JPH06333684A - Discharge lamp lighting device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To facilitate start-up without causing the elimination of sealed metal or a loss of light from a lamp by emitting light from a discharge lamp by a light transmissive start-up assisting conductor where an electrode is separated from the discharge lamp. CONSTITUTION:A discharge lamp lighting device has a start-up assisting conductor which is composed of a glass tube 8 inside which low pressure argon gas 6 being a light transmissive conductive substance is sealed and which has an electrode 7 on one end and whose electrodeless side is arranged in the vicinity of an outside surface of a light emitting tube and other end is separated from the light emitting tube. Discharge is caused between it and a main electrode 2b through the argon gas 6 by a high voltage generating circuit 9, and the light emitting tube 1 is started. When a discharge lamp is started, it is detected by a lamp voltage detecting circuit 10, and the output of the high voltage generating circuit 9 is stopped.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a discharge lamp lighting device for applying a high voltage to a discharge lamp via a starting auxiliary conductor to cause discharge and lighting.

[0002]

2. Description of the Prior Art In order to start and start discharge in a discharge lamp, it is necessary to create a very high electric field gradient in the discharge space. Therefore, in a general discharge lamp having a pair of electrodes in the arc tube, a high voltage is applied between the electrodes to start the discharge lamp. In a high-pressure discharge lamp such as a high-pressure mercury lamp, a metal halide lamp, or a high-pressure sodium lamp, a starting auxiliary conductor is provided inside or outside the arc tube, and a high voltage is applied between the auxiliary starting conductor and the main electrode to start the discharge lamp. . Further, light (especially ultraviolet light) is externally applied so that discharge can be easily started.

Among such discharge lamp lighting devices, for example, a lamp disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 58-204493 has a substantially cylindrical arc tube 1 as shown in FIG.
A pair of main electrodes 102a and 102b are provided inside 01 to face each other, and a starting auxiliary electrode 103 is provided close to the outside of the arc tube 101. A series circuit of the primary coil 104a of the pulse transformer 104 and the charging capacitor 105 is connected in parallel with the arc tube 101,
The step-up secondary coil 104b of the pulse transformer 104 is connected to the auxiliary electrode 103. Also, arc tube 1
A contactless pulse generation circuit 106 is connected in parallel with 01. The pulse generation circuit 106 is configured by connecting a resistor 107, a bidirectional two-terminal thyristor 108, and a diode 109 in series. Further, a commercial power supply 111 is connected in series so that a lamp current flows through the arc tube 101 via a single choke coil type ballast 110.

In such a lighting device, the power source 111
Is connected to the device and a voltage is applied across the pulse generation circuit 106 and reaches a predetermined voltage level in the forward direction with the diode 109, the thyristor 108 becomes conductive and a current flows through the ballast 110. An induced pulse voltage is generated in the inductance of the ballast 110 at the moment when the current flows and then the current is cut off with the AC cycle of the power supply 111. This pulse voltage is applied between the main electrodes 102a and 102b of the arc tube 101 and also to the primary coil 104a of the pulse transformer 104 via the capacitor 105, so that the secondary coil 104b is further boosted. A high-voltage pulse voltage is output and applied to the arc tube 101 via the auxiliary starting electrode 103. Thus, the main electrodes 102a, 1
A pulse voltage is applied between 02b and the main electrode 1
02b and the auxiliary electrode 103, a high-voltage pulse is applied, so that the enclosed gas in the arc tube 101 is ionized, and the arc tube 101
Starts discharging, and a lamp current flows from the power source 111 through the ballast 110 to maintain lighting. In this way arc tube 1
By applying a pulse to 01, it can be easily started and turned on.

[0005]

However, in the apparatus for applying a high voltage pulse by the auxiliary starting electrode as described above, the auxiliary starting electrode made of metal is provided in the vicinity of the arc tube, so that the inside of the arc tube is provided. The enclosed metal such as sodium iodide may be attracted to the metal of the auxiliary auxiliary electrode for start-up and disappear, resulting in a shorter lamp life.

Further, since the starting auxiliary electrode generally made of a metal wire is provided in the vicinity of the arc tube, the light generated by the discharge is blocked by the auxiliary electrode and the luminous efficiency of the discharge lamp is lowered.

The present invention solves the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a discharge lamp lighting device in which the conventional auxiliary metal electrode for starting does not cause the disappearance of the enclosed metal and the loss of light from the lamp, and the starting is easy. And

[0008]

In order to solve the above problems, a discharge lamp lighting device of the present invention comprises a discharge lamp comprising a light emitting tube having a pair of main electrodes and containing a light emitting metal such as mercury. A ballast that limits the lamp current of the discharge lamp, a power supply that supplies the lamp current to the arc tube through this ballast and the main electrode, and an insulation with a transparent conductive material inside and an electrode at one end. Between the electrode of the main electrode and one of the starting auxiliary conductors, which is made of a transparent light-transmitting container and has the electrode-less side disposed near the outer surface of the arc tube and the other end separated from the arc tube. A high voltage generating means for starting, which is connected to the arc tube to apply a high voltage to the arc tube via the arc start auxiliary conductor, and applies a high voltage to the arc tube via the arc start auxiliary conductor when the discharge lamp is started. It is designed to start.

Further, the light-transmissive conductive material of the starting auxiliary conductor is composed of a low-pressure gas such as a rare gas or mercury vapor which emits light by electric discharge. Further, the translucent conductive substance of the starting auxiliary conductor is made of a conductive liquid, and the translucent container of the starting auxiliary conductor is provided with a space for absorbing the expansion of the conductive liquid. . Further, the starting auxiliary conductor is formed of a conductive metal film in which the transparent conductive material is coated on the inner surface of the insulating transparent container.

[0010]

With the above-described structure, the insulating transparent container having the transparent conductive material inside and the electrode at one end is disposed near the outer surface of the arc tube and the other end is located at the other end. A starting auxiliary conductor separated from the arc tube and a starting high voltage generating means connected between one of the main electrodes and an electrode of the starting auxiliary conductor for applying a high voltage to the arc tube via the starting auxiliary conductor are provided. Therefore, the discharge lamp can be effectively excited, and the electrode, which is the metal part of the starting auxiliary conductor, is placed away from the arc tube, so that the metal halide such as sodium iodide enclosed in the arc tube becomes the metal of the starting auxiliary conductor. There is no danger that the lamp will be attracted and disappear and the lamp will have a short life.

Further, since the translucent conductive material of the starting auxiliary conductor is a low-pressure gas such as rare gas or mercury vapor which emits light by electric discharge, a high voltage is applied between the starting auxiliary conductor and the main electrode of the arc tube. When a voltage is applied, a low-pressure gas such as a rare gas or mercury vapor in the starting auxiliary conductor is ionized and discharged to emit light, and light is supplied to the arc tube in addition to high voltage, which facilitates starting.

Further, since the translucent conductive material of the starting auxiliary conductor is composed of a conductive liquid, there is no energy loss due to discharge which would occur when the translucent conductive material is composed of a low pressure gas, and it is less. A high voltage can be applied between the main electrode of the arc tube and the energy. Further, since the translucent container of the starting auxiliary conductor has the space for absorbing the expansion of the conductive liquid, it is possible to prevent the liquid from thermally expanding and damaging the translucent container.

Further, since the light-transmissive conductive material of the starting auxiliary conductor is composed of the conductive metal film coated on the inner surface of the insulative light-transmissive container, the light-transmissive conductive material is composed of the low pressure gas. There is no energy loss due to discharge that occurs, and there is no need to worry about damage to the translucent container or liquid leakage due to thermal expansion that may occur when the translucent conductive material is composed of a conductive liquid, and reliable light emission is possible. A high voltage can be applied to the main electrode of the tube.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the basic configuration of a discharge lamp lighting device according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, 1 is an arc tube of a discharge lamp, 2a and 2b are a pair of main electrodes provided in the arc tube 1, 3 is a lamp current connected to the main electrode 2a of the arc tube 1 and flowing in the arc tube 1. Is a single choke type ballast for limiting the electric current, 4 is an AC power supply connected in series with the arc tube 1 through the ballast 3, and supplies a lamp current to the arc tube 1, and 5 is a translucent conductive material. A low pressure argon gas 6 is sealed inside and a glass tube 8 which is an insulative translucent container having an electrode 7 at one end is arranged near the outer surface of the arc tube 1 without the electrode, and the other end emits light. A starting auxiliary conductor separated from the tube 1, and 9 is one main electrode 2b and an electrode 7 of the starting auxiliary conductor 5.
A high-voltage generating circuit, which is a starting high-voltage generating means for applying a high voltage, is connected in parallel with the arc tube 1 to detect the lamp voltage of the arc tube 1 and start the discharge lamp. The lamp voltage detection circuit outputs a signal to stop the output of the high voltage generation circuit 9.

The discharge tube 1 of the discharge lamp is made of a heat-resistant transparent material such as quartz glass, and a starting gas such as argon or xenon and a metal halide such as sodium iodide are enclosed in the internal space. .

Next, the operation of the above configuration will be described. When the high voltage generating circuit 8 operates and the output from the high voltage generating circuit 8 is applied between the main electrode 2b of the arc tube 1 and the electrode 7 of the auxiliary starting conductor 5, a voltage is generated from the electrode 7 via the low pressure gas 6. Since the voltage is applied, the electric field strength in the low pressure gas 6 is increased and the low pressure gas 6 is discharged. The light generated by this discharge enters the space of the arc tube 1 through the glass tube 8 made of a translucent material such as quartz glass or the quartz glass of the arc tube 1 and excites the starting gas enclosed therein. . Further, when the low-pressure gas 6 is discharged, the inside of the starting auxiliary conductor 5 has almost the same potential, so that the potential of the tip portion increases and the electric field strength between the main electrode 2b and the main electrode 2b increases. Therefore, the electric field strength inside the arc tube 1 is also increased. In this way, the starting gas is excited and the electric field strength in the arc tube 1 increases, so that an initial discharge occurs between the main electrode 2b and the auxiliary starting conductor. Further, when the output voltage of the AC power supply 4 is applied between the main electrodes 2a and 2b, the initial discharge becomes a pilot fire to generate the main discharge between the main electrodes 2a and 2b, and the ballast 3
A lamp current flows from the AC power source 4 through the lamp to start and light the discharge lamp. After the start, the lamp voltage detection circuit 10 detects a voltage change applied to the arc tube 1 and the start of the discharge lamp is detected, and the output of the high voltage generation circuit 9 is stopped.

By thus exciting the starting gas of the arc tube 1 and increasing the electric field strength in the arc tube, the arc tube 1 of the discharge lamp can be reliably and easily started, and the AC power source 4 is used for starting. It is not necessary to increase the output voltage and output current for starting or to provide a starting circuit for generating a high voltage of large energy in parallel with the arc tube 1, and it is possible to reliably start the discharge lamp without enlarging the lighting device. it can. Further, a glass tube 8 which is an insulative translucent container having an argon gas 6 which is a translucent conductive substance inside and an electrode at one end is provided, and the side having no electrode is near the outer surface of the arc tube 1. The starting auxiliary conductor 5 arranged at the other end is separated from the arc tube 1, and is connected between one of the main electrodes 2b and the electrode 7 of the starting auxiliary conductor, and a high voltage is applied to the starting auxiliary conductor 5 through the starting auxiliary conductor 5.
Since a high voltage generating circuit 9 which is a high voltage generating means for starting to apply to the discharge lamp is provided, the discharge lamp can be effectively excited and the electrode which is the metal part of the starting auxiliary conductor 5 is connected to the arc tube 1.
By arranging it away from the above, it is possible to eliminate the risk that the halogenated metal such as sodium iodide enclosed in the arc tube 1 is attracted to the metal of the auxiliary starting conductor 5 and disappears to shorten the life of the lamp.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a basic configuration of a specific example of the high voltage generating circuit 9 and the lamp voltage detecting circuit 10 in the discharge lamp lighting device of FIG. 1 of the present invention. In FIG.
A and B are connected to the main electrodes 2a and 2b of FIG. 1, a series circuit of a resistor 11, a diode 12 and a capacitor 13 is connected between A and B, and a bidirectional two-terminal thyristor 14 and a pulse are connected in parallel to the capacitor 13. A series circuit with the primary coil of the transformer 15 is connected, and the output terminal C of the secondary coil of the pulse transformer 15 is connected to the electrode 7 of FIG. This configuration serves as both the high voltage generating circuit and the lamp voltage detecting circuit. Bidirectional 2-terminal thyristor 14
Is a part that operates as an element that detects the lamp voltage and stops the generation of high voltage when the lamp is lit.

Next, the operation of the high voltage generating circuit 9 shown in FIG. 2 will be described. When the AC power supply 4 of FIG. 1 operates and a voltage is applied between the main electrodes 2a and 2b of the arc tube 1 via the ballast 3, a voltage is applied between A and B of FIG. Electric charges are accumulated in the capacitor 13 via the diode 12. When the voltage of the capacitor 13 reaches a predetermined voltage, the thyristor 14 is turned on, the charge of the capacitor 13 is discharged through the primary coil of the pulse transformer 15, a high voltage pulse is generated in the secondary coil, and the voltage is generated through the terminal C. A high voltage pulse is applied to the second electrode 7. The operation of starting the arc tube 1 by this high voltage pulse is as described in the description of the embodiment of FIG. When the arc tube 1 starts, the lamp voltage drops, and the voltage of the capacitor 13 drops below the voltage at which the thyristor 14 conducts. Therefore, the high voltage is not output from the terminal C and the operation of the high voltage generating circuit 9 is stopped.

FIG. 3A shows a second starting auxiliary conductor of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a basic configuration of a starting auxiliary conductor 5 ′ of the embodiment of FIG. 1 is different from the embodiment of FIG. 1 in that instead of argon gas, a transparent conductive liquid 16 such as an aqueous solution of magnesium chloride or calcium chloride is filled so as to contact the electrode 7, and the base of the electrode 7 is filled with air 17. Is what you are doing. Since this is done, a high voltage can be applied to the arc tube 1 via the conductive liquid 16 of the starting auxiliary conductor 5 ′, as in the example of FIG. 1, and starting can be facilitated. Further, since the translucent conductive material of the starting auxiliary conductor is composed of the conductive liquid 16, there is no energy loss due to discharge which occurs when the translucent conductive material is composed of a low pressure gas,
A high voltage can be applied to the main electrode of the arc tube with less energy. In addition, air 1
By filling with 7, it is possible to prevent the glass tube 8 from being damaged by being absorbed in the area of the air 17 even if the conductive liquid 16 expands due to the heat generated by lighting the arc tube 1.

FIG. 3 (b) shows a third auxiliary starting conductor of the present invention.
2 is a block diagram showing a basic structure of a starting auxiliary conductor 5 ″ of the embodiment of FIG. 1 which is different from the embodiment of FIG. 1 in that a transparent conductive film such as indium oxide or titanium oxide is connected to an electrode 7 instead of argon gas. 18 is provided on the inner surface of the glass tube 8 and the inside of the glass tube 8 is filled with a gas such as air, nitrogen, a rare gas, etc. Because of this, the starting assisting conductor 5 is provided as in the example of FIG. It is possible to apply a high voltage to the arc tube 1 through the conductive film 18 of "", and it is possible to facilitate the starting. Further, since the translucent conductive material of the starting auxiliary conductor is composed of the translucent conductive film 18, there is no energy loss due to discharge that occurs when the translucent conductive material is composed of a low pressure gas, and the translucent light is also transmitted. There is no need to worry about damage to the transparent container or liquid leakage due to thermal expansion that may occur when the conductive material is made of a conductive liquid, and a high voltage can be reliably applied to the main electrode 2b of the arc tube 1. Can be applied.

Although the arc tube 1 is made of quartz glass in the above embodiments, it may be made of ceramics such as translucent alumina, and the insulating translucent container is made of the glass tube 8. However, the material is quartz glass or translucent alumina. Ceramics such as
The translucent conductive material is a low pressure gas, a conductive liquid or a conductive metal film, but may be conductive glass or conductive ceramics, and the ballast 3, the high voltage generating circuit 9, the lamp voltage detecting circuit 10, etc. are the same. Others may be used as long as they have a function. Further, the discharge lamp may have the arc tube exposed to the outside air, may have an outer tube covering the arc tube, and may further cover the arc tube with a sleeve to prevent explosion and keep it warm. It may be provided with a film. Further, the components other than the AC power source and the ballast may be housed in the outer tube or the base of the discharge lamp to form a discharge lamp with a built-in starter circuit, and the ballast may be housed to form a discharge lamp with a built-in lighting circuit. . Further, although an example of AC lighting is shown, DC lighting or high frequency lighting may be used.

[0023]

According to the above structure, an insulating translucent container having a translucent conductive substance inside and an electrode at one end is disposed so that the side without the electrode is disposed near the outer surface of the arc tube and the other end is disposed. Is a starting auxiliary conductor separated from the arc tube, and a starting high voltage generating means connected between one of the main electrodes and an electrode of the starting auxiliary conductor for applying a high voltage to the arc tube via the starting auxiliary conductor. Since it is equipped with it, you can effectively excite the discharge lamp,
Since the electrode, which is the metal part of the starting auxiliary conductor, is placed away from the arc tube, the metal halide such as sodium iodide enclosed in the arc tube is attracted by the metal of the starting auxiliary conductor and disappears, resulting in a shorter lamp life. There is no fear.

Further, since the translucent conductive material of the starting auxiliary conductor is a low-pressure gas such as a rare gas or mercury vapor which emits light by discharge, a high voltage is applied between the starting auxiliary conductor and the main electrode of the arc tube. When a low voltage gas such as rare gas or mercury vapor in the starting auxiliary conductor is ionized and discharged to emit light when a voltage is applied, the arc tube is supplied with light in addition to high voltage. Easier to do.

Further, since the translucent conductive material of the starting auxiliary conductor is composed of a conductive liquid, there is no energy loss due to discharge which occurs when the translucent conductive material is composed of a low pressure gas, and it is less. A high voltage can be applied between the main electrode of the arc tube and the energy. Furthermore, since the translucent container of the starting auxiliary conductor has the space for absorbing the expansion of the liquid, it is possible to prevent the liquid from thermally expanding and damaging the translucent container.

Further, since the light-transmissive conductive material of the starting auxiliary conductor is composed of the conductive metal film coated on the inner surface of the insulating light-transmissive container, the light-transmissive conductive material is composed of the low pressure gas. There is no energy loss due to discharge that occurs, and there is no need to worry about damage to the translucent container or liquid leakage due to thermal expansion that may occur when the translucent conductive material is composed of a conductive liquid, and reliable light emission is possible. A high voltage can be applied to the main electrode of the tube.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a basic configuration of a discharge lamp lighting device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a basic configuration of a specific example of a high voltage generation circuit and a lamp voltage detection circuit in a discharge lamp lighting device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the basic structure of another embodiment of the starting auxiliary conductor of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a basic configuration of a conventional discharge lamp lighting device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Discharge Lamp Arc Tube 2a, 2b Main Electrode 3 Ballast 4 AC Power Supply 5, 5 ', 5 "Starting Auxiliary Conductor 9 High Voltage Generation Circuit

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A discharge lamp comprising a light emitting tube having a pair of main electrodes and containing a light emitting metal such as mercury, a ballast for limiting the lamp current of the discharge lamp, and light emission through the ballast and the main electrodes. A power supply for supplying a lamp current to the tube and an insulating translucent container having a translucent conductive substance inside and an electrode at one end, and the side without the electrode is disposed near the outer surface of the arc tube. The other end is connected to a start auxiliary conductor separated from the arc tube and one of the main electrodes and an electrode of the start auxiliary conductor, and a high voltage starting means for applying a high voltage to the arc tube via the start auxiliary conductor. And a high voltage is applied to the arc tube via the starting auxiliary conductor to start the discharge lamp when the discharge lamp is started. 2. The discharge lamp lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the translucent conductive material of the starting auxiliary conductor is a low-pressure gas such as a rare gas or mercury vapor that emits light upon discharge. 3. The discharge lamp lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the translucent conductive material of the starting auxiliary conductor is a conductive liquid. 4. The discharge lamp lighting device according to claim 3, wherein the translucent container of the starting auxiliary conductor has a space for absorbing the expansion of the conductive liquid. 5. The discharge lamp lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the translucent conductive material of the starting auxiliary conductor is a conductive metal film coated on the inner surface of the insulating translucent container.