JP2968931B2 - Lighting equipment - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a lighting device, and more particularly to a discharge lamp device suitable for a backlight of a display such as a liquid crystal display device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Discharge lamps such as fluorescent lamps, neon discharge tubes, and xenon discharge tubes are widely used as various illumination light sources. In addition, an illumination device including a discharge lamp of this type, for example, a cold cathode fluorescent lamp as a light source,
It is generally and widely used as a backlight source for liquid crystal display devices such as liquid crystal displays, word processors and personal computers. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a main part of such a lighting device. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 1 denotes a phosphor layer 2 that emits light when stimulated by ultraviolet rays, and a rare gas (discharge medium gas). The discharge lamp 4 is composed of a pair of cold cathodes (discharge electrodes) sealed at both ends of the glass tube 1. Also,
Reference numerals 5a and 5b denote lead terminals sealed and led out from the discharge lamp, and reference numeral 6 denotes a power supply lead electrically connected to the lead terminals 5a and 5b. Here, the power supply lead 6 is formed of a core 6a for supplying required electric energy from the outside and a harness 6b covering the core 6a.
Exposing a part of the core wire portion 6a on the distal end side, the lead terminal
It is connected to 5a, 5b by welding or soldering. Further, reference numeral 7 denotes an open end fitted to the sealing portion 8 of the discharge lamp 4 and the end of the power supply lead 6, respectively, to seal the power supply lead 6 and the connecting portion 9 of the lead terminals 5a and 5b.
An insulating tubular sealing body to be protected, for example, a rubber holder.

By the way, liquid crystal displays, word processors,
Liquid crystal display devices such as personal computers are required to be thinner, lighter, and smaller, and in response to this demand, backlight light sources or lighting devices are being made thinner, lighter, and smaller. In other words, the discharge lamp, which is a main part of the lighting device, is formed of a thin and thin glass tube, thereby making it thinner, lighter and smaller.

[0004]

However, in the case where the thin and thin glass tube is used as an arc tube to reduce the thickness and weight or downsize, the following inconveniences are often recognized. That is, when the glass arc tube of the discharge lamp used as a liquid crystal backlight light source is formed of a thin glass tube, the lead terminals 5a and 5b are necessarily thinned, and the thinned wire is used. Due to the connectivity of the power supply lead 6 to the lead terminals 5a and 5b, the thickness of the core wire 6a is also reduced, and the connection strength is limited to some extent. Under these circumstances, a part of the glass tube was melted during the manufacturing process to seal and lead out the lead terminals 5a and 5b.
The sealing / leading-out section (sealing section) 8 is apt to be distorted, and the generated distortion remains. Further, due to the influence of heat generation / cooling due to repeated lighting of the discharge lamp and external stress during handling. Still, damage to the electrical connection portion 9 between the lead terminals 5a and 5b and the power supply lead 6 is observed. In other words, the residual distortion of the arc tube sealing portion (sealing portion) 8 and the influence of heat generation / cooling caused by repeated lighting affect the connection portion 9 having a reduced connection strength, and the connection portion formed by these actions. Considering the occurrence of damage such as 9 peeling,
Although the method of mounting and protecting the rubber holder 7 as described above is adopted, it cannot be said that it is sufficient, which hinders the promotion of the thinning of the arc tube and the thinning and lightening of the discharge lamp and the miniaturization of the discharge lamp. And by thinning the arc tube,
In order to reduce the thickness, weight, and size of the backlight illumination device for a liquid crystal display device, the sealing portion 8 of the arc tube,
Reinforcement of the connecting portion 9 between the lead terminals 5a and 5b and the power supply lead 6 is indispensable.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a highly reliable lighting device which is suitable for a backlight of a liquid crystal display device, which can be reduced in thickness, weight, and size.

[0006]

According to the present invention, there is provided a lighting device comprising: a glass tube for filling a discharge medium gas; and a discharge lamp having a pair of discharge electrodes respectively sealed at both ends of the glass tube. A power supply lead electrically connected to a lead terminal sealed and led from the discharge lamp;
A lighting device comprising: an insulating tubular sealing body in which an opening end is fitted to a sealing portion and a power supply lead end of the discharge lamp, and seals a connection portion between the power supply lead and the lead terminal. The opening edge to be fitted to the power supply lead end of the insulating tubular sealing body is formed as a claw-shaped projection,
It is characterized by being fitted and sealed by the resilient action of the claw-shaped projections.

In the lighting device according to the present invention, an opening end is fitted into a sealing portion of the discharge lamp and an end portion of the power supply lead, and an insulating tubular seal for sealing a connection portion between the power supply lead and the lead terminal. The body is, for example, a cylindrical body made of hard insulating rubber such as silicone rubber or hard insulating plastics such as acrylic resin. The insulating tubular sealing body desirably has toughness and elasticity while being hard as described above. Further, the inner diameter of the opening end fitting to the sealing portion of the discharge lamp can be easily fitted to the sealing portion of the discharge lamp, while the pulling force of the discharge lamp in the axial direction acts on the pulling force. It is fitted to such an extent that it maintains a force enough to move the discharge lamp in response. Further, the opening end of the insulating tubular sealing body fitted to the end of the power supply lead has an inner diameter reduced in accordance with the outer diameter of the power supply lead by forming an inward claw-like projection. Takes form. The degree of the diameter reduction is set to such an extent that the tip of the claw-like projection bites into the outer peripheral surface of the power supply lead. However, this claw-like projection may be set continuously over the entire circumference. Good, or may be set intermittently.

In the discharge lamp constituting the main part of the lighting apparatus according to the present invention, the discharge medium sealed in the arc tube may be, for example, neon gas, argon gas, xenon gas, krypton gas or a mixed gas of two or more of these. And the sealing amount is usually about 30 to 100 Torr. Examples of this type of discharge lamp include a low-pressure fluorescent lamp, a neon lamp, and a xenon lamp.

[0009]

As described above, the open ends are fitted to the sealing portion of the discharge lamp and the end portion of the power supply lead, respectively, to seal and protect the connection portion between the power supply lead and the lead terminal. Special attention is paid to the configuration. In other words, the opening edge to be fitted to the power supply lead end of the insulating tubular sealing body is formed into a claw-like projection, and the power supply lead end is formed by a resilient action of the claw-like projection. Fitted and fixed so as to cut into the harness. By fitting and fixing the power supply lead harness portion of the insulating tubular sealing body to the power supply lead harness, and fitting and mounting to the sealing portion of the discharge lamp, the connection portion of the lead terminal and the power supply lead becomes external. Protection can be easily and reliably protected from external effects, so that the risk of the lead terminal becoming thinner due to the reduction in the diameter of the arc tube and the damage to the connection portion with the power supply lead can be eliminated. This greatly contributes to reduction in size and weight of the backlight light source and the like.

[0010]

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing, in an enlarged manner, a main part of a lighting device using a rated 12-type cold cathode low-pressure discharge lamp according to the present invention as a light emitting source. That is, a phosphor layer 2 that emits light when stimulated by ultraviolet rays is provided on the inner wall surface, and an outer diameter of 3.0 m in which a discharge medium, for example, argon gas is sealed.
m, a glass tube 1 having an inner diameter of 2.0 mm, and a pair of cold cathodes (discharge electrodes) respectively sealed at both ends of the glass tube 1
The cold cathode low-pressure discharge lamp 4 is constituted by 3a and 3b. In the configuration shown in FIG. 1, the cold cathodes 3a, 3b
A Ni cylindrical cup having an opening having an inner diameter of about 0.8 mm (wall thickness: 0.1 mm), a length of 5 mm, and a reduced diameter at the other end; N
and a Ni cylindrical body concentrically mounted in an i cylindrical cup. The cold cathodes 3a and 3b connect both ends of the glass tube 1 to lead terminals 5a and 5b which are sealed and led out, respectively, and seal both ends of the glass tube 1 and lead terminals 5a and 5b which are led out. 5b is a power supply lead 6
The cold-cathode low-pressure discharge lamp is configured so that it can be electrically connected by soldering or welding to an external power supply to supply a required discharge power. The power supply lead 6
Is composed of a power supply core 6a and a harness 6b which covers the outer peripheral surface of the power supply core 6a. A part of the harness 6b is peeled off and removed at the tip of the power supply lead 6,
The power supply core wire portion 6a is exposed, and the lead terminal 5
a, 5b. Furthermore, the lighting according to the invention
In the apparatus , the opening end of an insulating tubular sealing body, for example, a rubber holder 7 is connected to the cold cathode low-pressure discharge lamp 4.
Of the power supply lead 6 and the lead terminal 5
The structure for sealing and protecting the connection part 9 of a and 5b is adopted. In the protection measure of the connecting portion 9 by the insulating tubular sealing body 7, in the case of the present invention, the opening edge to be fitted to the end of the power supply lead 6 of the insulating tubular sealing body 7 has a claw shape. Protrusion 7
a. That is, the opening edge of the insulating tubular sealing body 7 fitted to the end of the power supply lead 6 is formed into a claw-shaped projection 7a, and the claw-shaped projection 7a is positioned on the surface of the power supply lead 6 harness portion 6b. Fitted and fixed by a resilient biting action.

[0012] Ten lighting devices each having the above-described configuration are prepared, combined with a starting transformer, and applied with a predetermined voltage.
By functioning as a backlight for a liquid crystal display device, not only the size and thickness of the liquid crystal display can be reduced, but also the lead terminals 5a and 5b and the power supply lead 6 can be used in assembling and operating the liquid crystal display. No breakage or damage of the connecting portion 8 was observed. In other words, it has been confirmed that the liquid crystal display functions as a compact lighting device that can be easily reduced in size and thickness while ensuring sufficient production yield and performance reliability.

In the above-described configuration, the illumination device using the cold cathode low-pressure discharge lamp 4 as a light source, in which the phosphor layer 2 that emits light when stimulated by ultraviolet rays is provided on the inner wall surface of the glass tube 1, has been described. It has been confirmed that even in the case of omitting the formation of 2, the same excellent function is exhibited as compared with the conventional structure.

Further, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, the dimensions such as the length and diameter of the glass tube 1 constituting the arc tube and the dimensions, shapes and materials of the discharge electrodes 3a and 3b can be changed and set as appropriate.

[0015]

As can be seen from the above description, according to the lighting device of the present invention, the structure of the protective / fixing insulating tubular body including the connection part of the lead terminal of the discharge lamp and the power supply lead is devised. Is elaborate. That is, the ends of the discharge lamp and the power supply lead are fixed to each other, including the connection between the lead terminal and the power supply lead. In the configuration of the lighting device having a cylindrical body to be protected, an opening edge of the cylindrical body fitted to the power supply lead end is formed to protrude inward in a claw shape, and the power supply of the claw-shaped tip portion is performed. It adopts a method of fixing by using a biting action on the outer peripheral surface of the lead. When the axial force acts on the discharge lamp, the insulative tubular body also moves the arc tube in response to the axial force. In combination with the fixation based on the biting action of the tip of the shape,
Since the strength of the end portion (sealing portion) of the arc tube forming the discharge lamp and the connection portion between the lead terminal and the power supply lead can be easily improved, the arc tube forming the discharge lamp can be made thinner. In other words, it is easy to reduce the thickness and weight of the lighting device while maintaining high reliability, and it can be said that this greatly contributes to downsizing of the liquid crystal display device.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration example of a main part of a lighting device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view showing an example of a configuration of a main part of a conventional lighting device.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... glass tube 2 ... phosphor layer 3a, 3b ...
Discharge electrode 4 Discharge lamp 5a, 5b Lead terminal 6 Power supply lead 6a Core wire
6b Harness part 7 Insulating cylindrical sealing body
7a ... claw-shaped projection 8 ... sealing part 9 ... connection part

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Fields surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁶ , DB name) H01J 61/36 H01J 61/30

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A discharge lamp having a glass tube enclosing a discharge medium gas, a pair of discharge electrodes respectively sealed at both ends of the glass tube, and a lead terminal sealed and led out from the discharge lamp. An electrically connected power supply lead; and an insulating tubular seal having an open end fitted to the sealing portion and the power supply lead end of the discharge lamp to seal the connection portion between the power supply lead and the lead terminal. A lighting device comprising: a stopper; and an opening edge that fits into a power supply lead end of the insulating tubular sealing body is formed as a claw-shaped protrusion. A lighting device characterized by being fitted and sealed by a resilient action.