JPH08321285A - Color display discharge lamp - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide a color displaying discharge device which has very good mixing performance of three primary colors and can enhance the contrast and brightness. CONSTITUTION: A color displaying discharge lamp 10 is structured so that a red display tube 14r, green display tube 14g, and blue display tube 14b are installed on a base board 12. Each discharge tube 14 is formed by curving an airtight vessel 16 of such a structure that the two end openings of a glass tube are sealed airtightly so that an approx. U-shape is generated such that a pair of tubing parts 16b, 16b spread from the bent part 16a as the center, and a pair of hollow cathodes 22, 22 are opposingly installed at the two ends inside the airtight vessel 16. Leads 18, 18 connected with the cathodes are led to outside the vessel 16, and the vessel 16 is filled with a discharge gas for respective color to be emitted, and each discharge tubes 14 is installed upright on the board 12. The discharge tubes 14 are arranged so that the tubing parts 16b, 16b of one discharge tube 14 intersect one tubing part 16b of other adjoining discharge tube 14.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a color display discharge lamp having a light emitting source of three primary colors of red, green and blue and capable of displaying a natural color.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a color display discharge device provided with three primary color light emitting sources, for example, as shown in FIG. 8, an insulating material such as a flat glass having a plurality of strip cathodes 62 arranged in parallel on one surface at a constant pitch And a front substrate 68 made of a transparent insulating material such as flat glass in which a plurality of band-shaped transparent anodes 66 are juxtaposed on one surface at a constant pitch, and the cathode 62 and the transparent anode 66 have a predetermined gap. Are arranged so as to intersect with each other, and the peripheral edges of both substrates are hermetically sealed via a sealing material to form an envelope 70,
There was a gas discharge display panel 71 in which a discharge gas containing an ultraviolet radiation component was sealed in the inner space of the envelope 70.

In the above internal space, a large number of discharge cells 72 are formed at each intersection of the cathode 62 and the transparent anode 66, and each discharge cell 72 is formed in a grid shape on the opposite surface of the front substrate 68. The barrier ribs 74 are partitioned into a dot matrix. Further, spacers 76 are formed on the end faces of the barrier ribs 74 at a predetermined interval, and as a result, a gap having a width corresponding to the height of the spacers 76 is provided between the barrier ribs 74 and the rear substrate 64. 77 are formed (the discharge cells 72 are communicated with each other through the gap 77). In the discharge cell 72, one of three types of phosphors is regularly arranged. For example, the discharge cell 72a is coated with a phosphor 78r that produces red light by irradiation with ultraviolet rays.
In addition, the discharge cell 72b has a phosphor 78g that generates green light.
However, the phosphors 78b that generate blue light are applied to the discharge cells 72c. As shown in FIG. 9, three discharge cells R, G, and B in which these three types of phosphors are arranged are aggregated to form one pixel 80. A large number of the pixels 80 are vertically and horizontally aggregated. It constitutes one display surface.

Therefore, when a voltage is applied between the transparent anode 66 and the cathode 62, a discharge is generated in the discharge cell 72,
The ultraviolet light generated by the discharge excites the phosphor, so that light having an emission color according to the type of the phosphor is generated. This light passes through the transparent anode 66 and the front substrate 68 and is emitted to the outside. Therefore, if the voltage application is selectively executed to control the turning on / off and the output of R, G, and B in each pixel 80, the light from each discharge cell 72 is mixed, and a desired display is performed for each pixel 80. You can get the color.

[0005]

However, in this color display discharge panel 71, since the flat R, G and B belonging to each pixel 80 are arranged in a plane, the discharge cells 72 from each discharge cell 72 The drawback is that the light cannot be mixed well and thus a clear color mixture cannot be obtained. Further, since the three primary colors are realized by using the phosphor, the phosphor glows white when the discharge cell 72 is turned off, and there is a problem that the contrast of the pixel 80 is lowered (for each discharge cell 72, It is not necessary to use a phosphor if filled with different discharge gases that realize a specific emission color, but it is actually extremely difficult to fill different types of gas for each discharge cell 72). Further, since it is a panel shape, it is not possible to secure a sufficient distance between the electrodes, and the light due to the negative glow is used, so that there is a drawback that the luminance cannot be sufficiently increased.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems of the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to realize a color display discharge device in which the mixing condition of the three primary colors is extremely good and the contrast and brightness can be improved.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, a color display discharge lamp according to the present invention emits red light, a green discharge lamp, and a blue lamp. A discharge tube and a color display discharge lamp arranged on a substrate, wherein an airtight container formed by hermetically sealing both ends of a long tubular body is curved in the middle of each discharge tube. A pair of tubular bodies extending around the curved portion is formed into a substantially U shape, a substantially V shape, or a substantially horseshoe shape, and a pair of hollow cathodes are arranged opposite to each other at both ends in the airtight container.
One end of the lead wire connected to the hollow cathode is passed through the sealing portion of the airtight container and led out to the outside, and a discharge tube formed by filling the airtight container with a discharge gas corresponding to each emission color is used. Each discharge tube is erected on the base so that both ends of the airtight container of the discharge tube are located on the front surface side of the base, and the curved portion is located above the base, and the airtight container of each discharge tube is Each of the discharge tubes is arranged so that both tube sections intersect at least one tube section of the airtight container of the other adjacent discharge tube. It is desirable to connect a frequency-variable AC power source for each discharge tube between the lead wires of the discharge tube.
Further, each discharge tube may be arranged so as to stand upright on the base body in a case having a light transmitting portion.

[0008]

Each of the discharge tubes for emitting red light, green light and blue light has a substantially U-shape in which a pair of tube bodies extends around the curved portion and is three-dimensionally arranged on the base body. Therefore, it is possible to secure a relatively large light emitting surface area, and since the discharge tubes are arranged close to each other so that some of them cross each other, when the discharge tubes are lit, each colored light is sufficiently supplied. It is possible to mix and obtain a very clear color mixture. Further, since three independent discharge tubes are used, the three primary colors can be realized by adjusting the composition of the discharge gas filled in each discharge tube without using a phosphor. Therefore, the contrast can be improved as compared with the case where the phosphor is used. Furthermore, since each discharge tube is formed by using an airtight container having a substantially U shape in which a long tubular body is bent, and hollow cathodes are arranged at opposite ends thereof, the distance between both electrodes can be set relatively large. . Therefore, positive column discharge can be used as a light source, and high brightness can be easily realized.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIG. 1 shows a color display discharge lamp 10 according to the present invention.
2 is a perspective view showing an overall image of FIG. 2, and FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a state observed from above. As shown in the figure, the color display discharge lamp 10 is formed by disposing three discharge tubes 14 (a red discharge tube 14r, a green discharge tube 14g, and a blue discharge tube 14b) on a surface of a substrate 12 made of an insulating material. Each discharge tube 14 is a substantially U-shaped airtight container 16 in which a long and narrow glass tube whose both ends are hermetically sealed is curved near the center, and a pair of tube portions 16b and 16b are radially spread around the curved portion 16a. The lead wire 18 made of a Dumet wire or the like led out from both ends of the airtight container 16 is inserted into the through hole 20 of the substrate 12 and penetrated to the back surface side of the substrate, thereby positioning and fixing. Has been done. That is, in each discharge tube 14, both ends of the airtight container 16 are located near the surface of the substrate 12, and the curved portion is formed.
16 a is erected on the substrate 12 so that 16 a is located above the substrate 12. In addition, each discharge tube 14 is arranged such that both tube body portions 16b, 16b intersect one tube body portion 16b of another adjacent discharge tube 14. As a result of the above, as shown in FIG. 2, the curved portions 16a of the respective discharge tubes 14 are arranged close to each other in a triangular shape above the substrate 12. The shape of the airtight container 16 is not limited to the substantially U shape, and for example, a substantially V shape in which the vicinity of the center is curved (refracted) at an acute angle,
Alternatively, it may have a substantially horseshoe shape in which not only the vicinity of the center but also both tube portions 16b, 16b are curved.

As shown in FIG. 3, a pair of hollow cathodes 22, 22 are arranged opposite to each other at both ends in each airtight container 16. As shown in FIG. 4, the hollow cathode 22 has a funnel shape in which the inner diameter is widened toward the upper end opening 22a, and is made of Fe or Ni or Fe.Ni alloy having good discharge characteristics. Further, if necessary, the emitter coating LaB _6, etc. hollow cathode of the inner surface 22b is performed. One end of the lead wire 18 is inserted into the lower end opening 22c of the hollow cathode 22 and welded, and the other end of the lead wire 18 penetrates the sealing portion 16c of the airtight container 16 and is led to the outside. . An AC power supply 24 of a different system is connected between the lead wires 18, 18 of each discharge tube 14 (FIG. 3).

Each discharge tube 14 is filled with discharge gas of a different type. That is, the red discharge tube 14r
In the inside, a mixed gas mainly composed of Ne was charged with 14 g of green discharge tube.
A gas in which Hg is mainly mixed with Ar and Ne is filled therein, and a mixed gas of Ar and Hg is filled in the blue discharge tube 14b. Although not shown, the surface or inner surface of the green discharge tube 14g is covered with a filter that transmits only the green component of light. Instead of covering the filter, the airtight container 16 itself of the green discharge tube 14g may be made of a green transparent material.

However, when a voltage is applied to both ends of each discharge tube 14, a discharge is generated in each discharge tube 14 and a red discharge tube 14 is generated.
Red light is generated in r and blue light is generated in the blue discharge tube 14b, and each colored light is directly emitted to the outside of the airtight container 16. On the other hand, in the green discharge tube 14g, light in which red component, blue component and green component are mixed with each other is generated by the discharge, passes through the filter, and only green light is emitted to the outside of the hermetic container 16. (In the case where a green transparent airtight container 16 is used instead of covering the filter, only green light is emitted to the outside of the airtight container 16 as well).

As described above, each discharge tube 14 having a three-dimensional shape is three-dimensionally arranged on the substrate 12 and is designed so as to partially intersect another adjacent discharge tube 14. (Fig. 1), each discharge tube can be seen from above.
It is possible to recognize a color mixture in which the colored lights from 14 are sufficiently mixed. Therefore, each discharge tube 14 is selectively turned on /
It is possible to clearly display an arbitrary color mixture (natural color) by turning off the light or adjusting the brightness for each discharge tube 14. To adjust the brightness of the discharge tubes 14, the frequency of the AC power supply 24 connected to each discharge tube 14 is changed for each discharge tube 14,
It is realized by controlling the emission intensity. Incidentally, in this embodiment, 600 V / 1 to 2 W
This discharge tube 14 is used and is connected to an AC power source whose frequency can be adjusted within the range of several tens to several hundreds of kHz. Of course, the brightness may be adjusted by keeping the frequency of the power supply supplied to each discharge tube 14 constant and changing the voltage.

The color display discharge lamp 10 is, for example,
A large number of dots are arranged in a matrix to be used as a light emitting cell constituting an electronic news board or the like. Moreover, it is also possible to use them as a lighting lamp, a neon sign, etc. individually or in a plurality. This color display discharge lamp
No. 10 is, of course, ready to be used as it is because each discharge tube 14 shown in FIG. 1 is completed in a state of being exposed, but when it is used as a light emitting cell or the like as described above, it is predetermined. It is desirable to store it in the case from the viewpoint of improving durability.

FIG. 5 shows an example thereof, in which the substrate 12 of the color display discharge lamp 10 is placed on the bottom surface of a plastic case 28 having a cubic outer shape and having a funnel-shaped recess 26 formed therein. When placed, the opening 30 of the case 28
Is tightly closed by using a transparent lid member 32. The lead wire 18 of each discharge tube 14 is inserted into a through hole 28a formed in the bottom surface of the case 28, and is connected to the upper end of the lead pin 34 in the middle of the through hole 28a. The lower end of the lead pin 34 projects outside the case 28 to form an external connection terminal. On the outer surface of the lid member 32, a plurality of converging convex lenses 32a are formed. Recess 26 in case 28
The inner wall surface 26a is curved, and the surface thereof is covered with a reflection film 36 formed by aluminum vapor deposition. As a result, by selectively applying a voltage to each discharge tube 14 via the lead pin 34, discharge light emission is formed in the recess 26 of the case 28, and light forming a desired color mixture is formed on the inner wall surface 26a. The reflected light enters the lid member 32, and the convex lens 32
It is condensed by a and is irradiated to the outside.

As described above, the airtight container 16 of each discharge tube 14 is
Is made by bending an elongated glass tube into a substantially U shape,
A relatively large distance can be secured between the hollow cathodes 22 and 22. As a result, a positive column is generated in the discharge tube 14 at the time of discharge, and the positive column emission is used as a light source, so that extremely high-luminance display is possible. Further, since the color display discharge lamp 10 as one pixel is configured by using the three independent discharge tubes 14 for each emission color, different kinds of discharge gas can be used for each emission color. . As a result, unlike the conventional color display discharge panel 71 (FIG. 8) shown in FIG. 8, it is not necessary to enclose phosphors corresponding to the respective emission colors, and therefore the contrast when the discharge tube 14 is turned off can be improved. .

However, in the present invention, it is not always necessary to enclose the ultraviolet radiation gas and the fluorescent substance in any one of the discharge tubes 14 and excite the fluorescent substance with the ultraviolet rays generated by the discharge to realize the required colored light. It is not something that is excluded. For example, as for the green discharge tube 14g, after obtaining discharge light containing a plurality of color components by discharge as described above, rather than extracting only the target green light to the outside through a filter or the like,
It is more efficient to excite a predetermined phosphor with ultraviolet rays to obtain green light, and it is possible to achieve higher brightness.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a modification of the hollow cathode, and FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. The hollow cathode 38 is formed by winding a band 40 made of Fe, Ni, or an Fe / Ni alloy or the like in a spiral shape a plurality of times, pulling out the outermost peripheral portion 40a upward, and lead wire inside the innermost peripheral portion 40b. It is made by welding 18.

[0019]

In the color display discharge lamp according to the present invention, since each discharge tube having a U-shape or the like is closely arranged three-dimensionally, the red light and the green light emitted from each discharge tube are emitted. The light and blue light are sufficiently mixed to obtain an extremely clear color mixture. In addition, the three primary colors can be realized by filling the three discharge tubes with separate discharge gases,
It is not necessary to use a phosphor, and it is possible to improve the contrast when each discharge tube is turned off. Furthermore, since the distance between the hollow cathodes can be sufficiently secured, positive column discharge can be used as a light source, and extremely high-luminance display can be realized.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an overall image of a color display discharge lamp according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a state in which the color display discharge lamp is observed from above.

FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of each discharge tube.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view showing a hollow cathode.

FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a state in which the color display discharge lamp is housed in a case.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a modified example of the hollow cathode.

7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG.

FIG. 8 is a partial cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of a conventional color display discharge panel.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing a display surface of a conventional color display discharge panel.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 Color display discharge lamp 12 Substrate 14 Discharge tube (red discharge tube 14r, green discharge tube 14g, blue discharge tube 14b) 16 Airtight container 16a Curved part 16b Tube part 18 Lead wire 22 Hollow cathode 24 AC power supply 28 Case 32 Lid member

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A color display discharge lamp comprising a discharge tube for emitting red light, a discharge tube for emitting green light, and a discharge tube for emitting blue light, which are arranged on a substrate. As a tube, there is a substantially U-shaped or V-shaped shape in which an airtight container formed by hermetically sealing both ends of a long tubular body is curved in the middle, and a pair of tubular portions extends around the curved portion. Has a substantially horseshoe shape, and a pair of hollow cathodes are arranged opposite to each other at both ends in the airtight container, and one end of a lead wire connected to the hollow cathode is led out through a sealing portion of the airtight container. A discharge tube formed by filling a discharge gas corresponding to each emission color in the airtight container, both ends of the airtight container of each discharge tube are located on the surface side of the base, and the curved portion is above the base. Stand each discharge tube on the base so that it is located at A color display discharge lamp, wherein each discharge tube is arranged so that both tube sections of the container intersect with at least one tube section of an airtight container of another discharge tube adjacent thereto. 2. The color display discharge lamp according to claim 1, wherein an alternating-current power source having a variable frequency is connected between the lead wires of the discharge tube for each discharge tube. 3. The color display discharge lamp according to claim 1, wherein each discharge tube is erected on a base in a case having a light transmitting portion.