JPH10112206A - Lighting system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide the thin, compact and novel design, to inhibit the lowering of the output of the lamp light, and to improve the output and luminous efficacy, by installing plural circular fluorescent lamps in the almost concentric circle on neatly the same plane. SOLUTION: Plural annular fluorescent lamps 2a, 2b, and a lighting device part 3 are installed on a tool body 1, and a light-transmitting globe 4, wrapping the whole of the annular fluorescent lamps 2a, 2b and the device part 3, is installed. The device part 3 has almost a disc shape, and the annular lamps 2a, 2b are installed on nearly the same plane inside of the annular lamps 2b located on the innermost position. By installing the annular lamps 2a, 2b on the almost nearly the plane and in the almost concentric circle, the tool can be made thin and compact, the degree of the mutual thermal effects can be lowered, the rise of the coolest point temperature of the annular lamps 2a, 2b is reduced, and the lowering of the light output can be inhibited. Accordingly high output, high luminous efficacy, and novel design can be provided.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a lighting device using a ring-shaped fluorescent lamp.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, ring-shaped fluorescent lamps comprising a single tube mainly for residential lighting have been widely used. In particular, in order to obtain a high output, as shown in FIG. 5, two or more individual annular fluorescent lamps 12a and 12b are arranged in a stepped mountain shape, and a lamp lighting device unit 3 is arranged in the center of the appliance. Is used.

[0003]

In such a lighting device, in order to obtain uniform brightness, a light-transmitting outer envelope (so-called globe) must be thick and large. It is not economical, and has a problem that the degree of freedom is restricted also from the aspect of the appliance design.

Further, in such a high-power illumination device, since a plurality of annular fluorescent lamps 12a and 12b are arranged at different levels, a lower lamp 12b heats an upper lamp 12a, for example. Because of the thermal effects, miniaturization of the outer enclosure causes the cold spot temperature of each lamp to rise excessively, reducing the light output of the lamp.
There is also a problem that restriction is apt to occur in making the outer envelope smaller and thinner.

Further, since the lighting device section 3 is built in a portion covered by a main body cover (not shown) inside the lamps stacked in a chevron, the temperature tends to rise, which is disadvantageous. This is a constraint on downsizing the cover.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention solves the problem that a conventional lighting device using a ring-shaped fluorescent lamp is thick and large, and realizes a thin, compact, and novel design lighting device. It is another object of the present invention to provide a high-output and high-efficiency illumination device for a ring-shaped fluorescent lamp in which a decrease in lamp light output is suppressed by preventing thermal effects of individual lamps as in the related art.

[0007]

According to the present invention, there is provided an illuminating device comprising: a plurality of ring-shaped fluorescent lamps and a lighting device section disposed on a fixture body; and a light-transmitting outer envelope surrounding the ring-shaped fluorescent lamp. In the illumination device provided, the plurality of ring-shaped fluorescent lamps are arranged on substantially the same plane and substantially concentrically.

With such a configuration, first, a thin, compact and novel design can be realized as a lighting device. Second, by arranging a plurality of lamps substantially concentrically on substantially the same plane as described above, the thermal effect of each lamp can be reduced, and as a result, the lamp light output is reduced as compared with the conventional lighting device. It is possible to realize an illuminating device that also suppresses the amount of light.

Further, the ring-shaped fluorescent lamp has an electrode at one end and a plurality of ring-shaped light-emitting tubes having a closed portion at the other end, which are arranged on substantially the same plane and in a substantially concentric manner, and the vicinity of the other end is arranged. It is preferable that the ring-shaped fluorescent lamp has a double-tube structure in which a single discharge path is formed inside by joining with a bridge joint. By using such a lamp, the light output can be improved, and the surface brightness of the outer envelope can be further uniformed.

[0010]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

(Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of a lighting device according to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway plan view of the lighting device of the present invention, and FIG. 1 is a plan view of a ring-shaped fluorescent lamp having a double tube structure used in the lighting device of FIG.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the lighting device of the present invention comprises a plurality of ring-shaped fluorescent lamps 2 on a fixture body 1.
a, 2b and a lighting device 3 are arranged, and furthermore, the ring-shaped fluorescent lamps 2a, 2b and a translucent globe 4 surrounding the entire lighting device 3 are constituted. The lighting device unit 3 has a substantially disk shape, and is disposed substantially on the same plane as the ring-shaped fluorescent lamps 2a and 2b, further inside the ring-shaped fluorescent lamp 2b positioned at the innermost side.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3, in the ring-shaped fluorescent lamps 2a and 2b having a double tube structure, two ring-shaped light-emitting tubes 5 and 6 made of glass are arranged on substantially the same plane and substantially concentrically. Electrodes 7 and 8 are attached to one end of each of the ring-shaped arc tubes 5 and 6. The other end portions 9 and 10 of the annular arc tubes 5 and 6 are closed, respectively.
The vicinity of 0 is joined by a bridge joining portion 11 made of a glass tube, whereby the electrodes 7 and
One discharge path is formed between 8. Phosphors are applied to the inner surfaces of the arc tubes 5, 6, and mercury and a rare gas such as argon or neon as a buffer gas are sealed in the tubes.

As shown in FIG. 1, the lighting device of the present invention comprises:
The first feature is that the annular fluorescent lamps 2a and 2b are arranged on substantially the same plane and substantially concentrically, thereby making the fixture thinner than, for example, the configuration of the conventional lighting device shown in FIG. It is clear that compactness has been realized. Further, the lighting device section 3 composed of an inverter-type electronic circuit is also arranged substantially in the same plane as the ring-shaped fluorescent lamps 2a and 2b, thereby further reducing the thickness of the lighting device.

On the other hand, in terms of lamp performance, since the annular fluorescent lamps 2a and 2b are arranged on substantially the same plane and substantially concentrically, the uniformity of the surface luminance of the outer envelope 4 of the lighting device is the same as that of the conventional lamp. Is improved compared to a lighting device in which is arranged at different levels. In this case, when the ring-shaped fluorescent lamp having the double tube structure shown in FIG. 3 is employed as described above, the light-emitting surface is closer to a plane than in the case of a single ring-shaped fluorescent lamp, and the uniformity of luminance is further improved. Is done.

As shown in FIG. 2, by positioning the base 12 of the outer ring-shaped fluorescent lamp 2a and the base 13 of the inner ring-shaped fluorescent lamp 2b on opposite sides, the electrode section having the highest temperature can be formed. By separating the non-light emitting portions from each other, the non-light emitting portions can be dispersed without being concentrated on one side, so that the luminance can be made uniform.

Further, when the ring-shaped fluorescent lamps are arranged on substantially the same plane and in the same concentric shape, the degree of mutual thermal influence is lower than that of the conventional apparatus. Therefore, the rise in the coldest point temperature of each of the ring-shaped fluorescent lamps 2a and 2b is reduced, and the decrease in light output is suppressed accordingly. Also in this case, when the annular fluorescent lamp having the double tube structure shown in FIG. 3 is used, the coldest spot is formed at the distal ends of the other ends 9 and 10 of the annular arc tubes 5 and 6. So
Even when the lighting device is turned on, the decrease in light output is extremely small. Therefore, it is possible to further reduce the thickness of the lighting device.

Table 1 shows the results of comparing the specific design values and lamp performance of the lighting device shown in FIG. 1 with those of a lighting device using a conventional single-tube annular fluorescent lamp.

[0018]

[Table 1]

As shown in Table 1, the lighting device of the present invention
The outer diameter of the fixture is the same as that of the conventional one, and the thickness is about half that of the conventional one.
The lamp efficiency is improved by about 30%, which is extremely excellent. In this case, a high light output is obtained, in part, because a decrease in light output during lighting in the appliance is suppressed.
Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the arc tubes are arranged in a substantially concentric quadruple, and as a result, as a whole, approach the surface light source, so that the uniformity of the luminance of the glove portion of the appliance is also improved.

The smaller the distance between the annular fluorescent lamps 2a and 2b is, the better the size of the apparatus and the more uniform the brightness. However, considering the mutual thermal effects and the ease of lamp replacement, the lamp replacement is preferred. It is preferable that the interval is 15 mm or more at which a finger can be inserted sometimes.

(Embodiment 2) FIG. 4 is a partially cutaway plan view of a lighting device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 4, in this embodiment, a substantially ring-shaped or substantially C-shaped lighting device section 4 is arranged between the ring-shaped fluorescent lamps 2a and 2b. With such a configuration, the interval between the lamps is increased and the thermal influence between the lamps is further reduced, so that the light output is further suppressed from being reduced.

The lighting device 3 has a substantially C-shape.
AC is applied to the AC input unit 15 at the center (opposite the cutout).
A commercial power supply (not shown) is connected to the ring-shaped fluorescent lamp 2.
Inverters for driving the fluorescent lamps 2a and 2b are provided on the left and right sides, respectively, for supplying power to the bases 12 and 13 of the ring-shaped fluorescent lamps 2a and 2b from the output terminals at both ends through the cable 14.

With such a configuration, compared to a case where two inverters are connected in cascade, there is no need for a feed wiring pattern, which is advantageous in terms of board design, and a small voltage drop (a small drop in optical output). There are also advantages such as low noise. In addition, since the ring-shaped fluorescent lamp and the circuit board are arranged close to each other substantially concentrically, the startability of the lamp is good. Further, it is possible to dispose the inverter section away from the electrodes 7 and 8 which become high during lamp operation.

[0025]

As described above, the lighting apparatus of the present invention has a thin and compact fixture by arranging a plurality of annular fluorescent lamps on substantially the same plane and substantially concentrically. Since the decrease in the light output of the lamp at the time of lighting in the fixture is suppressed, a lighting device having a novel design with high output and high efficiency is realized.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of a lighting device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway plan view of the same.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a ring-shaped fluorescent lamp used in the lighting device of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a partially cutaway plan view of a lighting device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional side view of a lighting device using a conventional ring-shaped fluorescent lamp.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Apparatus main body 2a, 2b Ring-shaped fluorescent lamp 3 Lighting device part 4 Globe 5, 6 Arc tube 7, 8 Electrode 9, 10 Other end 11 Bridge junction

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Hiroyuki Mikami 1048 Kazumasa Kadoma, Osaka Prefecture Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd. (72) Inventor Masaaki Ichikawa 1048 Kazumasa Kadoma, Osaka Prefecture Matsushita Electric Works Co., Ltd. (72 Inventor Takashi Yoshinari 1048 Kadoma, Kazuma, Osaka Pref.Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd. (72) Inventor Kazunori Kubo 1048 Kadoma, Kadoma, Osaka Pref.Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd. (72) Inventor Jin Kuriaki Kadoma, Osaka Pref. 1048 Kadoma Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A lighting device comprising: a plurality of ring-shaped fluorescent lamps and a lighting device section disposed on an apparatus main body; and a light-transmitting outer envelope surrounding the ring-shaped fluorescent lamp. A lighting device, wherein the fluorescent lamps are arranged on substantially the same plane and substantially concentrically. 2. The ring-shaped fluorescent lamp has an electrode at one end and a plurality of ring-shaped light-emitting tubes having a closed portion at the other end arranged substantially on the same plane and substantially concentrically, and the vicinity of the other end is arranged. 2. The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the lighting device is a ring-shaped fluorescent lamp joined by a bridge joint to form a single discharge path therein. 3. The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the lighting device section has a flat shape and is arranged on substantially the same plane as the ring-shaped fluorescent lamp. . 4. The lighting device according to claim 3, wherein the lighting device has a ring shape, and is arranged between the ring-shaped fluorescent lamps and substantially concentrically with the ring-shaped fluorescent lamp. The lighting device according to claim 1.