JP7664131B2 - Ozone generator with excimer lamp - Google Patents

Description

Patent Law Article 30, paragraph 2 applies (1) Posted on January 16, 2021, https://www.roomiair.com, Oak Seisakusho Co., Ltd., Tsuyoshi Kobayashi, and Izumi Serizawa disclosed an ozone generator invented by the company, which houses a discharge lamp in a glass cover and has an operating unit at the bottom. (2) Broadcast on January 16, 2021, BS TV Tokyo Haneda Saturday Club, BS TV Tokyo Co., Ltd., disclosed the above ozone generator. (3) Sold on July 7, 2021, sales location: Camino Co., Ltd., Discloser: Oak Seisakusho Co., Ltd., sold the above ozone generator.

The present invention relates to an ozone generator that uses an excimer lamp.

Small ozone generators that can generate ozone at low concentrations and are easy to carry and install (hereafter referred to as portable) are known (see Non-Patent Document 1). In these generators, an excimer lamp is housed in a glass cover, and ozone generated by ultraviolet irradiation from the excimer lamp is released to perform sterilization, deodorization, etc. At the same time, the discharge state of the excimer lamp can be seen through the glass cover, providing a highly dramatic design reminiscent of antique lighting fixtures.

MONOCO Co., Ltd. HP "RoomiAir (registered trademark)" product introduction site [searched on September 17, 2021], Internet <URL: https://monoco.jp/brand/ozone/55379>

Portable ozone generators are convenient because users can carry them anywhere they want, but depending on how the user handles them, the glass cover may get scratched or cracked, and there is also a risk of the device falling over when being operated.

Therefore, there is a demand for a portable ozone generator that has a stable and reliable structure that is suitable for handling by the user while maintaining excellent convenience.

The ozone generator according to one aspect of the present invention comprises an excimer lamp and a tubular lamp cover that houses the excimer lamp and has an opening at one end (here referred to as the downstream end) through which gas containing ozone generated by ultraviolet irradiation of the excimer lamp flows out. The diameter of the opening of the lamp cover is smaller than the diameter of the portion facing the excimer lamp, and the thickness of the downstream end of the lamp cover is greater than the thickness of the portion facing the lamp cover.

For example, the lamp cover is configured to taper at least from the opposing portion toward the downstream end, and the thickness of the lamp cover increases from the opposing portion toward the downstream end.

The lamp cover can also be configured to transmit light (including visible light) with wavelengths longer than the ultraviolet light emitted from the excimer lamp. For example, the ozone generator can include an illumination light source that illuminates at least a portion of the lamp cover.

The illumination light source can be configured in an annular shape so as to face the end (here referred to as the upstream end) of the lamp cover opposite the downstream end. Here, "facing" does not only refer to a strict opposing arrangement, but also to an arrangement in which illumination light is transmitted to the downstream end of the lamp cover via the upstream end. An optical element that diffuses illumination light can be provided between the upstream end of the lamp cover and the irradiation surface of the illumination light source.

The ozone generator has a base that supports the lamp cover and can house a battery and a lamp power supply. A part of the base can be configured as a circumferential operation part that can be rotated in a circumferential direction relative to the device. A predetermined device operation is performed in response to the circumferential rotation of the circumferential operation part. For example, the lamp cover is fitted with the circumferential operation part so as to rotate in a circumferential direction together with the circumferential operation part.

Alternatively, the lamp cover can be rotated circumferentially relative to the base, and a predetermined device operation can be performed in response to the operation of rotating the lamp cover circumferentially relative to the base.

The ozone generator can further include a radial operation unit that is operated along the radial direction of the lamp cover, such as by being pressed down. In response to the operation of pressing the radial operation unit in the radial direction, a predetermined device operation different from the device operation of the circumferential operation unit is performed.

It is also possible to provide an ozone generator characterized by a configuration related to the circumferential operation unit. That is, an ozone generator can be provided that includes an excimer lamp, a tubular lamp cover that houses the excimer lamp and has an opening at its downstream end through which gas containing ozone generated by ultraviolet irradiation of the excimer lamp flows out, and a base that supports the lamp cover, and a part of the base is configured by a circumferential operation unit that can be rotated in a circumferential direction relative to the device, and a predetermined device operation is performed in response to the operation of rotating the circumferential operation unit in a circumferential direction. Alternatively, it is also possible to provide an ozone generator that includes an excimer lamp, a tubular lamp cover that houses the excimer lamp and has an opening at its downstream end through which gas containing ozone generated by ultraviolet irradiation of the excimer lamp flows out, and a base that supports the lamp cover, and the lamp cover can be rotated in a circumferential direction relative to the base, and a predetermined device operation is performed in response to the operation of rotating the lamp cover in a circumferential direction.

The present invention provides a portable ozone generator with a structure that is stable and reliable in terms of how it is handled by the user, while still maintaining excellent convenience.

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an ozone generator according to a first embodiment. FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of an ozone generator. FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an ozone generator according to a second embodiment. FIG. 13 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an ozone generator according to a third embodiment.

Below, we will explain an ozone generator equipped with an excimer lamp, which is an embodiment of the present invention, with reference to the drawings.

Figure 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an ozone generator according to a first embodiment.

The ozone generator 100 is a portable battery-powered ozone generator equipped with an excimer lamp 10, and is configured here as a low-concentration ozone generator. The ozone generator 100 has a structure in which a lamp cover 20 is placed on a base 100A composed of a circumferential operation unit 30 and a power supply housing unit 40, and the base 100A supports the lamp cover 20.

The lamp cover 20 here is configured as a truncated cone-shaped outer tube that houses the excimer lamp 10, and the circumferential operation unit 30 and the power supply housing 40 are each configured as an annular, bottomed cylinder, and are symmetrical with respect to the central axis C. The power supply housing 40 houses a battery 60 such as a lithium-ion battery, and has an intake fan 45 at the bottom. The power supply housing 40 also includes a lamp power supply circuit 75, and a power supply cover 66 with an opening 66A near the central axis C is arranged to cover the lamp power supply circuit 75.

The lamp cover 20, the circumferential operation unit 30, and the power supply housing 40 are configured to function as a flow pipe. The oxygen-containing raw gas (here, air) is forced into the base 100A by the intake fan 45, passes through the inside and outside of the power supply cover 66, passes through the internal space of the lamp cover 20 housing the excimer lamp 10, and flows out from the opening 20A formed at the downstream end (hereinafter referred to as the upper end) 20S.

Here, the raw material gas flowing into the base 100A by the intake fan 45 is mainly blown out in one direction from the opening 66A of the power supply cover 66, and attracts the fluid flowing in one direction around it. Here, "blowing out in one direction" does not limit the speed or flow rate of the fluid, but rather means that the fluid given kinetic energy flows out from the opening 66A and is supplied toward the excimer lamp. Also, "flowing in one direction" does not mean strictly parallel to one direction, but only needs to be a flow that is generally oriented in one direction. The blown out flow and the flow of the attracted fluid (here, referred to as the accompanying flow) form a flow with a non-uniform velocity distribution in one direction (non-uniform flow), and the excimer lamp can be placed in the area of the non-uniform flow.

The excimer lamp 10 is arranged coaxially with the lamp cover 20 and is supported by a support member (not shown) so that the lamp axis C of the lamp cover 20 is along the center line. An inner electrode (not shown), part of which is exposed, is arranged inside the discharge vessel 10A, and an outer electrode (not shown) is provided on the outer surface of the discharge vessel 10A.

A radial operation unit 35 is provided on the outer surface of the power supply housing 40, which is operated to turn the excimer lamp 10 on and off. When the radial operation unit 35 is operated (contacted and pressed along the radial direction) by a user, a high-frequency high voltage is applied between the inner electrode and the outer electrode of the excimer lamp 10 from the lamp power supply circuit 75 provided in the base 100A.

This generates a dielectric barrier discharge in the discharge vessel 10A, where ultraviolet light in the wavelength range of vacuum ultraviolet light, i.e., ultraviolet light with a wavelength of 200 nm or less (peak wavelength 172 nm), is emitted as excimer light. This generates ozone from the oxygen contained in the raw material gas flowing around the excimer lamp 10, and the gas containing ozone is released from the opening 20A of the lamp cover 20.

Here, the excimer lamp 10 is turned off (extinguished) before it transitions from the unstable discharge state (transient discharge) immediately after lighting (ignition) to a stable discharge state (steady-state discharge), and then turned on again immediately after that. By repeatedly turning the lamp on and off in this manner (hereinafter referred to as periodic lighting), a transient discharge is continuously generated, improving the presentation. Note that lighting by steady-state discharge may also be performed.

In addition, in the dielectric barrier discharge, when a voltage is applied at a certain frequency, the discharge continues in the area where the convergent thin line-shaped microplasma discharge occurs, and no discharge occurs in the area where the thin line-shaped microplasma discharge does not occur, which is called a memory effect. Here, in order to reset the so-called memory effect (return to the state before the discharge occurred), a reset lighting operation is performed in which the light is turned off before a steady state discharge that causes a memory effect occurs, and a transient state discharge is repeated.

The periodic lighting is performed based on a frequency f2 that is lower than the frequency f1 of the applied voltage when the excimer lamp 10 is lit by applying a high-frequency high voltage. For example, if the frequency f1 of the applied voltage is set in the range of 1 kHz to 500 kHz, the frequency f2 is set in the range of 1 to 60 Hz. In particular, it may be set in the range of 20 Hz to 40 Hz.

When the excimer lamp 10 is lit by periodic lighting, the microplasma discharge is biased toward the tube wall in the discharge vessel 10A, and dense, uniform discharge does not occur throughout the discharge vessel 10A. Therefore, even if the discharge space area along the lamp axis C in the discharge vessel 10A is enlarged, the amount of ozone generated does not increase significantly, and low-concentration ozone (low amounts of ozone) can be generated stably.

In addition, by periodically lighting the excimer lamp 10, the microplasma discharge (discharge column) that occurs in the dielectric barrier discharge occurs in a different position each time the lamp is turned on (reset). This is because the microplasma discharge occurs in a spatial region with low electrical resistance (temperature) at the moment the lamp is turned on again.

By continuously generating a transient discharge while shifting to a spatial region with a relatively low temperature, UV radiation and ozone generation do not continue in the same region as with a steady-state discharge. Therefore, there is no temperature rise throughout the discharge vessel 10A due to the uniform discharge within the vessel, and by suppressing the temperature rise near the surface of the discharge vessel 10A, where the UV intensity is high, thermal decomposition by ozone is suppressed. This makes it possible to stably generate low-concentration ozone on a sustained basis, and the ozone generation time can be extended relative to the battery capacity.

Furthermore, as if snakes and flickering, which are considered to be abnormal discharge conditions when illuminated or exposed to light, are intentionally generated, a converging, thin line-like microplasma discharge extends from the tip of the internal electrode, and irregular and complex periodic changes constantly occur along the inner surface of the discharge vessel 10A. By creating such a discharge state, ultraviolet light is not continuously irradiated onto the same area of the discharge vessel 10A, and a visually dramatic transient discharge is repeated, allowing the lamp to blend in with interior designs even when installed indoors.

When the discharge in the transient state continues, the amount of ozone generated is less than half of the amount generated by the discharge in the steady state. On the other hand, in order to irradiate the air flowing near the excimer lamp 10 with ultraviolet light having sufficient intensity to generate ozone by lighting the lamp with the discharge in the steady state, it is advisable to make the distance between the outer surface of the discharge vessel 10A of the excimer lamp 10 and the inner surface 20B of the lamp cover 20 as short as possible.

However, even if one tries to increase the efficiency of ozone generation by increasing the flow rate using the intake fan 45, if the proportion of the space (area) occupied by the excimer lamp 10 within the lamp cover 20 becomes too large, the air will have difficulty flowing when passing near the excimer lamp 10, resulting in pressure loss.

Therefore, the distance between the inner surface 20B of the lamp cover 20 and the discharge vessel 10A of the excimer lamp 10, i.e., the distance between the portion 20N facing the discharge vessel 10A of the excimer lamp 10 (hereinafter referred to as the facing portion), is set to be sufficiently longer than the distance at which the ultraviolet light intensity attenuates to 50% from the surface of the discharge vessel 10A (ultraviolet light attenuation distance), and the distance becomes smaller from the lower end side to the upper end side of the facing portion 20N.

The lamp cover 20 is composed of a transparent glass container, and is composed of a transparent material that transmits visible light emitted from the excimer lamp 10 together with ultraviolet light, but does not transmit at least a portion of the ultraviolet light. For example, it can be composed of glass with a lower ultraviolet light transmittance than the synthetic quartz glass that constitutes the discharge container 10A. This allows the user to visually confirm the discharge state. The truncated cone-shaped lamp cover 20 engages with the circumferential operating part 30 at the engagement part 20M on the upstream end (hereinafter referred to as the lower end) 20K side, and tapers toward the upper end 20S.

On the other hand, the lamp cover 20 is configured so that its thickness increases from the upper surface 20T of the fitting portion 20M toward the upper end 20S. Therefore, the thickness T1 of the upper end 20S of the lamp cover 20 is the largest, and is greater than the thickness T2 of the portion 20N of the lamp cover 20 facing the excimer lamp 10. In other words, the lamp cover 20 is configured so that the opening 20A is thicker than the area where ozone is generated by the excimer lamp 10.

This configuration of the lamp cover 20 allows it to be durable against shocks caused when the user carries it or when it is installed. The size of the opening 20A of the lamp cover 20 is smaller than that of the base 100A, which discourages the user from placing other objects on the upper end 20S of the lamp cover 20 for any reason, thereby preventing the release of gas containing ozone from the opening 20A and preventing the user from being able to see it.

The lamp cover 20 is thicker closer to the top end 20S, so it is less likely to break even if it receives an external impact. For example, when a user carries the ozone generator 100 by grasping the bottom surface 100B, even if the lamp cover 20 near the top end 20S accidentally comes into contact with or hits something else, breakage or cracks can be prevented.

Even if the ozone generator 100 is accidentally tipped over when being installed on a stand or table, damage or cracks to the lamp cover 20 can be prevented. Furthermore, the lamp cover 20 has sufficient strength (structural strength) to hold the heavy base 100A, and the user can grasp the lamp cover 20 near the upper end 20S and lift it up.

On the other hand, cracks may occur in the lamp cover 20 due to an impact caused by the user while handling the ozone generator 100. If the user continues to use the device without noticing the cracks, the lamp cover 20 may be damaged. For this reason, a configuration is adopted in which illumination light separate from the visible light seen from the excimer lamp 10 can be illuminated from below the lamp cover 20 so that the user can recognize the occurrence of cracks.

The circumferential operation unit 30 has an annular illumination light source 50 inside, which is fixed and positioned close to the inner circumferential surface of the circumferential operation unit 30 by being supported from the power supply housing 40 side. The illumination light source 50 is configured as a light source in which LEDs that emit visible light are arranged in an annular shape, and the emission surface 50M of the illumination light source 50 faces the lower end 20K of the fitting portion 20M of the lamp cover 20. In addition, an annular diffusion plate 52 that diffuses the illumination light emitted from the illumination light source 50 is arranged on the emission surface 50M of the illumination light source 50.

The light emitted from the illumination light source 50 is radiated through the diffusion plate 52 toward the lower end 20K of the fitting portion 20M of the lamp cover 20 and the side surface 66S of the power supply cover 66. A part of the light irradiated to the lower end 20K of the fitting portion 20M of the lamp cover 20 is repeatedly reflected inside the tube wall of the lamp cover 20 (the boundary surface of the tube wall) by the so-called fiber effect, and is transmitted toward the upper end 20S side of the lamp cover 20, and is emitted from near the upper surface 20T of the fitting portion 20M of the lamp cover 20, a part of the inner surface 20B of the lamp cover 20, and even near the upper end 20S. As a result of this light being irradiated into the discharge vessel 10A, a stable lighting state is reliably reached even in a low temperature state, a dark state, or after a long period of inactivity, and the lighting startability of the excimer lamp can be improved.

The illumination light from the illumination light source 50 here is light with a different wavelength (for example, in the wavelength range of 400 nm to 800 nm) from the wavelength of visible light emitted from the excimer lamp 10 together with ultraviolet light (for example, reddish purple light made up of blue and green to red light with wavelength ranges of 400 nm to 500 nm and 500 nm to 650 nm, or green light with a wavelength around 545 nm). When a crack or scratch on the lamp cover 20 causes a portion of the light transmitted by the fiber effect to be reflected, causing a bright spot, the light should be easy for the user to find without confusing it with the light emitted from the excimer lamp. This makes it possible to prevent damage to the lamp cover 20 in advance.

In particular, by arranging the annular illumination light source 50 near the fitting portion 20M at the lower end of the lamp cover 20 and providing a diffusion plate 52 opposite the LED emitting as a point light source, it is possible to make the illumination light uniformly illuminate the lower end 20K of the fitting portion 20M of the lamp cover 20 over the entire circumferential direction. Furthermore, by repeatedly reflecting within the tube wall of the lamp cover 20, the user can visually recognize that the lamp cover 20 is uniformly illuminated. Therefore, unless there are cracks or scratches on the lamp cover 20, the user will not see any bright spots in the light transmitted by the fiber effect within the tube wall of the lamp cover 20. In addition, it is also possible to configure the illumination light source 50 with an LED that emits warm-colored illumination light, taking into consideration the presentation.

It is also possible to use an illumination light source that radiates uniformly around the entire circumference of the ring. Instead of arranging the illumination light source 50 in a ring shape, it is also possible to use one or more light sources arranged at a predetermined interval, and it is also possible to use optical elements or the like to illuminate the inner surface 20B of the lamp cover 20 over a wide area.

The circumferential operation unit 30 is slidably supported by the power supply housing 40 via a bearing (hereinafter referred to as a bearing) 37. For example, a groove is provided along the circumferential direction on the inner peripheral surface of the circumferential operation unit 30, and the outer peripheral surfaces of multiple bearings are fitted into and abutted against the groove at evenly spaced positions in the circumferential direction, thereby enabling the circumferential operation unit 30 to be slidably supported as a hollow shaft. When a user performs an operation of rotating the circumferential operation unit 30 in the circumferential direction (including a rotating operation, a twisting operation, and a twisting operation), the circumferential operation unit 30 rotates in the circumferential direction relative to the power supply housing 40.

The circumferential operation unit 30 rotates circumferentially relative to the power supply housing 40 by the bearing 37, so a gap is formed between the circumferential operation unit 30 and the power supply housing 40, spatially connecting the unit to the outside. Therefore, if the flow rate of the raw material gas flowing out of the opening 20A of the lamp cover 20 is reduced due to the installation of an obstacle or the like at the opening 20A of the lamp cover 20, the raw material gas in the power supply housing 40 flows out from the gap. In other words, the gap between the circumferential operation unit 30 and the power supply housing 40 functions as a secondary outlet.

Therefore, even if an abnormal condition occurs, such as when the opening 20A of the lamp cover 20 becomes blocked, the generated ozone is prevented from becoming highly concentrated or flowing in the opposite direction, and the raw gas sucked in by the intake fan 45 can be safely discharged outside the device.

An elastic O-ring 31 is interposed between the fitting portion 20M of the lamp cover 20 and the circumferential operating portion 30, and the fitting portion 20M of the lamp cover 20 presses the O-ring 31 against the circumferential operating portion 30 so as to spread it apart, thereby fitting the O-ring 31 into the circumferential operating portion 30. Therefore, the lamp cover 20 rotates in the circumferential direction together with the circumferential operating portion 30.

In this embodiment, the illumination light source 50 is turned on/off and the light intensity of the illumination light source is adjusted by rotating the circumferential operation unit 30 in the circumferential direction. When the circumferential operation unit 30 is rotated in the circumferential direction from a reference position, the device is turned on. The light intensity of the illumination light source 50 increases according to the amount of operation of the circumferential operation unit 30 in the circumferential direction from the reference position.

The base 100A is provided with a motion detection unit 70 that detects the circumferential movement (rotation) and amount of movement (rotation angle) of the circumferential operation unit 30. The motion detection unit 70 is disposed in a position facing the lamp power supply circuit 75, and is provided with a variable resistor and a gear 71. The gear 71 engages with an annular gear 72 formed on the inner side surface of the circumferential operation unit 30. The annular gear 72 moves in accordance with the circumferential rotation of the circumferential operation unit 30, rotating the gear 71, thereby changing the resistance value of the motion detection unit 70.

By configuring the circumferential operation unit 30 to be provided between the lamp cover 20 and the power supply housing 40, the lamp cover 20 does not slide but moves in conjunction with the circumferential rotation (rotation) operation of the circumferential operation unit 30. Therefore, the ozone generator 100 can maintain a stable posture during the circumferential rotation (rotation operation). In addition, the battery 60, the lamp power supply circuit 75, etc. provided in the base 100A are arranged in consideration of the center of gravity balance, so that the ozone generator 100 is less likely to tip over and can maintain a stable state against the rotational force caused by the circumferential rotation operation of the circumferential operation unit 30.

That is, the lamp power supply circuit 75 and the operation detection unit 70 arranged in the circumferential operation unit 30 and the power supply housing 40 are arranged in positions that are approximately symmetrical with respect to the central axis C. The intake fan 45 and the power supply terminal 65 are also arranged in positions that are approximately symmetrical with respect to the central axis C. Furthermore, the battery 60 is arranged at the bottom of the ozone generator 100, near the central axis C.

These relatively heavy components are arranged vertically downwards in the ozone generator 100 to lower the center of gravity and are arranged symmetrically. Therefore, even if a force is applied to the circumferential operating unit 30 to rotate it in the circumferential direction, the ozone generator 100 can maintain a stable state.

Furthermore, the radial operation unit 35 is provided in the power supply housing 40, which is located below the circumferential operation unit 30. Therefore, the ozone generator 100 can maintain a stable posture even when a force is applied when the user presses (contacts and pushes down) the radial operation unit 35.

Figure 2 is a schematic block diagram of the ozone generator 100.

The control unit 110 controls the overall operation of the ozone generator 100, including controlling the lighting of the excimer lamp 10. The lamp ON/OFF circuit 120 is connected to the lamp power supply circuit 75, and controls the operation of the lamp power supply circuit 75 so that the excimer lamp 10 can be turned on and off periodically. The battery 60, which supplies power to each circuit, including the control unit 110, can be charged through a power supply terminal (here, a USB terminal) 65.

When the circumferential operation unit 30 moves circumferentially from a predetermined reference position by the user's operation of rotating it in the circumferential direction, the annular gear 72 moves in accordance with the movement, rotating the gear 71, which causes the control unit 110 to detect the movement as a change in the resistance value of the operation detection unit 70, thereby turning the ozone generator 100 on. The lighting circuit 55 drives the illumination light source 50, which is composed of an LED, with a current. The lighting circuit 55 drives the illumination light source 50 with a predetermined current value according to the amount of movement (rotation angle) detected by the operation detection unit 70.

On the other hand, when the radial operation unit 35 is operated, the intake fan 45 operates and the excimer lamp 10 is turned on based on a control signal from the control unit 110. When the radial operation unit 35 is operated again, the excimer lamp 10 stops being turned on and the intake fan 45 stops operating.

In this embodiment, a power supply cover 66 is provided to cover the lamp power supply circuit 75 and the operation detection unit 70, but in order to lower the center of gravity, it is also possible to position the lamp power supply circuit 75 and the operation detection unit 70 closer to the bottom surface 100B of the ozone generator 100 and not provide a power supply cover 66.

It is also possible to fit the lamp cover 20 to the circumferential operating part 30 by contacting the outer peripheral surface of the lower end of the lamp cover 20 with the inner peripheral surface of the circumferential operating part 30 without sliding between them without using the O-ring 31. Furthermore, the circumferential operating part 30 may be rotated in the circumferential direction relative to the power supply housing part 40 by a structure other than the bearing 37.

In this embodiment, a predetermined device operation such as device operation ON and lighting operation of the illumination light source 50 is executed by rotating the circumferential operation unit 30 in the circumferential direction, but a different operation process such as periodic lighting of the excimer lamp 10 may be executed in response to the operation of rotating in the circumferential direction. Also, a predetermined device operation such as periodic lighting of the excimer lamp 10 is executed by pressing the radial operation unit 35 in the radial direction, but a different operation process such as device operation ON and lighting operation of the illumination light source 50 may be executed in response to the operation of pressing in the radial direction.

Next, an ozone generator according to a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 3. FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the ozone generator according to the second embodiment.

The ozone generator 100' has a structure in which a tubular lamp cover 20' is placed on a base 100'A. The base 100'A is composed of a cylindrical power supply housing 40' with a bottom, and is not provided with a circumferential operation unit. An intake fan 45' is arranged coaxially with the central axis C at the bottom of the base 100'A. The ring-shaped illumination light source 50 is installed along the inner peripheral surface of the power supply housing 40'. The user can turn on the device power, light the illumination light source 50, and light the excimer lamp 10 by inputting operations to the operation unit 35'. Note that the lamp power supply circuit, battery, etc. are not shown in the figure.

As shown in FIG. 3, the lamp cover 20' has a substantially uniform diameter from the bottom end to the portion 20'N facing the excimer lamp 10, and is configured in a bottle-shaped curved shape that tapers from the middle of the facing portion beyond the bottom end position of the excimer lamp 10 toward the upper end 20'S. The lamp cover 20' is thickest at the upper end 20'S, and the thickness gradually increases from the portion 20'N facing the excimer lamp 10 toward the upper end 20'S. The thickness T1 of the upper end 20'S of the lamp cover 20' is greater than the thickness T2 of the facing portion.

Therefore, as in the first embodiment, even if the lamp cover 20' is subjected to an impact, the occurrence of cracks or scratches can be suppressed. Furthermore, at the portion 20'N facing the excimer lamp 10, the distance from the excimer lamp 10 to the inner surface 20'B of the lamp cover 20 is sufficiently secured, and the inner diameter is narrowed along the lamp axis direction, so that the effects of ultraviolet rays can be reliably suppressed. On the other hand, turning on the illumination light source 50 makes it easier to find cracks, etc., when they occur.

Next, an ozone generator according to a third embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 4. FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the ozone generator according to the third embodiment.

The ozone generator 100" has a structure in which a tubular lamp cover 20" is integrated with a base 100"A via a bearing 37, and the lamp cover 20" can be rotated (twisted) in the circumferential direction relative to the base 100"A. The lamp cover 20" has a power supply cover 66" at its lower end, which has an opening 66"A near the center.

As in the first embodiment, an intake fan 45, a battery 60, a lamp power supply circuit 75, and an operation detection unit 70 are provided. The thickness T1 of the upper end 20S" of the lamp cover 20" is greater than the thickness T2 of the opposing portion 20"N of the excimer lamp 10. Note that the configuration of the operation detection unit 70 is partially omitted from the illustration.

In the third embodiment, the lamp cover 20" also serves as the circumferential operation part. This allows the ozone generator 100" to be made more compact. In addition, the center of gravity is lowered, which increases stability when rotating the ozone generator in the circumferential direction.

In the first to third embodiments, the lamp cover is made of glass, but it may be made of other materials that are transparent or translucent to visible light. If the durability of the lamp cover is ensured and the occurrence of scratches and cracks is suppressed due to the influence of the material, etc., the thickness of the lamp cover may be constant, for example, without increasing the thickness at the upper end. Also, the lamp cover may have a constant diameter without tapering the upper end.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 10 Excimer lamp 20 Lamp cover 30 Circumferential operation section 40 Power supply housing section 50 Illumination light source 100 Ozone generator 100A Base section

Claims (10)

An excimer lamp,
a tubular lamp cover that houses the excimer lamp and has openings at both ends, the tubular lamp cover allowing gas containing ozone generated by ultraviolet irradiation of the excimer lamp to flow out from the opening at the downstream end ;
a base portion supporting the lamp cover from an upstream end side of the lamp cover ,
the diameter of the opening of the lamp cover is smaller than the diameter of the portion facing the excimer lamp,
13. An ozone generator, comprising: a downstream end of said lamp cover having a thickness greater than a thickness of said opposing portion. the lamp cover is tapered from at least the facing portion toward the downstream end,
2. The ozonizer of claim 1, wherein the thickness of the lamp cover increases from the facing portion toward the downstream end. the lamp cover transmits light having a longer wavelength than the ultraviolet light emitted from the excimer lamp;
3. The ozone generator according to claim 1, further comprising an illumination light source for illuminating at least a portion of the lamp cover. The ozone generator according to claim 3, characterized in that the illumination light source is configured in an annular shape so as to face the upstream end of the lamp cover. The ozone generator according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that an optical element for diffusing the illumination light is provided between the upstream end of the lamp cover and the irradiation surface of the illumination light source. An excimer lamp,
a tubular lamp cover that houses the excimer lamp and has an opening at a downstream end through which gas containing ozone generated by ultraviolet radiation from the excimer lamp flows out;
the diameter of the opening of the lamp cover is smaller than the diameter of the portion facing the excimer lamp,
The thickness of the downstream end of the lamp cover is greater than the thickness of the facing portion,
A base for supporting the lamp cover is further provided.
A part of the base portion is configured by a circumferential direction operation portion that can be operated to rotate in a circumferential direction relative to the device,
An ozone generator characterized in that a predetermined device operation is performed in response to an operation of rotating the circumferential direction operation unit in a circumferential direction. The ozone generator according to claim 6, characterized in that the lamp cover is fitted to the circumferential operating part so as to rotate circumferentially together with the circumferential operating part. Further comprising a radial operation unit,
The ozone generator according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that a predetermined device operation different from the device operation of the circumferential operation unit is performed in response to a radial pushing operation of the radial operation unit. An excimer lamp,
a tubular lamp cover that houses the excimer lamp and has an opening at a downstream end through which gas containing ozone generated by ultraviolet radiation from the excimer lamp flows out;
the diameter of the opening of the lamp cover is smaller than the diameter of the portion facing the excimer lamp,
The thickness of the downstream end of the lamp cover is greater than the thickness of the facing portion,
A base for supporting the lamp cover is further provided.
The lamp cover is rotatable in a circumferential direction relative to the base,
An ozone generator characterized in that a predetermined device operation is performed in response to an operation of rotating the lamp cover in a circumferential direction. 10. An ozone generator as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 9, wherein the base houses a battery and lamp power supply.

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