US3603841A - Fluorescent lamp device with luminosity control - Google Patents

Fluorescent lamp device with luminosity control Download PDF

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Publication number
US3603841A
US3603841A US802036A US3603841DA US3603841A US 3603841 A US3603841 A US 3603841A US 802036 A US802036 A US 802036A US 3603841D A US3603841D A US 3603841DA US 3603841 A US3603841 A US 3603841A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
power source
fluorescent lamp
current
main power
anode
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US802036A
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English (en)
Inventor
Heima Yamada
Masashi Sangen
Kazumasa Nomi
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Panasonic Holdings Corp
Original Assignee
Matsushita Electronics Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from JP1665068U external-priority patent/JPS5346788Y1/ja
Priority claimed from JP4572768U external-priority patent/JPS4730219Y1/ja
Priority claimed from JP7541368U external-priority patent/JPS4732790Y1/ja
Priority claimed from JP7981868U external-priority patent/JPS484298Y1/ja
Application filed by Matsushita Electronics Corp filed Critical Matsushita Electronics Corp
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3603841A publication Critical patent/US3603841A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H05B—ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
    • H05B41/00—Circuit arrangements or apparatus for igniting or operating discharge lamps
    • H05B41/02—Details
    • H05B41/04—Starting switches
    • H05B41/042—Starting switches using semiconductor devices
    • H05B41/044—Starting switches using semiconductor devices for lamp provided with pre-heating electrodes
    • H05B41/046—Starting switches using semiconductor devices for lamp provided with pre-heating electrodes using controlled semiconductor devices
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H05B—ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
    • H05B41/00—Circuit arrangements or apparatus for igniting or operating discharge lamps
    • H05B41/14—Circuit arrangements
    • H05B41/36—Controlling
    • H05B41/38—Controlling the intensity of light
    • H05B41/39—Controlling the intensity of light continuously
    • H05B41/392—Controlling the intensity of light continuously using semiconductor devices, e.g. thyristor
    • H05B41/3921—Controlling the intensity of light continuously using semiconductor devices, e.g. thyristor with possibility of light intensity variations

Definitions

  • This invention relates to fluorescent lamp devices and more particularly to a device of the kind described whose luminous intensity is adjustable so as to used as a display device, indication device, cinesign or the like.
  • Fluorescent lamps are suitable for the purpose of display since they can emit light of various colors with a high luminous efficiency.
  • the fluorescent lamp is defective in that its luminous intensity is difficult to vary freely.
  • Various attempts have hitherto been made in order to vary the luminous intensity of the fluorescent lamp or rather to provide means for the dimming thereof.
  • a high-voltage power source of small capacity is cnnectedto the lamp through a high resistance in addition to a main power circuit for maintaining a slight discharge in the lamp.
  • a device has an advantage in that the light intensity of the lamp can be controlled over a wide range without any extinction of the light by virtue of the auxiliary high-voltage power source.
  • a conventional device simultaneously has a disadvantage in that the auxiliary high-voltage source makes current flow into the main power source and thereby the main power source might be broken or the highvoltage source might be subjected to an internal voltage drop which causes the slight discharge in the lamp to be extinguished.
  • another conventional device is provided with two divided electrodes, one of which is connected to a high-voltage source and the other is connected to a main power circuit.
  • this device has a disadvantage in that the high-voltage source should be disconnected from the lamp by means of a thermal switch after lighting and thereby the device is not only complicated, but cannot be provided with a control means over a wide range.
  • a primary object of the present invention to provide a fluorescent lamp device of the kind preferably used as a display device, indication device, cinesign or the like, in which the light intensity is easily, smoothly and rapidly variable over a wide range from a low luminous intensity to a high luminous intensity, which is simple in structure and inexpensive, and which can operate with a high power utilization efficiency.
  • the fluorescent lamp device of the present invention which attains the above object comprises a fluorescent lamp including a glass envelope, mercury and rare gas contained in small amounts within said glass envelope, a phosphor coating provided on the inside wall of said glass envelope a preheated cathode hermetically sealed in one end of said glass envelope, and at least one anode hermetically sealed in the other end of said glass envelope, a preheating power source for continuously supplying a current tosaid preheated cathode to heat the same, a direct current power source of high voltage and small capacity connected through a high resistance between said anode and said cathode for maintaining a very slight glow discharge within said envelope, and a main power source capable of supplying tosaid anode a current which is variable depending on a signal.
  • the high resistance described above has preferably such a value that a very small current of the order of 0.1 to 1 ma. can flow through the tube.
  • the current value is more than 1 ma.
  • the luminescence emitted from the tube due to the above current restricts the lower limit of the adjustable luminous intensity, while when the current value is less than 0.] ma., the drop in tube voltage is insufficient and the main power source must have a correspondingly high voltage.
  • the tube is preferably provided with two anodes with a spacing of more than 3 mm. between the anodes. A spacing of the order of mm. will be sufficient for a fluorescent lamp of conventional size.
  • FIG. I is a partly cutaway front elevational view of a fluorescent lamp in the fluorescent lamp device embodying the present invention and a connection diagram of an electrical circuit for energizing the fluorescent lamp;
  • FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. I, but showing the structure of another embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2, but showing a further embodiment of the present invention.
  • a fluorescent [lamp 1 of conventional size is rated at l0 w. and comprises an elongated glass bulb having an outside diameter of 25 mm.
  • a phosphor coating (not shown) is provided on the inner surface of the glass bulb, and argon and mercury are enclosed within the glass bulb.
  • An electrode 2 is hennetically sealed in one end of the glass bulb, while two electrodes 3 and 3' are hermetically sealed in the other end of the glass bulb.
  • the electrode 2 is in the form of a coil filament.
  • a current is continuously supplied from a power source 4 to the electrode 2 to heat the same so that the electrode 2 acts as the preheated cathode.
  • the other electrodes 3 and 3 are spaced apart at 5 mm.
  • a direct current power source 6 of 400 volts is connected between the electrode 3 and the cathode 2 through a high resistance 5 of 2.5 megohms.
  • a series connection including a variable resistance 7, a main direct current power source 8 of 70 v. and a switch 9 is connected between the electrode 3' and the cathode 2.
  • the rectifier 10 is disposed in the main power source circuit in such a polarity as to block the flow of current from the power source 6 and to allow passage therethrough of a current flow from the power source 8.
  • the main power circuit including the rectifier 10 is not directly impressed with a high voltage from the direct current highvoltage source 6, and thereby the elements in the power circuit is hardly caused to be broken. Even if the gap between the electrodes 3 and 3 becomes conductive, the main power source can be protected by the rectifier l0. intensity to a high luminous intensity. In other embodiments, experiments also proved that the voltage of the main power source which is les than twice the tube voltage was quite sufficient.
  • FIG. 2 Another embodiment shown in FIG. 2 is generally similar to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 except that the former comprises a single anode 3.
  • a power source 6 and a main power source 8 are both connected to the single anode 3.
  • a rectifier I0 is disposed in the main power source circuit in such a polarity as to block the flow of current from the power source 8.
  • a further embodiment shown in FIG. 3 is generally similar to the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 except that a transistor 1 l is disposed in place of the variable resistance.
  • the emitter of the transistor 11 is connected to the cathode 2 of the fluorescent lamp 1 through a main power source 8, while the collector thereof with the anode 3 of the fluorescent lamp 1 through a rectifier 10.
  • the base current of the transistor II is finely regulated by a circuit including a battery 12 and resistances I3 and 13'.
  • the base of the transistor I 1 may be connected with a source of desired electrical signal supply for varying the luminous intensity of the fluorescent lamp depending on a variation in the signal.
  • the main power source circuit may include a thyristor therein. Furthennore, in lieu of the direct current power source an alternate current power source may be used as a main power source.
  • a fluorescent lamp device whose luminous intensity is freely adjustable comprising a fluorescent lamp including a glass envelope, mercury and rare gas contained in small amounts within said glass envelope, a phosphor coating provided on the inside wall of said glass envelope, a preheated cathode hermetically sealed in one end of said glass envelope, and at least one anode hermetically sealed in the other end of said glass envelope, a preheating power source for continuously supplying a current to said preheated cathode to heat the same, a direct current power source of high voltage and small capacity connected through high resistance between said cathode and said anode for maintaining a very slight glow discharge within said envelope, and a main power source capable of supplying to said anode a current which is variable depending on a signal, and a rectifier disposed in the circuit connecting said main power source with said anode in such a polarity that it allows passage therethrough of current from said main power source but blocks flow of current from said direct current power source for maintaining the very slight glow discharge.
  • a fluorescent lamp device as claimed in claim 1 in which a current in the range of 0.1 to 1.0 ma. normally flows between said cathode and said anode for maintaining said very slight glow discharge.

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  • Vessels And Coating Films For Discharge Lamps (AREA)
  • Circuit Arrangements For Discharge Lamps (AREA)
US802036A 1968-03-01 1969-02-25 Fluorescent lamp device with luminosity control Expired - Lifetime US3603841A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (5)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP1665068U JPS5346788Y1 (nl) 1968-03-01 1968-03-01
JP4572768U JPS4730219Y1 (nl) 1968-05-30 1968-05-30
JP5304768 1968-06-21
JP7541368U JPS4732790Y1 (nl) 1968-08-30 1968-08-30
JP7981868U JPS484298Y1 (nl) 1968-09-13 1968-09-13

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3603841A true US3603841A (en) 1971-09-07

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US802036A Expired - Lifetime US3603841A (en) 1968-03-01 1969-02-25 Fluorescent lamp device with luminosity control

Country Status (4)

Country Link
US (1) US3603841A (nl)
FR (1) FR2003067A1 (nl)
GB (1) GB1202505A (nl)
NL (1) NL154616B (nl)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2848018A1 (de) * 1977-11-07 1979-05-10 Don Frederick Widmayer Verfahren und anordnung zur energieeinsparung beim betrieb von gasentladungslampen, insbesondere leuchtstofflampen
US20040041524A1 (en) * 2001-05-23 2004-03-04 Maurizio Menna Fluorescent lamp circuit
US20120248980A1 (en) * 2011-03-28 2012-10-04 Delta Electronics, Inc. Multi-output electronic ballast

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5144205A (en) * 1989-05-18 1992-09-01 Lutron Electronics Co., Inc. Compact fluorescent lamp dimming system
US5173643A (en) * 1990-06-25 1992-12-22 Lutron Electronics Co., Inc. Circuit for dimming compact fluorescent lamps
DE4039498B4 (de) * 1990-07-13 2006-06-29 Lutron Electronics Co., Inc. Schaltkreis und Verfahren zum Dimmen von Gasentladungslampen

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2177883A (en) * 1938-09-01 1939-10-31 Gen Electric Electric discharge apparatus
US2311543A (en) * 1940-04-29 1943-02-16 Clyde L Hunsicker Illuminating apparatus of the gaseous glow tube type
US2513091A (en) * 1948-07-30 1950-06-27 Sylvania Electric Prod Instant start lamp and circuit
US3066241A (en) * 1960-11-18 1962-11-27 Sylvania Electric Prod Apparatus for operating gaseous discharge lamps from a d.c. source
US3325682A (en) * 1962-12-17 1967-06-13 Jefferson Electric Co Variable power supply
US3378724A (en) * 1965-08-03 1968-04-16 New Nippon Electric Co Two-filament arc discharge lamp having alternating discharge spots thereon

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2177883A (en) * 1938-09-01 1939-10-31 Gen Electric Electric discharge apparatus
US2311543A (en) * 1940-04-29 1943-02-16 Clyde L Hunsicker Illuminating apparatus of the gaseous glow tube type
US2513091A (en) * 1948-07-30 1950-06-27 Sylvania Electric Prod Instant start lamp and circuit
US3066241A (en) * 1960-11-18 1962-11-27 Sylvania Electric Prod Apparatus for operating gaseous discharge lamps from a d.c. source
US3325682A (en) * 1962-12-17 1967-06-13 Jefferson Electric Co Variable power supply
US3378724A (en) * 1965-08-03 1968-04-16 New Nippon Electric Co Two-filament arc discharge lamp having alternating discharge spots thereon

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2848018A1 (de) * 1977-11-07 1979-05-10 Don Frederick Widmayer Verfahren und anordnung zur energieeinsparung beim betrieb von gasentladungslampen, insbesondere leuchtstofflampen
US20040041524A1 (en) * 2001-05-23 2004-03-04 Maurizio Menna Fluorescent lamp circuit
US20120248980A1 (en) * 2011-03-28 2012-10-04 Delta Electronics, Inc. Multi-output electronic ballast
US9426869B2 (en) * 2011-03-28 2016-08-23 Delta Electronics, Inc. Multi-output electronic ballast

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
FR2003067A1 (nl) 1969-11-07
NL154616B (nl) 1977-09-15
GB1202505A (en) 1970-08-19
DE1909466B2 (de) 1972-06-22
NL6903059A (nl) 1969-09-03
DE1909466A1 (de) 1969-09-25

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