrink tube may be finally fixed. Further, the recess for accommodating the connection portion may be formed as a simple recess on the outer peripheral wall surface of the discharge vessel. Further, both the pair of electrodes may be formed on the outer peripheral wall surface of the glass tube, or may be formed on the inner peripheral wall surface. Further, in the rare gas discharge lamp of the present invention, the phosphor layer is not essential, and when the phosphor layer is not formed, the discharge space is filled with a rare gas and a halogen gas to thereby form an ultraviolet ray. It can be used as a radiation lamp.

[0028]

According to the rare gas discharge lamp described above, since the entire metal power supply terminal member exists in the region between both ends of the rare gas discharge lamp, substantially the entirety thereof is made of a conductive material. It can be fixed to the power supply portion of the discharge vessel, and the strength against the force acting on the connection portion is sufficient, so that the reliability of the electrical connection in the power supply structure to the electrode is high. Further, since at least a part of the connection portion is accommodated in the recess formed on the outer peripheral wall surface of the rare gas discharge lamp, the protrusion distance of the connection portion is reduced, and as a result, the power supply structure is reduced in size. Is done.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a rare gas discharge lamp according to an embodiment of the present invention, with a part of a cross-section along an axis of a discharge vessel being omitted.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory sectional view showing a state of a section taken along line LL in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an explanatory perspective view showing a metal power supply terminal member.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory cross-sectional view showing a cross section along an axis of a discharge vessel in a configuration of a lamp unit in which a lamp holder is mounted on an outer end of the rare gas discharge lamp shown in FIG.

5 is an explanatory cross-sectional view showing a cross section along a tube axis of the lamp unit of the lamp holder constituting the lamp unit shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an explanatory cross-sectional view showing a state of a cross section perpendicular to the tube axis direction of the rare gas discharge lamp of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is an explanatory cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a rare gas discharge lamp according to another embodiment of the present invention, in which a cross-section along a tube axis of a discharge vessel is partially omitted.

8 is an explanatory end view showing an end surface on the closing member side in the rare gas discharge lamp according to FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is an explanatory perspective view showing another embodiment of the rare gas discharge lamp according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory cross-sectional view showing a power supply structure for electrodes in a conventional rare gas discharge lamp, omitting the inside of a glass tube.

11 is an explanatory cross-sectional view showing a power supply structure for electrodes in a lamp unit configured by mounting a lamp holder on the rare gas discharge lamp shown in FIG. 10, omitting the inside of a glass tube.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Glass tube 2 Internal electrode 3 Power supply part 4 External electrode 5 Phosphor layer 6 Chip part 7 Power supply conductive part 8 Aperture part 11 Seal material 13 Projection plug part 14, 14A Conductive material 15, 15A Power supply terminal member 16, 16A Connection Part 17, 17A Power supply harness 18 Plug-shaped closing member 20 Rare gas discharge lamp 20A Lamp unit 31 Lamp holder 32 Adhesive 33 Adhesive injection port 34 Harness outlet 35 Insulation tube 36 Depression 41, 41A Projection

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A discharge vessel which is constituted by a glass tube and has a rare gas sealed therein, and at least a dielectric material provided on a tube wall of the glass tube constituting the discharge vessel so as to extend in the tube axis direction. A power supply unit made of a conductive film provided on the outer peripheral wall surface of the glass tube in a state of being electrically connected to the electrode, and fixed to the power supply unit by a conductive material. In a rare gas discharge lamp having a metal power supply terminal member and a connection portion with a power supply harness provided in the power supply terminal member, the entire power supply terminal member is a region between both ends of the discharge vessel. A rare gas discharge lamp characterized in that it is located within. 2. A dent portion is formed on an outer peripheral wall surface of the discharge vessel, and at least a part of a connection portion between the power supply terminal member and the power supply harness is accommodated in the dent portion. A rare gas discharge lamp according to claim 1.