EP1705691B1 - Electrodeless fluorescent lamp and its operating device - Google Patents
Electrodeless fluorescent lamp and its operating device Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP1705691B1 EP1705691B1 EP05726203.2A EP05726203A EP1705691B1 EP 1705691 B1 EP1705691 B1 EP 1705691B1 EP 05726203 A EP05726203 A EP 05726203A EP 1705691 B1 EP1705691 B1 EP 1705691B1
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- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- amalgam
- bulb
- fluorescent lamp
- induction coil
- electrodeless fluorescent
- 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.)
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- 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
- H01J61/28—Means for producing, introducing, or replenishing gas or vapour during operation of the lamp
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01J—ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS
- H01J65/00—Lamps without any electrode inside the vessel; Lamps with at least one main electrode outside the vessel
- H01J65/04—Lamps in which a gas filling is excited to luminesce by an external electromagnetic field or by external corpuscular radiation, e.g. for indicating plasma display panels
- H01J65/042—Lamps in which a gas filling is excited to luminesce by an external electromagnetic field or by external corpuscular radiation, e.g. for indicating plasma display panels by an external electromagnetic field
- H01J65/048—Lamps in which a gas filling is excited to luminesce by an external electromagnetic field or by external corpuscular radiation, e.g. for indicating plasma display panels by an external electromagnetic field the field being produced by using an excitation coil
Definitions
- the present invention relates to an electrodeless fluorescent lamp and a lighting apparatus thereof.
- an electrodeless fluorescent lamp no electrode is provided in a bulb which is made of a glass, so that non-lighting due to blowout of electrode or erosion of emitter (thermo-electronic emission material) may not occur, and thereby, it has a characteristic of longer operating life in comparison with a general fluorescent lamp in which a pair of electrodes is arranged in a glass tube.
- FIG. 3 A constitution of a conventional electrodeless fluorescent lamp which is, for example, shown in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 7-272688 is shown in FIG. 3 .
- This electrodeless fluorescent lamp has a bulb 20 formed of a transparent material such as a glass, and into which a rare gas and a metal (for example, mercury) that can be vaporized are filled.
- An outer shape of the bulb 20 is a rotation symmetric body of substantially spherical, and a cavity 21 of substantially cylindrical shape is formed around an axis of the rotation symmetry.
- a fluorescent material film 22 is formed on an inner wall of the bulb 20.
- a high frequency electromagnetic field occurs in the bulb 20 by applying a high frequency current to the induction coil 24 from a high frequency power source 25 through cables 26, so that rare gas filled in the bulb 20 discharges electricity due to the high frequency electromagnetic field.
- the bulb 20 is heated by the electric discharge, and thereby mercury is evaporated (vaporized), and mercury vapor is further excited in a discharge space of the bulb 20, so that ultra-violet rays are emitted. Ultra-violet rays are further converted to visible lights with the fluorescent material film 22 formed on the inner wall of the bulb 20.
- an amalgam comprised of an alloy of a base substance metal and mercury is enclosed in the bulb for a purpose of getting stable quantity of light in a broad temperature environment.
- Mercury vapor pressure in the discharge space is controlled with saturated vapor pressure at a temperature of a point where the amalgam is disposed. If the temperature of the base substance metal is constant, mercury vapor pressure in the discharge space does not vary. However, there are going out and coming in of mercury on a surface of the amalgam even in the saturated state, so that evaporation and liquefaction of mercury are repeated.
- the electrodeless fluorescent lamp when the electrodeless fluorescent lamp has been lighted for a long time, mercury included in the amalgam is consumed, and an amount of mercury corresponding to the consumption is evaporated from the surface of the amalgam and supplied to the discharge space.
- a quantity of the amalgam enclosed in the bulb is generally several tens to several hundreds mg, and a rate of content of mercury is several %.
- an amount of mercury necessary for maintaining the mercury vapor pressure in the discharge space is several _g, there is enough amount of mercury for consumption.
- the electrodeless fluorescent lamp when the electrodeless fluorescent lamp is lighted under a state where the temperature in the bulb is not sufficiently increased such as for use in cool-temperature environment or in dimming lighting, or when the amalgam is enclosed at a position where the temperature is lower in the bulb, the temperature of the amalgam may be lower and the amalgam may be in solid-phase even though the electrodeless fluorescent lamp is lighted.
- mercury may evaporate from the surface of the amalgam to be supplied as mercury consumed in the discharge space.
- the amalgam since the amalgam is in solid-phase, diffusion of mercury is slower, and suppliance of mercury from inside to surface of the amalgam needs long time. Thus, mercury on the surface of the amalgam which is to be supplied to the discharge space becomes insufficient, and output of light of the electrodeless fluorescent lamp may be deteriorated.
- US 5 773 926 A discloses an electrodeless fluorescent RF lamp which includes a bulbous lamp envelope with a top, a bottom and a fil of rare gas and vaporizable amalgam therein.
- a reentrant cavity is disposed adjacent the bottom of the envelope and at least one tubulation extends from the envelope to hold at least a portion of the vaporizable amalgam.
- An induction coil is disposed on lead wires and coupled with a radio frequency exitation generator for generation of a plasma to produce radiation.
- EP 1 050 897 A discloses an electrodeless fluorescent lamp whereby a ferrite core is utilized to generate magnetic and electric fields to maintain the discharge, and wherein a specific core material of Mn-Zn combination is used which is added to Fe203 base to obtain favorable grain boundary and crystalline structure.
- US 2001/000941 A1 discloses an electrodeless lamp including an envelope containing a fill of discharge gas, a magnetic core, an induction coil wound around the magnetic core, a driver circuit for supplying an electric current to the induction coil, a socket for receiving electrical power, and heat conduction means for conducting heat gnerated in the magnetic core.
- a purpose of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problem and to provide an electrodeless fluorescent lamp and a lighting apparatus thereof with which enough quantity of metal vapor can be supplied to a discharge space in a bulb from an amalgam, even when the electrodeless fluorescent lamp is lighted in a state where the temperature in the bulb is not increased sufficiently such as for use in cool-temperature environment or in dimming lighting.
- the amalgam becomes the mixture of liquid-phase and solid-phase because the amalgam is heated, so that mercury can be evaporated from a surface of the amalgam and enough amount of mercury can be supplied to the discharge space in the bulb. Consequently, deterioration of light output of the electrodeless fluorescent lamp due to insufficiency of mercury on the surface of the amalgam which is to be supplied to the discharge space can be prevented.
- an electrodeless fluorescent lamp and a lighting apparatus thereof in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention are described with reference to drawing.
- an amalgam is heated to be mixture of liquid-phase and solid-phase even when the electrodeless fluorescent lamp is lighted under a state where a temperature in a bulb is not increased sufficiently such as for use in cool-temperature environment or in dimming lighting, so that deterioration of light output of the electrodeless fluorescent lamp is prevented with evaporation of mercury from a surface of the amalgam and suppliance of enough amount of mercury to a discharge space in the bulb, as mentioned above.
- the electrodeless fluorescent lamp in accordance with this embodiment is constituted by a lamp unit 1 and a power coupler unit 10, and the lamp unit 1 is detachably attached to the power coupler unit 10.
- the lamp unit 1 has a bulb 2 formed of a transparent material such as a glass, and a ferule 3 of a substantially tubular shape fixed on a neck portion of the bulb 2.
- An outer shape of the bulb 2 is rotation symmetry of a substantially spherical shape, and a cavity 4 of a tubular shape having a bottom is formed around an axis of the rotation symmetry.
- a tubular shaped body serving as the cavity 4 is adhered to a substantially spherical shaped body which is formed to be opened at a bottom of a neck portion, so as to close the bottom of the neck portion and to protrude inwardly toward the inside of the bulb 2.
- a ventilation pipe 5 is further adhered on the bottom of the tubular shaped body so as to be coaxial with the center axis of the tubular shaped body.
- the inside of the bulb 2 is communicated with an exterior through the ventilation pipe 5, so that air in the inside of the bulb 2 is exhausted and a rare gas (for example, argon gas) is filled into the inside of the bulb 2 through the ventilation pipe 5.
- a rare gas for example, argon gas
- a fluorescent material film 6 is formed on inner peripheral faces of the bulb 2 (an inner peripheral surface of the substantially spherical shaped body and an outer peripheral surface of the substantially cylindrical shaped body (SIC)) with spreading a fluorescent material. Then, the inside of the bulb 2 serves as a discharge space.
- Material of the ventilation pipe 5 is not limited in particular, it, however, is preferable to be formed of a material, which has a higher thermal conductivity than that of a glass, such as a metal or a ceramic (for example, aluminum oxide, aluminum nitride, boron nitride, silicon carbide, silicon nitride, beryllium oxide).
- a metal or a ceramic for example, aluminum oxide, aluminum nitride, boron nitride, silicon carbide, silicon nitride, beryllium oxide.
- the metal container 7 is formed in a shape of capsule inside of which is hollowed, and through-holes (not illustrated) are formed on a side face thereof.
- the amalgam is contained in the inside of the metal container 7, and mercury goes out from and comes into a surface of the amalgam through the through-holes.
- the amalgam contains mercury at component proportion of 3.5% to base substance metal consisting of an alloying with, for example, bismuth and indium.
- a flag 9a to which a metallic compound (for example, hydration cesium) having a small work function is applied, is fixed at another end portion of the supporting member 9 drawn from the ventilation pipe 5 toward the inside space of the bulb 2.
- the metallic compound applied to the flag 9a bears a function for increasing a number of electrons at starting up of the electrodeless fluorescent lamp.
- the power coupler unit 10 comprises a heat radiation cylinder 11 of substantially cylindrical shape and having an outward flange portion 11a formed at a lower end thereof, a cylindrical ferrite core 12 fixed on an upper end face of the heat radiation cylinder 11, and the induction coil 13 wound around an outer periphery of the ferrite core 12. Then, as shown in FIG. 1A , the power coupler unit 10 is attached to the lamp unit 1 in a manner so that the ventilation pipe 5 is inserted into an inside of the ferrite core 12, the heat radiation cylinder 11, the ferrite core 12 and the induction coil 13 of the power coupler unit 10 are fit into the cavity 4 of the lamp unit 1. In a state that the power coupler unit 10 is attached to the lamp unit 1, as shown in FIG. 2 , the metal container 7 containing the amalgam is located between an upper end A and a bottom end B of the induction coil 13 inside the induction coil 13.
- the metal container 7 containing the amalgam Since the metal container 7 containing the amalgam is located inside the induction coil 13 in the ventilation pipe 5, that is, in the vicinity of a position where electric discharge occurs in the inside space of the bulb 2, the amalgam contained in the metal container 7 is heated by heat generation of the induction coil 13 or heat generation due to electric discharge under a state that the induction coil 13 is energized, that is, in a state that the electrodeless fluorescent lamp is lighted. Therefore, the amalgam can easily become a mixture of liquid-phase and solid-phase.
- the temperature of the amalgam in the metal container 7 is increased during a relatively short time, and the amalgam becomes the mixture of liquid-phase and solid-phase, so that mercury can be evaporated from a surface of the amalgam for supplying mercury consumed in the discharge space.
- the induction coil 13 of the power coupler unit 10 is connected to a lighting apparatus 15 which comprises a high frequency power source, and a high-frequency current (for example, a sinusoidal current of frequency 130 kHz) is applied to the induction coil 13 from the high frequency power source. Thereby, electric discharge occurs in the discharge space inside the bulb 2, and the electrodeless fluorescent lamp is lighted.
- a high-frequency current for induction heating is superimposed on an output current of the high frequency power source with applying amplitude modulation of high frequency (for example, 500 kHz), according to need. According to the superimposed high frequency current, it is possible to heat the metal container 7 directly by induction heating with high frequency magnetic field generated in the induction coil 13.
- the amalgam contained in the metal container 7 can be heated with induction heating of the metal container, so that the amalgam can become the mixture of liquid-phase and solid-phase, and can easily be maintained in such state.
- the metal container 7 is located inside the induction coil 13, the induction heating can be performed effectively. Since mercury is easily diffused in liquid-phase, it is possible to maintain enough amount of mercury on the surface of the amalgam for supplying mercury vapor to the discharge space.
- timing and term for superimposing the high frequency current for induction heating on the output current of the high frequency power source is mot limited in particular, it may be performed in, for example, a constant term from starting up of lighting of the electrodeless fluorescent lamp, or it may be performed when a detected temperature of a sensor is equal to or lower than a predetermined threshold with using the sensor such as a thermistor.
- the electrodeless fluorescent lamp in accordance with the present invention is not limited to the above mentioned embodiment. It is sufficient to comprise: a bulb formed of a transparent material, into which a rare gas and a metal which can be vaporized are filled, and having a cavity protruding inward; a tubular shaped portion formed in the cavity that an inside thereof is communicated to an inside of the bulb; a fluorescent material film formed on an inner wall of the bulb; an induction coil wound around a periphery of the tubular portion along an axial direction and contained in the cavity; an amalgam containing the metal and disposed in the tubular portion; and a heating means for heating the amalgam so that the amalgam becomes a mixture of liquid-phase and solid-phase in a state where electric discharge occurs in a discharge space inside the bulb.
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- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Electromagnetism (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Plasma & Fusion (AREA)
- Discharge Lamps And Accessories Thereof (AREA)
- Non-Portable Lighting Devices Or Systems Thereof (AREA)
Description
- The present invention relates to an electrodeless fluorescent lamp and a lighting apparatus thereof.
- In an electrodeless fluorescent lamp, no electrode is provided in a bulb which is made of a glass, so that non-lighting due to blowout of electrode or erosion of emitter (thermo-electronic emission material) may not occur, and thereby, it has a characteristic of longer operating life in comparison with a general fluorescent lamp in which a pair of electrodes is arranged in a glass tube.
- A constitution of a conventional electrodeless fluorescent lamp which is, for example, shown in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No.
7-272688 FIG. 3 . This electrodeless fluorescent lamp has abulb 20 formed of a transparent material such as a glass, and into which a rare gas and a metal (for example, mercury) that can be vaporized are filled. An outer shape of thebulb 20 is a rotation symmetric body of substantially spherical, and acavity 21 of substantially cylindrical shape is formed around an axis of the rotation symmetry. Apower coupler unit 27, in which aninduction coil 24 is wound around an outer periphery of a rod shapedcore 23, is fitted to thecavity 21. Furthermore, afluorescent material film 22 is formed on an inner wall of thebulb 20. - A high frequency electromagnetic field occurs in the
bulb 20 by applying a high frequency current to theinduction coil 24 from a highfrequency power source 25 throughcables 26, so that rare gas filled in thebulb 20 discharges electricity due to the high frequency electromagnetic field. Thebulb 20 is heated by the electric discharge, and thereby mercury is evaporated (vaporized), and mercury vapor is further excited in a discharge space of thebulb 20, so that ultra-violet rays are emitted. Ultra-violet rays are further converted to visible lights with thefluorescent material film 22 formed on the inner wall of thebulb 20. - By the way, in the above mentioned electrodeless fluorescent lamp, an amalgam comprised of an alloy of a base substance metal and mercury is enclosed in the bulb for a purpose of getting stable quantity of light in a broad temperature environment. Mercury vapor pressure in the discharge space is controlled with saturated vapor pressure at a temperature of a point where the amalgam is disposed. If the temperature of the base substance metal is constant, mercury vapor pressure in the discharge space does not vary. However, there are going out and coming in of mercury on a surface of the amalgam even in the saturated state, so that evaporation and liquefaction of mercury are repeated. Thus, when the electrodeless fluorescent lamp has been lighted for a long time, mercury included in the amalgam is consumed, and an amount of mercury corresponding to the consumption is evaporated from the surface of the amalgam and supplied to the discharge space. Hereupon, a quantity of the amalgam enclosed in the bulb is generally several tens to several hundreds mg, and a rate of content of mercury is several %. In contrast, since an amount of mercury necessary for maintaining the mercury vapor pressure in the discharge space is several _g, there is enough amount of mercury for consumption.
- However, when the electrodeless fluorescent lamp is lighted under a state where the temperature in the bulb is not sufficiently increased such as for use in cool-temperature environment or in dimming lighting, or when the amalgam is enclosed at a position where the temperature is lower in the bulb, the temperature of the amalgam may be lower and the amalgam may be in solid-phase even though the electrodeless fluorescent lamp is lighted. When the electrodeless fluorescent lamp has been lighted continuously under such condition for a long time, mercury may evaporate from the surface of the amalgam to be supplied as mercury consumed in the discharge space. However, since the amalgam is in solid-phase, diffusion of mercury is slower, and suppliance of mercury from inside to surface of the amalgam needs long time. Thus, mercury on the surface of the amalgam which is to be supplied to the discharge space becomes insufficient, and output of light of the electrodeless fluorescent lamp may be deteriorated.
-
US 5 773 926 A discloses an electrodeless fluorescent RF lamp which includes a bulbous lamp envelope with a top, a bottom and a fil of rare gas and vaporizable amalgam therein. A reentrant cavity is disposed adjacent the bottom of the envelope and at least one tubulation extends from the envelope to hold at least a portion of the vaporizable amalgam. An induction coil is disposed on lead wires and coupled with a radio frequency exitation generator for generation of a plasma to produce radiation. -
EP 1 050 897 A discloses an electrodeless fluorescent lamp whereby a ferrite core is utilized to generate magnetic and electric fields to maintain the discharge, and wherein a specific core material of Mn-Zn combination is used which is added to Fe203 base to obtain favorable grain boundary and crystalline structure. -
US 2001/000941 A1 discloses an electrodeless lamp including an envelope containing a fill of discharge gas, a magnetic core, an induction coil wound around the magnetic core, a driver circuit for supplying an electric current to the induction coil, a socket for receiving electrical power, and heat conduction means for conducting heat gnerated in the magnetic core. - A purpose of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problem and to provide an electrodeless fluorescent lamp and a lighting apparatus thereof with which enough quantity of metal vapor can be supplied to a discharge space in a bulb from an amalgam, even when the electrodeless fluorescent lamp is lighted in a state where the temperature in the bulb is not increased sufficiently such as for use in cool-temperature environment or in dimming lighting.
- An electrodeless fluorescent lamp in accordance with an aspect of the present invention is characterized by comprising:
- a bulb formed of a transparent material, into which a rare gas and a metal which can be vaporized are filled, and having a cavity protruding inward;
- a tubular shaped portion formed in the cavity that an inside thereof is communicated to an inside of the bulb;
- a fluorescent material film formed on an inner wall of the bulb;
- an induction coil wound around a periphery of the tubular shaped portion along an axial direction and contained in the cavity;
- an amalgam containing the metal and disposed in the tubular portion; wherein
- the amalgam is contained in a metal container, and the metal container is located between an upper end and a bottom end of the induction coil inside the induction coil;
- the amalgam contained in the metal container is heated by heat generation of the induction coil or heat generation due to electric discharge under a state that the induction coil is energized, so that the amalgam becomes a mixture of liquid-phase and solid-phase.
- According to such a constitution, even when the electrodeless fluorescent lamp is lighted under the state where the temperature in the bulb is not increased sufficiently such as for use in cool-temperature environment or in dimming lighting, the amalgam becomes the mixture of liquid-phase and solid-phase because the amalgam is heated, so that mercury can be evaporated from a surface of the amalgam and enough amount of mercury can be supplied to the discharge space in the bulb. Consequently, deterioration of light output of the electrodeless fluorescent lamp due to insufficiency of mercury on the surface of the amalgam which is to be supplied to the discharge space can be prevented.
-
- FIG. 1A
- is a sectional view showing a constitution of an electrodeless fluorescent lamp in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, and
FIG. 1B is a sectional view showing a state where a lamp unit and a power coupler unit of it are departed. - FIG. 2
- is a sectional view showing a constitution of a main portion of the electrodeless fluorescent lamp in accordance with the above embodiment.
- FIG. 3
- is a sectional view showing a constitution of a conventional electrodeless fluorescent lamp.
- An electrodeless fluorescent lamp and a lighting apparatus thereof in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention are described with reference to drawing. In the electrodeless fluorescent lamp and the lighting apparatus thereof, an amalgam is heated to be mixture of liquid-phase and solid-phase even when the electrodeless fluorescent lamp is lighted under a state where a temperature in a bulb is not increased sufficiently such as for use in cool-temperature environment or in dimming lighting, so that deterioration of light output of the electrodeless fluorescent lamp is prevented with evaporation of mercury from a surface of the amalgam and suppliance of enough amount of mercury to a discharge space in the bulb, as mentioned above.
- As shown in
FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B , the electrodeless fluorescent lamp in accordance with this embodiment is constituted by a lamp unit 1 and apower coupler unit 10, and the lamp unit 1 is detachably attached to thepower coupler unit 10. The lamp unit 1 has abulb 2 formed of a transparent material such as a glass, and aferule 3 of a substantially tubular shape fixed on a neck portion of thebulb 2. - An outer shape of the
bulb 2 is rotation symmetry of a substantially spherical shape, and acavity 4 of a tubular shape having a bottom is formed around an axis of the rotation symmetry. Specifically, a tubular shaped body serving as thecavity 4 is adhered to a substantially spherical shaped body which is formed to be opened at a bottom of a neck portion, so as to close the bottom of the neck portion and to protrude inwardly toward the inside of thebulb 2. Aventilation pipe 5 is further adhered on the bottom of the tubular shaped body so as to be coaxial with the center axis of the tubular shaped body. The inside of thebulb 2 is communicated with an exterior through theventilation pipe 5, so that air in the inside of thebulb 2 is exhausted and a rare gas (for example, argon gas) is filled into the inside of thebulb 2 through theventilation pipe 5. Afluorescent material film 6 is formed on inner peripheral faces of the bulb 2 (an inner peripheral surface of the substantially spherical shaped body and an outer peripheral surface of the substantially cylindrical shaped body (SIC)) with spreading a fluorescent material. Then, the inside of thebulb 2 serves as a discharge space. - Lower end portion of the
ventilation pipe 5 is drawn outward from the bottom of the neck portion of thebulb 2. After exhausting air from and filling the rare gas into thebulb 2 as mentioned above, ametal container 7 containing the amalgam and aglass rod 8 are put into the inside of theventilation pipe 5, and the lower end thereof is sealed under such state. Thereby, thebulb 2 is air-tightly sealed. Furthermore,protrusions exhausting pipe 5, and themetal container 7 is held between theprotrusion 5b at the middle portion and therod 8. - Material of the
ventilation pipe 5 is not limited in particular, it, however, is preferable to be formed of a material, which has a higher thermal conductivity than that of a glass, such as a metal or a ceramic (for example, aluminum oxide, aluminum nitride, boron nitride, silicon carbide, silicon nitride, beryllium oxide). Thereby, heat generation of aninduction coil 13 or heat generation due to electric discharge can be conducted to themetal container 7 effectively, and thus, the amalgam in themetal container 7 can be heated. In case ofmetal ventilation pipe 5, the coefficient of thermal expansion of the metal should be coincided with that of a glass of the tubular shaped body forming thecavity 4, and the pipe should be adhered on the bottom face of the tubular shaped body with heat welding. Alternatively, in case ofceramic ventilation pipe 5, it should be joined on the bottom face of the tubular shaped body with frit of low-melting glass. - The
metal container 7 is formed in a shape of capsule inside of which is hollowed, and through-holes (not illustrated) are formed on a side face thereof. The amalgam is contained in the inside of themetal container 7, and mercury goes out from and comes into a surface of the amalgam through the through-holes. The amalgam contains mercury at component proportion of 3.5% to base substance metal consisting of an alloying with, for example, bismuth and indium. - An end portion of a supporting
member 9, which is formed in a shape of substantially horse shoe shape with square corners, is engaged with theprotrusion 5a formed at the upper portion of theventilation pipe 5. Aflag 9a, to which a metallic compound (for example, hydration cesium) having a small work function is applied, is fixed at another end portion of the supportingmember 9 drawn from theventilation pipe 5 toward the inside space of thebulb 2. The metallic compound applied to theflag 9a bears a function for increasing a number of electrons at starting up of the electrodeless fluorescent lamp. - The
power coupler unit 10 comprises aheat radiation cylinder 11 of substantially cylindrical shape and having anoutward flange portion 11a formed at a lower end thereof, acylindrical ferrite core 12 fixed on an upper end face of theheat radiation cylinder 11, and theinduction coil 13 wound around an outer periphery of theferrite core 12. Then, as shown inFIG. 1A , thepower coupler unit 10 is attached to the lamp unit 1 in a manner so that theventilation pipe 5 is inserted into an inside of theferrite core 12, theheat radiation cylinder 11, theferrite core 12 and theinduction coil 13 of thepower coupler unit 10 are fit into thecavity 4 of the lamp unit 1. In a state that thepower coupler unit 10 is attached to the lamp unit 1, as shown inFIG. 2 , themetal container 7 containing the amalgam is located between an upper end A and a bottom end B of theinduction coil 13 inside theinduction coil 13. - Since the
metal container 7 containing the amalgam is located inside theinduction coil 13 in theventilation pipe 5, that is, in the vicinity of a position where electric discharge occurs in the inside space of thebulb 2, the amalgam contained in themetal container 7 is heated by heat generation of theinduction coil 13 or heat generation due to electric discharge under a state that theinduction coil 13 is energized, that is, in a state that the electrodeless fluorescent lamp is lighted. Therefore, the amalgam can easily become a mixture of liquid-phase and solid-phase. Thus, even when the electrodeless fluorescent lamp is lighted in a state that the temperature in the bulb is not increased sufficiently such as for use in cool-temperature environment or in dimming lighting, the temperature of the amalgam in themetal container 7 is increased during a relatively short time, and the amalgam becomes the mixture of liquid-phase and solid-phase, so that mercury can be evaporated from a surface of the amalgam for supplying mercury consumed in the discharge space. - The
induction coil 13 of thepower coupler unit 10 is connected to alighting apparatus 15 which comprises a high frequency power source, and a high-frequency current (for example, a sinusoidal current of frequency 130 kHz) is applied to theinduction coil 13 from the high frequency power source. Thereby, electric discharge occurs in the discharge space inside thebulb 2, and the electrodeless fluorescent lamp is lighted. In this embodiment, a high-frequency current for induction heating is superimposed on an output current of the high frequency power source with applying amplitude modulation of high frequency (for example, 500 kHz), according to need. According to the superimposed high frequency current, it is possible to heat themetal container 7 directly by induction heating with high frequency magnetic field generated in theinduction coil 13. Therefore, even in the cool-temperature environment, the amalgam contained in themetal container 7 can be heated with induction heating of the metal container, so that the amalgam can become the mixture of liquid-phase and solid-phase, and can easily be maintained in such state. In particular, since themetal container 7 is located inside theinduction coil 13, the induction heating can be performed effectively. Since mercury is easily diffused in liquid-phase, it is possible to maintain enough amount of mercury on the surface of the amalgam for supplying mercury vapor to the discharge space. Consequently, even when the electrodeless fluorescent lamp is lighted under the state that the temperature in the bulb is not increased sufficiently such as for use in cool-temperature environment or in dimming lighting, mercury is evaporated from the surface of the amalgam for supplying consumed mercury in the discharge space, so that enough quantity of mercury is supplied to the discharge space. As a result, the light output of the electrodeless fluorescent lamp is not deteriorated. - Besides, with respect to the superposition of current for superimposing the high frequency current for induction heating on the output current of the high frequency power source with amplitude modulation, it can be realized with using a known modulation circuit, so that illustration and description of detailed constitution are omitted. Furthermore, although timing and term for superimposing the high frequency current for induction heating on the output current of the high frequency power source is mot limited in particular, it may be performed in, for example, a constant term from starting up of lighting of the electrodeless fluorescent lamp, or it may be performed when a detected temperature of a sensor is equal to or lower than a predetermined threshold with using the sensor such as a thermistor.
- Still furthermore, the electrodeless fluorescent lamp in accordance with the present invention is not limited to the above mentioned embodiment. It is sufficient to comprise: a bulb formed of a transparent material, into which a rare gas and a metal which can be vaporized are filled, and having a cavity protruding inward; a tubular shaped portion formed in the cavity that an inside thereof is communicated to an inside of the bulb; a fluorescent material film formed on an inner wall of the bulb; an induction coil wound around a periphery of the tubular portion along an axial direction and contained in the cavity; an amalgam containing the metal and disposed in the tubular portion; and a heating means for heating the amalgam so that the amalgam becomes a mixture of liquid-phase and solid-phase in a state where electric discharge occurs in a discharge space inside the bulb. Other shapes and constitutions are not limited in particular. Thereby, even when the electrodeless fluorescent lamp is lighted in a state that temperature in the bulb is not increased sufficiently such as for use in cool- temperature environment or in dimming lighting, the amalgam becomes a state of mixture of liquid-phase and solid-phase due to the amalgam is heated, so that mercury is evaporated from a surface of the amalgam and enough quantity of mercury is supplied to a discharge space inside the bulb. As a result, deterioration of light output of the electrodeless fluorescent lamp caused by insufficiency of mercury on the surface of the amalgam which is to be supplied to the discharge space can be prevented.
- This application is based on Japan Patent Application No.
2004-000557 - Although the present invention has been fully described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that various changes and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Therefore, unless otherwise such changes and modifications depart from the scope of the present invention, they should be construed as being included therein.
Claims (5)
- An electrodeless fluorescent lamp comprising:a bulb (2) formed of a transparent material, into which a rare gas and a metal which can be vaporised are filled, and having a cavity (4) protruding inward,a tubular shape portion (5) formed in the cavity (4) that an inside thereof is communicated to an inside of the bulb,a fluorescent material film (6) formed on an inner wall of the bulb (2), andan induction coil (13) wound around a periphery of the tubular shaped portion (5) along an axial direction and contained in the cavity,an amalgam containing the metal and disposed in the tubular shaped portion (5)characterized in thatthe amalgam is contained in a metal container (7), and the metal container (7) is located between an upper end and a bottom end of the induction coil (13) inside the induction coil (13);the amalgam contained in the metal container (7) is heated by heat generation of the induction coil (13) or heat generation due to electric discharge under a state that the induction coil (13) is energized, so that the amalgam becomes a mixture of liquid-phase and solid-phase.
- The electrodeless fluorescent lamp in accordance with claim 1, wherein the tubular shaped portion (5) is formed of a material having higher heat-conductivity in comparison with that of a transparent material used for forming the bulb (2), serves as a part of the heating means so as to conduct heat generation of the induction coil (13) or heat generation due to electric discharge to the amalgam effectively, and thereby to heat the amalgam.
- The electrode less fluorescent lamp in accordance with claim 2, wherein metal or ceramic is used as the material having higher heat-conductivity of the tubular shaped portion (5).
- The electrodeless fluorescent lamp in accordance with claim 1, wherein the metal container (7) and the induction coil (13) serve as a part of the heating means so as to heat the metal container (7) with induction heating by applying high frequency current for induction heating to the induction coil with superimposing on high frequency current for discharging the rare gas in the inside of the bulb.
- A lighting apparatus (15) arranged for lighting an electrodeless fluorescent lamp according to one of the claims 1 to 4, comprising a high frequency power source (25) for generating a high frequency current and a current superimposing means for superimposing a current for induction heating on the high frequency current outputted from the high frequency power source, and thereby, said metal container (7) provided inside said bulb (2) of the electrodeless fluorescent lamp is heated with induction heating by applying the current for induction heating to the induction coil (13) of the electrodeless fluorescent lamp.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
JP2004000557A JP4258380B2 (en) | 2004-01-05 | 2004-01-05 | Electrodeless fluorescent lamp and its lighting device |
PCT/JP2005/000014 WO2005067002A1 (en) | 2004-01-05 | 2005-01-05 | Electrodeless fluorescent lamp and its operating device |
Publications (3)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP1705691A1 EP1705691A1 (en) | 2006-09-27 |
EP1705691A4 EP1705691A4 (en) | 2007-11-28 |
EP1705691B1 true EP1705691B1 (en) | 2013-05-01 |
Family
ID=34746953
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP05726203.2A Not-in-force EP1705691B1 (en) | 2004-01-05 | 2005-01-05 | Electrodeless fluorescent lamp and its operating device |
Country Status (3)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP1705691B1 (en) |
JP (1) | JP4258380B2 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2005067002A1 (en) |
Cited By (1)
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US20140145617A1 (en) * | 2012-11-26 | 2014-05-29 | Lucidity Lights, Inc. | Dimmable induction rf fluorescent lamp with reduced electromagnetic interference |
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JP2008053178A (en) * | 2006-08-28 | 2008-03-06 | Matsushita Electric Works Ltd | Electrodeless discharge lamp and lighting device |
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US20140375203A1 (en) | 2012-11-26 | 2014-12-25 | Lucidity Lights, Inc. | Induction rf fluorescent lamp with helix mount |
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US9245734B2 (en) | 2012-11-26 | 2016-01-26 | Lucidity Lights, Inc. | Fast start induction RF fluorescent lamp with burst-mode dimming |
KR101387080B1 (en) * | 2013-05-30 | 2014-04-18 | (주)화신이앤비 | Electrodeless lamp |
USD745981S1 (en) | 2013-07-19 | 2015-12-22 | Lucidity Lights, Inc. | Inductive lamp |
USD745982S1 (en) | 2013-07-19 | 2015-12-22 | Lucidity Lights, Inc. | Inductive lamp |
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USD747507S1 (en) | 2013-08-02 | 2016-01-12 | Lucidity Lights, Inc. | Inductive lamp |
JP6530455B2 (en) * | 2017-08-28 | 2019-06-12 | プロライト株式会社 | Power supply |
USD854198S1 (en) | 2017-12-28 | 2019-07-16 | Lucidity Lights, Inc. | Inductive lamp |
US10236174B1 (en) | 2017-12-28 | 2019-03-19 | Lucidity Lights, Inc. | Lumen maintenance in fluorescent lamps |
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JP3184427B2 (en) * | 1995-06-28 | 2001-07-09 | 株式会社日立製作所 | Driving method of discharge device |
US5773926A (en) | 1995-11-16 | 1998-06-30 | Matsushita Electric Works Research And Development Laboratory Inc | Electrodeless fluorescent lamp with cold spot control |
DE69813763T2 (en) * | 1997-10-09 | 2004-02-05 | Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. | LOW PRESSURE DISCHARGE LAMP |
US20020067129A1 (en) * | 1999-05-03 | 2002-06-06 | John C. Chamberlain | Ferrite core for electrodeless flourescent lamp operating at 50-500 khz |
JP2000340380A (en) * | 1999-05-26 | 2000-12-08 | Matsushita Electric Works Ltd | Electrodeless discharge lamp lighting device |
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JP2003234084A (en) * | 2002-02-07 | 2003-08-22 | Hitachi Ltd | Fluorescent lamp and lighting system using the same |
-
2004
- 2004-01-05 JP JP2004000557A patent/JP4258380B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
-
2005
- 2005-01-05 EP EP05726203.2A patent/EP1705691B1/en not_active Not-in-force
- 2005-01-05 WO PCT/JP2005/000014 patent/WO2005067002A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20140145617A1 (en) * | 2012-11-26 | 2014-05-29 | Lucidity Lights, Inc. | Dimmable induction rf fluorescent lamp with reduced electromagnetic interference |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
EP1705691A1 (en) | 2006-09-27 |
WO2005067002A1 (en) | 2005-07-21 |
JP4258380B2 (en) | 2009-04-30 |
EP1705691A4 (en) | 2007-11-28 |
JP2005197031A (en) | 2005-07-21 |
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