JPH07240187A - Discharge lamp and lighting system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a discharge lamp in which staring capability of the lamp is enhanced by using a luminous member and forming work is made easy, and a lighting system equipped with this lamp. CONSTITUTION:A bulb 1 having at least a pair of cold cathode type, electrodes 2, 2, a base 5 fixed so as to cover the bulb 1 to the bulb 1 or a cap, and a luminous member 6 formed on the base 5 or the cap are arranged. The electrodes always receive electron radiation from the luminous member even in darkness in addition to the normal sunshine atmosphere, and discharge between the electrodes is quickly generated in starting of the lamp to start lighting. Since the luminous member is formed as a component without increase in components of the lamp, productivity is increased and cost is reduced.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a discharge lamp having improved starting characteristics in the dark and an illuminating device using the discharge lamp.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art It is known that a discharge lamp cannot be smoothly or ionized without smooth ionization if there is no initial electron that triggers discharge at the time of starting such as lighting.

The initial electrons that trigger this discharge include thermoelectrons, photoelectrons, electrons artificially emitted by a high electric field, and cosmic rays in the natural world. For example, in darkness where light from the outside does not reach. In the discharge lamp in, the initial electrons cannot be expected only by cosmic rays from the faint natural world and it is difficult to start.

In the case of starting with thermoelectrons, an electrode that emits thermoelectrons is required in the arc tube, and a substance that easily emits thermoelectrons is applied to the coil-shaped electrode and heated to heat the thermoelectrons. I am trying to supply. However, the coiled electrode is vulnerable to vibrations and shocks, and the electrode structure and the lamp structure are complicated, and it is difficult to manufacture the coiled electrode, especially when it is provided in a thin glass bulb.

Further, in the case of the above-mentioned hot cathode type electrode, thermoelectrons can be emitted by heating the electrode, but in the case of the cold cathode type electrode, since the electrode is a non-preheated type, the lamp itself Cannot generate initial electrons for enabling discharge initiation, and usually an electrode is coated with an electron emissive substance composed of oxides (CaO, BaO) such as calcium and barium, and light from the outside is applied. The initial electrons are emitted by receiving. But,
When the lamp is installed in a bright place such as receiving light from another lighting device, initial electrons are generated by receiving ambient light and start immediately after energization, but the lamp is installed in a dark place. If so, it took a long time to start.

Therefore, in a discharge lamp using a discharge electrode composed of a non-preheated cold cathode, in order to improve its starting characteristics, a radioactive isotope such as nickel (Ni) 63 or promethium (Pm) 147 is provided in the bulb. An element (RI) is provided. Since the initial electrons are constantly generated in the bulb of this lamp due to the radiation from the radioisotope (RI), the discharge can be started immediately and the lamp can be started even if the surroundings are dark and the electricity is turned on.

However, the amount of radioactive isotope (RI) provided is not a problem in individual lamps, but it requires special attention when handling the lamps, so that work management is required. There is a problem that it is very time-consuming and expensive.

[0008] Further, for the radioactive isotope (RI) which is difficult to handle and manage as described above, a light bulb, a light emitting diode or the like which immediately emits light is arranged in the vicinity of the electrode, and the discharge lamp is energized or at the same time. It is known from the description of Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 1-130462, for example, to turn on a light bulb, a light emitting diode, or the like earlier and receive light from these to give initial electrons to the electrodes.

[0009] In this system, by immediately lighting a light bulb or the like even in complete darkness, discharge can be quickly generated and the lamp can be lit in a short time. However, this one requires another light source such as a light bulb such as a light emitting diode and a light emitting diode in addition to the discharge lamp, which leads to cost increase and a space for arranging these light bulbs, etc. Although it can be stored inside, it may go against the purpose such as a bulging portion for storage in a lamp that is going to be downsized by making it into a thin tube.

The inventor of the present invention does not employ the above-mentioned hot cathode, is not difficult to manage like radioisotope (RI), and is equipped with a light source for immediate light emission. We have studied various materials that can emit electrons without the need for materials and difficult work management.

[0011]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, the present inventor uses a light-storing member, which is different from the one described above and has a simple structure and always emits electrons, and has high safety, to assist in starting the discharge lamp in the dark. It came to pay attention to as a material.

The use of this phosphorescent member as a starting aid in the darkness of a discharge lamp is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-3.
It is described in Japanese Patent No. 0270 and belongs to the public knowledge. What is described in this publication is one in which a light-storing member is applied to a shielding plate arranged near the bulb surface near the electrode or near the bulb end.

If the phosphorescent material film is present in the vicinity of the electrodes as described above, the initial electron emission is always emitted from the phosphorescent material film, and when the lamp is energized, a discharge is rapidly generated between the electrodes, and the surrounding area is The lamp can be started immediately even in the dark.

However, such a phosphorescent material coated on the surface of the bulb is easily peeled off when the bulb comes into contact with other materials, and the amount of light emission at the portion where the coating is formed is reduced, so that the lamp as a whole. Luminous efficiency has decreased. In addition, in order to form a film on the bulb surface, a large amount of working equipment is required, and impure gas is generated in the bulb due to baking of the coating film, which is a factor that deteriorates the working characteristics and life characteristics of the lamp.

In addition, since the light-shielding member applied to the shield plate is formed on a member on the device side other than the lamp, if the lamp and the shield plate to be combined in the device are misaligned, an initial electron is applied to the lamp. However, it is uneconomical to apply a phosphorescent material to all the shielding plates to prevent this.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems,
It is an object of the present invention to provide a discharge lamp that can improve the starting characteristics of a lamp by using a light-storing member and can also facilitate the work of forming the discharge lamp, and an illumination device equipped with this lamp.

[0017]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION The discharge lamp of the present invention comprises:
A bulb provided with at least a pair of cold cathode electrodes, a base or a cap attached to the bulb so as to cover the bulb, an inner surface of the base or the cap, and a portion facing the electrode. It is characterized in that it is provided with a luminous material.

Further, the above-mentioned phosphorescent member is characterized in that it is attached to the inner surface side of a member constituting a base or a cap.

Further, the above-mentioned phosphorescent member is characterized in that it is contained in a member constituting a base or a cap.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that a member that electrically insulates the terminal member of the base is made to contain or adhere to a luminous material.

Furthermore, the illumination device of the present invention is characterized in that the above-mentioned discharge lamp is mounted on a fixture.

[0022]

[Function] Since the phosphorescent member is formed at the portion of the base or cap of the discharge lamp that faces the electrode, the electron emission constantly emitted from the phosphorescent member to the electrode is used as an initial electron to trigger the discharge. In other words, when the lamp is started, a discharge is promptly generated, and the lamp can be turned on not only in the normal environment but also in the dark. Further, it is possible to provide a discharge lamp having a high productivity that can be easily mass-produced as a part of the lamp constituent members without requiring a special member for forming the light-accumulating member and a large-scale facility.

[0023]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 and 2 show a small discharge lamp used in a backlight device of a liquid crystal display device, for example, a straight tube type fluorescent lamp L having a power consumption of about 1.0 W. This lamp L has an outer diameter of about 12 mm, an inner diameter of about 11 mm, and an overall length of about 3 mm.
At both ends of a 55 mm tubular glass bulb 1, there are sealing parts 1A and 1A to which lead wires 3 and 3 supporting the cold cathode type discharge electrodes 2 and 2 are sealed, and these sealing parts 1A and 1A are provided. The bases 5 and 5 are fixed to the base by fitting or bonding via an adhesive (not shown).

On the inner wall surface of the bulb 1, there is formed a three-wavelength type phosphor layer 4 in which phosphors having light emitting regions of blue, green and red are mixed.
About 10 to 50 Torr of a mixed rare gas of r (argon) or Ar and Ne (neon) and mercury are enclosed.

As shown in the enlarged view of FIG. 2, the bases 5 and 5 are shells 5A formed by cylindrically forming a metal plate made of nickel (Ni) or nickel (Ni) -plated iron (Fe), and the like. A disk-shaped insulating plate 5B made of bakelite or the like, the outer periphery of which is caulked at one end of the shell 5A, and a metal which is planted and fixed in the center of the insulating plate 5B by caulking in an eyelet shape. It is made up of a cylindrical terminal 5D made of metal and a luminous member 6 formed on one surface of the insulating plate 5B.

The discharge lamp L having such a structure has the insulating plate 5B of the base 5 facing the cold cathode type electrode 2 in the bulb 1.
Since the phosphorescent member 6 exists in the electrode 2, the electrode 2 always keeps the phosphorescent member 6 in a normal environment even in the dark.
If the voltage for lighting the lamp L is applied to the electrodes 2 and 2 and the electrodes 2 and 2 are energized, the electron emission from the phosphorescent member 6 triggers the discharge as initial electrons, and the electrodes 2 and A discharge occurs between the two to start the lamp L and emit a predetermined light.

When the fluorescent lamp L having such a configuration is connected to a predetermined high frequency lighting circuit and is lit at a lamp current of 4 to 5 mA, a lamp voltage of 300 V and a frequency of 35 kHz, it is started in about 1 to 3 seconds after energization and 10000 A lifespan exceeding time was obtained.

The formation of the light-storing member 6 on the electrically insulating plate 5B of the base 5 is carried out even in the state of parts after the work of punching into a disk shape from the electrically insulating substrate before the base 5 is assembled. Alternatively, when the base 5 is in the assembled state, the surface of the base 5 may be coated with a suspension of the phosphorescent material and dried, which can be easily automated and mass-produced in the process of assembling the base.

The light-storing member referred to in the present invention is commonly called a luminescent paint, and is made of a phosphor material having a particularly long afterglow property. Examples of this phosphor material include SrAl ₂ O ₄ : Eu (emission peak wavelength 5
20 nm, afterglow brightness of about 300 mcd / m ² (200 lx
For 4 minutes, brightness after 20 minutes), afterglow time 2000
Min or more (time required to decay to 0.32 mcd / m ² ) or ZNs: Cu (emission peak wavelength 530 nm, afterglow brightness of about 20 mcd / m ² (irradiated at 200 lx for 4 minutes,
Luminance after 20 minutes), afterglow time 200 to 400 minutes (0.3
(Time required to decay to ² mcd / m ² ).

The cold cathode type electrode 2 is formed by cutting a metal plate made of nickel (Ni) or nickel (Ni) -plated iron (Fe) into a width of about 6 mm and a length of about 10 mm. An electron emissive material layer (not shown) and a mercury emitting alloy (not shown) are formed on both surfaces of the electrode 2 as required. The lead wire 3 is composed of three parts, an inner lead wire made of nickel or the like, a sealed wire made of Dumet wire, and an outer lead wire made of nickel-plated iron wire or the like. It consists of two parts with the lead wire, but is omitted.

Such a lamp L is the same as usual,
The phosphor layer 4 is formed in the bulb 1, the electrode 2 is separately assembled, and the sealing work for both, exhausting, and the filling of gas or mercury are performed to obtain a wire bulb. Then, the caps 5 are attached to the sealing portions 1A and 1A at both ends of the valve 1,
The shells 5A and 5A of 5 are fitted together, and the two are fixed together with an adhesive if necessary, and the lead wire 3 extending to the outside is inserted into the cylindrical terminal 5D and solder 5E is formed at the end.
It is completed by connecting by conventional means such as attachment, caulking, and welding.

Further, the formation of the luminous member on the terminal insulating plate of the base of the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, but may be a constitution as shown in FIG. This FIG. 3 shows only the base 5 parts, and in FIG. 3, the same parts as in FIG.

FIG. 3 shows G1 used in a general-purpose fluorescent lamp.
The base 5 is a plate-shaped shell 5A having a hole 5F in the center, and two terminal insulating plates 5B and 5C in which the hole 5F is superposed and closed so as to sandwich the hole 5F. Cylindrical terminal 5D for supplying power while locking the insulating plates 5B, 5C by projections from the outer surface side by crimping
Consists of.

The insulating plate 5C positioned inside the base 5 is made of bakelite, fiber or the like containing the light storing member 6.

A lamp L using the base 5 having such a structure
Also, in addition to the same effects as those of the above-described embodiment, the insulating plate 5C may be obtained from the insulating substrate containing the luminous member 6 in advance, and the insulating plate 5C can be used in the manufacturing and assembling process of the base 5 and the lamp L. High productivity can be obtained because no special process for forming is required.

In this case, the light storing member 6 may be formed on the insulating plate 5B located outside, but the electrode 2
The electron emission reaching the outside is small, so the outer insulating plate 5
The phosphorescent member 6 may not be formed in B.

FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 shows a lighting tube FG used for starting a low-pressure discharge lamp such as a fluorescent lamp. In this case, only the lighting tube main body F or a capacitor incorporated together with the lighting tube main body F for noise prevention is shown. A phosphorescent member is formed on a cap 9 accommodating 7 therein.

That is, in FIG. 4, F is a lighting tube body having at least one bimetal electrode 2G and a counter electrode 2K in the bulb, 7 is a capacitor, and 8 is extended from the lighting tube body F and the capacitor 7. Lead wire 3A, 3
An electrically insulating substrate made of bakelite or fiber provided with terminals 8D, 8D connecting A, ...
Reference numeral 9 denotes a light-transmissive cap made of synthetic resin such as polycarbonate or urea, in which these components are housed inside and the substrate 8 is fixed to the opening end by adhesion or fusion.

The cap 8 or the substrate 8 forming the base is coated with the phosphorescent member 6 on the inner surface side as in the above embodiment, or is formed of a synthetic resin material containing the phosphorescent member. (Formed on the side of the cap 9 in FIG. 4).

The lighting tube FG is housed integrally in a fluorescent lamp or the like, or is attached to a lighting fixture for these lamps,
It is used by connecting it in series or in parallel with the lamp.

The operation of this ignition tube FG is similar to that of the above-mentioned lamp, and the cap 9 facing the cold cathode bimetal electrode (not shown) inside the ignition tube body F is used.
Since the light-storing member 6 is present on the inner surface of the, under normal circumstances, outside light is transmitted through the light-transmitting cap, and of course, even in the dark, the bimetal electrode always receives electron radiation from the light-storing member 6, When a voltage for lighting the fluorescent lamp is applied, the electron emission from the light-storing member 6 triggers a discharge as initial electrons, and a discharge is immediately generated in a bimetal electrode (not shown) to start the lamp L. Then, it emits a predetermined amount of light. The lamp L shown in FIG. 1 according to the present invention is used, for example, as a light source of a display device. As shown in FIG. 5, the lamp L is mounted in a reflecting mirror R and combined with a light diffusion plate D and a display plate P to be used as a display, a decoration, or a backlight of a liquid crystal display device such as a television or a personal computer. It of course,
The present invention is used not only as such a display device, but also as a general lighting fixture in combination with a reflector or the like. Also,
The lighting tube FG shown in FIG. 4 is used in combination with a fluorescent lamp by being attached to an ordinary lighting fixture.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, the lamps are not limited to fluorescent lamps and lighting tubes,
It can be applied to other discharge lamps such as lamps that emit ultraviolet rays, lamps that emit rare gas that does not contain mercury, and glow lamps such as neon lamps. Further, the shape of the valve is not limited to the straight pipe shape, and may be bent into a U shape, a W shape, a ring shape, or the like.

Further, the shape of the base is not limited to that described in the embodiment, but other shapes may be used, and two or more terminals may be implanted in one insulating plate. Further, similarly to the case where the light-accumulating member is formed on the cap, it is formed on the inner surface of the shell part, on both the shell part and the insulating plate, or the shell part is made of a synthetic resin material containing the light-accumulating member. Alternatively, the phosphorescent member may be formed in a position where the electron radiation reaches the electrode portion facing the discharge electrode portion. In addition, the formation of the light-storing member with one lamp is not required to be a site facing all the electrodes, and it is sufficient that it is facing at least one electrode. Further, the amount of the light-accumulating member formed may be appropriately determined according to the characteristics required of the lamp. The material of the cap and the base may be translucent or non-translucent.

Furthermore, the material, shape, and quantity of the cold cathode type discharge electrode are not limited to those described in the embodiment, but stainless steel (F
e-Ni-Mn), tungsten (W), molybdenum (Mo), or the like, which may be a U-shaped, V-shaped, or a rod-shaped sintered body, and the number thereof may be at least one pair. Alternatively, one of the electrodes may be provided on the outer surface of the bulb.

Furthermore, although the present invention describes the lamp in which the lead wire is directly sealed by reducing the diameter of the bulb end, the present invention is not limited to this, and a stem such as a crush seal, a flare stem, or a button stem is used. It may be sealed.

[0046]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, the electrodes are constantly receiving electron emission from the light-accumulating member even in the dark environment and in the dark environment, and the voltage for starting the lamp is kept constant. When electricity is applied to the electrodes, the electron emission from the light-storing member creates a trigger for discharge as the initial electrons, and a discharge is quickly generated between the electrodes to start the lamp and perform the predetermined light emission and operation The characteristics could be improved.

Further, the luminous member can be formed by applying it to the parts, or by changing the materials of the parts. This can be done without increasing the number of constituent parts of the lamp and mass production. High productivity was obtained in the lamp and the cost could be reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway front view showing an embodiment of a discharge lamp of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing an enlarged base portion of the lamp of FIG.

FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of the base of the discharge lamp of the present invention, (A) is a longitudinal sectional view and (B) is a side view.

FIG. 4 is a partially cutaway front view showing an embodiment of another discharge lamp (lighting tube) of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing an embodiment of the lighting device of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1: Glass bulb 2: Electrode 5: Base 5A: Shell 5B: Electric insulating plate 5C: Electric insulating plate containing a phosphorescent member 6: Luminescent member 8: Substrate 9: Cap L: Fluorescent lamp (discharge lamp) FG: Lighting tube (discharge lamp) R: Reflecting mirror D: Light diffusing plate P: Display plate

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A bulb comprising at least a pair of cold cathode electrodes; a base or cap attached to the bulb so as to cover the bulb; an inner surface of the base or cap and facing the electrode. A discharge lamp comprising: a light-storing member provided on a part of the discharge lamp. 2. The discharge lamp according to claim 1, wherein the light-storing member is attached to an inner surface side of a member forming a base or a cap. 3. The discharge lamp according to claim 1, wherein the phosphorescent member is contained in a member forming a base or a cap. 4. The discharge lamp according to claim 1, wherein a member that electrically insulates the terminal member of the base is made to contain or adhere to a phosphorescent member. 5. A lighting device, wherein the discharge lamp according to any one of claims 1 to 4 is mounted on a device.