US3727089A - Small sized stroboscopic tube for photographic use - Google Patents

Small sized stroboscopic tube for photographic use Download PDF

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Publication number
US3727089A
US3727089A US00155144A US3727089DA US3727089A US 3727089 A US3727089 A US 3727089A US 00155144 A US00155144 A US 00155144A US 3727089D A US3727089D A US 3727089DA US 3727089 A US3727089 A US 3727089A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
tube
getter
cathode
anode
discharge
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
US00155144A
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English (en)
Inventor
S Chow
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Olympus Corp
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Individual
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Publication date
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Publication of US3727089A publication Critical patent/US3727089A/en
Assigned to OLYMPUS OPTICAL CO., LTD. reassignment OLYMPUS OPTICAL CO., LTD. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST. Assignors: CHOW, SHING C.
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01J—ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS
    • H01J61/00—Gas-discharge or vapour-discharge lamps
    • H01J61/02—Details
    • H01J61/24—Means for obtaining or maintaining the desired pressure within the vessel
    • H01J61/26—Means for absorbing or adsorbing gas, e.g. by gettering; Means for preventing blackening of the envelope
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03B—APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OR FOR PROJECTING OR VIEWING THEM; APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS EMPLOYING ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR
    • G03B15/00—Special procedures for taking photographs; Apparatus therefor
    • G03B15/02—Illuminating scene
    • G03B15/03—Combinations of cameras with lighting apparatus; Flash units
    • G03B15/05—Combinations of cameras with electronic flash apparatus; Electronic flash units
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01J—ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS
    • H01J7/00—Details not provided for in the preceding groups and common to two or more basic types of discharge tubes or lamps
    • H01J7/14—Means for obtaining or maintaining the desired pressure within the vessel
    • H01J7/18—Means for absorbing or adsorbing gas, e.g. by gettering
    • H01J7/186—Getter supports
    • 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
    • H05B41/30—Circuit arrangements in which the lamp is fed by pulses, e.g. flash lamp
    • H05B41/32—Circuit arrangements in which the lamp is fed by pulses, e.g. flash lamp for single flash operation
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03B—APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OR FOR PROJECTING OR VIEWING THEM; APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS EMPLOYING ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR
    • G03B2215/00—Special procedures for taking photographs; Apparatus therefor
    • G03B2215/05—Combinations of cameras with electronic flash units
    • G03B2215/0564—Combinations of cameras with electronic flash units characterised by the type of light source
    • G03B2215/0578—Flashtube mounting

Definitions

  • At least one getter of metals such as titanium, tantalum and zirconium is mounted on or near one of the electrodes.
  • the getter is heated by the near electrode and the ion flow in the tube.
  • This invention relates to a discharge tube having stableoperating characteristics over a longjperiod of time, and yet which is small, and simple inconstruction and easy to manufacture.
  • the flash discharge tube constructed according to the invention is especially useful in photographic apparatus .as a stroboscope and the likebecause it maintains stable luminous performance in spite of frequent I use over a long period of time.
  • Discharge tubes known in the prior art have certain deficiencies, for example, one drawback is that after frequent use, the tube fails to start unless'a voltage.- I higher than its design voltage is applied.
  • the glass cj'onf tainer of the tube blackens on depositing gases and other impurities formed by the electric discharge, which lowers its luminousperformance and which can sometimes crack the bulb.
  • the discharge tube is used as a photographic flash, the loss of luminous perit has been necessary to heat it by supplying an electric current to it. This complicates the construction of the discharge tube to such an extent that it is very difficult,
  • an object of this invention to provide a discharge tube in which the drawbacks of the tubes of the prior art are eliminated.
  • an anode and a cathode are incorporated in a sealed glass tube and a metal getter of titanium, tantalum and zirconium is mounted on or near one end of the anode or the cathode.
  • the heat generated by the collision of electrons or ions against the getter and the heat conducted from the connected electrode to the getter heats the getter to anoptirnum temperature at which the getter acts most effectively.
  • the discharge tube according to this invention does not include heating devices for the getter.
  • a small flashdischarge tube for use as a' photographic apparatus might have a glasstube which is4 mm in diameter and mm in length.
  • the tube en.- closes an anode and a cathode, both in the form of. a thin tod which are disposed at opposite ends.
  • the tube is filled with an inert gas such as helium, neon,argon,
  • a getter is often used to absorb the undesirable products created by discharge.
  • Barium has usually been used as a getter for a flash discharge tube. But barium readily vaporizes when heated, and adheres to the wall of the tube and reduces its transparency. When the wall becomes coated, the tendency to absorb heat increases and a hot spot may be formed in the tube so that the tube is liable to crack. The coated wall also lowers the luminous performance of the tube. Furthermore, after frequent use, the tube will require a voltage higher .thanthe design voltage to initiate discharge and as a consequence, the effective life of the bulb will be substantially shortened.
  • metals such as titanium, tantalum and zirconiumabsorb a large volume of certain gases I when they are heated to an elevated temperature.
  • metals such as titanium, tantalum and zirconiumabsorb a large volume of certain gases I when they are heated to an elevated temperature.
  • FIG. 1 is a side elevation insection of a preferred embodiment of the discharge tube according to this invention.
  • III J FIG. 2 is an enlarged side view showing one end of the cathode and a getter mounted thereon; and
  • FICLB shows a circuit for operating the discharge tube according to this invention.
  • the numeral 1 denotes a glass tube-,measuring for example, 3.6 mm in outer diameter by 40' mm in length
  • An anode 2 and a cathode-3 are made of thin tungsten rod, and are incorporated into the'tube'l'ina sealed manner.
  • the tube 1 is filled with an inert gas such as helium, neon, argon, krypton or xenon under optimum pressure.
  • Asmall piece of titanium S is fixed by spot welding or otherwise directly on or near one.
  • end 4 of the cathode 3 The
  • titanium piece5 maypre ferably be disposed-in such a manner that it projects tosome extent-beyond the end 4 of the cathode 3ftoward the anode 2 as shown in FIG.
  • the cathode 3 is covered-all over its surface with a thin film ofbarium-oxide to ensure a better emission of means in an atmosphere .of oxygen and nitrogen and,
  • the nitrogen gas' is exhausted. through an outlet (not shown).
  • the barium remaining inthe tube combines withthe residual oxygen to, form a thin film of barium oxide on the surface of the rod 3.
  • a' selected inert gas is introduced into the tube, and the tube sealed, by known methods.
  • the numeral 7 indicates a starting electrode, and the outer surface of the glass tube is covered with a transparent conductive film, e. g., a thin tin oxide NESA coating, toens ureeasier'passage of an electric current through the wall of the tube.
  • the getter may be located slightly, say about 3 mm, behind the end 4.
  • a getter of metal e.g., titanium in a position where the getter is heated by the electrode which supports it and, additionally by the emission electrons or ions produced by discharge between electrodes.
  • the getter preferably has the form of a U- shaped ribbon 5 mounted on the end 4 of the cathode 3 as shown in FIG. 2. It will, however, be observed that the getter assumes some other shape, and is disposed as any other position on the cathode, depending on the application and characteristics required of a particular discharge tube, without departing from the scope and spirit of this invention.
  • FIG. 3 shows an electric circuit for operation of this invention.
  • the anode 2 and the cathode 3 are connected to a direct current power source.
  • a relatively large condenser 9 is directly connected to these two electrodes, and a second condenser 10 is connected to them through a resistance 11.
  • a primary coil 12 is provided to connect the terminals of the condenser 10 via a switch 13, and a secondary coil 14 is connected to the starting electrode 7 at one end thereof and is grounded at the other end. It has been found from experiments that when various electric components have, for example, values as shown in FIG. 3, the switch 13 may successfully be actuated to produce a flash discharge in the tube. Of course, other component values may be used.
  • the performance of the flash tube of the present invention is quite good. From experiments, in which five discharge tubes filled with xenon were used, it was found that all the tubes required a starting voltage of approximately 185 volts before substantial useage. Five thousand flash discharge tests were conducted with each of those five tubes using the electric circuit shown in FIG. 3. After this many tests, a slight drop in the starting voltage down to approximately 180 volts was observed on each of the tubes.
  • a titanium piece or getter 5 is disposed on or near the end 4 of a cathode 3.
  • the getter 5 may alternatively be mounted on or near the corresponding end of an anode 2.
  • the heat required to raise the temperature of the getter is provided by the collision of electrons or negative ions against the getter and by thermal conduction from the end of the anode.
  • a getter may be mounted on each of the anode and the cathode.
  • rod shaped electrodes described in connection with a preferred embodiment of this invention may instead be in the form of a ball, a disc or any other shape depending on the type, application and characteristics required of a particular discharge tube.
  • metals as zirconium and tantalum have proved themselves as getters.
  • the getter When the getter is mounted on or near one end of at least one of the electrodes, the getter is easily heated to an optimum temperature. Additionally, it is heated most effective by the heat generated by the collision of electrically charged particles against the getter. Consequently, the getter does not require any special means for heating it. Moreover, the getter can be attached to or near the electrode easily.
  • the getter is small and the absence of a heater permits the use of a very small space for its incorporation in the tube. Therefore, the discharge tube fabricated according to this invention is reduced in size to an extent not possible with a discharge tubes of the prior art in which a solid getter is used.
  • a getter of solid material such as titanium, tantalum and zirconium prevents or reduces the undesirable dimming or blackening of the tube wall and the abnormally high temperature gradients resulting from hot spots leading to cracking of the tube.
  • This feature of the invention helps successfully reduce the diameter of the tube to a remarkable extent.
  • the getter is self activating and continues to be active throughout the duration of discharge in case of self-maintaining discharge, or becomes active upon occurrence of each discharge in case of flash discharge. Accordingly, the discharge tube according to this invention is ever ready to effect a proper discharge at any time.
  • the discharge tube according to this invention has a very long life because aging changes are eliminated or reduced.
  • the starting voltage remains fairly constant even after repeated use over a long periodof time.
  • Prior art discharge tubes of the kind herein discussed have often failed after repeated use because of an undesirable increase of the starting voltage and lowering of their luminous performance. Because of its features and advantages hereinabove described, however, the discharge tube according to this invention might even approach a life approximately ten times greater than that of any discharge tube available in the prior art.
  • a pair of oppositely disposed thin rod-shaped tungsten electrodes said pair adapted to be connected as an 'anode and a cathode;
  • a solid getter material secured to or near one end of said electrodes, and adapted to be heated partially by the heat generated by discharge current flow in the tube wherein charged particles collide against said getter material, and partially by the heat conducted thereto from said cathode;
  • the stroboscopic tube of claim 1 further including a thin transparent conductive film of NESA coating formed on that portion of the outer surface of said tube at one end of said tube.
  • a first condenser connected to said anode and cathode; a circuit including a second condenser and a resistance, and connected to said anode and.
  • a starting transformer disposed in such a manner that its primary coil is connected to the terminals of said second condenser, and that its secondary coil is connected to said thin NESA coating film at one end thereof, and grounded at the-other end.
  • the stroboscopic tube of claim 1 wherein said getter material is selected from the materials consisting of titanium, zirconium and tantalum.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Discharge Lamp (AREA)
  • Discharge-Lamp Control Circuits And Pulse- Feed Circuits (AREA)
US00155144A 1970-06-24 1971-06-21 Small sized stroboscopic tube for photographic use Expired - Lifetime US3727089A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP6229770 1970-06-24

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3727089A true US3727089A (en) 1973-04-10

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US00155144A Expired - Lifetime US3727089A (en) 1970-06-24 1971-06-21 Small sized stroboscopic tube for photographic use

Country Status (4)

Country Link
US (1) US3727089A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
DE (1) DE2131887C3 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
GB (1) GB1345408A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
NL (1) NL7108465A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4205232A (en) * 1977-08-24 1980-05-27 Gesellschaft Fur Kernenergieverwertung In Schiffbau Und Schiffahrt Mbh Arrangement for preventing the alteration of the primary beam by unwanted particles, such as sputter products, charged ions and electrons and their secondary processes
GB2125615A (en) * 1982-08-05 1984-03-07 Emi Plc Thorn H.P. discharge lamps
US4451924A (en) * 1982-05-19 1984-05-29 Westinghouse Electric Corp. Mercury halide lasers utilizing electrodes coated with a getter
US4645979A (en) * 1981-08-21 1987-02-24 Chow Shing C Display device with discharge lamp
US6268697B1 (en) * 1997-12-16 2001-07-31 Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. Flash discharge tube having exterior trigger electrode
EP1244135A1 (en) * 2001-03-23 2002-09-25 Shing Cheung Chow Flash discharge lamp
US20060087251A1 (en) * 2004-10-27 2006-04-27 Patent-Treuhand-Gessellschaft Fur Elektrische Gluhlampen Mbh Starting apparatus for a high-pressure discharge lamp and high-pressure discharge lamp having a starting apparatus and operating method for a high-pressure discharge lamp

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CA1222273A (en) * 1983-03-10 1987-05-26 Philip J. White Unsaturated vapor pressure type high pressure sodium lamp
CA1241365A (en) * 1983-03-10 1988-08-30 John A. Scholz Unsaturated vapor high pressure sodium lamp arc tube fabrication process
EP0178646B1 (en) * 1984-10-17 1989-10-11 Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha Small size fluorescent lamp

Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2295694A (en) * 1941-06-19 1942-09-15 Westinghouse Electric & Mfg Co Water vapor getter
US2304412A (en) * 1939-10-04 1942-12-08 Gen Electric Electric high pressure discharge lamp
US2493659A (en) * 1944-03-11 1950-01-03 Hartford Nat Bank & Trust Co Getter structure for electric discharge tubes
US2508114A (en) * 1947-12-05 1950-05-16 Gen Electric Tantalum electrode for electric discharge devices
US2701849A (en) * 1944-04-22 1955-02-08 Hartford Nat Bank & Trust Co Glow discharge tube
US2913615A (en) * 1958-05-14 1959-11-17 Gen Electric Cathode
US3168668A (en) * 1961-04-03 1965-02-02 Honeywell Inc High pressure mercury vapor lamp
US3543076A (en) * 1968-10-31 1970-11-24 Boeing Co Aeorodynamic arc lamp electrodes

Patent Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2304412A (en) * 1939-10-04 1942-12-08 Gen Electric Electric high pressure discharge lamp
US2295694A (en) * 1941-06-19 1942-09-15 Westinghouse Electric & Mfg Co Water vapor getter
US2493659A (en) * 1944-03-11 1950-01-03 Hartford Nat Bank & Trust Co Getter structure for electric discharge tubes
US2701849A (en) * 1944-04-22 1955-02-08 Hartford Nat Bank & Trust Co Glow discharge tube
US2508114A (en) * 1947-12-05 1950-05-16 Gen Electric Tantalum electrode for electric discharge devices
US2913615A (en) * 1958-05-14 1959-11-17 Gen Electric Cathode
US3168668A (en) * 1961-04-03 1965-02-02 Honeywell Inc High pressure mercury vapor lamp
US3543076A (en) * 1968-10-31 1970-11-24 Boeing Co Aeorodynamic arc lamp electrodes

Cited By (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4205232A (en) * 1977-08-24 1980-05-27 Gesellschaft Fur Kernenergieverwertung In Schiffbau Und Schiffahrt Mbh Arrangement for preventing the alteration of the primary beam by unwanted particles, such as sputter products, charged ions and electrons and their secondary processes
US4645979A (en) * 1981-08-21 1987-02-24 Chow Shing C Display device with discharge lamp
US4451924A (en) * 1982-05-19 1984-05-29 Westinghouse Electric Corp. Mercury halide lasers utilizing electrodes coated with a getter
GB2125615A (en) * 1982-08-05 1984-03-07 Emi Plc Thorn H.P. discharge lamps
US6268697B1 (en) * 1997-12-16 2001-07-31 Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. Flash discharge tube having exterior trigger electrode
US6604973B2 (en) 1997-12-16 2003-08-12 Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. Flash discharge tube and method for producing the same
EP1244135A1 (en) * 2001-03-23 2002-09-25 Shing Cheung Chow Flash discharge lamp
US6707251B2 (en) * 2001-03-23 2004-03-16 Shing Cheung Chow Flash discharge lamp
US20060087251A1 (en) * 2004-10-27 2006-04-27 Patent-Treuhand-Gessellschaft Fur Elektrische Gluhlampen Mbh Starting apparatus for a high-pressure discharge lamp and high-pressure discharge lamp having a starting apparatus and operating method for a high-pressure discharge lamp
US7378800B2 (en) * 2004-10-27 2008-05-27 Patent-Treuhand-Gessellschaft für Elektrische Glühlampen mbH Starting apparatus for a high-pressure discharge lamp and high-pressure discharge lamp having a starting apparatus and operating method for a high-pressure discharge lamp

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE2131887A1 (de) 1972-01-05
GB1345408A (en) 1974-01-30
DE2131887B2 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1974-09-19
NL7108465A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1971-12-28
DE2131887C3 (de) 1975-04-30

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AS Assignment

Owner name: OLYMPUS OPTICAL CO., LTD., 43-2 2-CHOME HATAGAYA S

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNOR:CHOW, SHING C.;REEL/FRAME:004080/0126

Effective date: 19821214