WO2005010914A1

WO2005010914A1 - Flat type fluorescent lamp

Info

Publication number: WO2005010914A1
Application number: PCT/KR2004/001908
Authority: WO
Inventors: Kye-Seung Lee
Original assignee: Kye-Seung Lee
Priority date: 2003-07-29
Filing date: 2004-07-29
Publication date: 2005-02-03

Abstract

The present invention provides a flat type fluorescent lamp that enhances light emission efficiency and a uniform brightness by eliminating a non-emission region. A flat type fluorescent lamp includes a lamp body having front and rear panels and a side seal member to define a discharge space, a plurality of spacers disposed between the front and rear panels to define a discharge path, and a plurality of discharge electrodes fixed on the side seal member, each of the discharge electrodes includes an electrode tube and an inner electrode formed in the electrode tube. The tube spacer has blocked one end, being provided with a plurality of discharge apertures. The flat type fluorescent lamp further includes a reflecting unit formed on an outer surface of the rear panel.

Description

FLAT TYPE FLUORESCENT LAMP

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a flat type fluorescent lamp, and more particularly, to a flat type fluorescent lamp that improves structures of discharge electrodes, spacers and reflecting means to enhance light emission efficiency and a uniform brightness by eliminating a non-emission region.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A flat type fluorescent lamp has been widely used as a backl ight of a flat display device or lighting devices, being increasingly applied to a variety of applications. FIG . 1 shows a conventional flat type fluorescent lamp. As shown in the drawing, a conventional flat type fluorescent lamp includes two flat glass substrates 1 , side sealing members 3 coupl ing the glass substrates to each other, and a plurality of spacers 5 disposed between the glass substrates 1 to uniformly maintain a gap between them and define a discharge path. A phosphor layer (not shown) is deposited on an inner surface of a lamp body and discharge electrodes 7 are formed on both ends of the side sealing members. I nner air is exhausted through an exhaust tube 9 formed on the side sealing members 3 , after which the exhaust tube 9 is sealed . The spacers 5 are designed to be less than a width of the lamp body. That is, the spacers 5 and the side sealing members 3 define a plurality of alternate gaps, thereby defining a zigzag-shaped discharge path . When voltage is applied to the discharge electrodes 7 formed on the both ends of the side sealing members, discharge is realized on the discharge path, thereby exciting the phosphor layer to function as a planar light source.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG . 1 is a plane sectional view of a conventional flat type fluorescent lamp; FI G. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a flat type fluorescent lamp according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG . 3 is a sectional view of FIG. 2; FIG . 4 is a perspective view of a discharge electrode of a flat type fluorescent lamp according to an embodiment of the present invention ; FIG . 5 is a sectional view illustrating an installing state of a discharge electrode; FIG . 6 is a sectional view of front and rear panels of a flat type fluorescent lamp according to another embodiment of the present invention; and FIGS . 7 through 9 are perspective and sectional views of a reflecting unit according to an embodiment of the present invention . DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION TECHNICAL OBJECT Although the above-described conventional flat type fluorescent lamp can realize the planar light sou rce, it has a disadvantage of not having an effective light emission surface due to the installation of the discharge electrodes. I n addition, since the discharge electrodes are buried in the side sealing wall, the manufacturing process is complicated , causing the defective. I n addition , since the spacers are designed in a flat type having a predetermined width, a non-emission region is generated as large as the width of the spacers. Therefore, the width of the spacers should be reduced as thin as possible. However, there is limitation in reducing the width of the spacers. Accordingly, in the conventional flat type fluorescent lamp, the brightness at the region where the spacers are installed is remarkably deteriorated while the brightness of other regions is increased . As a result, the uniformity of the brightness is deteriorated , thereby degrad ing the overall light emission efficiency. Therefore, the present invention has been made in an effort to solve the above-described problems. It is an objective of the present invention to provide a flat type fluorescent lamp that improves structures of discharge electrodes and spacers to enhance light emission efficiency and a uniform brightness by eliminating a non-emission region. It is another objective of the present invention to provide a flat type fluorescent lamp that can improve the light efficiency by reflecting light, which is being meaninglessly emitted an rearward, frontward.

TECHNICAL SOLUTION To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides a flat type fluorescent lamp comprising a lamp body having front and rear panels and a side seal member to define a discharge space; a plurality of spacers disposed between the front and rear panels to define a discharge path; and a plurality of discharge electrodes fixed on the side seal member, each of the discharge electrodes includes an electrode tube and an inner electrode formed in the electrode tube. The discharge electrodes may be penetrated through, buried in or attached on the side seal member. The discharge electrode is integrated with a piece of the side seal member to define an electrode unit. A first group of the spacers is formed extending from a first side of the side seal member toward an opposite second side of the side seal member, a gap being defined between each spacer of the first group and the second side of the side seal member, and a second grou p of the spacers is formed extending from the second side of the side seal member toward the first side, a gap being defined between each spacer of the second group and the first side of the side seal member, thereby defining a zigzag-shaped discharge path. Preferably, each of the spacers is a tube spacer having a section formed in a circular, an oval , or polygonal shape. Alternatively, the tube spacer may have blocked one end , being provided with a plurality of discharge apertures. I n addition , portions of the side seal member, which are in parallel with the spacers, may be formed of a tube spacer. The tu be spacers may be formed having an oval-shaped section and the front and/or rear panels are divided into a plurality of sections to define a discharge space between the tube spacers. Preferably, the flat type fluorescent lamp may fu rther comprises a phosphor layer formed on an inner surface of the discharge space and a reflecting unit reflecting light, which is emitted to the rear panel , to the front side. The reflecting unit may includes a diffusing layer formed on an outer su rface of the rear panel , a reflecting layer formed on the diffusing layer and a reflecting frame formed on the reflecting layer. The diffusing layer may be formed on an entire outer surface of the rear panel or formed on the outer surface of the rear panel in a predetermined pattern corresponding to the tube spacers. The reflecting layer may have a pattern identical to that of the diffusing layer. The reflecting frame may be deposited at its outer surface with reflecting material, being formed curved or in a rectangular shape having a size identical to that of the rear panel.

EFFECT OF THE INVENTION A flat type fluorescent lamp of the present invention improves structures of discharge electrodes and spacers to enhance light emission efficiency and a uniform brightness by eliminating a non-emission region . A flat type fluorescent lamp of the present invention improves the light efficiency by reflecting light, which is being meaninglessly directed rearward , frontward . Accordingly, a flat type fluorescent lamp realizes a planar light source that is improved in light emission efficiency. Furthermore, a flat type fluorescent lamp of the present invention provides uniform brightness by forming a discharge path in a variety of shape such as a zigzag-shape, a linear-shape and a sub-discharge that are defined by the spacers.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in more detail hereinafter in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. FIGS. 2 and 3 show a flat type fluorescent lamp according to an embodiment of the present invention . As shown in the d rawings, the inventive flat type fluorescent lamp is for realizing a planar light source such as a backlight of a flat display device or lighting devices, having a rectangular parallelepiped lamp body. The lamp body includes transparent front panel 1 1 , a rear panel 13 and a side seal member 15 attaching the front and rear panels 1 1 and 1 3 to each other. The rear plate 13 and the side seal member 15 may be formed of transparent or semitransparent material. As a feature of the present invention , spacers 17 are disposed between the front and rear panels 1 1 and 13. The spacers 17 are not formed of a conventional barrier type, such as a bar and a plate, but in a circular or rectangular tube type. A first group of the spacers 17 is formed extending from a first side of the seal member 15 to an opposite second side of the seal member 1 5. A second group of the spacers 17 is formed extending from the second side of the seal member 1 5 to the first side of the seal member 15. There are predetermined gaps between the spacers 17 and the first and second sides of the seal member 15 to define a predetermined discharge path. Meanwhile, the spacers 17 of the first group are alternately disposed with the spacers 17 of the second group, thereby defining the discharge path in a zigzag shape. Meanwhile, sides of the side seal member 1 5, which are in parallel with the spacers 1 7, may be formed of a tube spacer. Alternatively, the sides of the side seal member 1 5 may be formed a barrier structu re such as a bar and plate. A phosphor layer 19 is deposited on an inside of the lamp body, which defines a discharge space, and an inner surface of each spacer 17. Discharge electrodes 21 are installed on the side seal member 15 of the lamp body. The discharge electrodes 21 are formed of a cold cathode, a thermal cathode or an outer electrode driving method . More than one discharge electrodes 21 are installed on both ends of the zigzag-shaped d ischarge path. The spacers 17 may be formed each having opposite ends respectively contacting opposite sides (the first and second sides) of the side seal member 15 to define a plurality of linear discharge paths.

In this case, more than one pair of opposing discharge electrodes 21 may be installed on both ends of the side seal member 15. As shown in FIG. 4, the discharge electrodes 21 can be associated with tube-shaped electrode tubes 21 a that can be inserted into holes formed on the side seal member 15. Alternatively, the tube-shaped electrode tubes 21 a may be formed by being simply attached on an inner or outer surface of the side seal member 1 5. Such an installing structure of the discharge electrodes 21 is illustrated in FIG . 5. As shown in FI G. 5, the discharge electrodes 21 are inserted penetrating through the side seal member 15 and extended into the inside of the lamp body (Type I ). Alternatively, the discharge electrodes 21 may be buried in the side seal member 1 5 (type M). Still alternatively, the discharge electrodes 21 may be attached on the side seal member 1 5 (Type O). The discharge electrode 21 , the electrode tube 21 a and a piece of the side seal member 15 can be integrally formed with each other as a single electrode u nit 210 (see FIG . 4). The piece of the side seal member 1 5 is assembled with another piece of the side seal member 15 to define the lamp body. The spacers 1 , particularly the tube-shaped spacers, are designed to realize a sub-discharge thereinto to enhance the light emission efficiency of the phosphor layer 19 deposited on an inner surface of the spacers. Such a sub-discharge can be realized by blocking one end of the spacers 17, which does not contact the side seal member 1 5, and forming a plu rality of the discharge apertures 17a on a side of each of the spacers 1 7. Accord ingly, since the sub-discharge is realized on the phosphor layer 19 deposited onto the inner surface of the tube spacer 17, a non-l ight emission region formed by the spacers 17 is converted into the light emission region, thereby improving the light emission efficiency and realizing the uniform light emission . FIG. 6 shows a flat type fluorescent lamp according to another embodiment of the present invention . I n this embodiment, the tube spacers 17 have an oval-shaped section. The front panel 1 1 is divided into two sections 1 1 a and 1 1 b and each of the front panel 1 1 a and 1 1 b is disposed on over front portions of one tube spacer 17 and adjacent tube spacer 17. The rear panel 13 is disposed on rear portions of the tube spacers 17. Alternatively, the front panel 1 1 is divided into two sections 1 1 a and 1 1 b, and the rear panel 1 3 is also divided into two sections 13a and 13b. Each of the rear panel 13a and 13b is disposed on over rear portions of one tube spacer 17 and adjacent tube spacer 17. Accordingly, the discharge space is defined by the front and rear panels 1 1 and 13 and the tube spacers 17. FIGS . 7 and 8 shows another embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the d rawings, the flat type fluorescent lamp of this embod iment is formed in an identical structure to that of the aforementioned embodiments, including identical elements. However, in this embodiment, a reflecting unit R is provided on an outer side of the lamp body. The reflecting unit R is provided to direct the light that is emitted toward the rear panel 13 in the lamp body to the front side. The reflecting unit R is comprised of a diffusing layer 23, a reflecting layer 25 and a reflecting frame 27. The diffusing layer 23 is formed on an entire outer surface of the rear panel 13 or formed on the outer surface of the rear panel 13 in a predetermined pattern corresponding to the tu be spacers 17. The diffusing layer 23 may be formed of glass or acryl. The reflecting layer 25 formed on the diffusing layer 23 may be formed of reflection material such as, Al , BaO, Tiθ2, or a reflecting sheet. The reflecting layer 25 has an identical pattern to that of the diffusing layer 23. The reflecting frame 27 collects light emitted from the lamp body and directs the collected light to the spacers 17 in the lamp body. The reflecting frame 27 is formed in rectangular plate shape having an identical size to that of the rear panel 13. Alternatively, the reflecting frame 27, as shown in FIG . 9 , may be curved outward at portions corresponding to the tube spacers 17 so that the collection and direction of the light to the spacers 17 can be more effectively realized . The curved reflecting frame 27 can be formed in a variety of shape. Preferably, the reflecting frame 27 may be deposited at its front surface with reflection material such as Al, BaO, TiO₂, and a reflecting sheet to enhance the light reflection.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1 . A flat type fluorescent lamp comprising: a lamp body having front and rear panels and a side seal member to define a discharge space; a plurality of spacers disposed between the front and rear panels to define a discharge path; and a plurality of discharge electrodes fixed on the side seal member, each of the discharge electrodes includes an electrode tube and an inner electrode formed in the electrode tube.

2. The flat type fluorescent lamp of claim 1 , wherein the discharge electrodes are penetrated through, buried in or attached on the side seal member.

3. The flat type fluorescent lamp of claim 2, wherein the discharge electrode is integrated with a piece of the side seal member to define an electrode unit.

4. The flat type fluorescent lamp of claim 1 , wherein a first group of the spacers is formed extending from a first side of the side seal member toward an opposite second side of the side seal member, a gap being defined between each spacer of the first group and a second side of the side seal member, and a second group of the spacers is formed extending from the second side of the side seal member toward the first side, a gap being defined between each spacer of the second group and the first side of the side seal member, thereby defining a zigzag-shaped discharge path.

5. The flat type fluorescent lamp of claims 1 or 4, wherein each of the spacers is a tube spacer having a section formed in a circular, an oval, or polygonal shape.

6. The flat type fluorescent lamp of claim 5, wherein the tube spacer has blocked one end , being provided with a plurality of discharge apertu res.

7. The flat type fluorescent lamp of claim 5, wherein portions of the side seal member, which are in parallel with the spacers are formed of tu be spacers.

8. The flat type fluorescent lamp of claim 5, wherein the tube spacers are formed having an oval-shaped section and the front and/or rear panels are divided into a plurality of sections to define a discharge space between the tube spacers.

9. The flat type fluorescent lamp of claim 1 , wherein a phosphor layer is formed on an inner surface of the discharge space and a reflecting unit is provided to reflect light, which is emitted to the rear panel , to the front side.

10. The flat type fluorescent lamp of claim 9, wherein the reflecting unit comprises a diffusing layer formed on an outer surface of the rear panel, a reflecting layer formed on the diffusing layer and a reflecting frame formed on the reflecting layer.

1 1 . The flat type fluorescent lamp of claim 10, wherein the diffusing layer is formed on an entire outer surface of the rear panel or formed on the outer surface of the rear panel in a predetermined pattern correspond ing to the tube spacers.

12. The flat type fluorescent lamp of claim 10, wherein the reflecting layer has a pattern identical to that of the diffusing layer.

1 3. The flat type fluorescent lamp of claim 1 0, wherein the reflecting frame is deposited at its outer surface with reflecting material , being formed curved or in a rectangular shape having a size identical to that of the rear panel.