JPH07312205A - Light emission tube - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable multiquantum emission for emitting two or more photons from one stimulating photon and remarkably improve light emission efficiency based on new light conversion principle so as to provide a light emission tube for realizing drastic energy saving. CONSTITUTION:In a low pressure mercury discharge lamp of ultraviolet ray transmission type such as a bactericidal lamp, a tube body LT of a light emitting tube having a preheating electrode PF has a filmy phosphor layer PSL stuck on its outer circumferential face. The phosphor layer PSL coveringly contains a solid thin film and sodium Na which is used as one of adoptable luminous bodies for the solid thin film is fixed and arranged on such a substrate as forming a matrix material while holding an atomic condition. A resin film for allowing transmission of ultraviolet ray is provided on the rear face of the solid thin film and a resin film for allowing transmission of visible ray is provided on the surface of the solid thin film.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an arc tube which emits multi-quantum light when absorbing and exciting incident light from a radiation source, converting it to a wavelength longer than the incident light and emitting light.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, phosphors used for fluorescent lamps are mentioned as general-purpose phosphors. The fluorescent lamp has a luminous efficiency of about 80 m / W, which is relatively high in the existing arc tube. However, when considering the conversion efficiency from the viewpoint of emission energy, only about 1/4 of the input energy is used in the fluorescent arc tube. That is, in the fluorescent light emitting tube, about 60% of the input energy as the input power of the light emitting tube is converted into ultraviolet emission energy within the tube body of the arc tube, and about 40% of this ultraviolet emission energy is converted into visible light by the phosphor. It is only being done.

[0003]

In the above case, since doubling the luminous efficiency directly leads to a great energy saving, there has been a demand for a luminous tube using a new phosphor which can have a high efficiency. The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and its purpose is to enable multi-quantum emission in which two or more photons are emitted from one excitation photon based on a completely new photoconversion principle. Then, the luminous efficiency is remarkably increased, and a luminous energy saving tube is realized.

[0004]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, in an arc tube that absorbs and excites incident light from a radiation source and converts it into a wavelength longer than the incident light, a matrix that transmits visible light to the tube surface of the arc tube. The substance has at least an atomic property, has a first excited state having an energy level equivalent to that of incident light, has a second excited state having an energy level almost equal to the first excited state, and has a second Third between the excited state and the ground state
Of the second excited state to the third excited state,
The present invention is characterized in that a solid thin film, which is formed by substantially independently and fixedly arranging light-emitting substances, each of which has a high probability of gradual luminescence transition from the third excited state to the ground state, is attached.

[0005]

The present invention absorbs and excites incident light from a radiation source,
In an arc tube that converts to a wavelength longer than that of incident light, the first excitation having an energy level equivalent to that of incident light, which has at least an atomic property in a host material that transmits visible light to the surface of the arc tube. A second excited state having an energy level almost equal to that of the first excited state, and a second excited state
A third excited state exists between the excited state and the ground state, and a luminescent substance having a large probability of gradual luminescence transition from the second excited state to the third excited state and from the third excited state to the ground state is substantially Since each of them is provided with a solid thin film, which is individually and fixedly mounted, the luminous efficiency can be greatly improved as compared with the current luminous tube of the light emitting system through the fluorescent substance, which leads to a significant power saving. It is possible to provide an arc tube that has the effect of achieving high efficiency.

[0006]

EXAMPLES The present invention will be described below with reference to examples. (Example 1) Referring to FIG. 2 showing the principle of the phosphor used in the arc tube of the present invention, in the phosphor according to the present invention, when the phosphor receives incident light from, for example, an ultraviolet radiation source, It is possible to realize two or more (two examples are shown in the figure) photon emission from one excitation photon and to emit visible light, that is, to realize multi-quantum emission of two or more quantum and emit visible light. The underlying technical idea. On the other hand, in a conventional phosphor such as a phosphor, when it is excited by the incident light from the radiation source as shown in FIG. There is only one visible photon emission from a photon. Therefore, the multi-quantum light emission according to the present invention is based on a completely new light-emission principle in comparison with the light-emission principle of existing phosphors, and the emission efficiency can be doubled by realizing the multi-quantum light emission according to the present invention.

The phosphor used in the present invention is formed into a layer or a film, and the phosphor contains a base substance and a luminescent substance to be included in the base substance. That is, FIG.
Referring to the model of the phosphor according to the present invention, in the phosphor PCS according to the present invention, the luminescent material EM indicated by the "○" mark is individually fixed to the transparent host material IM indicated by the "x" mark. Are installed. In this case, the luminescent material EM maintains the properties of the atoms themselves. That is, it is optimal to maintain the energy level state of atoms, but at least maintain the atomic state or the pseudo-molecular state,
Fixed to. Here, "atomic" means that the luminescent material EM is not necessarily in a completely isolated atomic state,
It does not substantially react or bind to form a molecule with the host substance IM only when it is always adjacent to, but has a weak binding state, and also includes maintaining a state close to the energy level state of atoms. . Therefore, when there is incident light from the radiation source on the phosphor PCS by maintaining the luminescent material EM at least in atomic form, in the phosphor PCS, at least atomic states are scattered in the host material IM. Two or more photons can each be emitted from the luminescent material EM. On the other hand, in the case of a conventional phosphor or layered phosphor, as shown by modeling in FIG.
─── The element indicated by the "x" mark in the host molecule indicated by the "x" mark is replaced by the luminescence contributing element indicated by the "・" mark ""
─ ・ "It becomes a luminescent molecule shown by the mark, and these are" ──
It can be considered that the dots are scattered between the transparent non-luminescent host molecules indicated by the "" mark. At this time, the luminescence-contributing element indicated by the "-" mark of the luminescent molecule indicated by the "-" mark is an atom or an atomic energy level. When the phosphor receives incident light from the radiation source, it has only an excitation energy level as a molecule that is distant from the position. Only the photons of are emitted.

On the other hand, in the case of actually obtaining light emission as illumination, white light is preferable, and as is well known from the chromaticity diagram of FIG. 6, the area A surrounded by diagonal lines is the white zone. Further, an example in which the phosphor PCS according to the present invention is applied to an arc tube for illumination will be described. As shown in FIGS. 1, 7, and 8, in a low-pressure mercury discharge lamp that transmits ultraviolet rays, such as a germicidal lamp, an arc tube LT having a preheating electrode PF.
The film-shaped phosphor layer PSL is attached to the outer peripheral surface (or inner peripheral surface) of the. This phosphor layer PSL includes a solid thin film STL as shown in the cross section of FIG. 8, and the solid thin film STL uses sodium Na as one of the luminescent substances that can be adopted, and the sodium Na maintains the atomic state to form a matrix. It is configured by being fixed and arranged on a substrate that forms the substance IM. On the back surface of the solid thin film STL, a resin film R that transmits ultraviolet rays
F1 is provided, and a resin film RF2 that transmits visible light is provided on the surface of the solid thin film STL.

In this case, the solid thin film ST of the phosphor layer PSL
For forming L, a processing technique that can utilize a Langmuir film forming method, an ultrafine particle forming method, a superalloy forming method, an ultrathin film forming method, or the like can be adopted. Explaining along the example of adopting the Langmuir film formation method, first, when a molecule such as stearic acid [CH ₃ (CH ₂ ) ₁₆ COOH] is dipped as shown in FIG. A molecular layer is formed as a single thin film on the surface of the water w so that the hydrophilic group f is located on the water w side. Next, after dipping a suitable substrate BP such as a resin as shown in FIG. 9B, when it is moved upward, the molecular layer is brought into close contact with the substrate BP. By repeating this, as shown in FIG. 9 (c), the substrate BP is
Several molecular layers are formed on top.

As a result, the molecular layer formed on the substrate BP is reacted with a substance containing a luminescent host metal element such as sodium Na by chemical treatment to generate a metal salt. Next, in the reduction step, the metal salt is subjected to a reduction treatment to neutralize the ionized metal into a neutral metal, thereby forming an atom of sodium Na in the transparent base material IM that can be formed on the substrate BP such as a transparent resin. ATs are fixed while maintaining their atomic state, and are arranged substantially independently of each other to form a solid thin film STL capable of realizing multiquantum emission as described above (FIG. 10).

Phosphor layer PSL including the solid thin film STL
In the arc tube LT attached with, mercury Hg
Is clear from Fig. 11 showing its atomic energy level.
254 nm (2
537Å) most of the ultraviolet light, in contrast to
From FIG. 12, which shows the atomic energy level of lithium Na
As you can see, the two yellow resonance emissions around 590 nm
More visible emission than the higher depending on the main and high excitation
Since the spectrum appears, it is 25 when a mercury discharge is performed.
Ultraviolet radiation mainly at 4 nm is caused by arc tube LT and trees.
It is incident on the solid thin film STL via the oil film RF1. Solid
In the body thin film STL, sodium Na is maintained in the atomic state.
The incident ultraviolet light is absorbed and excited to a high level.
It At this time, the energy at 254 nm is about 4.9 eV.
Therefore, the excited levels of sodium Na atoms are stochastic.
²S₁/₂,²P₃/₂,²P₁/₂,²D_Five/₂,²D₃/₂system
It is thought to concentrate on high levels such as rows. These excitation quasi
Radiation from each position to a predetermined lower level or ground level
Therefore, the transition due to this radiation is mainly described below.
There is a high probability that it will be dominated. That is, the higher 9²S₁/₂→ 3
²P₃/₂Three²P₁/ ₂Transition to and higher²D_Five/₂,²D
_Five/₂→ 3²P₃/₂Three²P₁/₂And the probability is high,
The high level and 3²P₃/₂Three²P₁/₂Energy difference with
Since it is about 2.8 eV, the wavelength of emitted light is about 450 nm.
Become. In addition,²P₃/₂,²P₁/₂→ 3²S₁/₂(base
Transition to the level) is almost the re-emission of absorbed light.
It becomes ultraviolet light of about nm to 260 nm and is re-absorbed and finally
To higher S₁/₂, D_Five/₂, D₃/ ₂To be excited to
Become.

[0012] The next ^{_{3 2 P 3/2, 3}} 2 P 1/2 → 3 2 S 1 /
_The transition due to the secondary radiation to ₂ (ground level) is about 590 nm (
It will emit a D line (yellow) of about 2.1 eV).
However, in this case, the emission amount ratio between the blue emission in the vicinity of about 450 nm and the yellow emission in the vicinity of about 590 nm is almost 1;
When the luminosity correction is performed, the chromaticity of these two quantum luminescence becomes near m point in FIG. Moreover, the final chromaticity after the addition of visible light due to mercury discharge is the spot in the white zone A.
It is around n, and the luminous efficiency of conventional phosphors is 8
A luminous efficiency of about 160 m / W, which is about twice that of 0 m / W, can be obtained. Further, several kinds of other luminescent materials can be used for the solid thin film STL of the phosphor layer PSL according to the present invention.
Strontium Sr can be used as one of them. To form a solid thin film STL using strontium Sr, for example, strontium Sr is added to a chelating resin for metal adsorption,

[0013]

[Chemical 1]

After being trapped as described above, strontium Sr is reduced with a gas of hydrogen H or a suitable reducing agent to the other,

[0015]

[Chemical 2]

[0016] As a result, strontium Sr is confined in the molecular structure space and is extracted and fixed as it is as a neutral atom. In this case, when a low-pressure mercury discharge lamp is discharged in the same manner as described above, the carboxyl group is transparent to visible light and ultraviolet light, and strontium Sr is absorbed and excited by ultraviolet radiation. At this time, as is clear from the energy level diagram of strontium Sr shown in FIG.
It is efficiently excited to the high level of P ₁ and transits from this level to the 4d level while emitting light having a spectrum of 655 nm, and then emits light having a spectrum of 461 nm to a ground level.

Other materials can be applied to the radiation source for the phosphor layer PSL used in the present invention. As one of them, xenon having the energy level shown in FIG. 14 can be used. In this case, zinc Zn having the energy level shown in FIG. 15 is used as a light emitting substance in the solid thin film STL of the phosphor. Then, when xenon discharge is performed, ultraviolet radiation having a wavelength of about 147 nm having an energy of about 8.2 eV is emitted, absorbed by zinc Zn, and strongly excited by 4d. Next, from this energy level, light having a spectrum of about 330 nm is immediately emitted and transits to the lower level 4P, and then similarly 300 nm.
It transits to the ground level while emitting light having the spectrum of. As a result, it is possible to efficiently convert two far-ultraviolet radiation of 147 nm into near-ultraviolet light having a spectrum of about 300 nm to 330 nm by emitting two quantum rays.

Further, a high-pressure mercury discharge is used as a radiation source for the phosphor PCS used in the present invention, and cesium Cs is added to the solid thin film STL.
Can be used, and the spectrum of the high pressure mercury discharge is shown in FIG.
6 and the energy level of cesium Cs is shown in FIG.
7 is shown. In this case, when high-pressure mercury discharge is performed, near-ultraviolet light of 365 nm (about 3.4 eV) and 405 nm
nm (about 3.1 eV), 436 nm (about 2.9 eV), 54
Each visible ray of 6 nm (about 2.3 eV) is emitted and absorbed by cesium Cs. At this time, as is clear from FIG. 17, the cesium Cs atoms have dense excitation levels with respect to 365 nm, which effectively absorbs the emitted light, and the resonance level of about 1.3 eV is sandwiched between the two levels for about 2 steps. .1eV yellow and about 1.3e
It emits V infrared rays. Similarly, for 405 nm, red emission of about 1.8 eV and infrared emission of about 1.3 eV,
Also, for 436 nm, it is about 1.4 to 1.5 eV and about 1.
Two quantum emission of infrared emission of 3 eV will be obtained.

In addition, a low-pressure mercury discharge lamp such as a germicidal lamp can be used as a radiation source for the phosphor layer PSL used in the present invention, and lithium Li can be used as a solid thin film STL. In this case, when a mercury discharge is carried out, ultraviolet radiation of 254 nm is carried out, which is very well absorbed and excited by lithium Li to emit blue light of 427 nm, and then emits red light of 671 nm while transitioning to the ground level. To do. Where lithium Li
It is preferable that the solid thin film STL is formed into a film substantially like the above-mentioned sodium Na. The phosphor layer PSL using lithium Li as a luminescent substance is effective for emitting artificial light particularly to plants that are irradiated with external light during the daytime and artificial light at night to perform forced cultivation.
That is, the wavelength band that promotes plant growth is 400 to 500 nm.
It has been proved that the blue light and the red light of 600 to 700 nm are present, and the wavelength of 2 quantum emission of the phosphor layer PSL using lithium Li is adapted to this.

Furthermore, it is conceivable that some chemical or physical force is applied to the solid thin film STL of the phosphor layer PSL used in the present invention to reduce atom independence and isolation. In this case, it is recalled that a binding force of about several tenths eV or less acts on the luminescent material, so a low-pressure mercury discharge lamp is used as a radiation source, and several tenths of eV is applied to the incident light of 254 nm ultraviolet radiation. Taking into account the bonding force of the above, magnesium Mg having the energy level of FIG. 18 and manganese Mn having the energy level of FIG. 19 can be used for the solid thin film STL. For example, in magnesium Mg, when a binding force of several tenths of eV works, the level at 4S is slightly lower than 4.9 eV and has a width as shown by applying mesh EZ1 in the figure, so that the blue is slightly broad. The spectrum of (B) appears, and even in the lower excitation level, it is slightly lowered as shown by applying mesh EZ2, and has a width, so it is slightly broad yellow to red.
The (YR) spectrum appears, and synthetic white light having better color rendering can be obtained. On the other hand, manganese Mn is 1
When a binding force of a few minutes eV works, the level in the vicinity of 7 eV in the atom is 5.0 as shown by the mesh on the left end of the figure.
It is slightly lower than eV and has a broad blue-green (BG) spectrum because it has a width, and it is slightly lowered as shown by applying a mesh in the lower excitation level as well.
In addition, a broad and slightly broad spectrum of red to yellow (R to Y) appears, and manganese Mn also shows good synthetic white light like magnesium Mg.

Further, an example in which the vacuum evaporation method is adopted for forming the phosphor layer PSL will be described. Referring to FIGS. 20 and 21,
In the vacuum vapor deposition method, a transparent substrate TB is appropriately disposed in the vacuum bell jar 100, and a vapor deposition source S ₁ of a luminescent substance such as sodium Na and a luminescent substance such as sodium Na or air, water, and inert to visible light. The crucibles 101 and 101a into which the transparent vapor deposition sources S ₂ have been put are housed. At this time, the crucibles 101 and 101a are heaters 102 and 102a.
The temperature is controlled by the temperature controller 103 for controlling the temperature, and the amount of vapor deposition from the vapor deposition sources S ₁ and S ₂ is controlled by the shutter controller 1.
It can be adjusted accordingly by means of a shutter shown by the horizontal dotted line via 04, and the controllers 103, 104 are operated by receiving an output from a detector 105 which monitors the degree of vapor deposition of the substrate. Then, the evaporation source S ₂ is first evaporated and evaporated on the transparent substrate TB to form the thin layer TF ₁ , and then the evaporation sources S ₁ and S ₂ are formed.
Is optimized, and the luminescent substance of the vapor deposition source S ₁ is vaporized at a ratio such that the luminescent substance of the vapor deposition source S ₁ is scattered in an atomic state or an atomic state in the substance from the vapor deposition source S ₂ that can form the host substance. The hybrid layer HF is deposited to form the image shown in FIG. In addition, the thin layer TF is evaporated and vaporized only from the vapor deposition source S ₂ on the hybrid layer HF.
2 is formed, and thereby the phosphor layer PSL is formed.
A hybrid layer HF such as 89 is formed. And,
The hybrid layer HF is evaporated and vapor-deposited only from the vapor deposition source S ₂ to form a thin layer TF2, which results in the phosphor layer PSL.
Is formed.

(Embodiment 2) The present invention constructed as described above can be applied to various objects, and also applicable to arc tubes other than those shown in FIGS. 1 and 7. For example, as shown in FIG. 22, the tube bodies LT1 and LT2 of the arc tube may be doubly arranged, and the phosphor layer PSL may be arranged on the inner peripheral surface of the tube body LT1 of the outer arc tube.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment.

[0024]

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention relates to an arc tube for absorbing and exciting incident light from a radiation source and converting it into a wavelength longer than that of the incident light.
The host material that transmits visible light to the surface of the arc tube has at least an atomic property, has a first excited state with an energy level equivalent to that of the incident light, and is almost equivalent to the first excited state. Has a second excited state at an energy level, and a third excited state exists between the second excited state and the ground state, from the second excited state to the third excited state, and from the third excited state to the ground state It emits light as compared with the current luminous tube of the light emitting system because it has a solid thin film, which is a fixed and independent luminescent material that has a high probability of gradual luminescence transition. It is possible to provide an arc tube that has the effect of significantly improving efficiency and, in turn, achieving significant power saving.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a simplified perspective view of a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a principle diagram of a phosphor used in the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the principle of light conversion of a conventional phosphor, which is shown in contrast to FIG.

FIG. 4 is a model explanatory view of a phosphor used in the present invention.

5 is a model explanatory view of a conventional phosphor shown in contrast to FIG.

FIG. 6 is an XY chromaticity diagram illustrating a phosphor used in the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the above.

FIG. 8 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view of the same phosphor.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of a process of forming a phosphor used in the above in a Langmuir film formation method.

10 is an explanatory diagram of a phosphor prepared by the forming method of FIG. 9 above.

FIG. 11 is an energy level diagram of mercury in a mercury discharge lamp which is a radiation source applicable to the above.

FIG. 12 is an energy level diagram of sodium Na that can be used as the light emitting substance of the above-mentioned phosphor.

FIG. 13 is an energy level diagram of strontium that can be used as a light emitting substance of the above phosphor.

FIG. 14 is an energy level diagram of xenon of a xenon discharge lamp which is another radiation source applicable to the above.

FIG. 15: Zinc Z which can be adopted as a luminescent substance of the above phosphor
It is the energy level diagram of n.

FIG. 16 is a spectrum diagram of a high-pressure mercury discharge lamp which is another radiation source applicable to the above.

FIG. 17 is an energy level diagram of cesium Cs that can be used as the light emitting substance of the above-mentioned phosphor.

FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram along an energy level of magnesium Mg used in an atomic state as a light emitting substance of the above phosphor.

FIG. 19 is an explanatory diagram along the energy level of manganese Mn used in the atomic form as a light emitting substance of the above-mentioned phosphor.

FIG. 20 is a schematic explanatory diagram of forming the above phosphor by a vacuum vapor deposition method.

21 is an explanatory diagram of a phosphor prepared by the forming method of FIG. 20 above.

FIG. 22 is a simplified explanatory diagram of Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 PSL phosphor layer LT tube body PF preheating electrode

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code Internal reference number FI technical display location H01J 61/35 L

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. An arc tube that absorbs and excites incident light from a radiation source and converts it into a wavelength longer than the incident light. At least an atomic property in a host material that transmits visible light to the surface of the arc tube. With the same energy level as the incident light
And the second excited state having an energy level almost equal to that of the first excited state, and the third excited state exists between the second excited state and the ground state. It is characterized in that it is provided with a solid thin film in which a third excited state and a luminescent substance having a large probability of gradual luminescence transition from the third excited state to the ground state are individually and independently fixedly arranged. And the arc tube. 2. The arc tube according to claim 1, wherein a solid thin film is adhered to the outer peripheral surface of the tube body of the arc tube. 3. An arc tube according to claim 1, wherein a solid thin film is attached to the outer peripheral surface of the tube body of the arc tube. 4. The arc tube according to claim 2, wherein a resin film that transmits ultraviolet rays is adhered to the inside of the solid thin film, and a film that transmits visible light is adhered to the outside thereof. 5. The method of claim 1 wherein the radiation source is a low pressure mercury discharge lamp and the luminescent material comprises one of sodium, lithium, strontium or equivalent metal atoms. Arc tube. 6. The method of claim 1 wherein the radiation source is a low pressure mercury discharge lamp and the luminescent material comprises one of magnesium, cesium, zinc or equivalent metal atoms. Arc tube. 7. A radiation source is a rare gas discharge lamp, and the luminescent material is a metal atom.
The arc tube described in the item. 8. The arc tube according to claim 7, wherein the rare gas is xenon and the metal is zinc.