JPH06349454A - High frequency lighting device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a high frequency lighting device for changing the frequency of a micro-electromagnetic wave supplied to a discharge container and switching brightness and/or the impression of light emission. CONSTITUTION:High frequency electromagnetic wave generated by a high frequency generating device 2 is supplied to a discharge container 10 in which discharge medium is sealed through an antenna 15. The frequency of high frequency electromagnetic wave to supplied to a discharge lamp is selected from a frequency less than 300MHz to a frequency 300MHz or more by a switch 22. Thereby, when the frequency of microelectromagnetic wave applied to the lamp is less than 300MHz, a positive column contracts toward to the center part of a discharge space and the positive column expands when the frequency is over 300MHz. Accordingly, the since the configuration of the positive columns changes if the frequency is switched, the illuminous image such as brightness may be changed.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a high-frequency illuminating device for supplying high-frequency electromagnetic waves to a discharge vessel in which a discharge medium is sealed so as to emit light by discharge.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, in an illumination environment, the illumination atmosphere changes when the overall brightness, irradiation location, emission color, etc. are changed. Conventionally, for example, a plurality of lamps have been used as a method for changing the illumination atmosphere. There are known means such as switching and lighting, changing the amount of light with one lamp (light control), and changing the emission color.

In particular, in order to change the lighting atmosphere with one lamp, the lamp current or voltage is controlled to change the light emission amount (dimming), or a plurality of light emitting media are selectively excited to change the light emission color. Means such as changing were adopted.

[0004]

However, recently, various demands for the illumination environment are increasing, and it is wondered whether the illumination atmosphere can be changed by a method other than the conventional dimming and changing the emission color. There is a request.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances. An object of the present invention is to determine the frequency of the electromagnetic wave to be supplied in a lamp in which a high frequency electromagnetic wave is supplied to a discharge vessel to generate a high frequency discharge. An object of the present invention is to provide a high-frequency lighting device capable of changing not only the brightness but also the impression of light emission by changing the brightness.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a discharge lamp in which a discharge medium is enclosed in a discharge vessel, a means for supplying a high frequency electromagnetic wave to the discharge vessel to generate a high frequency discharge in the discharge lamp, and The frequency of the high-frequency electromagnetic wave supplied to the discharge lamp ranges from less than 300MHz to 300M.
Means for selecting over a frequency of Hz or higher.

The invention of claim 2 is characterized in that the means for selecting the frequency is means for continuously switching the frequency from less than 300 MHz to more than 300 MHz. In the invention of claim 3, the means for selecting the frequency is
It is characterized in that it is a means for gradually changing the frequency from less than 300 MHz to more than 300 MHz. In the invention of claim 4, the frequency of 300 MHz or higher is 300
It is characterized in that the frequency is an integral multiple of the frequency less than MHz. The invention of claim 5 is characterized in that the frequency of less than 300 MHz is 13.56 MHz. According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the discharge medium enclosed in the discharge container includes a substance that discharges and emits an electromagnetic wave having a frequency of less than 300 MHz and a substance that discharges and emits an electromagnetic wave having a frequency of 300 MHz or more. . The invention of claim 7 is characterized in that the means for introducing the high-frequency electromagnetic wave into the discharge container is an antenna. The invention according to claim 8 is characterized in that the electromagnetic length of the antenna is a length that is an integral multiple of approximately 1/4 of the wavelength of the electromagnetic waves of the two types of frequencies. The invention of claim 9 is characterized in that a phosphor is applied to the inner surface of the discharge vessel, and mercury and a rare gas are enclosed in the discharge vessel.

[0008]

In the conventional discharge lamp, even if it is a dimming type or a toning type, the arc form does not change.
On the other hand, according to various studies and experiments by the present inventors,
In the case of a high-frequency discharge lamp, it was found that when the frequency of the high-frequency electromagnetic wave applied to the lamp was changed, the morphology of the positive column changed at a certain level. That is, when the frequency of the electromagnetic wave supplied to the discharge lamp is less than 300 MHz, the positive columns are concentrated in the center of the discharge space, and when the frequency exceeds 300 MHz, the positive columns are near the wall of the discharge vessel. Spread evenly. Therefore, if the frequency at the time of lighting is changed, the morphology of the positive column changes, so the brightness changes, and if the type of the enclosed luminescent medium and the coating state of the phosphor are changed, the light emission You can change the color.

From this, according to the lighting device of the first aspect, when the frequency at the time of lighting is switched, the form of the positive column changes. According to the high frequency illumination device of the second aspect, the form of the positive column continuously changes. According to the high frequency lighting device of the third aspect, stepwise switching is easier than continuous switching. According to the high frequency lighting device of the fourth aspect, in the case of stepwise switching, stepwise switching of an integral multiple is easy.
According to the high frequency lighting device of claim 5, 13.56 MHz.
Since the frequency of is a frequently used frequency, it is easy to handle. According to the high frequency lighting device of the sixth aspect, in addition to changing the distribution of the positive columns, the emission color also changes. According to the high-frequency lighting device of the seventh and eighth aspects, it is possible to realize a high-frequency electromagnetic wave with a simple structure in the discharge container. According to the ninth aspect of the high-frequency lighting device, ultraviolet rays are efficiently converted into visible light.

[0010]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below based on the first embodiment shown in FIGS. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the entire high-frequency illumination device. In the figure, 1 is a discharge lamp and 2 is a high-frequency oscillator. The discharge lamp 1 is provided with a discharge vessel 10 made of soda lime glass having a substantially spherical outer shape, for example, and a central portion of the discharge vessel 10 is formed with a recess 12 which is separated from the discharge space 11 and communicates with the outside. Has been done. A fluorescent substance film 13 is formed on the inner surfaces of the discharge vessel 10 and the recess 12, and in the discharge vessel 10, for example, about 20 mg of mercury and several Torr are used.
Noble gas such as argon is filled.

The high frequency oscillating device 2 is provided with a high frequency oscillating circuit (not shown) and a control circuit 21 for converting a commercial power source frequency over a range of 10 to 1000 MHz, for example, in a casing 20. Switching is controlled by a frequency conversion switch 22 provided in the casing 20. When the frequency changeover switch 22 is switched to one side, the control circuit 21
Is a low frequency below 300 MHz, for example 13.56
An electromagnetic wave of MHz is output, and when the frequency changeover switch 22 is switched to the other side, the control circuit 21 outputs an electromagnetic wave of a high frequency of 300 MHz or higher, for example, 600 MHz.

Such high frequency electromagnetic energy is supplied to the discharge lamp 1 through the antenna 15 as an input means.
Is supplied to. The antenna 15 has one end connected to the high-frequency oscillator 2 and the other end inserted into a recess 12 communicating with the center of the discharge vessel 10. The antenna 15
Has an electromagnetic length that is an integral multiple of ¼ of the wavelength of the low high frequency 13.56 MHz, and has a high high frequency of 600 MHz.
Has a length that is an integral multiple of approximately 1/4 of the wavelength of. That is, the length of the antenna 15 is 13.56 MHz and 600.
The length is a common multiple of about ¼ of each wavelength of MHz.

The operation of the high-frequency lighting device having such a structure will be described. When the high frequency oscillating device 2 is operated to output a high frequency electromagnetic wave, this electromagnetic wave is supplied to the discharge lamp 1 through the antenna 15. In the discharge lamp 1, high-frequency discharge is generated by the high-frequency electromagnetic wave radiated into the discharge space 11, which excites mercury vapor and outputs ultraviolet rays, which are converted into visible light by the phosphor coating 13. Therefore, it is radiated to the outside of the discharge vessel 10.

In the above high frequency discharge, when the frequency of the electromagnetic wave is low, the positive column A1 is concentrated in the center of the discharge vessel 10,
When the frequency of electromagnetic waves is high, the positive column A2 is the discharge vessel 10
Of the fluorescent substance 13 and uniformly diffuses to the vicinity of the phosphor 13.

By the way, FIG. 2 is a graph showing the distribution of the discharge intensity in the high-frequency discharge in the discharge vessel 10 for each frequency. The vertical axis represents the plasma intensity of the positive column, and the horizontal axis represents the outer diameter (R) direction of the discharge vessel 10. The horizontal axis means that 0 corresponds to the center line of the discharge vessel 10 and gradually becomes closer to the tube wall in the left-right direction. From the characteristics of FIG. 2, when the frequency of the applied electromagnetic wave is 100 MHz or less, the positive column due to the glow discharge converges on the central part of the discharge vessel 10 and is concentratedly generated on the central part of the vessel 10. On the other hand, when the frequency of the electromagnetic wave supplied to the lamp is increased, the positive column tends to be dispersed and spread from the central portion of the discharge vessel 10.
At 0 MHz or higher, the positive column is generated close to the inner wall surface of the discharge vessel 10. At 600-1000MHz,
The positive column comes closer to the inner wall surface of the discharge vessel 10 and is generated in a stable state so as to follow the shape of the inner surface, that is, cling to the inner surface, and is distributed over the entire surface.

The above-mentioned discharge form is also shown in FIGS. FIG. 3 shows that when the frequency is 300 MHz or higher, the discharge spreads over the entire inner surface of the discharge vessel to generate a surface wave discharge, as shown in the area D in FIG. When the frequency is 300 MHz or less, magnetic field coupled discharge (H discharge type) and electric field coupled discharge (E discharge type) are generated. That is, when the electromagnetic wave energy input to the discharge space is within a certain range or less and has the same frequency, E discharge is generated when the input watt is less than approximately 1000 W, and H discharge is generated when the input watt is greater than approximately 1000 W. Emit.

FIG. 4 shows the characteristics of surface wave discharge. Surface wave discharge is generated at a frequency of 300 MHz or higher, but magnetic field coupled discharge (H discharge type) or electric field coupled discharge (E) at a frequency of 300 MHz or lower. Discharge type). In the case of magnetic field coupled discharge and electric field coupled discharge, the plasma does not spread, but the frequency is 30
In the case of a surface wave discharge of 0 MHz or higher, plasma diffuses near the tube wall.

For this reason, when the frequency changeover switch 22 is switched to one side to supply an electromagnetic wave of 13.56 MHz to the discharge lamp 1, the discharge is H discharge or E discharge as shown by A1 in FIG. A discharge is generated, which is concentratedly generated in the central portion of the discharge vessel 10, and the excitation intensity of the fluorescent substance 13 by ultraviolet rays is relatively low, and thus, light emission with low brightness is exhibited.

On the other hand, when the frequency changeover switch 22 is switched to the other side and the electromagnetic wave of 600 MHz is supplied to the discharge lamp 1, the discharge is generated close to the inner wall surface of the discharge vessel 10 as indicated by A2 in FIG. However, they are evenly distributed along the surface of the phosphor 13. Therefore, the phosphor 13 on the entire inner wall surface of the discharge vessel 10 is strongly excited, and thus bright emission is exhibited over the entire surface of the lamp.

From this, by switching and selecting the frequency of the micro electromagnetic wave supplied to the lamp, the lighting atmosphere can be changed, and a novel light control means can be provided.

In the case of the above embodiment, the frequency changeover switch 22 is used to set a relatively low frequency of 13.56 MHz.
In the above, the case of switching to two high frequencies, 600 MHz, has been described. However, as can be understood from FIG. 2, if the frequencies are sequentially changed, the diffusion degree of the positive column changes accordingly, so the frequency switching is performed in two. The selection is not limited to the alternative, and a large number may be switched stepwise (non-continuously), or may be sequentially and continuously changed.

When the electromagnetic length of the antenna 15 is about 1/4 of the wavelength of the frequency of the electromagnetic wave, the electromagnetic wave energy can be most efficiently injected into the lamp 1. Therefore, when switching the frequency, use the electromagnetic wave wavelength at the highest frequency as a reference, and use 1/2 or 1 /
It is preferable that the antenna length can always be maintained at an integer multiple of approximately 1/4 by switching at a frequency of an integer fraction such as 3, 1/4. As a result, electromagnetic waves can always be efficiently supplied from the antenna to the lamp 1.

FIG. 5 shows a second embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the discharge vessel 30 has a flat plate shape having a flat space. A phosphor (not shown) is applied to the inner surface of the discharge vessel 30, and a predetermined amount of mercury and a rare gas are enclosed in the inner space. Discharge vessel 30
Internal electrodes 31, 31 made of, for example, cold cathodes are provided at both ends of each of them at positions deviated from the center. These internal electrodes 31, 31 are means for inputting high frequency electromagnetic energy into the discharge vessel 30, and are connected to a high frequency oscillator 35 and a frequency switch 36.

In the case of such a configuration, the high frequency oscillator 3
5 outputs a micro electromagnetic wave, and this is the frequency converter 3
The switching is controlled by 6 to control the internal electrodes 31, 31 to, for example, 100.
When the electromagnetic wave of MHz is supplied, cold cathode discharge is generated between the electrodes 31 in the discharge container 30. In this case, the discharge is generated in a relatively narrow range on the line connecting the electrodes 31, 31. Since these electrodes 31, 31 are installed deviated from the center of the discharge vessel 10, positive columns are intensively generated in this deviation direction. Therefore, as shown in the plan view of FIG. 5A, ultraviolet rays of 254 nm, which is the resonance line of mercury, are emitted in the region A1 near the electrodes 31 and 31, and strong light emission is unevenly generated in this region. On the other hand, the frequency converter 36 is switched to switch the internal electrodes 31, 31 to, for example, 500
When the electromagnetic wave of MHz is supplied, the discharge is diffused in the discharge container 30, the positive column spreads to the other end of the discharge space, and is generated close to the entire inner wall surface of the discharge container 10. Therefore, in this case, the entire surface of the discharge vessel 30 uniformly and strongly emits light, so that a surface light-emitting body by total light emission can be obtained.

Further, in this case, if the phosphors are separately coated in the areas A1 and A2 and phosphors of different emission colors are applied, it is possible to change the emission color by switching the frequency. . The means for injecting high-frequency electromagnetic waves into the discharge vessel 30 is shown in FIG.
The external electrodes 41, 41 such as a coating film of a conductive paste as shown in FIG. Further, the means for supplying high-frequency electromagnetic waves to the discharge vessel may be a coil 45 surrounding the discharge vessel 10, as shown in FIG.

In each of the above embodiments, the discharge vessels 10, 30
A phosphor coating is formed on the inner surface of the discharge vessel 10, 3
Since mercury and a noble gas are enclosed in 0, in principle, the light emission is similar to that of a fluorescent lamp.

The present invention is not limited to this, and a gas or a luminescent metal that emits visible light such as neon may be enclosed without using the phosphor coating, and these luminescences may be utilized. In this case, since there is no diffusing action of the phosphor coating, the difference between the light emission in the central area A1 and the light emission in the diffusion area A2 becomes more clear, and the concentrated light emission near the center point and the spherical or planar shape. It is possible to selectively switch over the entire surface emission. With such concentrated light emission and diffused light emission, it becomes easy to control the light distribution, and it is possible to combine with various lighting fixtures.

Further, neon Ne and mercury H are placed in the discharge vessel.
When g is encapsulated, when a 13.56 MHz micro electromagnetic wave is supplied, mainly neon emits a strong light, so that a reddish emission color due to the resonance line of the neon can be obtained, and when a 350 to 400 MHz micro electromagnetic wave is supplied. The emission of mercury is intensified, and the entire emission changes to a bluish emission color.

When neon Ne, mercury Hg and sodium Na are enclosed, depending on the input frequency,
Mainly when neon emission is strong and emits a reddish color, when mainly mercury emission is strong and emits a bluish color, and when mainly sodium emission is intense and emits a yellowish color. It can be changed, and in this case, it can be applied to, for example, a traffic signal by changing the frequency. Therefore, it is possible to change the luminescent color according to the enclosed luminescent medium by changing the selection of the frequency.

The present invention is not limited to the shape of the discharge lamp, and since the discharge form changes, it is possible to produce a discharge lamp having a shape that could not be realized in the past.

[0031]

As described above, according to the present invention, by changing the frequency of the high frequency electromagnetic wave applied to the lamp, the morphology of the positive column is converged or diffused. The brightness changes depending on the condition, and the emission color can be changed according to the conditions of the type of the enclosed luminescent medium, the coating state of the phosphor, etc., and the emission image can be changed. Therefore, the lighting atmosphere can be changed according to the demand of the lighting environment by a means different from the conventional means.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a first embodiment of the present invention and showing a schematic configuration of a high-frequency lighting device using a spherical discharge lamp.

FIG. 2 is a characteristic diagram showing the relationship between plasma intensity and the internal position of the discharge vessel.

FIG. 3 is a characteristic diagram showing generation conditions of magnetic field coupled discharge (H discharge), electric field coupled discharge (E discharge), and surface wave discharge.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing characteristics of surface wave discharge.

5A and 5B show a second embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 5A is a plan view of a high-frequency lighting device using a flat discharge lamp, and FIG.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a high-frequency lighting device using a flat plate discharge lamp showing a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a high frequency lighting device using a spherical discharge lamp according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Discharge lamp 2 ... High-frequency oscillator 10, 30 ... Discharge container 11 ... Discharge space 13 ... Fluorescent film 15 ... Antenna 20 ... Casing 21 ... Controller
22 ... Changeover switch 31, 41 ... Electrode 45 ... Coil

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Masashi Saigo, Inventor Masashi Saigo, 4-28 Mita, Minato-ku, Tokyo Toshiba Lighting & Technology Corporation (72) Inventor, Hitoshi Nakanishi 4-28, Mita, Minato-ku, Tokyo Toshiba Within Lytec Co., Ltd. (72) Hitoshi Kono 1-4-2, Mita, Minato-ku, Tokyo Toshiba Li-Tech Inside (72) Inventor Kunio Yuasa 4-28, Mita, Minato-ku, Tokyo Toshiba Lei-Tech Within the corporation

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A discharge lamp in which a discharge medium is sealed in a discharge vessel, a means for supplying a high frequency electromagnetic wave to the discharge vessel to generate a high frequency discharge in the discharge lamp, and a frequency of the high frequency electromagnetic wave supplied to the discharge lamp. Three
A high-frequency lighting device, comprising: a means for selecting from a frequency of less than 00 MHz to a frequency of 300 MHz or more. 2. The means for selecting the frequency is 300M
The high-frequency lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the high-frequency lighting device is means for continuously switching the frequency from less than Hz to 300 MHz or more. 3. The means for selecting the frequency is 300M
The high-frequency lighting device according to claim 1, which is a unit that gradually changes the frequency from less than Hz to more than 300 MHz. 4. The frequency above 300 MHz is 30
The high frequency lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the frequency is an integer multiple of the frequency less than 0 MHz. 5. The frequency less than 300 MHz is 1
The high frequency lighting device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the high frequency lighting device has a frequency of 3.56 MHz. 6. The discharge medium enclosed in the discharge container comprises:
The high-frequency lighting device according to claim 1, comprising a substance that discharges and emits an electromagnetic wave having a frequency of less than 300 MHz and a substance that discharges and emits an electromagnetic wave having a frequency of 300 MHz or more. 7. The high-frequency lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the means for introducing the high-frequency electromagnetic wave into the discharge container is an antenna. 8. The high-frequency lighting device according to claim 7, wherein the electromagnetic length of the antenna has a length that is an integral multiple of approximately ¼ of the wavelength of the electromagnetic waves of the two types of frequencies. 9. The high-frequency lighting device according to claim 1, wherein a fluorescent substance is applied to the inner surface of the discharge vessel, and mercury and a rare gas are enclosed in the discharge vessel.