JP2009032437A - Luminaire - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a luminaire capable of prolonging a service life and reducing power consumption by suppressing heat generation. <P>SOLUTION: The luminaire includes: a voltage generation means 50 for generating a predetermined alternating voltage; and a lighting tube 9 of which an inside is filled with predetermined gas, and which includes a pair of electrodes on both end parts. The voltage generation means 50 generates a high voltage with a current suppressed, the high voltage with the current suppressed is applied on one 21 of the pair of the electrodes to form a predetermined potential difference between the pair of the electrodes, and the one 21 of the electrodes discharges to light the lighting tube 9. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an illuminating device that discharges in an illuminating tube filled with a predetermined gas and causes the illuminating tube to emit light.

  Conventionally, there is a so-called hot electrode type configuration of a fluorescent tube lighting device. This hot electrode type lighting device includes a ballast 60 and a glow lamp 61 (lighting tube) as shown in FIG. 6, for example. The ballast 60 functions as a current limiting element for maintaining the lighting of the fluorescent tube 62 stably, and the glow lamp 61 functions as a discharge tube for lighting the fluorescent tube 62.

  When the fluorescent tube 62 is turned on, after the discharge by the glow lamp 61, the filament 53 is heated in the fluorescent tube 62 filled with, for example, mercury gas, and electrons are emitted. Then, when the emitted electrons collide with the mercury gas, the potential rises, and when the potential falls to the basal level, ultraviolet rays are emitted, and light is emitted by hitting the fluorescent material attached inside the fluorescent tube.

By the way, in such a conventional fluorescent tube lighting device, the filament 63 generates heat to a high temperature. For this reason, the filament 63 is likely to be cut every time lighting is repeated, and the life as a fluorescent tube is shortened. When the fluorescent tube reaches the end of its life, blinking, flickering, non-lighting, etc. occur and it cannot be used, so there has been a demand (issue) to replace the fluorescent tube before such a failure occurs.
In order to deal with such a problem, in Patent Document 1, in a circuit that generates a pulse voltage between electrodes of a fluorescent tube and lights it, the pulse voltage between the electrodes is counted, and the lifetime is exceeded when a predetermined number of pulses is exceeded. Fluorescent lamp devices that are judged to be close are disclosed.
JP 2005-123027 A

According to the fluorescent lamp device disclosed in Patent Document 1, the lifetime of the fluorescent tube can be detected before the failure of the fluorescent tube occurs.
However, in the fluorescent lamp device disclosed in Patent Document 1, although the life of the fluorescent tube can be detected, the life of the fluorescent tube using the filament is detected. ), Power consumption problems other than lighting, etc. could not be solved.

  The present invention has been made under the circumstances as described above, and an object thereof is to provide an illuminating device capable of suppressing heat generation and realizing life extension and low power consumption.

  An illuminating device according to the present invention, which has been made to solve the above-described problems, includes a voltage generating unit that generates a predetermined alternating voltage, a predetermined gas filled therein, and a pair of electrodes provided at both ends. A high voltage with a current suppressed by the voltage generating means, and a high voltage with the current suppressed is applied to one of the pair of electrodes to form a predetermined potential difference between the pair of electrodes. The lighting tube is turned on by discharging from the one electrode.

Thus, by setting one electrode of the lighting tube to a state of low current and high voltage, it is possible to generate a discharge from the electrode and light the lighting tube.
In particular, when the illumination tube is a fluorescent tube, it is not necessary to use a filament in a glow lamp or a fluorescent tube electrode unlike a conventional fluorescent tube lighting device.
Therefore, heat generation is suppressed as compared with the conventional fluorescent tube lighting device, and since the current is low, power consumption can be remarkably reduced.
Further, since no filament is required in the fluorescent tube, the life of the fluorescent tube can be extended, and problems such as blinking, flickering, and non-lighting of the fluorescent tube can be solved.

The voltage generating means includes a sine wave generating means for generating an alternating voltage of a predetermined frequency, and a boosting means for boosting the AC voltage generated by the sine wave generating means. The boosting means includes a step-up transformer, It is desirable to form a parallel resonance circuit with a resonance capacitor arranged on the primary side of the transformer, and suppress the current and boost the voltage on the secondary side of the transformer.
With this configuration, a low voltage and high voltage state can be generated and discharged in the lighting tube to be lit.

The lighting tube includes a plurality of discharge tubes connected in series and connected in parallel to each of the lighting tubes, and a discharge potential of the discharge tube is set higher than a discharge potential of the lighting tube. It is desirable.
Thus, by connecting a plurality of lighting tubes in series, they can be lit.
In addition, by connecting discharge tubes in parallel to each lighting tube and setting the discharge potential as described above, when any of the plurality of lighting tubes connected in series cannot be lit due to a malfunction, It is possible to discharge by the discharge tube and apply a voltage to the subsequent illumination tube.

Further, a reflector provided on the side of the illumination tube and a plate-like insulator provided between the reflector and the illumination tube, or a polymer provided on the side of the illumination tube, It is desirable to provide a reflector plate entirely formed of an insulator.
By comprising in this way, the problem that the discharged electron does not reach the metal surface of the reflector of a lighting tube instrument and the conduction path of the discharged electron is formed can be solved.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the illuminating device which can suppress heat_generation | fever and can implement | achieve life extension and low power consumption can be obtained.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of a lighting device according to the present invention and a circuit configuration thereof.
As shown in the circuit diagram of FIG. 1, the illumination device 100 includes a voltage generation unit 50 (voltage generation unit) that generates a predetermined AC voltage and an illumination tube unit 51 that performs lighting. In the voltage generator 50, first, a normal AC power supply (for example, 100 V) is converted into a DC power supply by the rectifier circuit 1, and a predetermined frequency (rectangular wave) is obtained by the Corbitz-type oscillation circuit 2.
A rectangular wave having a predetermined frequency, which is an output of the oscillation circuit 2, is generated by a feedback loop of the coil 3 or the like, and is converted into a sine wave having a predetermined frequency by the capacitor 4 and the transformer 5.
The rectifier circuit 1, the oscillation circuit 2, the coil 3, the capacitor 4, the transformer 5 and the like constitute a sine wave generating means.

Further, since the transformer 5 functions as a current sensor and limits the output current, it is not necessary to use a leakage transformer as the final-stage transformer 6 (step-up transformer). As the transformer 6, a general step-up transformer is used.
Also, resonance capacitors 7 and 8 are arranged on the primary side of the transformer 6, and current flowing at a predetermined frequency is minimized by parallel resonance of the capacitor 7. At the same time, the AC waveform is resonated by the capacitor 8, and a high voltage is generated on the secondary side of the transformer 6. That is, the current is kept low while boosting the output voltage by resonance. In this manner, the transformer 6 and the capacitors 7 and 8 constitute a boosting unit.
In addition, one end of the secondary side of the transformer 6 is grounded, and the other end of the transformer 6 is provided with an illumination tube portion 51 that is a load.

The illumination tube unit 51 is provided with a plurality of fluorescent tubes 9 (illumination tubes) connected in series. The terminal end of the last fluorescent tube 9 connected in a plural number is grounded.
That is, one electrode of the first fluorescent tube 9 connected to the secondary side of the transformer 6 is brought into a high voltage state with a low current when the power is turned on. As a result, the electrode is discharged and the first fluorescent tube 9 is turned on. Then, a voltage is applied to one electrode of the succeeding fluorescent tube 9 through the first fluorescent tube 9, and the light is similarly turned on. Further, the subsequent fluorescent tubes 9 are also lit up one after another in the same manner.

  Each fluorescent tube 9 is provided with a discharge tube 10 connected in parallel (the discharge tubes are connected in series). This is a configuration for discharging the discharge tube 10 and applying a voltage to the subsequent fluorescent tube 9 when one of the plurality of fluorescent tubes 9 connected in series cannot be lit due to a malfunction. is there. That is, the discharge potential of the discharge tube 10 is set higher than the discharge potential of the fluorescent tube 9 and is normally discharged by the fluorescent tube 9, and only when the fluorescent tube 9 is disconnected or dropped, the discharge tube 10 is discharged. The subsequent fluorescent tube 9 is discharged and energized.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the vicinity of one stem portion of the fluorescent tube 9 used in the illumination device 100 according to the present invention. Since the other stem portion (not shown) has the same configuration, only one of them will be described here.
As shown in FIG. 2, in the fluorescent tube 9, a base 11 is attached to an end portion of a glass tube 12 in which a film of a phosphor 13 that emits light by ultraviolet rays is formed on the inner surface. For example, two stems 14 pass through the base 11, and one end thereof protrudes as a terminal outside the base 11.

Further, on the glass tube 12 side of the base 11, a trumpet-shaped metal tube 15 is provided in a state where the tube port 15 a expands in the glass tube 12 inward direction. The other end of the stem 14 penetrates into the inside of the metal cylinder 15, and a lead wire 21 is connected to the tip of the stem 14 as an electrode, which is bent in the vicinity of the cylinder opening 15a.
In this structure, since the metal tube 15 has a trumpet shape, electrons are more easily emitted from the inner surface, and at the same time, the lead wire 21 guides the electrode, and the electrode on the opposite surface captures the electrons by the same shape. It is because it becomes easy.
Further, in the glass tube 12, for example, a predetermined gas (mercury gas or the like) for emitting ultraviolet rays by colliding with emitted electrons is enclosed.

In this configuration, when a predetermined high voltage (for example, 6000 V) with a reduced current is applied to one electrode, electrons are emitted and reach the other electrode facing in the tube. Note that the two stems 14 provided on the electrodes are only necessary for mounting the fluorescent tube 9 and are connected at the same potential inside the tube.
When electrons are emitted from one electrode toward the opposite electrode, the emitted electrons collide with the gas in the glass tube and the potential increases. And when the electric potential falls to a base level, an ultraviolet-ray will generate | occur | produce and the illumination tube 9 will be in a lighting state when this ultraviolet-ray hits the fluorescent substance 13. FIG.

  Thus, in the illumination device 100, by setting one electrode of the fluorescent tube 9 to a low current / high voltage state, a discharge from the electrode is generated, and the fluorescent tube 9 is turned on. That is, unlike the conventional fluorescent tube lighting device, it is not necessary to use a filament in a glow lamp or a fluorescent tube electrode.

  Further, in the fluorescent tube 9 used in the illumination device 100 according to the present invention, a slight discharge occurs not only inside the glass tube 12 but also outside. Therefore, when this fluorescent tube 9 is attached to a conventional fluorescent lamp fixture, there is a problem that discharged electrons reach the metal surface of the reflector of the fluorescent lamp fixture and a conduction path is formed there.

In order to solve this problem, as shown in FIG. 3, in the reflection plate 17 provided in the cover 16, for example, a thin colorless transparent insulating plate on the fluorescent tube 9 side (between the fluorescent tube 9 and the reflection plate 17). 18 (plate-like insulator) may be provided by being attached. As shown in FIG. 4, for example, the insulating plate 18 is attached by forming a plurality of holes 19 penetrating the reflecting plate 17 and the insulating plate 18 and fitting rivets 20 made of an insulator into the holes 19. It can be done by fixing it.
In addition to the above configuration, the mounting bracket and the entire reflection plate may be formed of an insulating polymer material.

As described above, according to the embodiment of the present invention, in the lighting device 100, by causing one electrode of the fluorescent tube 9 to be in a low current / high voltage state, a discharge from the electrode is generated, The fluorescent tube 9 can be turned on.
That is, it is not necessary to use a filament in a glow lamp or a fluorescent tube electrode as in a conventional fluorescent tube lighting device.
Therefore, heat generation is suppressed as compared with the conventional fluorescent tube lighting device, and since the current is low, power consumption can be remarkably reduced.
In addition, since the fluorescent tube 9 does not require a filament, the life of the fluorescent tube can be extended, and problems such as blinking, flickering, and non-lighting of the fluorescent tube can be solved.

  In the above-described embodiment, the fluorescent tube is described as an example of the lighting tube to be lit. However, the lighting tube that can be lit by the lighting device according to the present invention is not limited to the fluorescent tube, and neon gas is enclosed inside. Neon tubes can also be used.

Subsequently, the illumination device according to the present invention will be further described based on examples. In this example, the effect was verified by actually performing an experiment using the lighting device having the configuration described in the above embodiment.
[Example 1]
As shown in FIG. 5, an illumination tube unit 51 is connected to the voltage generation unit 50, and 20 fluorescent tubes 9 are connected in series to the illumination tube unit 51.
In this configuration, the input voltage was gradually increased, and the input voltage and current were measured when the emission luminance of the fluorescent tube 9 was sufficient.
As a result, the input voltage was 80 V and the current was 3.0 A. That is, power consumption was 240 W, and power consumption per fluorescent tube 9 was 12 W.
Further, the surface temperature of the fluorescent tube 9 stopped to increase by + 1 ° C. with respect to room temperature.

[Example 2]
Among the configurations used in Example 1, 20 neon tubes having a length of 50 cm were connected in series to the illumination tube portion 51 instead of the fluorescent tube. The final end of the neon tubes connected in series was grounded.
In this configuration, the input voltage was gradually increased, and the input voltage and current were measured when the light emission luminance of the neon tube was sufficient.
As a result, the input voltage was 80V and the current was 3.5A. At this time, the power consumption was 280 W, and the power consumption per one was 14 W.
In general, the length of the neon tube varies, but even if 20 neon tubes are regarded as one, the maximum voltage required for lighting of the conventional neon tube is 15000 V, so that the power consumption is remarkably suppressed.

  As a result of the above examples, it was confirmed that according to the lighting device according to the present invention, heat generation was suppressed, and power consumption was significantly reduced by a low current.

  The illuminating device according to the present invention relates to an illuminating device that discharges in an illuminating tube filled with a predetermined gas and causes the illuminating tube to emit light.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of a lighting device according to the present invention and a circuit configuration thereof. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the vicinity of one stem portion of the fluorescent tube used in the illumination device of FIG. FIG. 3 is a side view of a fluorescent lamp apparatus to which the fluorescent tube of FIG. 2 is attached. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an example of a method of attaching an insulating plate to a reflecting plate in the fluorescent lamp fixture of FIG. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of the embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a conventional fluorescent tube lighting device.

Explanation of symbols

1 Rectifier circuit (sine wave generation means)
2 Oscillator (Sine wave generator)
3 Coils (sine wave generation means)
4 Capacitor (Sine wave generator)
5 Transformer (sine wave generating means)
6 Transformer (boost means, boost transformer)
7 Capacitors (Boosting means, resonance capacitors)
8 Capacitor (Boosting means, resonance capacitor)
9 Fluorescent tubes (lighting tubes)
10 discharge tube 50 voltage generator (voltage generator)
51 Illumination tube section 100 Illumination device

Claims (4)

Voltage generating means for generating a predetermined AC voltage;
An illumination tube filled with a predetermined gas inside and provided with a pair of electrodes at both ends,
A high voltage with reduced current is generated by the voltage generating means,
A high voltage with the current suppressed is applied to one of the pair of electrodes to form a predetermined potential difference between the pair of electrodes, and the lighting tube is turned on by discharging from the one electrode. Lighting device. The voltage generation means includes a sine wave generation means for generating an alternating voltage having a predetermined frequency,
Boosting means for boosting the AC voltage generated by the sine wave generating means,
The step-up means forms a parallel resonance circuit by a step-up transformer and a resonance capacitor arranged on the primary side of the transformer, and suppresses current and boosts a voltage on the secondary side of the transformer. Item 2. The lighting device according to Item 1. A plurality of the lighting tubes are connected in series,
A plurality of discharge tubes connected in parallel to each of the lighting tubes,
The lighting device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a discharge potential of the discharge tube is set higher than a discharge potential of the lighting tube. A reflector provided on the side of the illumination tube, and a plate-like insulator provided between the reflector and the illumination tube;
The lighting device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a reflecting plate provided on a side of the lighting tube and entirely formed of a polymer insulator.

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