JP2007273136A

JP2007273136A - Planer lighting system

Info

Publication number: JP2007273136A
Application number: JP2006094079A
Authority: JP
Inventors: Kazuyoshi Takeda; 和由竹田; Takashi Nishihara; 隆史西原
Original assignee: Harison Toshiba Lighting Corp
Current assignee: Toshiba Lighting and Technology Corp
Priority date: 2006-03-30
Filing date: 2006-03-30
Publication date: 2007-10-18

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a planer lighting system which can securely and easily be in electrical contact with an external electrode on a planer discharge container, and achieves high reliability of a feed electrical system as a lighting system. <P>SOLUTION: The planer lighting system is provided with the planer discharge container 1 including translucent front substrate 11 and rear substrate 12 facing with each other, and a phosphor layer 17 formed at least either one inner side of the front substrate and rear substrate with a discharge medium sealed inside, band-like external electrodes 2, 2 arranged along end edges near the respective both end edges facing with each other on surfaces of the front substrate and/or rear substrate of the planer discharge container, and a feed member 3 of U-shape in cross section which is in electrically contact with more than two parts of the external electrodes respectively and surrounds a side surface of the planer discharge container. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

本発明は、面状照明装置に関する。 The present invention relates to a planar lighting device.

従来、液晶テレビ、液晶ディスプレイのバックライトユニットや計器用照明としての照明装置には、図６に示すような面状照明装置が広く利用されている。この従来の面状照明装置は、透光性の前面基板と背面基板とを対向させて配置し、内部に放電媒体を封入し、前面基板と背面基板の少なくともどちらか一方の内側に蛍光体層を形成した面状放電容器１０１に対して、その前面基板又は／及び背面基板の面上の相対する両端縁それぞれの近くに端縁に沿って一対の帯状の外部電極１０２，１０３を設置し、これらの外部電極１０２，１０３に対してインバータ１０４からリード線１０５，１０６にて高周波電力を印加する構成である。そして従来、面状放電容器１０１に対して設置する外部電極１０２，１０３として、アルミニウム箔の裏面にアクリル系粘着剤を塗布したアルミニウムテープを使用している。 Conventionally, a planar illumination device as shown in FIG. 6 has been widely used as an illumination device as a backlight unit of a liquid crystal television, a liquid crystal display, or an instrument illumination. In this conventional planar illumination device, a translucent front substrate and a rear substrate are arranged to face each other, a discharge medium is sealed inside, and a phosphor layer is disposed inside at least one of the front substrate and the rear substrate. A pair of strip-like external electrodes 102 and 103 are installed along the edges of the planar discharge vessel 101 having a shape near the opposite end edges of the front substrate and / or the back substrate. High frequency power is applied to these external electrodes 102 and 103 from an inverter 104 through lead wires 105 and 106. Conventionally, an aluminum tape in which an acrylic adhesive is applied to the back surface of an aluminum foil is used as the external electrodes 102 and 103 installed on the planar discharge vessel 101.

しかしながら、このアルミニウムテープを外部電極として用いた場合、当該面状照明装置を長時間点灯すると、その点灯中にランプから漏れる紫外線や熱に曝されて粘着剤が劣化し、外部電極であるアルミニウムテープが面状放電容器から剥がれ、点灯できなくなる不具合が発生することがあり、信頼性に欠ける問題点があった。 However, when this aluminum tape is used as an external electrode, when the planar lighting device is turned on for a long time, the adhesive is deteriorated by being exposed to ultraviolet rays or heat leaking from the lamp during the lighting, and the aluminum tape as the external electrode May peel off from the planar discharge vessel and cause a problem that the lamp cannot be lit.

これに対処すべく、外部電極の設置相当箇所にハーネスを半田付けしたり、あるいは銀ペーストのような導電性接着剤でリード線を接着したりすることもある。しかしながら、ハーネスを半田付けして外部電極とする場合、直接に半田付けするためにクラックが発生しやすく、やはり信頼性に欠ける問題点があった。また、銀ペーストのような導電性接着剤でリード線を接着して外部電極とする場合、その設置コストが高くなる問題点があり、また接続部の信頼性も保ち難い問題点があった。
特開２００３−１７８７１８号公報 In order to cope with this, the harness may be soldered to a portion corresponding to the installation of the external electrode, or the lead wire may be bonded with a conductive adhesive such as silver paste. However, when the harness is soldered to form an external electrode, there is a problem that cracking is likely to occur due to direct soldering, and reliability is still lacking. In addition, when the lead wire is bonded to the external electrode with a conductive adhesive such as silver paste, there are problems that the installation cost becomes high and it is difficult to maintain the reliability of the connection part.
JP 2003-178718 A

本発明は、このような従来の技術的課題に鑑みてなされたもので、面状放電容器上の外部電極と確実かつ容易に電気的に接触でき、照明装置としての給電電気系統の信頼性を高めることができる面状照明装置を提供することを目的とする。 The present invention has been made in view of such a conventional technical problem, and can reliably and easily make electrical contact with an external electrode on a planar discharge vessel, and can improve the reliability of a feeding electric system as a lighting device. An object of the present invention is to provide a planar lighting device that can be enhanced.

請求項１の発明の面状照明装置は、透光性の前面基板と背面基板とを対向させて配置し、内部に放電媒体を封入し、前記前面基板と背面基板の少なくともどちらか一方の内側に蛍光体層を形成した面状放電容器と、前記面状放電容器の前記前面基板又は／及び背面基板の面上の相対する両端縁それぞれの近くに端縁に沿って設置された帯状の外部電極と、前記外部電極それぞれに２箇所以上で電気的に接触し、かつ、前記面状放電容器の側部を囲むコの字状の断面形状の給電部材とを備えたものである。 According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a planar illuminating device in which a translucent front substrate and a rear substrate are disposed to face each other, a discharge medium is enclosed therein, and at least one of the front substrate and the rear substrate is disposed inside. A sheet-like discharge vessel having a phosphor layer formed thereon, and a strip-like external device installed along the edge near each of opposite opposite edges on the surface of the front substrate and / or the back substrate of the sheet discharge vessel. An electrode and a power supply member having a U-shaped cross section that is in electrical contact with each of the external electrodes at two or more locations and surrounds a side portion of the planar discharge vessel.

請求項２の発明は、請求項１の面状照明装置において、前記給電部材の前記外部電極と電気的に接触する面は、櫛形状にしたことを特徴とするものである。 According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the planar lighting device of the first aspect, the surface of the power supply member that is in electrical contact with the external electrode is comb-shaped.

請求項３の発明は、請求項１又は２の面状照明装置において、前記給電部材の表面は粗面にしたことを特徴とするものである。 According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the planar illumination device according to the first or second aspect, the surface of the power supply member is a rough surface.

本発明の面状照明装置によれば、給電部材によって面状放電容器の端縁部とその上の外部電極とを同時に押さえ込むことで確実に外部電極との電気的接触が維持でき、給電系統の信頼性を高く維持することができる。 According to the planar illumination device of the present invention, the electrical contact with the external electrode can be reliably maintained by simultaneously pressing the edge portion of the planar discharge vessel and the external electrode thereon by the power supply member. High reliability can be maintained.

以下、本発明の実施の形態を図に基づいて詳説する。 Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

（第１の実施の形態）図１、図２は、本発の面状照明装置の第１の実施の形態としてのバックライトユニットを示している。本実施の形態のバックライトユニットは、面状放電容器１の前面両端部それぞれに帯状の外部電極２を設置し、この面状放電容器１の外部電極２の設置されている端部及び側部を取り囲むようにコの字断面形状の給電部材３を嵌め込んで構成されている。 (First Embodiment) FIGS. 1 and 2 show a backlight unit as a first embodiment of a surface illumination device according to the present invention. In the backlight unit of the present embodiment, a strip-like external electrode 2 is installed at each of both front end portions of the planar discharge vessel 1, and the end and side portions of the planar discharge vessel 1 where the external electrode 2 is installed. The power supply member 3 having a U-shaped cross section is fitted so as to surround.

図２に詳しいように、面状放電容器１は、透光性のガラス板から構成される前面基板１１と、側壁１６とスペーサ１５とを一体的に形成した背面基板１２を略一定の間隔で対向させて配置し、周辺部をフリットガラスで封着した構造である。この面状放電容器１の内部の放電空間１４には、放電媒体として、水銀蒸気と希ガスが封入してある。また、面状放電容器１内で、前面基板１１、背面基板１２、スペーサ１５の内側にはそれぞれ蛍光体層１７が形成されている。この蛍光体層１７は、放電によって放電媒体から放射される紫外線を可視光に変換する働きをする。面状放電容器１の前面基板１１の外面には、放電容器１の相対する両端縁それぞれに沿って帯状の外部電極２が設置してある。この外部電極２は、背面基板１２に設置することもできる。 As shown in detail in FIG. 2, the planar discharge vessel 1 includes a front substrate 11 made of a translucent glass plate, and a rear substrate 12 in which a side wall 16 and a spacer 15 are integrally formed at substantially constant intervals. It is a structure that is arranged so as to face each other and the periphery is sealed with frit glass. Mercury vapor and a rare gas are sealed in the discharge space 14 inside the planar discharge vessel 1 as a discharge medium. In the planar discharge vessel 1, phosphor layers 17 are respectively formed inside the front substrate 11, the back substrate 12, and the spacer 15. The phosphor layer 17 functions to convert ultraviolet rays emitted from the discharge medium by discharge into visible light. On the outer surface of the front substrate 11 of the planar discharge vessel 1, strip-like external electrodes 2 are installed along both opposing edges of the discharge vessel 1. The external electrode 2 can also be installed on the back substrate 12.

外部電極２の形成方法としては、アルミニウム材のような導電性テープを導電性接着剤を介して放電容器１上に形成する方法、銀のような金属粉と溶剤をバインダーに混合させた導電性ペーストをスクリーン印刷、ディスペンサー塗布又は浸漬により放電容器１８の表面に塗布した後、乾燥、焼成を行って形成する方法、スズ、インジウム、ビスマス、鉛、亜鉛、アンチモン又は銀を少なくとも１種以上含む半田を加熱溶融したものを、例えば超音波振動を加えながらディスペンサーや浸漬により放電容器１の表面に塗布する方法などが採ることができる。 As a method for forming the external electrode 2, a method of forming a conductive tape such as an aluminum material on the discharge vessel 1 through a conductive adhesive, or a conductivity obtained by mixing a metal powder such as silver and a solvent in a binder. A method in which a paste is applied to the surface of the discharge vessel 18 by screen printing, dispenser application or immersion, followed by drying and baking, solder containing at least one of tin, indium, bismuth, lead, zinc, antimony or silver For example, a method in which a material obtained by heating and melting is applied to the surface of the discharge vessel 1 by a dispenser or immersion while applying ultrasonic vibration can be employed.

給電部材３はコの字断面形状をし、外部電極２が設置されている端縁部と側面部を取り囲むように面状放電容器１の側部に嵌め込むことで外部電極２に面接触し、外部電極２の剥がれを防止しつつ、確実に電気的接続ができるようにしている。 The power supply member 3 has a U-shaped cross-sectional shape, and is brought into surface contact with the external electrode 2 by being fitted into a side portion of the planar discharge vessel 1 so as to surround an end edge portion and a side surface portion where the external electrode 2 is installed. In addition, the electrical connection can be surely made while preventing the external electrode 2 from peeling off.

上記構成のバックライトユニットに対しては、図３（ａ），（ｂ）に示すように給電部材３に対してインバータ５をリード線６にて接続し、高周波電力をこの給電部材３を介して１対の外部電極２，２に給電するようにする。 For the backlight unit having the above configuration, as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, an inverter 5 is connected to the power supply member 3 with a lead wire 6, and high-frequency power is passed through the power supply member 3. Thus, power is supplied to the pair of external electrodes 2 and 2.

以上により、本実施の形態の面状照明装置としてのバックライトユニットでは、面状放電容器１の両端の外部電極２，２が設置されている部分にコの字断面形状の給電部材３を側方から嵌め込み、給電部材３にて外部電極２との電気的接触を図ると共にこの外部電極２を固定するようにしているので、面状放電容器１上の外部電極２と電源としてインバータ５とを確実かつ容易に電気的に接続でき、照明装置としての給電電気系統の信頼性を高めることができる。 As described above, in the backlight unit as the planar lighting device according to the present embodiment, the power supply member 3 having a U-shaped cross section is disposed on the side where the external electrodes 2 and 2 at both ends of the planar discharge vessel 1 are installed. Since the external electrode 2 is fixed while the electric power supply member 3 makes electrical contact with the external electrode 2 and the external electrode 2 is fixed, the external electrode 2 on the planar discharge vessel 1 and the inverter 5 as a power source are used. The electrical connection can be made reliably and easily, and the reliability of the feeding electric system as the lighting device can be improved.

（第２の実施の形態）次に、本発明の面状照明装置の第２の実施の形態としてのバックライトユニットについて、図４を用いて説明する。第２の実施の形態のバックライトユニットも第１の実施の形態と同様に、面状放電容器１の相対する両端縁それぞれに沿って帯状の外部電極２を設置し、これらの外部電極２，２の部分にコの字断面形状の給電部材３Ａ，３Ａを嵌め込み、そしてインバータ５からリード線６，６を通じて給電される高周波電力をこれらの給電部材３Ａ，３Ａを介して外部電極２，２に給電する構成である。ただし、本実施の形態の場合、給電部材３Ａの外部電極２と接触する片の形状を櫛状にしたことに特徴がある。 (Second Embodiment) Next, a backlight unit as a second embodiment of the planar illumination device of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. Similarly to the first embodiment, the backlight unit according to the second embodiment is also provided with strip-like external electrodes 2 along opposite opposing edges of the planar discharge vessel 1, and these external electrodes 2, 2 is fitted with power supply members 3A and 3A having a U-shaped cross section, and high-frequency power supplied from the inverter 5 through the lead wires 6 and 6 is supplied to the external electrodes 2 and 2 through the power supply members 3A and 3A. It is the structure which supplies electric power. However, the present embodiment is characterized in that the shape of the piece in contact with the external electrode 2 of the power supply member 3A is a comb shape.

これにより、本実施の形態のバックライトユニットによれば、外部電極２の部分を２方向から挟み込む形の給電部材３を用いたことで簡単にして確実に外部電極２と給電部材３との電気的接続ができ、また面状放電容器１の固定も可能である。その上、本実施の形態によれば、給電部材３の外部電極２の接続片を櫛状にしたことで、より確実に外部電極２と給電部材３との電気接続が可能である。また、給電部材３の断面がコの字状となって外部電極２を挟み込み接続されているので外部電極２から見た給電部材３全体の表面積を広げることが可能となり、給電部材３の表面積が広くなることにより放熱効果が高くなり、外部電極２からの熱の放熱性能が向上し、図５に示すように従来よりも電極部の温度を低下させることができる。そしてこの結果として、外部電極２と面状放電容器１内の放電媒体とを分離する誘電体層となる前面基板若しくは背面基板の溶融を防止することができ、それだけ光電力の供給ができ、高輝度の発光をも可能とする。 As a result, according to the backlight unit of the present embodiment, the power supply member 3 that sandwiches the portion of the external electrode 2 from two directions is used easily and reliably. The planar discharge vessel 1 can be fixed. In addition, according to the present embodiment, the connection piece of the external electrode 2 of the power supply member 3 is formed in a comb shape, so that the external electrode 2 and the power supply member 3 can be more reliably electrically connected. Further, since the cross section of the power supply member 3 is U-shaped and the external electrode 2 is sandwiched and connected, the surface area of the entire power supply member 3 viewed from the external electrode 2 can be increased. By widening, the heat dissipation effect is enhanced, the heat dissipation performance of heat from the external electrode 2 is improved, and the temperature of the electrode portion can be lowered as compared with the conventional case as shown in FIG. As a result, it is possible to prevent melting of the front substrate or the rear substrate, which is a dielectric layer that separates the external electrode 2 and the discharge medium in the planar discharge vessel 1, and to supply optical power as much as possible. Luminance emission is also possible.

本発明の第１の実施の形態のバックライトユニットの一部破断せる斜視図。FIG. 3 is a partially broken perspective view of the backlight unit according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 上記実施の形態のバックライトユニットにおける面状放電容器の一部破断せる斜視図。The perspective view which fractures | ruptures partially the planar discharge vessel in the backlight unit of the said embodiment. 上記実施の形態のバックライトユニットの分解平面図及び正面図。The exploded plan view and front view of the backlight unit of the said embodiment. 本発明の第２の実施の形態のバックライトユニットの分解平面図及び正面図。The exploded plan view and front view of the backlight unit of the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. 上記実施の形態のバックライトユニットと従来品との電極温度特性を比較して示すグラフ。The graph which compares and shows the electrode temperature characteristic of the backlight unit of the said embodiment, and a conventional product. 従来の面状照明装置の斜視図。The perspective view of the conventional planar illuminating device.

符号の説明Explanation of symbols

１面状放電容器
２外部電極
３給電部材
１１前面基板
１２背面基板
１７蛍光体層 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Planar discharge vessel 2 External electrode 3 Feeding member 11 Front substrate 12 Rear substrate 17 Phosphor layer

Claims

透光性の前面基板と背面基板とを対向させて配置し、内部に放電媒体を封入し、前記前面基板と背面基板の少なくともどちらか一方の内側に蛍光体層を形成した面状放電容器と、
前記面状放電容器の前記前面基板又は／及び背面基板の面上の相対する両端縁それぞれの近くに端縁に沿って設置された帯状の外部電極と、
前記外部電極それぞれに２箇所以上で電気的に接触し、かつ、前記面状放電容器の側部を囲むコの字状の断面形状の給電部材とを備えたことを特徴とする面状照明装置。 A planar discharge vessel in which a translucent front substrate and a rear substrate are arranged to face each other, a discharge medium is enclosed therein, and a phosphor layer is formed on at least one of the front substrate and the rear substrate; ,
A strip-shaped external electrode disposed along an edge near each of opposite end edges on the surface of the front substrate and / or the back substrate of the planar discharge vessel;
A planar lighting device comprising: a power supply member having a U-shaped cross-sectional shape that is in electrical contact with each of the external electrodes at two or more locations and surrounds a side portion of the planar discharge vessel. .

前記給電部材の前記外部電極と電気的に接触する面は、櫛形状にしたことを特徴とする請求項１に記載の面状照明装置。 The surface illumination device according to claim 1, wherein a surface of the power supply member that is in electrical contact with the external electrode is formed in a comb shape.

前記給電部材の表面は粗面にしたことを特徴とする請求項１又は２に記載の面状照明装置。 The surface illumination device according to claim 1, wherein a surface of the power supply member is a rough surface.