JPH10326597A - Discharge vessel, electrodeless metal halide discharge lamp, electrodeless metal halide discharge lamp lighting device, and lighting system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a discharge vessel suitable for an electrodeless metal halide discharge lamp, in which arc flickering or going out is hardly generated, and drop in starting capability and arc efficiency is reduced. SOLUTION: 1.4 μ mol. or less of a halide of luminescent metal and tin halide per cc of the inner volume of the airtight vessel 1a, or 0.4 mol. or less of simple tin per mol. of a halide of a luminescent metal is sealed in the airtight vessel 1a. Since ionized tin halide or tin ions exist between the inner wall surface of the airtight vessel and luminescent metal ions, diffusion of the luminescent metal ions to the wall surface is obstructed, and free halogen is hardly generated. In the case that the simple tin is sealed, even if free halogen is generated, tin ions are reacted with the free halogen, and tin halide is formed to make the generation of free halogen difficult. If the free halogen does not exist, arc flickering or going out is hardly generated, and since obstruction of starting capability is suppressed, sealing of tin halide or simple tin can be minimized, and drop in arc efficiency is reduced.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a discharge vessel suitable for an electrodeless discharge lamp in which metal halide is sealed, an electrodeless metal halide discharge lamp using the same, an electrodeless metal halide discharge lamp lighting device, and a lighting device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 7-24211 discloses an electrodeless metal halide having good color, efficiency and color rendering index by encapsulating neodymium as a luminescent metal in the form of a halide and reducing the amount of mercury. An attempt is made to obtain a discharge lamp.

[0003] In Example E of the above document, sodium Na, neodymium Nd and tin Sn are used as the luminescent metal,
They have a composition per mole of halide,
a: 38 mg of iodide with Nd: Sn = 5: 3: 1
A discharge vessel is disclosed, which is enclosed in a hermetically sealed vessel made of substantially elliptical spherical fused silica glass having an outer diameter of 26 mm, a height of 19 mm and a thickness of 1 mm together with 250 ktorr of krypton at room temperature. An electrodeless metal halide discharge lamp was constructed using an induction coil operating at 13.56 MHz for the halide in the discharge vessel, and the 214 W
Is supplied to the enclosure of the discharge vessel, the arc efficiency is 50 lm / W, the color rendering index is 62, the color temperature is 4100K,
It is described that x of the CIE color coordinates was 0.38 and y was 0.39.

[0004] Further, in Example H of the above-mentioned document, sodium Na and neodymium Nd are used as luminescent metals, and they are composed of Na:
A discharge vessel is disclosed in which 14 mg of iodide with Nd = 9: 1 is enclosed in an airtight vessel of the same size as above with krypton of the same pressure. An electrodeless metal halide discharge lamp was constructed using an induction coil of the same specification as the halide of the discharge vessel,
When a power of W is supplied to the enclosure of the discharge vessel, the arc efficiency is 152 lm / W, the color rendering index is 41, and the color temperature is 320.
It is described that 0K and CIE color coordinates x are 0.42 and y is 0.40.

[0005]

In the case of the embodiment H,
Since sodium ions released from sodium iodide are diffused and disappear in quartz glass, free iodine is generated. Such a phenomenon is also observed in lithium Li.

Further, in the metal halide discharge lamp of the electrodeless, even when filled and iodide scandium ScI _3, NdI _3, it was found that the free halogen is produced. It is said that these luminescent metals do not diffuse in the quartz glass, and thus the cause of the generation of free halogen is not specified. However, in an electrodeless metal halide discharge lamp, free halogen is liable to be generated regardless of the type of the enclosed halide. In the case of electrodeless discharge, the supply of electric energy is caused by discharge in both capacitive coupling and inductive coupling. It is considered that since a strong electric field acts on the container, the luminescent metal ions including sodium and lithium are easily attracted and diffused into quartz glass due to the extremely strong electric field.

[0007] By the way, free halogen has a high vapor pressure and a high electron-adsorbing property. Therefore, if free halogen is present in the discharge vessel, arc shaking in discharge or extinguishing of the arc is likely to occur, and the startability is deteriorated. There is a problem of doing.

On the other hand, in the case of an electroded metal halide discharge lamp, mercury is sealed as a buffer gas. Therefore, even if free halogen is generated, the free halogen is not a problem because the mercury vapor reacts with the free halogen to produce a halide such as HgI.

However, in an electrodeless metal halide discharge lamp, it is essentially unnecessary to fill mercury as a buffer gas, so it is preferable not to fill mercury in the environment. Therefore, generation of free halogen is inevitably described above. With problems.

On the other hand, it was found that this problem did not occur in Example E of the above-mentioned document.

However, in this embodiment, not only the lamp efficiency is low, but also the electrodeless metal halide discharge lamp has a serious problem in practice. That is, the terminal voltage of the electric energy supply means becomes too high, and the power supply circuit,
It has been found that the withstand voltage design of the circuit components and the electric energy supply means becomes difficult.

As a result of the research, the present inventor has found that when tin halide or tin halide alone is sealed in a discharge vessel, during lighting, these inclusions become tin dihalide SnI ₂ , monohalide tin SnI or tin halide. In the form of ions, the metal ions are diffused into the quartz glass because they are distributed between the wall surface of the discharge vessel and the metal ions generated by ionization of other halides, that is, at the outer periphery of the discharge space. I found that it had a blocking effect.

It has also been found that tin dihalide SnI ₂ captures free halogen and is oxidized to a compound having a higher oxidation number, such as SnI _4, so that free halogen can be removed.

However, since tin as a luminescent metal has low luminous efficiency, there is a problem that a large amount of tin halide or tin alone reduces the lamp efficiency.

In addition to the above, the vapor pressure of tin halide is
Other major luminescent metal halides such as ScI
_{3, NaI, CsI, TlI,} InI, NdI 3 and D
Since the vapor pressure is higher than the vapor pressure of yI _{3 and the} like, the vapor pressure of the discharge lamp increases in proportion to the enclosed amount, and if the enclosed amount is too large, in the electrodeless metal halide discharge lamp, the power supply circuit, circuit parts and electric energy There is a problem that it becomes difficult to design the withstand voltage of the supply means, and the reliability thereof is reduced.

[0016] In addition, if the amount of the tin halide charged is large, the impedance of the electric energy supply means and the discharge vessel viewed from both ends of the electric energy supply means becomes large, so that the power loss of the electric energy supply means increases. Therefore, there is also a problem that the efficiency (hereinafter, referred to as "lamp efficiency" in the present invention) obtained by integrating the electric energy supply means and the discharge vessel is reduced.

According to the present invention, the arc of the discharge and the extinguishing of the arc hardly occur, and the starting performance is not reduced.
An object of the present invention is to provide a discharge vessel suitable for an electrodeless metal halide discharge lamp with a small decrease in arc efficiency, an electrodeless metal halide discharge lamp using the same, an electrodeless metal halide discharge lamp lighting device, and a lighting device.

[0018]

According to the present invention, there is provided a discharge vessel comprising a fire-resistant and radiation-transmissive hermetic container; a luminescent metal halide sealed in the hermetic container; and a hermetic seal in the hermetic container. It is characterized by comprising: a tin halide sealed in an amount of 1.4 μmol or less per 1 cc unit volume of the container; and a buffer gas sealed in an airtight container.

In the present invention and the following inventions, the definitions and technical meanings of terms are as follows unless otherwise specified.

First, the airtight container will be described.

It is sufficient that the airtight container is fireproof as long as it can withstand the normal operating temperature of the discharge container.

The term "radiation transmissive" means that radiation generated by discharge can be led out. Substantially the entire hermetic container does not need to be able to derive radiation, as long as it can derive radiation from a desired portion.

As a material having fire resistance and radiation transmission properties, quartz glass, translucent alumina, translucent ceramics such as YAG, and single crystals thereof can be used. As quartz glass, fused quartz and synthetic quartz can be used.

The shape of the airtight container differs depending on the electric energy supply means.

When an induction coil is used as the electric energy supply means, the induction coil serves as a primary coil of the transformer, and the induction coil is generated to form a ring-shaped discharge arc around the magnetic flux penetrating the airtight container. Since the discharge arc acts as a single-turn secondary coil, the hermetic container is generally substantially elliptical or substantially spherical. Here, the substantially elliptical spherical shape includes an elliptical spherical shape, and further includes a shape similar to the elliptical spherical shape. Similarly, a substantially spherical shape is a spherical shape and a similar shape.

On the other hand, in the case of capacitive coupling, since the filling of the discharge vessel is interposed as a dielectric between a pair of electrodes arranged substantially in parallel, the airtight vessel should have a flat shape. General.

Furthermore, if necessary, an airtight thin tube for starting, that is, a starting thin tube can be integrally formed in the airtight container. A starting gas is sealed at a relatively low pressure inside the starting tube. Then, at the time of starting, a starting voltage is applied to the starting thin tube, firstly, the starting gas is caused to undergo dielectric breakdown and plasma discharge is performed, and then a high voltage is applied to the buffer gas in the hermetic container, This can be started by causing a dielectric breakdown of this to generate a plasma discharge.

Further, the discharge vessel can be supported at a predetermined position by using the starting thin tube.

Further, the discharge vessel may be suspended in an envelope surrounding the discharge vessel by using a starting thin tube. In this case, the envelope can mechanically protect the discharge vessel.

Next, the luminescent metal halide will be described.

The luminescent metal can be arbitrarily selected and used singly or in combination from all the metals known as luminescent metals for metal halide discharge lamps according to the desired radiation and arc efficiency. For example,
Sodium Na, scandium Sc, neodymium Nd, thallium Tl, indium In, dysprosium Dy, cesium Cs, and the like can be used.

As the halogen, one or more of iodine, bromine, chlorine and fluorine are allowed.

The combinations of the luminescent metal halides to be encapsulated include ScI ₃ -NaI and NaI-TlI-I
nI, DyI ₃ -NdI ₃ -CsI, such as NdI ₃ -NaI is useful. In addition, the amount of each halide is, for example, 0.2 cc per 1 cc of the inner volume of the airtight container.
About 5 mg is recommended.

Further, tin halide will be described.

The amount of tin halide is defined in a state of being sealed in an airtight container, and the production method of the discharge container is not limited. That is, it is not necessary to enclose in a hermetic container in the form of tin halide, and it is permissible to enclose tin alone and halogen separately. However, encapsulation as tin halide is preferred.

The halogen may be any one or more of iodine, bromine, chlorine and fluorine as in the case of the luminescent metal.

The amount of tin halide to be charged is specified as described above, and is more preferably 0.0028 to 1.4 μmol per 1 cc of unit volume of the hermetic container.

If the amount of tin halide is larger than the specified amount, the following problems occur.

(1) It becomes difficult to design the withstand voltage of the power supply circuit and circuit components and the electric energy supply means. That is, as the amount of tin halide increases, the current flowing through the electric energy supply means increases, and the terminal voltage of the electric energy supply means increases in proportion to this. In addition, a large amount of current flows through the electric energy supply means, and the terminal voltage becomes too high. Therefore, the above problem occurs.

(2) The efficiency of the metal halide discharge vessel is too low.

(3) Since the power consumption of the electric energy supply means is increased, the lamp efficiency as a metal halide discharge lamp comprising the discharge vessel and the electric energy supply means is excessively reduced. That is, if the amount of tin halide exceeds 1.4 μmol, the impedance as an electrodeless metal halide discharge lamp combining the electric energy supply means and the discharge vessel as viewed from both ends of the electric energy supply means becomes large, and the practical range is increased. Will deviate. Taking the case where the electric energy supply means is an induction coil as an example, the imaginary part of the impedance increases, and the power consumption generated by flowing the imaginary part through the induction coil becomes too large.

The value of the impedance with the absolute value of the real part as the denominator and the absolute value of the imaginary part as the numerator is generally called resonance Q. If the above problem is expressed with reference to this Q, Q will be too large.

Next, mercury will be described.

In the present invention, the fact that mercury is not essentially contained is as follows. Even if mercury is present in the discharge vessel, it generally means less than 1 mg per 1 cc of the internal volume of the discharge vessel. Further, it is preferably less than 0.3 mg, more preferably less than 0.2 mg. That is, in an electrodeless metal halide discharge lamp, mercury vapor as a buffer gas is essentially unnecessary.

Finally, the operation will be described.

When the tin halide is sealed in the discharge vessel, the tin halide is ionized during lighting and the tin monohalide S
It becomes nI or Sn ions and is located on the outer peripheral portion of the discharge space so as to surround metal ions generated from other light emitting metals. For this reason, SnI ₂ , SnI or Sn ions are interposed between the inner wall surface of the discharge vessel and the luminescent metal ions, thereby preventing the luminescent metal ions from diffusing from the inner wall surface of the discharge vessel into the inside.

Further, since the amount of tin halide sealed in the discharge vessel is reduced as described above, the terminal voltage of the electric energy supply means is not too high, and the Q of resonance is too large. There is no power loss of the electric energy supply means. Furthermore, the light emission efficiency of the discharge vessel is not significantly reduced.

By the way, in the above-mentioned prior art, when the amount of tin halide enclosed is converted into the same unit as in the present invention,
1.9 to 5.4 μmol per 1 cc of the inner volume of the discharge vessel
become.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the discharge vessel of the first aspect, the tin halide is 0.0028 mol or more per cc of unit volume of the hermetic container.

In the present invention, the lower limit of tin halide which provides a preferable effect is specified.

However, if the amount of tin halide is 0.028 mol or more per 1 cc of unit volume of the hermetic container, more preferable effects can be obtained.

The discharge vessel according to the third aspect of the present invention is a fireproof and radiation-transmissive hermetic container; a luminous metal halide sealed in the hermetic container;
It comprises tin sealed in an airtight container at a ratio of 0.4 mol or less per ol; and buffer gas sealed in the airtight container, and is characterized by being essentially free of mercury.

In the present invention, the amount of tin to be sealed in the discharge vessel is defined by tin alone. That is, it also means that tin is sealed in excess of the above-described amount of halogen than halogen when a chemical equivalent amount of halogen is sealed in the luminescent metal and tin.

In other words, in the present invention, in addition to the embodiment in which tin is sealed in a predetermined amount by itself, other luminescent metals are sealed by itself, but tin can be sealed in the form of tin halide. Is done. However, from the viewpoint of the chemical equivalent, it is necessary that the amount is equal to the above-mentioned amount of tin alone enclosed.

Thus, in the present invention, the operation is essentially the same as that of the first aspect, but when free halogen is generated during discharge, tin quickly reacts with free halogen to form a halogen. Since it forms tin oxide, tin also acts as a getter for halogens.

However, tin has a function of suppressing the light emission of other light-emitting metals. Therefore, tin has a sufficient amount as a getter for halogen, and on the other hand, a small range in which light emission of other light-emitting metals is not suppressed as much as possible. It is necessary to specify the amount of tin to be enclosed in the above, and found the above range.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the discharge vessel according to the third aspect, wherein tin is sealed at a ratio of 0.0005 mol or more per 1 mol of the luminescent metal halide.

In the present invention, the lower limit value of the amount of tin contained alone which provides a favorable effect is defined.

However, if it is 0.2 mol or more, more preferable effects can be obtained.

According to a fifth aspect of the invention, there is provided a discharge vessel according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein the buffer gas is sealed at a pressure of 5 to 80 KPa.

In the present invention, one or a plurality of rare gases selected from the group of rare gases consisting of argon, krypton, and xenon are used as the buffer gas.

In the present invention, the filling pressure of the buffer gas is set in a range that does not impair the startability and the luminous efficiency. That is, when the sealing pressure is less than 5 KPa, there is no problem in the startability, but the luminous efficiency is too low. On the contrary, when the pressure exceeds 80 KPa, the luminous efficiency is good but the startability is remarkably deteriorated. Therefore, the buffer gas has an advantageous pressure range described above.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a discharge vessel according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, wherein the hermetic container is substantially elliptical or substantially spherical.

The present invention provides a discharge vessel suitable for an inductively coupled electrodeless metal halide discharge lamp. When the electric energy supply means is an induction coil, the discharge arc has the function of a secondary coil consisting of one turn of a transformer having the induction coil as a primary winding, and has a ring coaxial with the primary coil. Therefore, the optimum shape of the discharge vessel in which the discharge vessel accommodating the discharge arc is substantially isothermal is a substantially elliptical shape or a substantially spherical shape.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electrodeless metal halide discharge lamp comprising: the discharge vessel according to any one of the first to sixth aspects; and an electric energy is supplied to the enclosure in the discharge vessel to generate a light-emitting arc. Electrical energy supply means;

The electric energy supply means may be any of a capacitive coupling type and an inductive coupling type.

Further, as described in claim 1, the shape of the discharge vessel may be an optimum shape according to the type of the electric energy supply means.

An electrodeless metal halide discharge lamp according to an eighth aspect of the present invention is the electrodeless metal halide discharge lamp according to the seventh aspect, characterized in that the electric energy supply means is an induction coil for supplying radio frequency electric energy. I have.

The present invention specifies an optimum frequency band when using an inductively coupled electric energy supply means. Here, the radio frequency refers to a range of 0.1 to 300 MHz.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electrodeless metal halide discharge lamp lighting device comprising: the metal halide discharge lamp according to the seventh or eighth aspect; and a power supply device for outputting electric energy to electric energy supply means. It is characterized by.

According to the present invention, a lighting device comprises an electrodeless metal halide discharge lamp and a power supply device.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a lighting device, comprising: a lighting device main body; and the electrodeless metal halide discharge lamp according to the seventh or eighth aspect disposed on the lighting device main body. .

The present invention is applicable to various uses in which an electrodeless metal halide discharge lamp such as various lighting fixtures and various ultraviolet irradiation devices is used as a radiation source and the radiation is used for a predetermined purpose.

Various types of lighting equipment are difficult to maintain such as indoor lighting equipment such as ceiling lighting equipment and wall lighting equipment, and outdoor lighting equipment such as road lighting equipment, tunnel lighting equipment, landscape lighting equipment, especially bridge lighting and building lighting equipment. It can be applied to lighting fixtures and the like installed in various places.

The various ultraviolet irradiation devices can be applied to an ultraviolet curing device, an ultraviolet exposure device, an ultraviolet sterilizer, an ultraviolet ashing device, and the like.

[0076]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a first embodiment of a discharge vessel and an electrodeless metal halide discharge lamp of the present invention.

In the drawing, reference numeral 1 denotes an electrodeless metal halide discharge lamp.

The electrodeless metal halide discharge lamp 1 comprises a discharge vessel 1a and electric energy supply means 1b.

The discharge vessel 1a is made of fused silica glass, and has a substantially elliptical spherical hermetic vessel 1a1 and a starting thin tube 1a integrally formed at the center of the upper surface of the hermetic vessel 1a1.
2 is provided.

In the hermetic container 1a1, a discharge medium comprising a halide of a luminescent metal, tin halide and a buffer gas is sealed.

As the halide of the luminescent metal, scandium iodide ScI ₃ and sodium iodide NaI were used in an amount of 0.2 to 5 mg per cc of the airtight container.
Is enclosed.

As the tin halide, 0.14 μmol of SnI ₂ was sealed per 1 cc of the inner volume of the airtight container.

As a buffer gas, xenon was sealed at 26.6 KPa (200 torr) at room temperature.

The starting capillary 1a2 was filled with 2.7 KPa (20 torr) of argon.

The electric energy supply means 1b is composed of an induction coil formed by winding a flat metal plate for two turns, and the plate surface is aligned in parallel with the radiation direction so as not to block radiation as much as possible. Therefore, the electric energy supply means 1b of the present embodiment is an induction coil.

In the drawing, reference numeral 2 denotes a discharge arc, which is formed in a ring shape concentric with the electric energy supply means 1b composed of an induction coil.

In the following, when tin iodide is sealed in the same manner as in the first embodiment of the discharge vessel and the electrodeless metal halide discharge lamp of the present invention, the Q value of the induction coil and the loss , Terminal voltage and change in arc efficiency will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 2 is a graph showing a relative change in the Q value of the induction coil with respect to the amount of tin iodide SnI ₂ charged.

In the figure, the horizontal axis shows the amount of tin iodide SnI ₂ encapsulated (μmol / cc), and the vertical axis shows the relative induction coil Q value (%).

[0091] As apparent from FIG, Q value of the relative induction coil is enclosed amount of yaw tin SnI ₂ is approximately 0.5 [mu] mol / cc approximately above is proportional to the amount of enclosed yaw tin SnI _2, yaw The amount of SnI ₂ SnI ₂ encapsulated is 1.4 μmol / c
c It can be understood that it is practical in the following range.

FIG. 3 is a graph showing a relative change in the loss of the induction coil with respect to the amount of tin iodide SnI ₂ charged.

In the figure, the horizontal axis shows the amount of tin iodide SnI ₂ encapsulated (μmol / cc), and the vertical axis shows the relative induction coil loss (%).

As is apparent from the figure, when the amount of tin iodide SnI ₂ encapsulated is about 0.5 μmol / cc or more, the relative induction coil loss is proportional to the amount of tin iodide SnI ₂ encapsulated. The amount of SnI ₂ encapsulated is 1.4 μmol / cc
It can be understood that the loss is relatively small and practical in the following range.

FIG. 4 is a graph showing the change in the terminal voltage of the induction coil relative to the amount of tin iodide SnI ₂ charged.

In the figure, the horizontal axis represents the amount of tin iodide SnI ₂ encapsulated (μmol / cc), and the vertical axis represents the relative induction coil terminal voltage (%).

As is apparent from the figure, when the amount of tin iodide SnI ₂ encapsulated is about 0.5 μmol / cc or more, the relative induction coil loss is proportional to the amount of tin iodide SnI ₂ encapsulated. The amount of SnI ₂ encapsulated is 1.4 μmol / cc
It can be understood that the terminal voltage of the induction coil is relatively low in the following range and is practical.

FIG. 5 is a graph showing the change in arc efficiency relative to the amount of tin iodide SnI ₂ charged.

In the figure, the horizontal axis shows the amount of tin iodide SnI ₂ sealed (μmol / cc), and the vertical axis shows the relative arc efficiency (%).

[0100] As apparent from the figure, since the amount of encapsulated yaw tin SnI ₂ is the arc efficiency below 1.4μmol / cc will significantly increase the amount of encapsulated yaw tin SnI ₂ is 1.
It can be understood that the arc efficiency can be maintained high in the range of 4 μmol / cc or less, which is practical.

FIG. 6 is a graph showing the change in arc efficiency with respect to the amount of tin contained in the second embodiment of the electrodeless metal halide discharge lamp of the present invention.

In the figure, the horizontal axis is 1 m of the enclosed halide.
The enclosed amount of Sn alone (mol) per ol and the vertical axis indicates the relative arc efficiency (%).

As is clear from the figure, the enclosed halide 1
The amount of enclosed Sn alone per mol (mol) is inversely proportional to the arc efficiency, indicating that sufficient practical arc efficiency can be obtained when the amount of enclosed Sn alone per mol of enclosed halide is 0.4 mol or less. ing.

FIG. 7 is a circuit diagram showing an example of a power supply in the electrodeless metal halide discharge lamp lighting device of the present invention.

Reference numeral 3 denotes a DC power supply, 4 denotes an inverter device, and 5 denotes a lighting circuit.

The DC power supply 3 can be obtained by rectifying an AC power supply, or can be obtained from a battery or the like.

The inverter device 4 has the DC power supply 3 connected to the input terminal and the lighting circuit 5 connected to the radio frequency output terminal.

As a circuit configuration of the inverter device 4, for example, a half-bridge type inverter circuit in which a pair of switching means 4a and 4b are connected in series is used, and each switching means 4a and 4b is connected to a drive circuit 4c.
To turn on and off alternately at the output end.
Outputs MHz radio frequency.

The switching means 4a and 4b use field effect transistors which exhibit excellent switching characteristics even in the radio frequency range. The capacitor 4d connected in series to the output terminal is for impedance matching on the inverter device side.

The lighting circuit 5 comprises a lighting main circuit 5a and a starting circuit 5b.

The lighting main circuit 5a comprises an impedance matching capacitor 5a1 connected in parallel between the input terminals and an electric energy supply means 1b comprising an induction coil connected in parallel with the capacitor. Starting circuit 5b
Is connected in parallel with the lighting main circuit 5a, and is composed of a series circuit of a capacitor 5b1, a parallel resonance circuit 5b2, and a switch 5b3.

The parallel resonance circuit 5b2 is configured by connecting an inductor L, a capacitor C and a resistor R in parallel, and applies the resonance voltage of the parallel resonance circuit 5b2 to a starting thin tube 1a2 formed integrally with the discharge vessel 1a. Apply. Note that the resistor R controls the Q of the parallel resonance circuit 5b2 to adjust the starting voltage to a desired value.

To turn on the electrodeless metal halide discharge lamp 1 composed of the discharge vessel 1a and the electric energy supply means 1b, first, the switch 5b3 of the starting circuit 5b is closed. Then, since the parallel resonance circuit 5b2 causes parallel resonance, a high voltage is generated at both ends. This high voltage is applied to the external electrode 1a3 attached to the starting capillary 1a2.
Is applied to

The high voltage applied from the external electrode 1a3 causes the rare gas in the starting thin tube 1a2 to undergo dielectric breakdown, and first, plasma discharge is started. When the gas in the starting thin tube 1a2 is plasma-discharged, a high voltage is applied to the discharge vessel located between the starting thin tube and the electric energy supply means 1b, and the discharge medium in the discharge vessel is dielectrically broken to cause plasma discharge. Start. In this state, a radio frequency current flows through the induction coil 1b to generate a magnetic flux. Since this magnetic flux penetrates the plasma in the discharge vessel, a secondary current flows in the plasma around the magnetic flux. As a result, the arc discharge is generated in a ring shape around the magnetic flux, and the characteristic spectrum of the luminescent metal is radiated from the arc discharge.

The radiation taken out of the discharge vessel 1a can be controlled for light and used for illumination, if desired.

FIG. 8 is a partially cutaway side view showing a road lighting device showing an embodiment of the lighting device of the present invention.

In the figure, 6 is a pole, and 7 is a lighting device main body.

The pole 6 has its base end rising from the road surface.

The lighting device main body is mounted on the tip of the pole 6.

FIG. 9 is a conceptual diagram showing a lighting device main body in a road lighting device which is an embodiment of the lighting device of the present invention.

In the figure, the same parts as those in FIGS. 1 and 8 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

7a is a housing, 7b is a translucent lower cover, 7c is a reflector, 7d is a first box, and 7e is a second box.

The first box 7d houses the impedance matching capacitor 5a1 in FIG.
The induction coil 1b is supported by supporting its terminal 1b1.

The second box 7e accommodates the starting circuit in FIG. 1 and supports the discharge vessel 1 by supporting the thin tube 1a2.

Therefore, as can be understood from the above description, the inverter device 4 in FIG. 7 is housed in a place separated from the lighting device main body 7, for example, in the lower end of the pole 6, or provided separately from the power supply box ( (Not shown).

[0126]

According to each of the first to fifth aspects of the present invention, tin is enclosed in an airtight container in the form of a halide or a stoichiometric amount in a simple and small amount. To prevent the emission of luminous metal ions from diffusing into the wall of the hermetic container by intervening between the luminous metal and the luminous metal. Arc extinguishment is unlikely to occur, and startability is unlikely to decrease.
In addition, it is possible to provide a discharge vessel suitable for an electrodeless metal halide discharge lamp with a small decrease in arc efficiency.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, in addition, the tin halide is filled in an amount of 1.4 μmol or less per 1 cc of the inner volume of the hermetic container, so that the tin monohalide or tin ion ionized during the lighting is converted into the light emitting metal. By preventing the ions from diffusing to the wall surface of the airtight container, it is possible to provide a discharge container in which the generation of free halogen is suppressed.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide a discharge vessel in which the lower limit of the amount of tin halide to be enclosed is specified, which can obtain more favorable effects.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, in addition, 0.4 μmol of tin simple substance per 1 mol of the luminescent metal halide.
By providing a discharge vessel in which the above-mentioned problems due to free halogen are suppressed by the tin ions gettering and removing the free halogen even when free halogen of the luminescent metal is generated during lighting by being sealed in the following ratio. can do.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide a discharge vessel in which the range of the amount of tin contained is specified, in which more preferable effects can be obtained.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide a discharge vessel which has good startability and whose arc efficiency is hardly reduced by regulating the pressure at which the buffer gas is charged.

According to the invention of claim 6, it is possible to provide a discharge vessel suitable for an electrodeless metal halide discharge lamp in which the shape of the hermetic vessel is an inductively coupled type.

According to the invention of claim 7, an electrodeless metal halide discharge lamp having the effects of claims 1 to 6 can be provided.

According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide an electrodeless metal halide discharge lamp in which the electric energy supply means is an induction coil for supplying radio frequency electric energy.

According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide an electrodeless metal halide discharge lamp lighting device having the effects of the first to sixth aspects.

According to the tenth aspect, it is possible to provide a lighting device having the effects of the first to sixth aspects.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a first embodiment of a discharge vessel and an electrodeless metal halide discharge lamp of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a graph showing a change in Q value of an induction coil relative to an amount of tin iodide SnI ₂ charged;

FIG. 3 is a graph showing a change in induction coil loss relative to the amount of tin iodide SnI ₂ charged;

FIG. 4 is a graph showing a relative change in terminal voltage of an induction coil with respect to an amount of tin iodide SnI ₂ charged;

FIG. 5 is a graph showing the change in arc efficiency relative to the amount of tin iodide SnI ₂ charged;

FIG. 6 is a graph showing a change in arc efficiency with respect to a sealed amount of tin alone in relation to a second embodiment of the electrodeless metal halide discharge lamp of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a circuit diagram showing an example of a power supply in the electrodeless metal halide discharge lamp lighting device of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a cutaway side view showing a lighting device for a road showing an embodiment of the lighting device of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a conceptual diagram showing a lighting device main body in a road lighting fixture showing one embodiment of the lighting device of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Electrodeless metal halide discharge lamp 1a ... Discharge vessel 1a ... Airtight vessel 1a2 ... Starting capillary 1a3 ... External electrode 1b ... Electric energy supply means 2 ... Discharge arc

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A hermetic container which is refractory and radiatively transmissive; a halide of a luminescent metal sealed in the hermetic container;
A discharge vessel comprising tin halide enclosed in an amount of not more than 1 and a buffer gas enclosed in an airtight container, wherein essentially no mercury is enclosed. 2. The tin halide has a unit volume 1c of an airtight container.
2. The discharge vessel according to claim 1, wherein the amount is 0.0028 μmol or more per c. 3. A hermetic container which is refractory and radiant transmissive; a halide of a luminescent metal sealed in the hermetically sealed container; And a buffer gas sealed in an airtight container, wherein essentially no mercury is sealed. 4. The discharge vessel according to claim 3, wherein tin is enclosed in an amount of 0.0005 mol or more per 1 mol of a luminescent metal halide. 5. The discharge vessel according to claim 1, wherein the buffer gas is sealed at a pressure of 5 to 80 KPa. 6. The discharge vessel according to claim 1, wherein the airtight vessel has a substantially elliptical spherical shape or a substantially spherical shape. 7. A discharge vessel according to any one of claims 1 to 6; and electric energy supply means for supplying electric energy to the enclosure in the discharge vessel to generate a light-emitting arc. An electrodeless metal halide discharge lamp characterized in that: 8. An electrodeless metal halide discharge lamp according to claim 7, wherein said electric energy supply means is an induction coil for supplying electric energy of a radio frequency. 9. An electrodeless metal halide discharge lamp lighting device, comprising: the metal halide discharge lamp according to claim 7; and a power supply device for outputting electric energy to electric energy supply means. 10. A lighting device comprising: a lighting device main body; and the electrodeless metal halide discharge lamp according to claim 7 disposed in the lighting device main body.