Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US6246171?dq=6,460,050
Timestamp: 2015-04-26 16:24:18
Document Index: 458256023

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 101', 'art 224', 'art 224', 'art 224', 'art 224', 'art 224', 'art 224', 'art 224']

Patent US6246171 - Gas discharge lamp with dielectrically impeded electrodes - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign inAdvanced Patent SearchPatentsA gas discharge lamp having a discharge vessel (202) which is at least partially transparent and filled with a gas filling, a number of essentially strip-shaped anodes (205, 206) and cathodes (203, 204) which extend on the walls of the discharge vessel and essentially parallel to each other, and a dielectric...http://www.google.com/patents/US6246171?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US6246171 - Gas discharge lamp with dielectrically impeded electrodesAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS6246171 B1Publication typeGrantApplication numberUS 09/180,855PCT numberPCT/DE1998/000826Publication dateJun 12, 2001Filing dateMar 20, 1998Priority dateMar 21, 1997Fee statusLapsedAlso published asCA2256448A1, CA2256448C, CN1165960C, CN1220767A, EP0912990A2, EP0912990B1, WO1998043276A2, WO1998043276A3Publication number09180855, 180855, PCT/1998/826, PCT/DE/1998/000826, PCT/DE/1998/00826, PCT/DE/98/000826, PCT/DE/98/00826, PCT/DE1998/000826, PCT/DE1998/00826, PCT/DE1998000826, PCT/DE199800826, PCT/DE98/000826, PCT/DE98/00826, PCT/DE98000826, PCT/DE9800826, US 6246171 B1, US 6246171B1, US-B1-6246171, US6246171 B1, US6246171B1InventorsFrank Vollkommer, Lothar Hitzschke, Jens Muecke, Rolf Siebauer, Simon JerebicOriginal AssigneePatent-Treuhand-Gesellschaft Fuer Elektrische Gluehlampen MbhExport CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (8), Referenced by (27), Classifications (19), Legal Events (5) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetGas discharge lamp with dielectrically impeded electrodes
Strictly speaking, the terms anodes and cathodes make sense only in unipolar operation of the gas discharge lamp. However, bipolar operation is not excluded here, and in that case the difference between anodes and cathodes becomes blurred and the electrodes must in principle be separated from the gas filling by a dielectric layer. Consequently, the terms �anodes� and �cathodes� in the claims and below also include electrodes for bipolar discharges, which in each case temporarily play the role of an anode or cathode.
�Denser packages� of individual discharge structures can also be produced by the invention as an additional aspect, the result being an improved power density.
However, there may also be applications in which the lamp is to be operated at low power. In that case it may even be advantageous to choose the mutual spacing of the electrodes of a pair greater than the respective spacing from the neighbours of different polarity. A sensible definition for the spacing of the electrodes of a pair refers to the striking distance of the discharge. Expressed via the striking distance the electrode spacing in the pair is preferably below 200% of the striking distance. A favorable lower limit for the electrode spacing in the pair�also in applications in which the power density is to be increased, is at 10% of the striking distance. Further preferred lower limits are 20% and 40% of the striking distance, and preferred upper limits are 100% and 70% of the striking distance.
The mechanical loadability of the electrode strips is firstly a function of their thickness. The thicker the electrode strips, the more rigid the discharge vessel should be. Consequently, the product of the electrode thickness�the thinnest in the case of deviating thicknesses�and the nearest neighbour spacing of the spacers is a sensible reference variable and is advantageously in the range of 5�10−8 m2−6.8�10−7 m2; a preferred lower limit is 10−7 m2 and a preferred upper limit 5�10−7 m2.
The purpose of this design consists, on the one hand, in that the comparatively narrow first part can be made from a material selected with regard to the current-carrying capacity, for example a metal such as silver, gold, aluminium or copper, while the small width ensures a particularly slight shading effect in the transparent discharge vessel wall. On the other hand, arbitrarily narrow electrodes can be used only with difficulty in the case of a dielectrically impeded discharge, because the strong field concentration leads to undesired space charge effects. Consequently, the potential of the first part is �distributed� over a wider area by the second, electrically coupled part, with the result that the greater width of the second part counts with regard to the physics of the discharge.
It is preferred in this case�even because of the simple production�but not necessary, for the two parts of the electrodes to be in direct contact with one another. It is preferred, in particular, for the electrode parts to be deposited on the same area, and for the second part to be laid over the initially deposited first part in such a way as to produce the cross-sectional shape which is essentially rectangular overall (which can be �caused to bulge� somewhat by the first part).
Beyond an individual gas discharge lamp, the invention also relates to a lighting system composed of a lamp of the type described above and having an electric pulsed power source. The pulsed power source is optimized with regard to the dielectrically impeded discharge in the lamp, and injects into the lamp effective power pulses of specific length which are separated from one another by pauses of specific length, the result being, however, a continuous lighting operation of the lamp, that is to say no visible flickering. The term �continuous� refers here, of course, to the resolution of the human eye.
In a likewise symmetrical way, the electrodes, arranged in pairs, of each part 101 or 102, respectively, are combined to form a power supply bus structure 105 or 106, respectively. Consequently, each electrode group (of one polarity) has a comb-like structure with double �teeth�, the comb structures being interlaced. In this example, the electrode spacings are equal in each case within the pairs and between the pairs. As a result the lamp can be operated in comparison with smaller spacings at smaller powers which is advantageous in determined applications.
The cuboidal interior 211 of the discharge vessel 202 is completely coated with a mixture of fluorescent materials which is not represented in the figures and which converts the VUV radiation generated in the discharge into visible white light. This is a three-band fluorescent material having the blue component BAM (BaMgA110O17:Eu2+), the green component LAP (LaPO4: [Tb3+, Co,3+]) and the red component YOB ([Y, Gd]BO3:Eu3+). As already mentioned, reference is made in relation to the fluorescent materials to the application entitled �Signallampe und Leuchtstoffe dazu� [Signal lamp and fluorescent materials therefor].
FIG. 8 shows a detail view and cross-sectional view relating to the structure represented in FIGS. 6a, 6 b, 7 a and 7 b (leaving aside the supply lead buses) This is a detail of the cross-sectional view indicated in FIG. 6a by the line A�A. This detail comprises two anode strips, specifically in the region of their feedthrough 212 a and 212 b through the boundary of the discharge vessel. It is to be seen that, by contrast with conventional feedthroughs and precisely in the same way as along the remaining length of the anode strips, the two anode feedthroughs 212 a and 212 b are applied directly to the base plate 207, and in this region are still completely covered by the glass layer 215 forming the dielectric of the dielectrically impeded discharge.
Each anode strip has an essentially rectangular cross-section and is enclosed therewith�including the glass layer 215 in the case shown here�completely by the glass solder layer 210, which connects the glass frame 209 to the base plate 207 and ensures a gas-tight enclosure. An equivalent glass solder layer 210 is also situated between the glass frame 209 and the cover plate 208. If the glass layer 215 were to be already omitted in this region, the lower glass solder layer 210 would have to be scarcely thicker than the upper one.
So that the relatively large effective cathode width of the second part 224-2 can also become effectively active for the discharge, the second cathode part 224-2 is arranged here on the discharge side of the first cathode part 224-1. Thus, from the perspective of a discharge the sequence is: discharge-layer of fluorescent material 232- second dielectric layer 229-2�second cathode part 224-2�first dielectric layer 229-1�first cathode part 224-1�top plate 208. In the projection onto the base plate 208, the narrower first cathode part 224-1 is preferably located in this case in the middle of the second cathode part 224-2.
FIG. 14 shows a further exemplary embodiment, in which the same lamp 201 with the pulsed voltage source 223 serves as a background lighting system for a flat screen 235 using liquid crystal technology. Located between the flat screen 235 and the lamp 201 on the lamp side there is a diffuser plate 236 which serves to cover punctiform irregularities in the generation of light in the lamp 201, in particular because of the spacers already described. Two crossed light amplifying films 237 and 238 (so-called �brightness enhancement films� from the 3M company) are located on the side of the diffuser plate 236 averted from the lamp. These crossed light amplifying films 237 and 238 respectively have the prismatically structured surface on the side averted from the lamp (the longitudinal edge of the prisms being crossed in the plane of the film), as a result of which the light amplifying films�237 and 238 restrict, in one dimension in each case, the relatively large solid angle range of the emission of light from the lamp 201, which solid angle range is additionally enlarged by the diffuser plate.
The flat screen system shown in FIG. 14 is the preferred application of the invention. Here, it is possible to realize very bright and uniform background lighting by means of a particularly flat lamp. The mercury-free and thus environmentally compatible filling systems with an inert gas, preferably xenon, and possibly one or more buffer gases, for example argon or neon, at a pressure from approximately 10 kPa to approximately 100 kPa permits immediate starting without a run up response. This is very advantageous in the case of work breaks, for example, because the screen can be switched off to save energy, without its performance thereby being impaired after it is switched on again. There is also no need for external reflectors or light-guiding devices in favour of minimizing the size of the overall screen system and of rendering the design less expensive and simpler. A substantial advantage of the flat screen system in accordance with the invention is�with regard to the lamp�the considerably higher service life by contrast with the porior art. Values of far more than 20,000, hours of operation can readily be achieved, which corresponds to more than the doubling of the conventional values.
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Ltd.Flat lamp with horizontal facing electrodesEP1615256A1 *Mar 4, 2005Jan 11, 2006Samsung Corning Co., Ltd.Flat lampEP1662547A2 *Jun 10, 2005May 31, 2006Samsung Corning Co., Ltd.Flat lampEP1860376A1 *Aug 11, 2006Nov 28, 2007Jenn-Wei MiiBrightness enhancement structure of luminescent assemblyWO2003032350A2 *Aug 13, 2002Apr 17, 2003Patent Treuhand Ges Fuer Elektrische Gluehlampen MbhDischarge lamp comprising a stabilised discharge vessel plateWO2005083745A1 *Feb 26, 2005Sep 9, 2005E M D Co LtdFlat fluorescent lamp* Cited by examinerClassifications U.S. Classification313/586, 313/493, 313/491, 313/492International ClassificationH01J61/067, H01J65/04, H01J61/30, H01J61/92, H01J65/00, H01J61/00Cooperative ClassificationG02F1/133604, H01J61/0672, H01J61/305, H01J65/046, H01J61/92European ClassificationH01J65/04A2, H01J61/067A, H01J61/30F, H01J61/92Legal EventsDateCodeEventDescriptionJul 30, 2013FPExpired due to failure to pay maintenance feeEffective date: 20130612Jun 12, 2013LAPSLapse for failure to pay maintenance feesJan 21, 2013REMIMaintenance fee reminder mailedNov 10, 2008FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 8Sep 17, 2004FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 4RotateOriginal ImageGoogle Home - Sitemap - USPTO Bulk Downloads - Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - About Google Patents - Send FeedbackData provided by IFI CLAIMS Patent Services