Patent ID: 6031341
Filing Date: 2000-02-29
Classification: H01F,H05B

Abstract:
A discharge tube glow circuit comprising a cold-cathode fluorescent lamp, a magnetic flux leak-type transformer and an inverter for inverting direct current to alternating current, said magnetic flux leak-type transformer comprising: (a) a planar or rod-shaped magnetic core having a height of 3 mm or less, said magnetic core being constituted by a laminate of thin ribbons each having a thickness of 30 .mu.m or less and made of a nanocrystalline soft magnetic alloy having a structure, at least part of which is occupied by crystal grains having an average crystal grain size of 100 nm or less, (b) at least one primary winding provided around said magnetic core and connected to said inverter, and (c) at least one secondary winding provided around said magnetic core and connected to said cold-cathode fluorescent lame, said nanocrystalline soft magnetic alloy being represented by the general formula:(Fe.sub.1-.alpha. M.sub..alpha.).sub.100-x-y-z-.beta. A.sub.x M'.sub.y M"".sub.z X.sub..beta.,wherein M is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Co and Ni, A is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Cu and Au, M' is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Ti, V, Zr, Nb, Mo, Hf, Ta and W, M"" is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Cr, Mn, Al, Sn, Zn, Ag, In, platinum group elements, Mg, Ca, Sr, Y, rare earth elements, N, O and S, X is at least one element selected from the group consisting of B, Si, C, Ge, Ga and P, and a (atomic ratio), and x, y, z and .beta. (atomic %) are numbers meeting the requirements of 0.ltoreq..alpha..ltoreq.0.5, 0.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.10, 0.1.ltoreq.y.ltoreq.20, 0.ltoreq.z.ltoreq.20, and 2.ltoreq..beta..ltoreq.30.