JPH0454680Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] (Industrial Field of Application) The present invention relates to a flat fluorescent lamp used as a backlight for liquid crystal panels, etc., and more specifically to a flat fluorescent lamp with an improved discharge electrode.

(Prior Art) FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view showing an example of a conventional flat fluorescent lamp.

As shown in FIG. 3, flat fluorescent lamps generally have a spacer frame 11 sandwiched between two glass substrates 12 and 13 to define a sealed space 14 containing mercury vapor and argon gas. Board 1
A fluorescent film 15 is formed on the inner surfaces of the electrodes 2 and 13, and a discharge is caused between a pair of discharge electrodes 16 and 16 each having a substantially U-shaped cross section and disposed in parallel at opposite ends of the closed space 14. The fluorescent film 15 is caused to emit light by ultraviolet rays generated by exciting mercury vapor.

(Problem to be solved by the invention) However, in the above-mentioned flat fluorescent lamp, the discharge electrodes 16, 16 are held only by the terminal pieces 17, 17, so that they are arranged in parallel in the closed space 14. There were problems in that it was difficult to do so, making the assembly work complicated, and it was difficult to maintain the parallel state even after assembly.

Therefore, the width h1 between both edges of the discharge electrodes 16, 16 is set larger than the width h2 between the two glass substrates 12, 13 in advance, and when assembling the glass substrates 13 of the discharge electrodes 16, 16 The edges of the discharge electrodes 16, 16 are placed directly on the inner surface of the glass substrate 13 to set a parallel state, and after assembly, the edges of the discharge electrodes 16, 16 are placed directly on the inner surface of the glass substrates 12, 1.
The two glass substrates 1 are brought into contact with the inner surfaces of 3, respectively.
By mounting the discharge electrodes 16 and 13 so as to be sandwiched between them, the discharge electrodes 16 and 16 can be maintained in a parallel state, and the above-mentioned problem can be solved.

However, the discharge electrode 16 having a substantially U-shaped cross section,
16 has high rigidity in the width direction between both edges, the width h1 between both edges of the discharge electrodes 16, 16 is set in advance to be larger than the width h2 between the two glass substrates 12, 13. After assembly, the glass substrate 1
There was a problem in that there was a very high possibility that parts 2 and 13 would be damaged, leading to a decrease in productivity.

The present invention was developed to solve these conventional problems, and its purpose is to enable assembly without damaging the glass substrate, and to easily bring the discharge electrodes into a parallel state during assembly. To provide a flat fluorescent lamp that can be installed and reliably maintain a parallel state after assembly.

(Means for Solving the Problems) To achieve this object, the present invention provides a flat fluorescent lamp comprising a pair of discharge electrodes in parallel between two glass substrates, in which the discharge electrodes are extended. The vertical cross section in the direction has at least one V-shaped bent part or U-shaped bent part, and both edges of the discharge electrode in the direction of the two glass substrates are The gist is that each is in contact with the inner surface.

(Function) If the discharge electrodes described above are used, the discharge electrodes can be directly installed on the inner surface of one glass substrate during assembly, so the discharge electrodes can be easily set in a parallel state, and the other glass substrate When the board is attached, the bent part of the discharge electrode easily deforms elastically, and the width between both edges of the discharge electrode becomes equal to the width between the two glass substrates, so it is possible to prevent damage to the glass substrate. can. Furthermore, even after assembly,
Since both edges of the discharge electrode are in contact with the inner surfaces of the two glass substrates, and the discharge electrode is mounted so as to be sandwiched between the two glass substrates, the parallel state can be reliably maintained.

(Embodiments) Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below based on the accompanying drawings.

1 and 2 show a flat fluorescent lamp according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 is a sectional plan view of the flat fluorescent lamp, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional plan view of the flat fluorescent lamp shown in FIG. 1. - It is an arrow sectional view.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, 1 is a front glass substrate serving as an irradiation surface, 2 is a rear glass substrate serving as a non-irradiation surface, and 3 is a frame for a spacer that is closely attached between the peripheral edges of the glass substrates 1 and 2. A closed space 4 is formed by the glass substrates 1 and 2 and the spacer frame 3. Mercury vapor and argon gas are sealed in the sealed space 4, and fluorescent films 5, 5 are formed on the inner surfaces of the glass substrates 1, 2.

A pair of discharge electrodes 6, 6 are arranged in parallel at opposite ends of the closed space 4, and the discharge electrodes 6, 6 have a V-shaped cross section with bent parts 6a, 6a. ing. Further, both edges 6b, 6b in the front glass substrate 1 direction and in the rear glass substrate 2 direction,
... are in contact with the inner surface of the front glass substrate 1 and the inner surface of the rear glass substrate 2, respectively, and the discharge electrodes 6, 6 are mounted so as to be sandwiched between the front glass substrate 1 and the rear glass substrate 2, and are maintained in a parallel state. are doing.

Reference numeral 7 denotes an exhaust pipe for exhausting the air in the sealed space 4 and later filling in mercury vapor and argon gas, and the tip of the exhaust pipe 7 is hermetically sealed by thermal welding.

Then, a power source (not shown) is connected to the terminal pieces 8, 8 fixed to each of the pair of discharge electrodes 6, 6, and a discharge is caused between the discharge electrodes 6, 6 to excite mercury vapor. The fluorescent film 5 is caused to emit light by the generated ultraviolet rays.

According to such a configuration, during assembly, the discharge electrodes 6, 6 can be easily installed directly on the inner surface of the rear glass substrate 2 and set in a parallel state, and the front glass substrate 1 can be mounted. In some cases,
The bent portions 6a, 6a of the discharge electrodes 6, 6 are easily elastically deformed, and the width H1 between the edge portions 6b, 6b becomes equal to the width H2 between the front glass substrate 1 and the rear glass substrate 2. Therefore, damage to the front glass substrate 1 and the rear glass substrate 2 can be prevented. Furthermore, after assembly, the discharge electrodes 6, 6
are in contact with the inner surface of the front glass substrate 1 and the inner surface of the rear glass substrate 2, respectively. It is mounted so that it is sandwiched between the two, and the parallel state can be maintained reliably.

Further, in this embodiment, since the discharge electrodes 6, 6 having a V-shaped cross section are used, the discharge electrodes 6, 6 are
Electrons are more likely to be emitted radially from one cathode in the direction of the front glass substrate 1 and the rear glass substrate 2, and the generation of discharge within the closed space 4 is made uniform, improving the discharge efficiency.

(Effects of the invention) As is clear from the above description, according to the flat fluorescent lamp according to the invention, the shape of the discharge electrodes is improved, so the discharge electrodes can be set in a parallel state during assembly, and Breakage of the glass substrate can be prevented and productivity can be improved. Furthermore, since the discharge electrodes can be reliably held in a parallel state even after assembly, the volatility on the glass substrate can be kept uniform.

In addition, in the example, since a discharge electrode with a V-shaped cross section was used, electrons are easily emitted from the cathode in a radial direction toward the two glass substrates, making the generation of discharge uniform and improving the discharge efficiency. .

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 and 2 show a flat fluorescent lamp according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 is a sectional plan view of the flat fluorescent lamp, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional plan view of the flat fluorescent lamp shown in FIG. 1. 3 is a vertical sectional view showing an example of a conventional flat fluorescent lamp. In the drawings, 1 is a front glass substrate, 2 is a rear glass substrate, 6 is a discharge electrode, 6a is a bending portion, and 6b is an edge.

Claims (1)

[Claims for Utility Model Registration] In a flat fluorescent lamp comprising a pair of discharge electrodes arranged in parallel between two glass substrates, the discharge electrodes have a V-shaped bent portion or a vertical longitudinal section in the extending direction. The discharge electrode has at least one U-shaped bent portion, and both edges of the discharge electrode in the direction of the two glass substrates are in contact with the inner surfaces of the two glass substrates, respectively. Flat fluorescent light.