JP3424092B2 - Fluorescent lamps and lighting devices - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a document reading light source used in OA equipment such as an image scanner, a copying machine and a facsimile, and an aperture having an external electrode used for a backlight of a liquid crystal display panel. Shaped fluorescent lamp and a lighting device equipped with this lamp.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, fluorescent lamps having external electrodes are
For example, JP-A-4-87249 and JP-A-3-225.
As disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 745, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-188087, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-92226, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-92227, etc., both ends are sealed without providing electrodes inside the glass bulb. A pair of strip-shaped external electrodes are formed on the outer surface of the stopped elongated tubular glass bulb along the bulb axis, and a phosphor coating is formed on the inner surface of the glass bulb along the bulb axis, leaving an opening that is a light projection window. However, there has been proposed an aperture-type fluorescent lamp in which a rare gas containing xenon gas as a main component is filled at a filling pressure of 200 Torr or less. This aperture-type fluorescent lamp supplies high-frequency power between the external electrodes to generate high-frequency discharge in the glass bulb, and ionizes and excites a rare gas such as xenon gas enclosed in the glass bulb to cause fluorescence. Make your body glow. The visible light of the phosphor coating that emitted light and the light reflected by the strip-shaped external electrode that also serves as a reflective film are radiated to the outside from the opening (aperture) that is the transparent light projection window of the glass bulb. It

In the invention disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 9-92227 in the above publication, an external electrode is formed of a translucent member in order to improve light emission characteristics, and the opening which is the external electrode and a light projection window is formed. Visible light is emitted to the outside from both parts (aperture).

Aperture type fluorescent lamps such as these have excellent luminous flux rising characteristics, and since an opening (aperture) which is a light projection window is formed along the tube (bulb) axial direction, it reaches the bulb end. By making the illuminance distribution uniform and enlarging the external electrodes, the discharge current can be increased and the light output can be increased.

However, the above-mentioned conventional fluorescent lamp having an external electrode can obtain a high light output and is not inconvenient for use in a bright place during the day, but is used in a dark state such as at night. There was a problem that it took time to start the engine.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, when a conductive material is provided in the discharge space and electric power is externally supplied to the external electrodes, the discharge space is short-circuited and a high electric field is partially generated between the external electrodes, resulting in discharge. It has been proposed to generate ultraviolet rays when the above phenomenon occurs. As a specific example, there is a fluorescent lamp disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-329903 in which a conductive material is provided in a dot shape inside an aperture fluorescent lamp having an external electrode to improve starting characteristics.

Further, for example, the fluorescent lamp shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 has a phosphor coating 2 formed on the inner surface of the glass bulb 1.
The fluorescent substance located at the end portion of is removed along the circumferential direction, and the conductive substance 8 is applied to the portion from which the fluorescent substance has been removed.

Further, for example, in the fluorescent lamp shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the conductive material 8 is formed in a strip shape along the circumferential direction of the glass bulb 1 so as to overlap the inner surface of the phosphor coating 2.

[0009]

By the way, the invention disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-329903 has the advantage that the starting characteristics in a dark state are improved, but on the other hand, a conductive material is provided in the glass bulb. Therefore, there is a problem that the power consumption increases, which is against the energy saving and is uneconomical.

Further, in the fluorescent lamps shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, it is necessary to remove a predetermined amount of phosphor in order to expose the conductive substance 8 in the discharge space, and the removing work is complicated. There was a problem.

The fluorescent lamp shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 is
Since the conductive material is deposited on the phosphor coating 2, it is easily peeled off. Further, since a part of the opening (aperture) 3 is shielded by the conductive substance 8, a part of the phosphor coating 2 which does not emit light is generated. That is, the opening (aperture)
Since there is a part that blocks the light emission in the three parts, spots are generated in the light emitted from the opening (aperture) 3, and the opening (aperture) 3 is made for the purpose of making the light output from the opening (aperture) 3 uniform. There is a problem in that it is necessary to take measures such as removal of the phosphor coating on portions other than the above and measures for blocking the light output from the phosphor and the aperture.

Therefore, in order to eliminate the drawbacks of the above-mentioned conventional example, the inventions according to claims 1 to 4 and 5 to 10 of the present invention have an n-type inside the glass bulb of an aperture type fluorescent lamp having an external electrode. An object of the present invention is to provide a fluorescent lamp which is provided with a material having semiconductor characteristics to improve starting characteristics in a dark state and saves power, and a lighting device incorporating the lamp.

[0013]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the invention according to claim 1 of the present invention has an opening along the tube axis direction of a tubular glass bulb and has an inner surface of the glass bulb. In the fluorescent lamp, a phosphor coating is formed, a pair of external electrodes is formed on the outer surface of the glass bulb along the tube axis direction, and a rare gas containing xenon gas is enclosed in the glass bulb. It is characterized in that a substance having n-type semiconductor characteristics is provided in at least one place in a part of the glass bulb.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the substance having the n-type semiconductor characteristics is located between external electrodes, and one end or both ends of the phosphor coating in the tube axis direction. It is characterized in that it is provided on the inner surface of.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the substance having the n-type semiconductor characteristics is located between the external electrodes and at one end of the phosphor coating in the tube axis direction. It is also conceivable to interpose between the phosphor coating and the glass bulb at both ends.

The invention according to claim 4 of the present invention is characterized in that the substance having the n-type semiconductor characteristics is provided in a portion not sandwiched between external electrodes.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the tubular glass bulb has an opening along the axial direction of the tubular glass bulb, and a phosphor coating is formed on the inner surface of the glass bulb. A pair of external electrodes are formed along the axial direction,
In a fluorescent lamp in which a rare gas containing xenon gas is enclosed in the glass bulb, a substance having n-type semiconductor characteristics is provided between the inner surface of the glass bulb and the phosphor coating in a circumferential direction of the glass bulb. The material having the n-type semiconductor characteristics is formed so that both ends thereof are exposed in the discharge space from the edges of the phosphor coating.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the substance having the n-type semiconductor characteristics is a single covalent bond crystal,
Alternatively, it is characterized by being a mixture of a simple substance of this covalently bonded crystal and a binder.

The invention according to claim 7 of the present invention is characterized in that the substance having the n-type semiconductor characteristics is a substance containing at least one inorganic compound or a mixture of this substance and a binder. And

The invention according to claim 8 of the present invention is characterized in that the simple substance of the covalent bond crystal is germanium, silicon, selenium or the like.

The invention according to claim 9 of the present invention is characterized in that the inorganic compound is zinc oxide.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, the instrument main body, the fluorescent lamp according to any one of the first to ninth aspects provided in the instrument main body, and the fluorescent lamp are connected to the fluorescent lamp. The lighting circuit device described above is provided.

[0023]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway front view of a fluorescent lamp, FIG.
2 is a sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. Reference numeral 1 is a straight tubular transparent glass bulb, both ends of which are hermetically closed. Two
Is a phosphor coating formed on the inner surface of the glass bulb 1, and an opening (aperture) 3 for light projection is provided along the tube axis without the phosphor coating. In addition, a rare gas containing xenon (Xe) gas as a main component is sealed in the glass bulb 1 at a sealing pressure of 13.3 KPa.

On the outer surface of the glass bulb 1, a pair of strip electrodes 4, 5 are formed in parallel along the tube axis of the glass bulb 1. The electrodes 4 and 5 are made of, for example, aluminum (A1) or the like having conductivity and high light reflection characteristics, and more specifically, the glass bulb 1 is attached to the glass bulb 1 by means such as pasting an aluminum tape having a length substantially over the entire length. It is attached to the outer surface and doubles as a reflective film. The strip-shaped electrodes 4 and 5 may be formed by attaching a copper tape in addition to the aluminum tape by a sticking means, or by coating a material having a conductive and highly reflective property such as a silver paste in a strip shape. Good. Further, as clearly shown in FIG. 2, the electrodes 4 and 5 are provided on the upper surface side and the lower surface side of the glass bulb 1 so as to be separated from each other, and one of a pair of opposing edges of the electrodes 4 and 5 is formed. The edge is formed along the opening edge of the opening (aperture) 3. Lead wires (not shown) for electrically connecting to a lighting device (not shown) are connected to the electrodes 4 and 5, respectively. A transparent electric insulating layer 6 made of silicon resin or the like is formed on the entire outer peripheral surface of the glass bulb 1 including these electrodes 4 and 5 to prevent insulation deterioration of the glass bulb 1 to which moisture easily adheres, and to prevent both external electrodes. It prevents short circuit accidents between 4 and 5.

On both inner peripheral surfaces of both ends of the phosphor coating 2 formed on the inner surface of the glass bulb 1, a substance 7 having n-type semiconductor characteristics is provided within a range of 15 mm from both inner wall surfaces of both ends of the glass bulb 1. ing. The substance 7 having n-type semiconductor characteristics is a substance having a covalent bond crystal such as germanium, silicon or selenium, a substance containing at least one inorganic compound such as zinc oxide, or a mixed substance of the substance and a binder. And use any of these materials as appropriate. The substance 7 having n-type semiconductor characteristics is attached to the inner surfaces of both ends of the phosphor coating 2 by means such as direct welding, coating, or bonding with an adhesive or the like on the inner surface of the phosphor coating 2. However, it may be provided on any one end of the inner surface of the phosphor coating 2. The material 7 having n-type semiconductor characteristics is shown in FIGS.
The shape is not limited to the arc shape as shown in FIG.

The fluorescent lamp having this structure has external electrodes 4, 5
And is connected to a high-frequency lighting circuit device (not shown) for lighting. When high frequency power is applied to the external electrodes 4 and 5,
A discharge due to a high-frequency electric field is generated in the glass bulb 1, and the discharge causes the xenon gas to be ionized and excited to emit ultraviolet rays, and the ultraviolet rays are converted into visible light by the phosphor coating 2. This visible light is directly exposed to the aperture (aperture) 3
The light which is emitted to the outside through the transparent portion of the glass bulb 1 and is reflected by the inner surfaces of the electrodes 4 and 5 having the light reflection characteristic inside the glass bulb 1 also passes through the opening (aperture) 3. It passes through and is emitted to the outside. The light emission from the aperture-shaped fluorescent lamp is such that the glass bulb 1 has an opening (aperture) 3 for light projection on which the phosphor coating 2 is not formed, so that most of the light is transparent. Emitted from the part (aperture) 3. There is a slight amount of light emission from a portion other than the opening (aperture) 3, for example, a position opposite to the opening (aperture) 3 and a portion where the electrodes 4 and 5 are not formed.

Incidentally, an electrode 4 having a width of about 8 mm is formed on the outer surface of a glass bulb 1 having a total length of about 270 mm (effective total length excluding the end is about 250 mm), an outer diameter of about 8 mm and an inner diameter of about 7 mm.
In the case of using a simple substance of zinc oxide as the substance 7 having n-type semiconductor characteristics, the power consumption of the lamp is reduced by 5 to 10% as compared with the conventional fluorescent lamp using the conductive substance. did it.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are views showing another embodiment of the fluorescent lamp according to the present invention. 1 and 2 in the figure
The same reference numerals are given to the parts having the same functions as those, and the description thereof will be omitted. The fluorescent lamps shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 differ from the fluorescent lamps of FIGS. 1 and 2 in that the substance 7 having n-type semiconductor characteristics is provided at both ends or one end of the phosphor coating 2. It is interposed between the glass bulb 1.
The substance 7 having this n-type semiconductor characteristic is also used in the glass bulb 1.
Provided within a range of 15 mm from the inner surface of the end of the.

FIG. 5 shows a uniform characteristic diagram of the light output of the aperture type fluorescent lamp. In the figure, the conventional aperture type fluorescent lamp shown by the dotted line in which the conductive material is provided in the discharge space, that is, the fluorescent lamps in FIGS. 7 and 8 or 9 and 10 is located at the position where the conductive material is provided (bulb). 28 mm on the axis
Position), the emission intensity is significantly reduced. In contrast,
In the aperture type fluorescent lamp proposed this time, that is, in the fluorescent lamp in which a substance having n-type semiconductor characteristics is interposed between the glass bulb and the phosphor coating and the end portion is exposed to the discharge space, There is no change in the light output at the portion where the type semiconductor is provided, and the light output is uniform.

It should be noted that a substance having n-type semiconductor characteristics is provided at a desired position between the glass bulb 1 and the phosphor coating 2 and has a predetermined lateral width, and is interleaved in a band shape in the circumferential direction. May be exposed in the discharge space so as to be positioned at the opening (aperture) 3 and the end of the phosphor coating 2.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an embodiment of another fluorescent lamp according to the present invention. In FIG. 6, the substance 7 having n-type semiconductor characteristics is the end portion (sealing portion) of the glass bulb 1.
Is located in the vicinity of, and is not sandwiched between the electrodes 4 and 5. Even when the substance 7 having the n-type semiconductor characteristic is provided at a position not sandwiched between the electrodes 4 and 5 as described above, there is an effect that the startability in the dark state is improved.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiments, the substance having the n-type semiconductor characteristics is sandwiched between the external electrodes, and the inner surface of one end or both ends of the phosphor coating or the lath valve and the phosphor coating are disposed. , Or the case where it is provided at a position not sandwiched between the external electrodes, but the present invention is not limited to this and at least one or more positions in any arbitrary position in the glass bulb. It includes all cases where a material having n-type semiconductor characteristics of an arbitrary shape is provided.

[0034]

According to the present invention, by providing a material having n-type semiconductor characteristics on the inner surface of the end portion of the glass bulb located between the high-voltage side electrode and the low-voltage side electrode, the starting characteristic in the dark state is provided. And the economic effect of reducing power consumption.

Further, by connecting the fluorescent lamp having the above structure to the lighting circuit device, there is an effect that the size of the device can be reduced and the power consumption can be reduced with the same illuminance.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway front view of a fluorescent lamp according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a partially cutaway front view of the fluorescent lamp according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line BB in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a uniform characteristic diagram of the light output of the fluorescent lamp in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a partially cutaway front view of the fluorescent lamp according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a partially cutaway front view showing a conventional example.

8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line DD of FIG.

FIG. 9 is a partially cutaway front view showing a conventional example.

10 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line EE of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 glass bulb 2 Phosphor coating 3 openings (aperture) 4, 5 electrodes 7 Materials with n-type semiconductor characteristics

Front page continuation (58) Fields surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H01J 65/00

Claims (10)

(57) [Claims] 1. A fluorescent coating is formed on the inner surface of a glass bulb having an opening extending along the tube axis of the glass bulb, and a pair of external electrodes is formed on the outer surface of the glass bulb along the tube axis. There are formed, in a fluorescent lamp noble gas is sealed including xenon gas in the glass bulb, part be provided at least one location or more substances having a n-type semiconductor properties in the glass bulb Fluorescent lamp characterized by. 2. The substance having the n-type semiconductor characteristics is provided at a position sandwiched between external electrodes and on the inner surface of one end or both ends of the phosphor coating in the tube axis direction. The fluorescent lamp according to claim 1. 3. The phosphor coating at a position where the substance having the n-type semiconductor characteristics is sandwiched between external electrodes, and at one end or both ends of the phosphor coating in the tube axis direction. The fluorescent lamp according to claim 1, wherein the fluorescent lamp is provided so as to be interposed between the lamp and the glass bulb. 4. The fluorescent lamp according to claim 1, wherein the substance having the n-type semiconductor characteristics is provided in a portion not sandwiched between external electrodes. 5. A phosphor coating is formed on the inner surface of the glass bulb having an opening along the tube axis direction of the tubular glass bulb, and a pair of external electrodes is formed on the outer surface of the glass bulb along the tube axis direction. And a rare gas containing xenon gas is enclosed in the glass bulb, and n is provided between the inner surface of the glass bulb and the phosphor coating.
A substance having a type semiconductor characteristic is interspersed in a band shape along the circumferential direction of the glass bulb, and both ends of the substance having an n type semiconductor characteristic are exposed in the discharge space from the edges of the phosphor coating. A fluorescent lamp characterized by being formed. 6. The substance having the n-type semiconductor characteristics is a single substance of a covalent bond crystal or a mixture of a single substance of this covalent bond crystal and a binder.
The fluorescent lamp of 2, 3, 4 or 5 . 7. The material having the n-type semiconductor characteristics is a material containing at least one kind of inorganic compound or a mixture of this material and a binder. 4. The fluorescent lamp according to 4 or 5 . 8. The fluorescent lamp according to claim 6 , wherein the simple substance of the covalently bonded crystal is germanium, silicon, selenium or the like. 9. The fluorescent lamp according to claim 7, wherein the inorganic compound is zinc oxide. 10. A device body and comprises the fluorescent lamp according to any one of claims 1 to 9 provided in the instrument body, and the fluorescent lamp connected to the lighting circuit Lighting device characterized by being