JPH10106713A - Multiple terminal discharge tube - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a multiple terminal discharge tube having the same surge protecting characteristic between respective discharge electrodes. SOLUTION: Patterns of steeple-shaped discharge electrodes 31-34 are formed on an alumina substrate 21 in such a manner as to have gaps 35-38 each having a gap width of 0.1mm and gaps 39, 40 each having a gap width of 0.14mm therebetween. A cover 23 is fixed to the alumina substrate 21 having the discharge electrodes 31-34 thereon in a state in which a spacer 22 is held between the alumina substrate 21 and the cover 23 to thus form a sealed space inside. Terminals 24-27 electrically connected to the discharge electrodes 31-34 are formed on the outer walls of the alumina substrate 21, spacer 22 and cover 23 which are fixed to each other. Ar is filled into a space surrounded by the alumina substrate 21, spacer 22 and cover 23 in such a manner that a pressure in the space becomes 39Torr.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a telephone, a TV, a V
The present invention relates to a multi-terminal discharge tube used for a part of an electronic device such as a TR where a surge is likely to enter when coming into contact with the outside and protecting the electronic device from the surge.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a multi-terminal discharge tube for absorbing a surge voltage applied to electronic equipment has been known. In Japanese Patent Publication No. 7-107867, on a flat insulating substrate,
There has been proposed a multi-terminal discharge tube in which a ground electrode and a plurality of spire electrodes having a gap between the ground electrode are formed.

[0003] When such a multi-terminal discharge tube is used in electronic equipment, a surge voltage applied to a plurality of locations can be absorbed by one multi-terminal discharge tube.

[0004]

[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the multi-terminal discharge tube disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 10867, each of the firing voltages between the ground electrode and each of the spire-shaped electrodes does not indicate the same firing voltage. There is a problem that there is a difference between the respective surge protection characteristics.

On the other hand, a plurality of two-terminal surge absorbers, each exhibiting the same discharge starting voltage, are prepared.
It is also conceivable to connect each surge absorber to the part of the electronic device where the surge voltage is applied.However, a surge absorber is required for each part where the surge voltage is applied. There is a problem that the cost is increased accordingly.

In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a multi-terminal discharge tube having the same surge protection characteristics between discharge electrodes.

[0007]

According to the present invention, there is provided a multi-terminal discharge tube according to the present invention, comprising: a base having a space filled with a predetermined gas therein; A plurality of film-shaped discharge electrodes formed in a pattern having a plurality of gaps on the surface as a whole, and each of the plurality of discharge electrodes formed on a portion of the base outside the space are electrically connected to each of the plurality of discharge electrodes. In a multi-terminal discharge tube including a plurality of connected terminals, the product of the gas pressure in the space and the maximum gap width of the gap widths of the plurality of gaps is filled in the space. It is characterized in that it is set to a value smaller than the product of the gas pressure and the gap width, which indicates the minimum discharge start voltage determined according to the type of gas.

Product of gas pressure p and gap width d (pd product)
Is determined according to the type of gas, and generally has a curve shown by a solid line in FIG. The horizontal axis in FIG. 1 is the product of the gas pressure and the gap width (pd product).
And the vertical axis indicates the discharge starting voltage. As shown by the solid line in FIG. 1, the discharge starting voltage characteristic is generally represented by a V-shaped curve. However, when the gap width is set to 200 μm or less, the pd product is calculated as pd when the discharge starting voltage is the minimum value.
When the value is set to a value smaller than the d product (pd _min ), the discharge starting voltage characteristic with respect to the pd product shows a flat characteristic in which the discharge starting voltage hardly changes as shown by a broken line in FIG.

In the multi-terminal discharge tube of the present invention, utilizing such characteristics, the pressure of the gas filled in the base and the maximum of the gap widths of the gaps of the plurality of film-shaped discharge electrodes are determined. The product with the gap width (pd product) indicates the minimum firing voltage determined according to the gas charged in the substrate.
It is set to a value smaller than the product of the gas pressure and the gap width. Therefore, the discharge starting voltage between the plurality of discharge electrodes constituting the multi-terminal discharge tube of the present invention shows almost the same value.

Here, in the multi-terminal discharge tube of the present invention, each of the plurality of gaps is 1 μm to 200 μm.
Preferably, a plurality of discharge electrodes are formed so as to have the following gap width. When the gap width is 1 μm or more and 200 μm or less, discharge delay is prevented.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a four-terminal discharge tube according to a first embodiment of the multi-terminal discharge tube of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the four-terminal discharge tube shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the alumina substrate, and FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an alumina substrate on which discharge electrodes are formed, a spacer, and a lid, which constitute the four-terminal discharge tube shown in FIG.

The alumina substrate 21 constituting the four-terminal discharge tube 20 shown in FIG. 2 has a square front and back surface.
On the surface, as shown in FIG.
The spire portions 3 and 34 are formed so as to face each other, and the discharge electrodes 31, 32, 33 and 34 have a gap therebetween. Discharge electrodes 31, 3
2, 33, and 34 are gaps between adjacent discharge electrodes.
36, 37, and 38; a gap 39 between the discharge electrodes 31 and 33; and a gap 40 between the discharge electrodes 32 and 34.

Thus, the discharge electrodes 31, 32, 33, 3
As shown in FIG. 4, a lid 23 is attached to the alumina substrate 21 on which the spacers 4 are formed, in a state where a sealed space is formed inside by sandwiching a spacer 22 therebetween. The alumina substrate 21 and the spacer 2 thus attached to each other
2, terminals 24, 25, 26, 27 electrically connected to the discharge electrodes 31, 32, 33, 34, respectively, are formed on the outer wall surface of the lid 23, as shown in FIG.
A space surrounded by the alumina substrate 21, the spacer 22, and the lid 23 is filled with an inert gas. The pressure of the inert gas filled in this space and the gaps 35, 36,
The product of the gap widths of the gap widths of 37, 38, 39, and 40 is the minimum discharge start determined according to the type of the charged gas so that the firing voltage between the discharge electrodes shows the same value. The value is set to a value smaller than the product of the gas pressure and the gap width, which indicates the voltage.

The four-terminal discharge tube 20 constructed as described above
Then, the base according to the present invention comprises an alumina substrate 21, a spacer 22, and a lid 23. 4 terminal type discharge tube 2
0 means that the product of the pressure of the inert gas filled therein and the maximum gap width among the gap widths of the gaps 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, and 40 depends on the type of the inert gas. Since the value is set to be smaller than the product of the gas pressure and the gap width, which indicates the minimum discharge start voltage determined, the discharge start voltage between the terminals 24, 25, 26 and 27 is the same. And the same protection characteristics are shown between the terminals with respect to the application of the surge voltage.

Since the four-terminal discharge tube 20 is electrically connected from the tip of the discharge electrode to the terminal by the discharge electrode itself, discharge occurs even when the voltage applied between the terminals is low. It's easy to do. Therefore, the four-terminal discharge tube 20 is used as a discharge tube that absorbs a relatively low-voltage surge. Hereinafter, a method for manufacturing the four-terminal discharge tube 20 shown in FIG. 2 will be described.

First, the length, width and thickness are each 4 mm,
An alumina substrate 21 having dimensions of 4 mm and 0.5 mm is prepared. Next, on the alumina substrate 21, using a paste of Ag-Pd, a spire-shaped electrode 31 having gaps 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40 between them as shown in FIG. , 32, 33, and 34 are printed. Here, the gap width of each of the gaps 35, 36, 37, 38 is 0.1 mm, and the gaps 39, 4
Each gap width of 0 is set to 0.14 mm.

Next, the alumina substrate 21, the spacer 22, and the lid 23 are arranged so that the surface on which the discharge electrodes 31, 32, 33, and 34 are formed on the alumina substrate 21 with the spacer 22 therebetween. Then, the alumina substrate 21, the spacer 22, and the lid 23 are sealed with a glass paste while the space surrounded by the alumina substrate 21, the spacer 22, and the lid 23 is filled with an inert gas. Here, Ar is used as the inert gas.
Is multiplied by the widest gap width (here, the widest gap width is the gap width of the gaps 39 and 40, which is 0.14 mm). The value is set to be smaller than the determined product of the gas pressure indicating the minimum discharge starting voltage and the maximum gap width. Here, the Ar pressure is set to 39 Torr.

Next, on the outer wall surfaces of the alumina substrate 21, the spacer 22, and the lid 23 sealed with the glass paste, the respective terminals 24, 32, 33, 34 are electrically connected to the respective discharge electrodes 31, 32, 33, 34. 25, 26 and 27 are formed. Thus, the multi-terminal discharge tube 20 is manufactured. In the present embodiment, Ag-Pd is used as the material of the discharge electrode. However, for example, Ag-Pt may be used in addition to Ag-Pd as the material of the discharge electrode.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a four-terminal discharge tube according to a second embodiment of the multi-terminal discharge tube of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a discharge electrode constituting the four-terminal discharge tube shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a plan view showing an alumina substrate on which is formed. The four-terminal discharge tube 50 shown in FIG. 5 is different from the four-terminal discharge tube 20 shown in FIG. 2 in that the discharge electrodes 31, 32, 33, and 34 are replaced with the discharge electrodes 61, 62, 63, and 64 shown in FIG. Is adopted.

Each of the discharge electrodes 61, 62, 63, 64 has a gap 61a, 62a, 63a, 64a, respectively. As described above, in the four-terminal discharge tube 50, since the discharge electrodes have gaps, a discharge is generated by applying a relatively high voltage between the terminals. That is, 4
The terminal type discharge tube 50 is used as a discharge tube that absorbs a relatively high voltage surge.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a four-terminal discharge tube according to a third embodiment of the multi-terminal discharge tube of the present invention, and FIG. 8 is a discharge electrode constituting the four-terminal discharge tube shown in FIG. FIG. 9 is a top view of the four-terminal discharge tube shown in FIG. 7. FIG. Alumina substrates 71 and 73 constituting the four-terminal discharge tube 70 shown in FIG. 7 have length, width and thickness of 4 mm, 4 mm and 0.5 mm, respectively.
Has the following dimensions. As shown in FIG. 8, two rectangular discharge electrodes 81 are formed on the surface of the alumina substrate 71 so as to have a gap 83 with a gap width of 0.1 mm. Figure 8
As shown in FIG. 7, two rectangular discharge electrodes 82 are formed so as to have a gap 84 with a gap width of 0.1 mm.

The alumina substrate 71 thus formed,
As shown in FIG. 8, the surface 73 of the alumina substrate 71 on which the discharge electrodes 81 are formed and the surface of the alumina substrate 73 on which the discharge electrodes 82 are formed are sandwiched by a spacer 72 having a thickness of 0.2 mm. Both of them face in the space sandwiched by the spacers 72, and are sealed so that the pair of two discharge electrodes 81 and the pair of two discharge electrodes 82 extend in a direction perpendicular to each other. This space is filled with Ar gas.

The alumina substrate 71 constructed as described above,
73, on the outer wall surface of the spacer 72, as shown in FIG.
Terminals 74 and 75 electrically connected to the respective discharge electrodes 81 and the respective discharge electrodes 82 are formed. The discharge electrode 81 and the discharge electrode 82 have a tip portion of the two discharge electrodes 81 and a tip portion of the two discharge electrodes 82 in a direction perpendicular to the plane of FIG.
Since the electrodes oppose each other so as to have an m gap width, a discharge is caused between the discharge electrode 81 and the discharge electrode 82 by applying a voltage. Therefore, here, the pressure of the filled Ar is the same as the pressure of the Ar, so that the four discharge electrodes of the four-terminal discharge tube 70 show the same value of the firing voltage between the discharge electrodes. (Here, the gap width of the gap between the discharge electrode 81 formed on the alumina substrate 71 and the discharge electrode 82 formed on the alumina substrate 73, which is 0.2 mm) Is set to be smaller than the product of the gas pressure indicating the minimum discharge start voltage and the gap width, which is determined by the filling of Ar, and the pressure of Ar is set to 39 Torr here.

The four-terminal discharge tube 70 thus constructed
Then, the substrate according to the present invention includes alumina substrates 71 and 73,
It is composed of a spacer 72. Four-terminal discharge tube 70
Is the product of the pressure of Ar filled inside and the widest gap width is determined by Ar filling,
Since the value is set to a value smaller than the product of the gas pressure indicating the minimum discharge starting voltage and the gap width, the four-terminal discharge tube 70
Have the same value, and show the same protection characteristics with respect to the application of a surge voltage.

Thus, in the space filled with Ar,
The same firing voltage can be obtained between discharge electrodes formed on different surfaces. In the four-terminal discharge tube 70, since the gaps 83 and 84 and the terminals 74 and 75 are electrically connected by the discharge electrodes 81 and 82 themselves, the voltage applied between the terminals is low. Even so, discharge is likely to occur. Therefore, the four-terminal discharge tube 70 is used to absorb a low-voltage surge.

FIG. 10 shows a fourth embodiment of the multi-terminal discharge tube of the present invention.
FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a four-terminal discharge tube of the embodiment, and FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing an alumina substrate on which discharge electrodes are formed and a spacer lid, which constitute the four-terminal discharge tube shown in FIG.
The four-terminal discharge tube 100 shown in FIG. 10 is configured by employing the discharge electrodes 111 and 112 shown in FIG. 11 instead of the discharge electrodes 81 and 82 in the four-terminal discharge tube 70 shown in FIG. Things.

The discharge electrodes 111 and 112 have gaps 111a and 112a, respectively. Thus, 4
In the terminal type discharge tube 100, since the discharge electrode has a gap, a discharge is generated by applying a high voltage between the terminals. Therefore, the four-terminal discharge tube 100 is used to absorb a high-voltage surge.

FIG. 12 shows a fifth embodiment of the multi-terminal discharge tube of the present invention.
FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a four-terminal discharge tube of the embodiment, FIG. 13 is a plan view showing an alumina substrate on which discharge electrodes are formed, which constitutes the four-terminal discharge tube shown in FIG. 12, and FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the alumina substrate in which the discharge electrode was formed, the spacer, and the lid which comprise the four terminal type discharge tube shown. FIG.
The alumina substrate 121 constituting the four-terminal discharge tube 120 shown in FIG. 2 has a length, width and thickness of 4 mm and 4 m, respectively.
m, 0.5 mm.

As shown in FIG. 13, a central electrode 131 having a square shape is formed at the center of the surface of the alumina substrate 121. The periphery of the central electrode 131 is opposed to each of the four sides of the central electrode. Thus, a discharge electrode 132 having a gap 133 having a gap width of 0.1 mm between the central electrode 131 and the central electrode 131 is formed. As shown in FIG. 14, the central electrode 131 and the discharge electrode 132 of the alumina substrate 121 were formed with the spacer 122 interposed between the thus formed alumina substrate 121 and the square plate-shaped lid 123. The inside space is sealed with the Ar gas filled with the surface inside.

The alumina substrate 1 sealed as described above
12, the spacer 122, and the outer wall surface of the lid 123
As shown in FIG. 5, each terminal 124 electrically connected to each discharge electrode 132 is formed. Since the four-terminal discharge tube 120 has the center electrode 131, discharge is performed between the adjacent discharge electrodes via the center electrode 131.
Again, the pressure of the filled Ar is the same as the pressure of the Ar and the gap width (here, 0.1) so that the four discharge electrodes 132 show the same value of the firing voltage between each other.
mm) is determined by Ar filling.
It is set to a value smaller than the product of the gas pressure indicating the minimum discharge starting voltage and the gap width, and here, the Ar pressure is 76 To
rr.

The four-terminal discharge tube 12 thus constructed
In the case of 0, the base according to the present invention comprises an alumina substrate 121, a spacer 122, and a lid 123. It should be noted that the four-terminal discharge tube 120 is provided with each gap 133 and each terminal 124.
Are electrically connected to each other by the respective discharge electrodes 132 themselves, so that discharge is likely to occur even if the voltage applied between the terminals is low. Therefore, the four-terminal discharge tube 120 is used to absorb a low-voltage surge.

FIG. 15 shows a sixth embodiment of the multi-terminal discharge tube of the present invention.
FIG. 16 is a perspective view showing a four-terminal discharge tube of the embodiment, and FIG. 16 is a plan view showing an alumina substrate on which discharge electrodes are formed, which constitutes the four-terminal discharge tube shown in FIG. A four-terminal discharge tube 150 shown in FIG. 15 is configured by employing a discharge electrode 161 shown in FIG. 16 instead of the discharge electrode 132 shown in FIG. 13 in the four-terminal discharge tube 120 shown in FIG. Things.

Each discharge electrode 161 has a gap 16
1a. As described above, in the four-terminal discharge tube 150 shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, since the discharge electrodes have gaps, a discharge is generated by applying a high voltage between the terminals. Therefore, the four-terminal discharge tube 150 is
Used to absorb high voltage surges.

The multi-terminal discharge tubes of the above-described first to sixth embodiments all have four terminals each having four terminals.
Although the terminal type, the number of terminals of the multi-terminal discharge tube of the present invention,
The number of terminals is not limited to four, and may be smaller or larger than this number.

[0035]

EXAMPLES The four-terminal discharge tubes of the first to sixth embodiments described above, the arresters shown as Comparative Examples 1 and 2 and the surge absorber shown as Comparative Example 3 described below. The result of measuring the starting voltage will be described. The arrester of Comparative Example 1 is a three-pole arrester with a hole in the center electrode, and the arrester of Comparative Example 2 is a four-pole arrester with holes in two intermediate discharge electrodes. The surge absorber of Comparative Example 3 was prepared using two microgap type surge absorber elements.
A terminal type micro gap surge absorber was used.

Table 1 shows the measurement results of the discharge starting voltages of the four-terminal discharge tubes of the first to sixth embodiments, the arresters of Comparative Examples 1 and 2, and the surge absorber of Comparative Example 3.

[0037]

[Table 1]

As is clear from Table 1, the arresters shown in Comparative Examples 1 and 2 and the surge absorber shown in Comparative Example 3 each showed two different firing voltages.
The four-terminal discharge tubes of the first to sixth embodiments all show the same discharge starting voltage between the terminals, and the four-terminal discharge tubes of the first to sixth embodiments have the same voltage. It was confirmed that the same protection characteristics were exhibited with respect to the application of.

[0039]

As described above, according to the multiterminal discharge tube of the present invention, the same firing voltage can be obtained between the respective discharge electrodes.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a graph showing a discharge starting voltage characteristic with respect to a product of a gas pressure and a gap width.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a four-terminal discharge tube of the first embodiment of the multi-terminal discharge tube of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing an alumina substrate on which discharge electrodes are formed, constituting the four-terminal discharge tube shown in FIG. 2;

4 is a perspective view showing an alumina substrate on which discharge electrodes are formed, a spacer, and a lid, which constitute the four-terminal discharge tube shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a four-terminal discharge tube according to a second embodiment of the multi-terminal discharge tube of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing an alumina substrate on which discharge electrodes are formed, which constitutes the four-terminal discharge tube shown in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a four-terminal discharge tube according to a third embodiment of the multi-terminal discharge tube of the present invention.

8 is a perspective view showing an alumina substrate on which discharge electrodes are formed and a spacer, which constitute the four-terminal discharge tube shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a top view of the four-terminal discharge tube shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 illustrates a fourth embodiment of the multi-terminal discharge tube according to the present invention.
It is a perspective view showing a terminal type discharge tube.

11 is a perspective view showing an alumina substrate on which discharge electrodes are formed and a spacer lid, which constitute the four-terminal discharge tube shown in FIG.

FIG. 12 illustrates a fourth embodiment of the multi-terminal discharge tube according to the present invention.
It is a perspective view showing a terminal type discharge tube.

FIG. 13 is a plan view showing an alumina substrate on which discharge electrodes are formed, which constitutes the four-terminal discharge tube shown in FIG.

14 is a perspective view showing an alumina substrate on which discharge electrodes are formed, a spacer, and a lid, which constitute the four-terminal discharge tube shown in FIG.

FIG. 15 shows a multi-terminal discharge tube according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention;
It is a perspective view showing a terminal type discharge tube.

FIG. 16 is a plan view showing an alumina substrate on which discharge electrodes are formed, which constitutes the four-terminal discharge tube shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

20, 50, 70, 100, 120, 150 4-terminal discharge tube 21, 71, 73, 121 Insulating substrate 22, 72, 122 Spacer 23, 123 Lid 24, 25, 26, 27, 74, 75, 124 terminals 31, 32, 33, 34, 61, 62, 63, 64, 8
1, 82, 111, 112, 132, 161 Discharge electrodes 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 61a, 62
a, 63a, 64a, 83, 84, 111a, 112
a, 133, 161a Gap 131 Central electrode

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A base having a space filled with a predetermined gas therein, and a plurality of film-like substrates formed in a pattern having a plurality of gaps as a whole on a surface of the base in the space. A multi-terminal discharge tube comprising: a discharge electrode; and a plurality of terminals formed in a portion of the base outside the space, each terminal being electrically connected to each of the plurality of discharge electrodes. The product of the gas pressure in the space and the maximum gap width of the gap widths of the plurality of gaps indicates the minimum firing voltage determined according to the type of gas filled in the space, the gas pressure and the gap width. Characterized in that the value is set to a value smaller than the product of 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of gaps is 1 μm.
2. The multi-terminal discharge tube according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of discharge electrodes are formed so as to have a gap width of at least 200 [mu] m.