JPH09265950A - Fluorescent lamp, fluorescent lamp device and lighting system using it - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To uniform a distribution of mercury contained in a discharge medium in a bulb after turning off a lamp, and heighten a brightness rise characteristic in low temperature environment. SOLUTION: A bulb 2, in which a discharge medium mainly composed of mercury is filled and in both ends of which one pair of electrodes 13 are disposed, is provided and a heater 4 is provided on the outer peripheral face of the bulb 2 excluding the periphery of the electrodes 13. In a small diameter type fluorescent lamp 1 in which the central portion of the bulb 2 is easy to cool after turning off the lamp, by facilitating the cooling of the end portions of the bulb 2, the drop of the central temperature of the bulb 2 is prevented, and thereby, a temperature distribution in the bulb 2 is uniformed so as to heighten a brightness rise characteristic.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a fluorescent lamp, a fluorescent lamp device and a lighting device using the same.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, fluorescent lamps, which are low-pressure mercury vapor discharge lamps, have been used as backlights for various meters and OA equipment mounted on automobiles and the like.

Generally, a fluorescent lamp emits light most efficiently in a temperature environment of about 25 ° C., whereas a low-voltage fluorescent lamp for a vehicle, for example, has a starting and emitting performance in a wide temperature range of −30 ° C. to 85 ° C. Is required. However, the fluorescent lamp has a disadvantage that the pressure of mercury vapor decreases at a low temperature, so that it becomes difficult to start the lamp as the ambient temperature becomes lower, and the emission brightness becomes lower after the start. In particular, a fluorescent lamp using a cold cathode type electrode that does not emit thermoelectrons at the time of starting is extremely difficult to start at low temperatures.

For this reason, conventionally, there is a structure in which an elongated low temperature compensating heater is provided along the light emitting region of the fluorescent lamp. This low-temperature compensating heater is, for example, a zigzag pattern of stainless steel foil formed by etching, which is held in shape with a polyester film, and is attached to the outer peripheral surface of a fluorescent lamp with a heat-resistant adhesive tape having translucency. ing.

Further, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-109248, a heating wire serving as a low-temperature compensating heater is spirally wound around a bulb, and the heating wire is energized to warm the lamp surface, thereby lowering the emission brightness at low temperatures. There is disclosed a fluorescent lamp adapted to supplement the above. In such a fluorescent lamp, the light emitting region is not extremely shielded by the heating wire.

Further, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-64984, a lamp surface of a bulb is covered with a mesh-shaped electric heating member which serves as a low temperature compensating heater, and the electric heating member is energized to warm the lamp surface, whereby a light emitting region is formed. A fluorescent lamp is disclosed which is designed to compensate for a decrease in light emission luminance at low temperature without narrowing it.

[0007]

In a conventional fluorescent lamp provided with a low temperature compensating heater, the low temperature compensating heater is controlled to be turned on / off in association with lighting and extinguishing operations of the fluorescent lamp. However, after the fluorescent lamp is extinguished, a temperature difference partially occurs as the temperature inside the bulb decreases, and a large amount of mercury as an encapsulating substance condenses in the coldest part. Therefore, when the low temperature compensation heater is repeatedly turned on and off, the distribution of mercury in the bulb when the lamp is turned off varies. For example,
In the small-diameter fluorescent lamp, the central part of the bulb becomes the coldest part after the fluorescent lamp is turned off, and in the fluorescent lamp having a diameter of about 10 mm, the end part of the bulb becomes the coldest part after the fluorescent lamp is turned off. And, when mercury is condensed in the central part of the bulb which is the coldest part, the reproducibility of the brightness rising characteristic is impaired,
There is a problem that the efficiency gradually decreases. Further, when mercury condenses at the end of the bulb, which is the coldest part, the light output of the fluorescent lamp is reduced.

An object of the present invention is to provide a uniform distribution of mercury in the bulb after extinguishing the lamp in a low temperature environment, improve the brightness rising characteristics in the low temperature environment, and prevent a decrease in light output. A lamp, a fluorescent lamp device, and an illuminating device using the same.

[0009]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a fluorescent lamp including a bulb in which a discharge medium containing mercury as a main component is enclosed, a phosphor layer is formed on the inner surface, and a pair of electrodes is arranged at both ends. A heater provided on the outer peripheral surface other than the periphery of the electrode of this valve.

Therefore, when high-frequency power is supplied to the bulb through the two electrodes, discharge breakdown occurs in the closed bulb and the bulb emits light. At this time, if the heater is energized,
The bulb is warmed and the pressure of the discharge medium enclosed in the closed bulb is increased. This compensates for the decrease in emission brightness at low temperatures. Moreover, since the heater is not provided around the electrodes, for example, in a small-diameter fluorescent lamp in which the central part of the bulb easily cools after being turned off, the end of the bulb easily cools and the temperature of the central part of the bulb does not drop. ,
Uniform temperature distribution in the valve. Therefore, the brightness rising characteristic is improved.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a fluorescent lamp in which a discharge medium containing mercury as a main component is enclosed, a fluorescent material layer is formed on an inner surface of the bulb, and a pair of electrodes is provided at both ends of the bulb. And a cooling means attached to the outer peripheral surface around the electrode of the bulb.

Therefore, when high-frequency power is supplied to the bulb through the two electrodes, discharge breakdown occurs in the closed bulb and the bulb emits light. At this time, if the heater is energized,
The bulb is warmed and the pressure of the discharge medium enclosed in the closed bulb is increased. This compensates for the decrease in emission brightness at low temperatures. Moreover, since the cooling means is provided around the electrode at the end of the bulb, for example, in a small-diameter fluorescent lamp in which the central portion of the bulb easily cools after being turned off, the end of the bulb is cooled by the cooling means. The temperature at the center of the valve does not drop and the temperature distribution inside the valve becomes uniform. Therefore, the brightness rising characteristic is improved.

Here, in the fluorescent lamp according to the first and second aspects, the mixed gas is a discharge medium, a predetermined amount of mercury, a rare gas such as argon and neon. Further, as the heater, an alloy composed of nickel and chromium or an alloy composed of ferrite, nickel, chromium and aluminum can be used. Further, as the cooling means used in the fluorescent lamp according to the second aspect, for example, a cooling plate shape or a shape having a radiation fin is used.

A fluorescent lamp according to a third aspect is the fluorescent lamp according to the first or second aspect, wherein the heater is formed by a heating wire spirally wound around the outer peripheral surface of the bulb.
Therefore, the light emitted from the fluorescent lamp is not extremely disturbed by the heating wire, and a wide light emitting region can be obtained. in this case,
According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, if the outer peripheral surface of the valve is covered with the translucent heat-shrinkable tube that covers the heater, the heater can be easily fixed to the valve. It does not reduce the light output. Moreover, since the heater is closely fixed to the valve by the heat shrink tube, the heat generated by the heater is efficiently transmitted to the valve, and the heat shrink tube keeps the valve warm. Therefore, the valve is efficiently heated.

A fluorescent lamp device according to a fifth aspect of the present invention includes: the fluorescent lamp according to any one of the first to fourth aspects; a high frequency lighting circuit for supplying high frequency power to the fluorescent lamp through a pair of electrodes; and at least lighting of the fluorescent lamp. And a heater control circuit for controlling the heating operation of the fluorescent lamp by energizing the heater to generate heat for a certain period before starting and after turning off.

Therefore, high frequency power is supplied to the fluorescent lamp from the high frequency lighting circuit through the electrodes. The heater of the fluorescent lamp is energized by the heater control circuit to generate heat. At this time, since the heating operation of the fluorescent lamp is performed by the heater immediately before the lighting of the fluorescent lamp, the bulb is warmed to increase the pressure of the discharge medium enclosed in the sealed bulb and increase the temperature around the electrode. Since it is lower than the other parts, mercury is condensed around the electrodes. Therefore, the brightness rising characteristic of the fluorescent lamp in a low temperature environment is improved. On the other hand, since the heating operation of the fluorescent lamp is performed by the heater immediately after the fluorescent lamp is turned off, the central portion of the bulb is not rapidly cooled, and the condensation of mercury on this portion is prevented. Therefore, the distribution of mercury in the bulb becomes uniform, and the brightness rising characteristic at the next lighting of the fluorescent lamp is improved.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a fluorescent lamp in which a discharge medium containing mercury as a main component is enclosed, a fluorescent layer is formed on the inner surface of the bulb, and a pair of electrodes is arranged at both ends of the bulb; And a fixing member for fixing the heater in close contact with the outer peripheral surface around the electrode of the valve.

Therefore, when high-frequency power is supplied to the bulb through the two electrodes, discharge breakdown occurs in the closed bulb and the bulb emits light. At this time, if the heater is energized,
The bulb is warmed and the pressure of the discharge medium enclosed in the closed bulb is increased. This compensates for the decrease in emission brightness at low temperatures. Moreover, since the electrothermal member constituting the heater is fixed to the fixing member by the outer peripheral surface around the electrode of the valve and closely fixed to the valve, the heat generated by the electric heating member is efficiently transmitted to the valve. Keeps the valve warm. Therefore, the bulb is efficiently heated around the electrode. Therefore, for example, in a fluorescent lamp having a diameter of about 10 mm in which the bulb end is easily cooled after being turned off, the bulb end is not heated more and the temperature of that portion does not decrease, and the temperature distribution in the bulb becomes uniform. Therefore,
A decrease in the light output of the fluorescent lamp is prevented.

Here, in the fluorescent lamp according to claim 6, the discharge medium is a mixed gas of a predetermined amount of a rare gas such as mercury, argon and neon. Further, as the electric heating member forming the heater, an alloy made of nickel and chromium or an alloy made of ferrite, nickel, chromium and aluminum can be used.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the fluorescent lamp according to the sixth aspect, the heater is formed by an electric heating member having a hexagonal mesh pattern. Therefore, on condition that the heater is grounded, the noise generated by the light emission of the fluorescent lamp is blocked by the heater having the hexagonal mesh pattern.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a fluorescent lamp according to the sixth aspect; a holder in which an end portion of a bulb is closely fitted; a holder inserted through the holder to form a pair of electrodes inside the holder. And a stopper fixed to the power supply line inside the holder. Therefore, the end of the fluorescent lamp is protected by the holder, and the end of the fluorescent lamp is also kept warm by the holder. Also, since the power supply line is prevented from coming off by the stopper fixed to the power supply line,
It is possible to prevent disconnection between the power supply line and the electrode due to an excessive pulling force.

The invention according to claim 9 is the invention according to claims 1, 2 and
A fluorescent lamp according to any one of 3, 4, 6, 7, and 8;
A high-frequency lighting circuit that supplies high-frequency power to the fluorescent lamp through a pair of electrodes; and a heater control circuit that energizes the heater to generate heat. Therefore, high frequency power is supplied to the fluorescent lamp from the high frequency lighting circuit through the electrodes. The heater of the fluorescent lamp is energized by the heater control circuit to generate heat. At this time, since the fluorescent lamp according to any one of claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, and 8 is used, the temperature distribution in the bulb becomes uniform, and the brightness rising characteristic and the light output are improved. The characteristics are improved.

The invention according to claim 10 is provided with the fluorescent lamp device according to claim 5 or 9, and a light guide means for guiding the light emitted from the fluorescent lamp of the fluorescent lamp device to a desired position. Therefore, the light emitted from the fluorescent lamp of the fluorescent lamp device is guided to a desired position by the light guide means.

[0024]

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the present invention.
A description will be given based on FIG. FIG. 1 is a front view of a fluorescent lamp. FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of the fluorescent lamp device.

The fluorescent lamp 1 of the present embodiment has a bulb 2
And a low temperature compensating heater 4 as a heater formed by winding an electrothermal member 3 around the valve 2, and a heat shrinking tube 5 that covers the valve 2 from above the low temperature compensating heater 4. (See FIG. 1). A fluorescent lamp device 6 including such a fluorescent lamp 1 is composed of a high frequency lighting circuit 7 connected to supply high frequency power to the bulb 2 and a heater control circuit 8 for driving and controlling the low temperature compensation heater 4. (See FIG. 2).

[Fluorescent Lamp] The bulb 2 will be described in detail. An elongated closed valve 9 having an outer diameter of 3.0 mm (inner diameter of 2.0 mm) and a total length of about 300 mm is provided. The sealing bulb 9 is formed of a flexible transparent member such as soda lime glass and has a phosphor layer 10 on its inner peripheral surface. This phosphor layer 10 has wavelengths of 185 nm and 25, which are the wavelengths emitted by mercury.
A phosphor that emits visible light when excited by 4 nm ultraviolet light,
For example, it is composed of a three-wavelength emission type phosphor. This three-wavelength-emitting phosphor is, for example, Y ₂ O ₃ : Eu as a red phosphor.
³ +, as a green phosphor (La, Ce, Tb) PO 4, BaMg 2 Al 16 as blue phosphor O _27: have been produced using Eu ² +.

The sealing valve 9 is sealed with the discharge medium 11 at both longitudinal ends thereof by the stems 12,
It is sealed. The discharge medium 11 is a mixed gas containing a predetermined amount of mercury, argon Ar and neon Ne. Further, the stem 12 is a metal whose coefficient of thermal expansion is similar to that of glass,
For example, it is made of thick Dumet wire.

Two electrodes 13, which are cold cathodes, are sealed at both ends of the sealing bulb 9 in the longitudinal direction. Each of the electrodes 13 has nickel N on the electrode shaft 14 which also serves as a lead wire.
The rod-shaped or cylindrical electrode main body 15 formed by i is joined and formed. These electrodes 13 are attached by connecting electrode shafts 14 to stems 12 that seal both ends of the sealing valve 9. Also, the stem 12 has
An external lead shaft 16 located outside the sealing valve 9 is also connected. Therefore, the electrode 13 is electrically connected to the external lead shaft 16 via the stem 12.

Next, details of the low temperature compensation heater 4 will be described. The low temperature compensating heater 4 is formed by spirally winding the electric heating member 3 on the outer peripheral surface of the bulb 2.
The electric heating member 3 is an alloy composed of ferrite Fe, chromium Cr, nickel Ni and aluminum Al, and is wound around the outer peripheral surface of the valve 2 excluding the periphery of the electrode 13 with an arrangement interval of 3 mm.

[Fluorescent Lamp Device] As the high-frequency lighting circuit 7 for supplying high-frequency power to the fluorescent lamp 1, a well-known structure having a high-frequency oscillating coil (not shown) can be used, so a detailed description thereof will be omitted. To do. Such a high frequency lighting circuit 7 is configured to be able to supply high frequency power having a frequency of about 40 kHz to the fluorescent lamp 1.

The heater control circuit 8 for driving and controlling the low-temperature compensating heater 4 energizes the low-temperature compensating heater 4 to generate heat, and based on the temperature of the fluorescent lamp 1 detected by the thermistor 17 attached to the bulb 2, the low-temperature compensating heater. 4 has a structure for performing feedback control. In such a heater control circuit 8, a thermal fuse 18 attached to the valve 2 is included. This thermal fuse 18
When the calorific value of the low temperature compensating heater 4 exceeds a predetermined value, the wire breaks to prevent thermal runaway of the low temperature compensating heater 4.

The high frequency lighting circuit 7 and the heater control circuit 8 are connected via a timer 19. The timer 19 drives the low temperature compensation heater 4 by the heater control circuit 8 immediately before the fluorescent lamp 1 is turned on, for example, 5 seconds before,
Immediately after the fluorescent lamp 1 is turned on, the low temperature compensation heater 4 is controlled by the heater control circuit 8 for about 5 seconds, for example. Such a timer 19 may be composed of an analog circuit or may be of a microcomputer structure.

In such a structure, when high-frequency electric power is supplied from the high-frequency lighting circuit 7 to the two electrodes 13 as a starting pulse, discharge breakdown occurs in the closed valve 9,
The discharge medium 11 is ionized and stimulates the light emitting layer 10 formed on the inner peripheral surface of the bulb 2. As a result, the light emitting layer 10 emits visible light, and the fluorescent lamp 1 emits light. At this time, when the low temperature compensation heater 4 is energized by the heater control circuit 8,
The bulb 2 is warmed and the gas pressure of the discharge medium 11 enclosed in the closed bulb 9 is increased. This compensates for the decrease in the emission brightness of the fluorescent lamp 1 at low temperatures. The temperature of the valve 2 is detected by the thermistor 17,
The energization amount to the low temperature compensation heater 4 is determined according to the detection result. Further, when the calorific value of the low temperature compensation heater 4 becomes equal to or more than a predetermined value, the thermal fuse 18 is broken, and the thermal runaway of the low temperature compensation heater 4 is prevented.

Here, as in the present embodiment, the valve 2
In the small-diameter fluorescent lamp 1 whose outer shape is about 3.0 mm,
When the temperature is low, the central part of the bulb 2 is likely to cool rapidly after turning off and become the coldest part. On the other hand, in the fluorescent lamp 1 of the present embodiment, since the low temperature compensating heater 4 is not provided around the electrode 13, the end portion of the bulb 2 is easily cooled and the temperature of the center of the bulb 2 does not decrease. The temperature distribution in the valve 2 becomes uniform. This prevents mercury in the discharge medium 11 from condensing on the central portion of the bulb 2 and improves the brightness rising characteristic of the fluorescent lamp 1.

Focusing on when the fluorescent lamp 1 is turned on and off, immediately before the fluorescent lamp 1 is turned on, for example, 5 seconds before,
Since the fluorescent lamp 1 is heated by the low-temperature compensating heater 4 under the control of the timer 19, the bulb 2 is warmed to increase the pressure of the discharge medium 11 enclosed in the closed bulb 9, and the temperature around the electrode 13 is increased. Since the rate of temperature rise is lower than that of other parts, the discharge medium 1 is formed around the electrode 13.
Mercury in 1 is condensed. Therefore, also from this aspect, the brightness rising characteristic of the fluorescent lamp in a low temperature environment is improved. On the other hand, immediately after the fluorescent lamp 1 is turned off, for example, for about 5 seconds, the heating operation of the fluorescent lamp 1 by the low temperature compensating heater 4 is performed by the control of the timer 19, so that the central portion of the bulb 2 is not rapidly cooled, and this portion is not cooled. Discharge medium 11 to
The condensation of mercury in the inside is prevented. Therefore, the distribution of mercury in the bulb 2 becomes uniform, and the brightness rising characteristic at the next lighting of the fluorescent lamp 1 is improved.

Further, since the arrangement interval of the electric heating members 3 is 3 mm, the light transmittance of the bulb 2 with respect to the electric heating members 3 is secured at about 90%. For this reason, the light emitting brightness of the fluorescent lamp 1 is not significantly impaired by the electrothermal member 3, and a wide light emitting region is secured. Further, due to the structure in which the electrothermal member 3 is wound around the bulb 2, the fluorescent lamp 1 can use the surrounding 360 degrees as a light emitting surface,
The usage of the fluorescent lamp 1 is not narrowed. Moreover, since the outer peripheral surface of the valve 2 is covered with the heat-shrinkable heat-shrinkable tube 5 that covers the low-temperature compensating heater 4, the low-temperature compensating heater 4 can be easily fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the valve 2. It also does not reduce the light output of the second. In addition, since the low-temperature compensation heater 4 is closely attached and fixed to the valve 2 by the heat-shrinkable tube 5, the low-temperature compensation heater 4
Is efficiently transmitted to the valve 2, and the heat-shrinkable tube 5 keeps the valve 2 warm. Therefore, the bulb 2 is efficiently heated, and the decrease in light emission brightness at low temperature is more surely compensated for.

A second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. The same parts as those in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted. FIG. 3 is a front view of the fluorescent lamp. FIG. 4 is a front view of the cooling means.

In the fluorescent lamp 1 of the present embodiment, the heating wire 3 constituting the low temperature compensating heater 4 is wound over the entire length of the bulb 2. That is, the heating wire 3 also surrounds the electrode 13.
Is wrapped around. The cooling means 21 is attached to the outer peripheral surface of the bulb 2 around the electrode 13. The cooling means 21 is a resin molded product including a fitting hole 22 into which the valve 2 is fitted and fixed, and a cooling fin 23 radially extending from the center to the outside. Therefore,
By fitting and fixing the end portion of the valve 2 into the fitting hole 22, the cooling means 21 is attached around the electrode 13 of the valve 2.

In such a structure, the periphery of the electrode 13 at both ends of the bulb 2 is cooled by the cooling means 21. That is, when the fluorescent lamp 1 is turned off after the bulb 2 is heated by the low-temperature compensating heater 4 when the fluorescent lamp 1 is turned on, the periphery of the electrode 13 in the bulb 2 is cooled by the cooling means 21. Discharge medium 11
Mercury inside is condensed and the distribution of mercury in the bulb 2 becomes uniform. Therefore, the fluorescent lamp 1 of the present embodiment also
The same operational effects as those of the fluorescent lamp 1 of the first embodiment are achieved.

The cooling means 21 is not limited to the one made of resin, and a metal radiator plate or the like may be used.

A third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The same parts as those in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted. FIG. 5 is a front view of the fluorescent lamp with the holder omitted. FIG. 6 is a front view of the end portion of the fluorescent lamp to which the holder is attached. FIG. 7 (a) is a graph showing the experimental results obtained by measuring the noise emitted from a fluorescent lamp without a low temperature compensation heater with a spectrum analyzer, and FIG. 7 (b) shows the noise emitted from a fluorescent lamp with a low temperature compensation heater. It is a graph which shows the experimental result measured with the spectrum analyzer.

First, in the fluorescent lamp 1 of the present embodiment, the bulb 2 has an outer diameter of about 10.0 mm.
Is different from the fluorescent lamp 1 of the first embodiment, which has an outer diameter of 3.0 mm. Accordingly, the stem 12 is a flare stem 12 that is recessed toward the inside of the closed valve 9. The low-temperature compensation heater 4 is formed of a metal mesh 31 that is an electric heating member. The mesh 31 has a continuous hexagonal pattern. Then, a fixing member 32 made of a heat-resistant tape is adhesively fixed to the outer peripheral surface of both ends of the valve 2 around which the mesh 31 is wound, at a portion corresponding to the periphery of the electrode 13, whereby the mesh 31 is fixed to the valve 2. There is. The heat shrink tube 5 is not provided.

Further, rubber holders 33 are attached to both ends of the valve 2. The holder 33 is formed in a cap shape, and the ends of the valve 2 are fitted and fixed to the holder 33 so that the holder 33 is attached to both ends of the valve 2.
Is attached. An insertion hole 34 is provided in the center of the holder 33, and a power supply line 35 is inserted through the insertion hole 34 to be independently connected to the outer lead shaft 16 of the valve 2 and the mesh 31. Further, a stopper 37 made of a heat-shrinkable tube that is heat-shrinkable is fixed to the outer wells 36 of the power supply line 35 in the holder 33. The stopper 37 is fixed in the holder 33 at a position where the outer wells 36 of the power supply line 35 can be loosened.

Although not shown, in the heater control circuit 8, the low temperature compensation heater 4 is set to the ground potential.

With such a structure, in the fluorescent lamp 1 having an outer diameter of about 10 mm as in the present embodiment, both ends of the inside of the bulb 2 are easily cooled after the light is turned off, and mercury is likely to be condensed here. Particularly, in the case of the fluorescent lamp 1 in which the end portion of the hermetic bulb 9 is sealed by the flare stem 12, the inner peripheral surface of the hermetic bulb 9 and the flare stem 1 are used.
The condensed mercury easily accumulates in the space S generated between the
The mercury accumulated in the space S remains without evaporating even when the electrode 13 generates heat. On the other hand, in the fluorescent lamp 1 of the present embodiment, the fixing member 32 firmly fixes the mesh 31 to both ends of the bulb 2, and the both ends of the bulb 2 are covered by the holder 33. It is hard to cool both ends of. As a result, the mercury contained in the discharge medium 11 does not condense on the ends of the bulb 2, and the mercury distribution in the bulb 2 becomes uniform. Therefore, a decrease in the light output of the fluorescent lamp 1 caused by the condensation of mercury on both ends of the bulb 2 is prevented.

Both ends of the fluorescent lamp 1 are provided with holders 33.
Protected by And in this holder 33,
Since the outer wells 36 of the power supply line 35 are maintained in a loose state by the stopper 37 fixed to the outer wells 36, even if the power supply line 35 is pulled, the outer lead shaft 16 and the mesh 31 of the valve 2 and the power supply line 35 are pulled. Three
The connection with 5 does not break.

Further, since the low temperature compensating heater 4 is grounded in the heater control circuit 8 and the mesh 31 constituting the low temperature compensating heater 4 is formed in a continuous hexagonal pattern, it is emitted from the fluorescent lamp 1 at the time of lighting. Noise is blocked by the low temperature compensation heater 4 and is not radiated to the outside. The experimental results are shown graphically in FIG. In this experiment,
The noise emitted from the fluorescent lamp was measured with a spectrum analyzer. FIG. 7A is a distribution of noise emitted from the fluorescent lamp 1 that does not include the low temperature compensation heater 4, FIG.
(B) shows the distribution of noise emitted from the fluorescent lamp 1 including the low-temperature compensation heater 4. From FIG. 7, it is clear that the fluorescent lamp 1 including the low temperature compensation heater 4 emits very little noise. That is, it is understood that the fluorescent lamp 1 of the present embodiment sufficiently blocks noise.

In practice, the low temperature compensating heater 4 may be fixed to both ends of the valve 2 with a heat-resistant adhesive such as silicon, and this may be used as the fixing member 32.

A fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. First Embodiment and Third Embodiment
The same parts as those of the embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted. The present embodiment relates to a lighting device that illuminates an instrument panel mounted on a vehicle. FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the instrument panel. FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the fluorescent lamp device. FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the fluorescent lamp. FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a connection structure between the low temperature compensation heater and the power supply line.

The instrument panel 41 is formed by a light guide plate 42 which entirely constitutes a part of the light guide means.
Various meters 43 and indicators 44 are attached to the light guide plate 42.
Is provided. And the instrument panel 4
1, a fluorescent lamp device 45 is arranged below. In this fluorescent lamp device 45, the fluorescent lamp 1 is fixed in a reflection plate 46 having a U-shaped cross section which constitutes another part of the light guide means, and the reflection plate 46 is attached to a PC plate 47. 47 and control plate 48 are flexible cables 49
It is a structure connected by. That is, the fluorescent lamp 1 is a PC
The PC board 47 is electrically connected to the board 47, and the PC board 47 is electrically connected to the control board 48 via a flexible cable 49. In this case, the high frequency lighting circuit 7 and the heater control circuit 8
And, the PC board 47 and the control board 48 are distributed and mounted.

Here, holders 33 as exemplified in the third embodiment are attached to both ends of the fluorescent lamp 1,
Inside the holder 33, the power supply line 35 is connected to the outer lead shaft 16 of the valve 2. Further, splice holders 50 are attached to both ends of the valve 2 inside the holder 33. The splice terminals 51 of the splice holders 50 constitute the heating wire 3 constituting the low-temperature compensation heater 4 and the power supply wire 52 for the heating wire 3. And are spliced (see FIG. 11). Furthermore, the thermistor 17
Is attached to the valve 2 via the thermistor holder 53, and the thermal fuse 18 is attached to the valve 2 via the thermal fuse holder 54. The thermistor 17 has a shape in which two connecting pins 17a extend from the same surface.

In such a structure, the light emitted from the lit fluorescent lamp 1 is incident on the light guide plate 42 directly and via the reflection plate 46. As a result, the instrument panel 41 formed by the light guide plate 42 is illuminated, and the meter 43 and the indicator 44 provided on the instrument panel 41 are brightly illuminated. At this time, since the fluorescent lamp device 45 has a good luminance rising characteristic, the instrument panel 41 is immediately illuminated well after the power is turned on.

FIG. 12 shows a modification of this embodiment. When the thermistor 17 having a shape in which the connection pins 17a extend from different surfaces on the opposite sides is used, the thermistor holder 53 having the through hole 55 is used, and the through hole 55 is used.
The thermistor 17 is inserted inside.

A fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 13 and 14. The same parts as those in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted. The present embodiment relates to a lighting device used as a backlight of a liquid crystal display device. FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view of the lighting device. FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional plan view thereof.

The liquid crystal display device 61 is composed of a liquid crystal panel 62 and a backlight 63. Since the liquid crystal panel 62 has a well-known structure, its description is omitted. The backlight 63 has a pair of fluorescent lamps 1 as a light source,
The light guide means 64 for guiding the light emitted from the fluorescent lamp 1 to the liquid crystal panel 62 is included. As the fluorescent lamp 1, the fluorescent lamp 1 according to any one of the first to fourth embodiments can be used.

Details of the light guide means 64 will be described. First, the flat light guide plate 65 is provided, and the fluorescent lamps 1 surrounded by the reflectors 66 are arranged so as to face each other on both end faces thereof. The reflection sheet 67 is provided on the back surface of the light guide plate 65.
And a light diffusion plate 68 is attached to the surface facing the liquid crystal panel 62.

The light guide plate 65 is formed of a transparent or milky white light transmissive material such as acrylic resin. The reflector 66 is formed of a material such as metal or resin, and has a cross section of a quadratic curve along the axial direction of the fluorescent lamp 1. On the inner surface of those reflectors 66,
A reflective surface 66a is formed to direct the light emitted from the fluorescent lamp 1 toward the end surface of the light guide plate 65. The reflection sheet 67 is
It is made of a material having an excellent light reflectance, and has a structure in which the light guided to the light guide plate 65 is reflected and directed to the upper surface thereof.
The light diffusing plate 68 is made of a milky white acrylic resin or the like, and has a structure that diffuses the light emitted from the upper surface of the light guide plate 65 to obtain a uniform luminance distribution.

In such a structure, when the fluorescent lamp 1 as a light source is lit at high frequency, these fluorescent lamps 1
The light emitted from is incident on the end surface of the light guide plate 65. At this time, the light from the fluorescent lamp 1 is directly incident on the end surface of the light guide plate 65, and the reflection surface 66 a on the inner surface of the reflector 66.
The light reflected by is also made incident. Inside the light guide plate 65, light travels while repeating total reflection on each surface, and the light reflects off the reflection sheet 67, so that the light is emitted toward the surface of the light guide plate 65. The light emitted toward the front surface of the light guide plate 65 is diffused by the light diffusion plate 68 to have a uniform luminance distribution, and illuminates the back surface of the liquid crystal panel 62 without uneven brightness. As a result, the liquid crystal panel 62 is illuminated by the light from the backlight 63, and the visibility of the liquid crystal panel 62 is improved.

Here, since the bulb 2 is heated and kept warm with high efficiency at low temperature, the liquid crystal panel 62 is maintained even at low temperature.
It is possible to make the stable display. And
Since the fluorescent lamp 1 has a good luminance rising characteristic, the liquid crystal panel 62 is immediately illuminated well after the power is turned on.

[0060]

In the fluorescent lamp according to the first aspect of the present invention, the heater is provided on the outer peripheral surface excluding the periphery of the bulb electrode. It is possible to prevent a decrease in the temperature of (1), make the temperature distribution in the bulb uniform, and improve the brightness rising characteristic.

In the fluorescent lamp according to the present invention, the heater is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the bulb, and the cooling means is attached to the outer peripheral surface around the bulb electrode. In the lamp, it is possible to prevent the temperature at the center of the bulb from decreasing and make the temperature distribution inside the bulb uniform, thereby improving the brightness rising characteristic.

The fluorescent lamp according to claim 3 is the fluorescent lamp according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the heater is formed by a heating wire spirally wound around the outer peripheral surface of the bulb, so that the light emitted from the fluorescent lamp is electrically charged. It is possible to obtain a wide light emitting region without being extremely disturbed by heat rays.

According to the invention of claim 4, in the invention of claim 3, the outer peripheral surface of the bulb is covered with the heater by a light-transmitting heat-shrinkable tube, so that the heater can be easily fixed to the bulb. You can In this case, it is possible to prevent the light output of the bulb from decreasing. In addition, since the heater can be closely fixed to the valve by the heat shrink tube, the heat generated by the heater can be efficiently transmitted to the valve, and the heat shrink tube can keep the valve warm. Can be efficiently heated.

In the fluorescent lamp device according to the fifth aspect, the heating operation of the fluorescent lamp is performed by the heater within a certain period before the lighting of the fluorescent lamp is started. Therefore, the bulb is warmed immediately before lighting of the fluorescent lamp. It is possible to increase the pressure of the discharge medium enclosed in the closed bulb and to condense mercury around the electrode because the temperature increase rate around the electrode is lower than that of other parts, and therefore fluorescence in a low temperature environment It is possible to improve the brightness rising characteristic of the lamp. Also, since the heating operation of the fluorescent lamp is performed by the heater within a certain period after the fluorescent lamp is turned off, it is possible to prevent the central portion of the bulb from being rapidly cooled and mercury to be condensed to this portion. Therefore, it is possible to make the distribution of mercury in the bulb uniform and improve the brightness rising characteristic at the next lighting of the fluorescent lamp.

In the fluorescent lamp according to the sixth aspect, a heater made of a mesh-shaped electric heating member wound around the outer peripheral surface of the bulb is provided, and the heater is closely fixed to the outer peripheral surface around the bulb electrode by a fixing member. Therefore, in a fluorescent lamp having a diameter of about 10 mm, which is likely to be cooled at the end of the bulb after being turned off, it is possible to prevent the temperature of the end of the bulb from being lowered by heating the end of the bulb more. By making the distribution uniform, it is possible to prevent a decrease in the light output of the fluorescent lamp.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the fluorescent lamp according to the sixth aspect, the heater is formed of an electric heating member having a hexagonal mesh pattern, so that the heater of the fluorescent lamp is grounded. Noise generated by light emission can be blocked by a heater having a hexagonal mesh pattern.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a fluorescent lamp according to the sixth aspect, a holder in which an end portion of a bulb is closely fitted, and a pair of electrodes which are inserted through the holder. Since the power supply line connected to the power supply line and the stopper fixed to the power supply line inside the holder are provided, the end of the fluorescent lamp can be protected by the holder, and the end of the fluorescent lamp is kept warm by the holder. be able to. Also,
Since the power supply line is prevented from coming off by the stopper fixed to the power supply line, disconnection between the power supply line and the electrode due to an unreasonable tensile force can be prevented.

Since the fluorescent lamp device according to claim 9 is constituted by using the fluorescent lamp according to any one of claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, and 8, the temperature distribution in the bulb can be made uniform. In this way, the brightness rising characteristic and the light output characteristic can be improved.

An illumination device according to a tenth aspect comprises the fluorescent lamp device according to the fifth or ninth aspect and a light guide means for guiding the light emitted by the fluorescent lamp of the fluorescent lamp device to a desired position. It is possible to improve the brightness rising characteristic and the light output characteristic by making the temperature distribution in the inside uniform.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a fluorescent lamp showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a fluorescent lamp device.

FIG. 3 is a front view of a fluorescent lamp showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a front view of a cooling unit.

FIG. 5 is a front view of a fluorescent lamp with a holder omitted as a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a front view of an end portion of a fluorescent lamp to which a holder is attached.

FIG. 7 (a) is a graph showing experimental results obtained by measuring the noise emitted from a fluorescent lamp without a heater with a spectrum analyzer, and FIG. 7 (b) is a graph showing the noise emitted from a fluorescent lamp with a heater measured by a spectrum analyzer. It is a graph which shows the experiment result.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing an illuminating device for illuminating an instrument panel mounted on an automobile as a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a fluorescent lamp device.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a fluorescent lamp.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a connection structure between a heater and a power supply line.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing a modified example of the thermistor and the thermistor holder.

FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view of a lighting device used as a backlight of a liquid crystal display device as a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional plan view thereof.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Fluorescent Lamp 2 Bulb 3 Heating Wire 4 Heater 5 Heat Shrink Tube 7 High Frequency Lighting Circuit 8 Heater Control Circuit 10 Phosphor Layer 11 Discharge Medium 13 Electrode 21 Cooling Means 31 Electric Heating Member 32 Fixing Member 33 Holder 35 Feeding Wire 37 Stopper 42, 46 , 64 light guide means 45 fluorescent lamp device

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A bulb in which a discharge medium containing mercury as a main component is enclosed and a phosphor layer is formed on the inner surface and a pair of electrodes is arranged at both ends; and an outer peripheral surface excluding the periphery of the electrodes of the bulb. A fluorescent lamp comprising: a heater provided; 2. A bulb in which a discharge medium containing mercury as a main component is enclosed, a phosphor layer is formed on the inner surface, and a pair of electrodes is arranged at both ends; and a heater provided on the outer peripheral surface of the bulb. And a cooling means attached to the outer peripheral surface around the electrode of the bulb. 3. The fluorescent lamp according to claim 1, wherein the heater is formed by a heating wire spirally wound around the outer peripheral surface of the bulb. 4. The fluorescent lamp according to claim 3, wherein the outer peripheral surface of the bulb is covered with a translucent heat-shrinkable tube covering the heater. 5. The fluorescent lamp according to claim 1, a high-frequency lighting circuit that supplies high-frequency power to the fluorescent lamp through a pair of electrodes, and a fixed period at least before starting and after extinguishing the fluorescent lamp. A fluorescent lamp device, comprising: a heater control circuit for controlling the heating operation of the fluorescent lamp by energizing the heater to generate heat. 6. A bulb in which a discharge medium containing mercury as a main component is enclosed, a phosphor layer is formed on the inner surface, and a pair of electrodes is arranged at both ends; and a mesh-shaped coil wound around the outer peripheral surface of the bulb. A fluorescent lamp comprising: a heater composed of an electric heating member; and a fixing member for fixing the heater in close contact with the outer peripheral surface around the electrode of the bulb. 7. The fluorescent lamp according to claim 6, wherein the heater is formed of an electric heating member having a hexagonal mesh pattern. 8. A fluorescent lamp according to claim 6, a holder in which the ends of the bulb are tightly fitted together, and a feeder line which is inserted through the holder and connected to a pair of electrodes inside the holder;
A fluorescent lamp comprising: a stopper fixed to a power supply line inside the holder. 9. A fluorescent lamp according to any one of claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, and 8, and a high-frequency lighting circuit for supplying high-frequency power to the fluorescent lamp through a pair of electrodes.
And a heater control circuit for energizing a heater to generate heat, the fluorescent lamp device. 10. A lighting device comprising: the fluorescent lamp device according to claim 5; and a light guide unit for guiding light emitted from the fluorescent lamp of the fluorescent lamp device to a desired position. .