US3758819A - Flash discharge apparatus and method - Google Patents

Flash discharge apparatus and method Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US3758819A
US3758819A US00212507A US3758819DA US3758819A US 3758819 A US3758819 A US 3758819A US 00212507 A US00212507 A US 00212507A US 3758819D A US3758819D A US 3758819DA US 3758819 A US3758819 A US 3758819A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
electrodes
discharge
point
gaseous
conductive path
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.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US00212507A
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
J Goldberg
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
SCIENT INSTR Inc
SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS INC US
PerkinElmer Inc
Original Assignee
SCIENT INSTR Inc
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by SCIENT INSTR Inc filed Critical SCIENT INSTR Inc
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3758819A publication Critical patent/US3758819A/en
Assigned to EG&G, INC. reassignment EG&G, INC. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST. Assignors: UNITED STATES SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS, INC.
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01J—ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS
    • H01J61/00—Gas-discharge or vapour-discharge lamps
    • H01J61/02—Details
    • H01J61/54—Igniting arrangements, e.g. promoting ionisation for starting
    • H01J61/545—Igniting arrangements, e.g. promoting ionisation for starting using an auxiliary electrode inside the vessel

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to flash discharge devices and similar electric-discharge apparatus and methods, being more particularly concerned with gaseous-discharge tubes including flash tubes for stroboscopy, electronic flash photography and similar applications.
  • An object of the present invention accordingly, is to provide a new and improved flash discharge device and method that shall" not be subject to the abovementioned disadvantages but that, to the contrary, enables a new measure of reliability and relatively low trigger flash operation particularly in repetitive flashing applications.
  • a further object is to provide a novel electric flash device of more general utility, as well.
  • the invention contemplates a method for producing an electrical discharge between a pair of spaced electrodes within a gaseous medium contained in an insulating-walled housing, that comprises, applying a voltage between the electrodes that, upon triggering of the gaseous medium, may discharge therebetween; disposing a conductive initiator probe connected to one of the electrodes with the free probe end disposed in the gaseous medium next to a point of the inner surface of the insulating wall of the housing; providing a conductive path along the outer surface of the said wall extending from a point thereof opposite the said point of the inner wall surface and connected to the other of the electrodes; and applying a trigger voltage between said initiator probe and said path to develop a highly localized field intensity from the said free probe end to the gas and through the insulating wall between said points to the said opposite point of the conductive path to generate in the gaseous medium enabling the discharge
  • FIG. 1 of which is a combined longitudinal sectio and circuit diagram of a flash tube and its triggering and discharge circuit constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention and operating inaccordance with the method thereof;
  • FIG. 2 is a similar diagram of a modification.
  • an anode l and a cathode 3 are shown held spaced from one another within a gaseous medium 5 contained by an insulating tube or housing 7, as of transparent glass or fused quartz or the like in the case of flash tubes.
  • a conventional charging circuit is schematically illustrated comprising energy storage capacitor(s) C and embodying a DC power supply and a series charging impedance, so labelled, for charging the same as described, for example, in the abovementioned patents.
  • Th discharge of the energy stored in the capacitor C between the anode I and cathode 3 is shown effected by a series injection trigger means, so labelled, such as, for example, the boosting circuit described in said US. Pat. No. 3,355,625, or any other well-known trigger circuit.
  • the initiator element 2 is connected at one end to a point P of the anode-supporting structure I rearward of the active anode surface (shown enlarged) opposite the cathode 3, and with the other free pointed or edged end of the initiator element 2'disposed at a point P next to a corresponding point of the insulating inner wall of the housing 7, located such that products of the irradiation and breakdown phenomenon have access to and irradiate the space between the two principal electrodes 1 and 3.
  • a point P of the anode-supporting structure I rearward of the active anode surface (shown enlarged) opposite the cathode 3, and with the other free pointed or edged end of the initiator element 2'disposed at a point P next to a corresponding point of the insulating inner wall of the housing 7, located such that products of the irradiation and breakdown phenomenon have access to and irradiate the space between the two principal electrodes 1 and 3.
  • the free point of the initiator element 2 touching the inner wall of the insulating tube envelope or housing at P' is shown disposed opposite the enlarged active anode surface 1 facing the cathode 3, such that ionization-produced irradiation at P can react upon and affect the gaseous medium in the space between the enlarged active anode and cathode surfaces 1 and 3, as later explained.
  • flash tubes of this design have been successfully operated having the following properties and circuit parameters. Trigger voltages of the order of 3-400 volts with DC power supply voltages as low as 200 volts have produced reliable flashing with time jitter only of the order of tens of nanoseconds, the flash tube having a separation between electrodes 1 and 3of 1% millimeters, an outer tube or housing diameter in the larger portions of 25 mm and an overall length of 100 mm, and containing xenon gas at an abso lute pressure of 1% atmospheres.
  • trigger voltages are required exceeding kilovolts and with 450 volts or more of DC supply voltage, yielding much larger jitters of the order of hundreds of thousandths of nanoseconds.
  • FIG. 2 As another eaxmple, a long areproducing flash tube is shown, as distinguished from the short, intense discharge arc-producing flash tube of FIG. 1.
  • a relatively long and narrow insulating cylindrical flash tube housing is shown at 7', with the anode l and cathode 3 mounted near opposite ends thereof, providing a relatively long discharge path therebetween.
  • the initiator probe 2- is again shown connected muchas in the embodiment of FIG.
  • the external conductive path is in the form of a plurality of circular bands 4 comprising a first band positioned 'in apposition to the point P, and the remaining bands spaced about and at intervals along the tube 7' between the anode l and cathode 3, with a common bus connection 4 connecting the same to the tube cathode 3.
  • a highly successful tube of the type shown in FIG. 2 employed an envelope 7' of 9 mm outside diameter, an arc length between electrodes 1 and 3 of 9 inches, and filled with xenon gas to an absolute pressure of onefourth of 1 atmosphere. It operated with a DC supply voltage of 1,000 volts,- a series-injection trigger pulse of 2 A kilovolts, and produced a small jitter of less than a 10th of a microsecond.
  • a plurality of initiator probes may also be used, such as, for example, a symmetrically disposed upwardly extending initiator (not shown) in the embodiment of FIG. 1.
  • an initiator may also be supplied on the cathode lead, though, in such event, the outer conductive path cooperative therewith will be connected to anode potential.
  • A'method for producing an electrical discharge between a pair of spaced electrodes within a gaseous medium contained in an insulating-walled housing that comprises, applying a voltage between the electrodes that, upon triggering of the gaseous medium, may discharge therebetween; disposing a conductive intitator probe connected to one of the electrodes with a free probe end remote from said one electrode and disposed in the gaseous medium next to a point of the inner surface of the insulating wall of the housing; providing a conductive path along the outer surface of the said wall extending from a point thereof opposite the said point of the inner wall surface and connected to the other of the electrodes; and applying a trigger voltage between said initiator probe and said path to develop a highly localized field intensity from the said free probe end to the gas and through the insulating wall between said points to the said opposite point of the conductive path to generate in the gaseous medium at said inner wall surface point a localized irradiation that initiates the breakdown of said gaseous medium enabling the discharge of the
  • a gaseous-discharge device having, in combination, a gas-filled insulating-walled housing containing a pair of spaced electrodes; means for applying a voltage between the electrodes that, upon triggering of the gas,
  • conducting initiator probe means connected at one end to one of the electrodes and disposed with a free end remote from said one electrode in the gas next to a point of the inner wall surface; conductive path means connected to the other of the electrodes and extending along the outer wall surface to a point thereof opposite the first-named point; and means for applying a trigger voltage between said initiator probe means and said conductive path means to develop a highly localized field intensity between said-points in order to generate within the gas at said first-named point a localized irradiation that initiates the breakdown of the gas, enabling the discharge of the applied voltage between the said electrodes.

Landscapes

  • Discharge Lamps And Accessories Thereof (AREA)
  • Stroboscope Apparatuses (AREA)
  • Physical Or Chemical Processes And Apparatus (AREA)
  • Elimination Of Static Electricity (AREA)
  • Other Investigation Or Analysis Of Materials By Electrical Means (AREA)
  • Vessels And Coating Films For Discharge Lamps (AREA)
US00212507A 1971-12-27 1971-12-27 Flash discharge apparatus and method Expired - Lifetime US3758819A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US21250771A 1971-12-27 1971-12-27

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3758819A true US3758819A (en) 1973-09-11

Family

ID=22791312

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US00212507A Expired - Lifetime US3758819A (en) 1971-12-27 1971-12-27 Flash discharge apparatus and method

Country Status (4)

Country Link
US (1) US3758819A (de)
JP (1) JPS5238674B2 (de)
DE (1) DE2264005C3 (de)
GB (1) GB1365648A (de)

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3862449A (en) * 1973-07-25 1975-01-21 Varian Associates Ion sleeve for arc lamp electrode
US3939379A (en) * 1974-06-26 1976-02-17 Gould Inc. High energy gas discharge switching device
US3968392A (en) * 1973-12-21 1976-07-06 Heimann Gmbh Pulse discharge lamp, in particular an electronic flash tube
FR2467484A1 (fr) * 1979-10-10 1981-04-17 Matsushita Electronics Corp Lampe a decharge a vapeur de sodium a haute pression
EP0134273A1 (de) * 1983-08-24 1985-03-20 Kollmorgen Technologies Corporation Lichtimpulsstabilisation für Farbenspektrophotometer
WO2000067296A1 (en) * 1999-04-28 2000-11-09 West Electric Co., Ltd. Discharge lamp and electronic flash device using the same
US20060170360A1 (en) * 2003-03-18 2006-08-03 Koninklijke Philips Electronics N. V. Gas discharge lamp
US20060186815A1 (en) * 2003-03-18 2006-08-24 Norbert Lesch Gas discharge lamp

Families Citing this family (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS5398178A (en) * 1977-01-28 1978-08-28 West Electric Co Flash discharge tube and flash discharge tube unit
DE2941114C2 (de) * 1979-10-10 1984-06-28 Matsushita Electronics Corp., Kadoma, Osaka Hochdruck-Natriumdampf-Entladungslampe
DE3323603A1 (de) * 1983-06-30 1985-01-03 Heimann Gmbh, 6200 Wiesbaden Gasgefuellte blitzroehre
GB8330774D0 (en) * 1983-11-18 1983-12-29 Emi Plc Thorn Sealed beam lamps
JP4251474B2 (ja) * 2002-07-23 2009-04-08 ウシオ電機株式会社 ショートアーク放電ランプおよび光源装置

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR865357A (fr) * 1939-05-03 1941-05-21 Philips Nv Tube à décharges électriques à lueur
US2919369A (en) * 1956-06-01 1959-12-29 Harold E Edgerton Flash tube and apparatus

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR865357A (fr) * 1939-05-03 1941-05-21 Philips Nv Tube à décharges électriques à lueur
US2919369A (en) * 1956-06-01 1959-12-29 Harold E Edgerton Flash tube and apparatus

Cited By (12)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3862449A (en) * 1973-07-25 1975-01-21 Varian Associates Ion sleeve for arc lamp electrode
US3968392A (en) * 1973-12-21 1976-07-06 Heimann Gmbh Pulse discharge lamp, in particular an electronic flash tube
US3939379A (en) * 1974-06-26 1976-02-17 Gould Inc. High energy gas discharge switching device
FR2467484A1 (fr) * 1979-10-10 1981-04-17 Matsushita Electronics Corp Lampe a decharge a vapeur de sodium a haute pression
EP0134273A1 (de) * 1983-08-24 1985-03-20 Kollmorgen Technologies Corporation Lichtimpulsstabilisation für Farbenspektrophotometer
WO2000067296A1 (en) * 1999-04-28 2000-11-09 West Electric Co., Ltd. Discharge lamp and electronic flash device using the same
US6531832B1 (en) 1999-04-28 2003-03-11 West Electric Co., Ltd. Discharge lamp and electronic flash device using the same
US20060170360A1 (en) * 2003-03-18 2006-08-03 Koninklijke Philips Electronics N. V. Gas discharge lamp
US20060186815A1 (en) * 2003-03-18 2006-08-24 Norbert Lesch Gas discharge lamp
US7511431B2 (en) * 2003-03-18 2009-03-31 Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. Gas discharge lamp
US7550925B2 (en) * 2003-03-18 2009-06-23 Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. Gas discharge lamp with reduced electromagnetic interference radiation
CN100538990C (zh) * 2003-03-18 2009-09-09 皇家飞利浦电子股份有限公司 气体放电灯

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB1365648A (en) 1974-09-04
JPS5238674B2 (de) 1977-09-30
DE2264005A1 (de) 1973-07-12
DE2264005C3 (de) 1975-10-09
JPS4877673A (de) 1973-10-18
DE2264005B2 (de) 1975-03-06

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US3758819A (en) Flash discharge apparatus and method
Goncz Resistivity of xenon plasma
GB1070374A (en) Improvements in high pressure metal vapour discharge lamp
US2919369A (en) Flash tube and apparatus
JPS58155643A (ja) グロー放電発生装置
US4004189A (en) Three-electrode short duration flash tube
ES440664A1 (es) Lampara fluorescente mejorada, que ahorra energia, para sus-tituirse directamente en un sistema de reactor existente.
US2977508A (en) Gaseous-discharge device and system
US3350602A (en) Gaseous-discharge device having a trigger electrode and a light producing spark gap to facilitate breakdown between the trigger electrode and one of the principal electrodes
US5057740A (en) Photoemissive trigger for backlighted thyratron switches
US3775641A (en) Method of and apparatus for flash discharge
US3851213A (en) Arrangement for generating modulated atomic resonance
GB854752A (en) Improvements in or relating to high-pressure electric discharge tubes
US2473831A (en) Glow tube rectifier
US3356888A (en) Two-electrode spark gap with interposed insulator
US3624445A (en) Electric system for firing a gaseous discharge device
Hoyaux et al. Voltage hash in low-current dc vacuum arcs
US3405316A (en) Electrical triggering system
US3262071A (en) Radiant energy source employing exploding graphite rod
US3075121A (en) Flashtube and system
US3784863A (en) Vapour discharge lamps
US3388278A (en) Cold-cathode gas tube having a tubular control electrode
US770232A (en) Gas or vapor electric lamp.
Pejovic et al. Gamma and UV radiation effects on breakdown voltage of neon-filled tube
US2833951A (en) Cold cathode gas-discharge tube

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AS Assignment

Owner name: EG&G, INC., WELLESLEY, MA A CORP. OF MA

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNOR:UNITED STATES SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS, INC.;REEL/FRAME:004076/0959

Effective date: 19821229