US4461981A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Low pressure inert gas discharge device
Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corp
•
Filing: 1982-12-20
•
Granted: 1984-07-24
•
Expires: 2002-12-20
Abstract
Abstract A lamp primarily containing neon gas is supplied with alternating electrical power at a frequency of not less than 5 kHz. The discharge current is determined on the basis of the gas pressure such that no striations occur. If necessary, getter means including a metal element belonging to the second, third, fourth or fifth periodic group are provided near each electrode, oriented so as not to interfere with any electron emissions from the lamp electrodes.
Inventors
- 👤 Takeo Saikatsu
- 👤 Yoshinori Anzai
- 👤 Toshiro Kajiwara
- 👤 Goroku Kobayashi
- 👤 Shunichi Morimoto
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 15:48
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01J; H01J61/00; H01J61/70; H01J61/76; H01J61/02; H01J61/24; H01J61/26
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
89 words
A low pressure inert gas discharge device, comprising: (a) a lamp having a sealed bulb containing inert gas primarily composed of neon at a pressure ranging from 1.5 to 15 Torr, and an electrode structure contained in the bulb, and (b) means for supplying said lamp with electrical power at a frequency of not less than 5 kHz, wherein the peak value Iop (A) of the electrical current and the pressure P (Torr) of the sealed inert gas satisfy the following formulae: when 1.5≦P≦8, Iop≧7/P.sup.1.1, and when 8<P≦15, Iop≧69/P.sup.2.2.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
89 words
A low pressure inert gas discharge device, comprising: (a) a lamp having a sealed bulb containing inert gas primarily composed of neon at a pressure ranging from 1.5 to 15 Torr, and an electrode structure contained in the bulb, and (b) means for supplying said lamp with electrical power at a frequency of not less than 5 kHz, wherein the peak value Iop (A) of the electrical current and the pressure P (Torr) of the sealed inert gas satisfy the following formulae: when 1.5≦P≦8, Iop≧7/P.sup.1.1, and when 8<P≦15, Iop≧69/P.sup.2.2.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
A device according to claim 1 wherein said inert gas consists of neon.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein said inert gas comprises neon as a major component and a minor component chosen from the group consisting of argon, krypton and xenon.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
A device according to claim 3, wherein the amount of neon contained in said gas is not less than 99 percent by volume and the amount of argon, krypton or xenon is not more than 1 percent.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
49 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein said lamp includes getter means, for each electrode, having a metal component chosen from one of the second, third, fourth, or fifth periodic groups, said getter means being disposed such that it does not interfere with electron emissions from said electrode structure.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
A device according to claim 5, wherein the amount of getter contained in each getter means is not less than one twentieth of that of an electron emitting substance attached to a cathode in each electrode.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
A device according to claim 5, wherein at least one of said electrodes is a preheating thermionic emission type of electrode.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
A device according to claim 5, wherein the getter means has a metal component chosen from the group consisting of magnesium (Mg), barium (Ba), titanium (Ti), zirconium (Zr), vanadium (V), and tantalum (Ta).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
93 words
A low pressure inert gas discharge device, comprising: (a) a lamp having a sealed bulb containing inert gas including neon and argon at a pressure ranging from 1.5 to 8 Torr, and an electrode structure contained in the bulb, and (b) means for supplying said lamp with electrical power at a frequency of not less than 5 kHz, wherein the mixture ratio for argon A (%), the peak value Iop (A) of the electrical current and the pressure P (Torr) of the sealed inert gas satisfy the following formulae: A≦5P.sup.-2, 1.5≦P≦8, and 5.3/P≦Iop≦7/P.sup.1.1.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
93 words
A low pressure inert gas discharge device, comprising: (a) a lamp having a sealed bulb containing inert gas including neon and argon at a pressure ranging from 1.5 to 8 Torr, and an electrode structure contained in the bulb, and (b) means for supplying said lamp with electrical power at a frequency of not less than 5 kHz, wherein the mixture ratio for argon A (%), the peak value Iop (A) of the electrical current and the pressure P (Torr) of the sealed inert gas satisfy the following formulae: A≦5P.sup.-2, 1.5≦P≦8, and 5.3/P≦Iop≦7/P.sup.1.1.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
49 words
A device according to claim 9, wherein said lamp includes getter means, for each electrode, having a metal component chosen from one of the second, third, fourth, or fifth periodic groups, said getter means being disposed such that it does not interfere with electron emissions from said electrode structure.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
36 words
A device according to claim 9, wherein the amount of getter contained in each getter means is not less than one twentieth of that of an electron emitting substance attached to a cathode in each electrode.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
A device according to claim 9, wherein at least one of said electrodes is a preheating thermionic emission type of electrode.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
33 words
A device according to claim 9, wherein the getter means has a metal component chosen from the group consisting of magnesium (Mg), barium (Ba), titanium (Ti), zirconium (Zr), vanadium (V), and tantalum (Ta).
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
94 words
A low pressure inert gas discharge device, comprising: (a) a lamp having a sealed bulb containing inert gas including neon and krypton at a pressure ranging from 1.5 to 8 Torr, and an electrode structure contained in the bulb, and (b) means for supplying said lamp with electrical power at a frequency of not less than 5 kHz, wherein the mixture ratio for krypton A (%), the peak value Iop (A) of the electrical current and the pressure P (Torr) of the sealed inert gas satisfy the following formulae: A≦8P.sup.-2, 1.5≦P≦8, and 4.5/P.sup.0.9 ≦Iop≦7/P.sup.1.1.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
94 words
A low pressure inert gas discharge device, comprising: (a) a lamp having a sealed bulb containing inert gas including neon and krypton at a pressure ranging from 1.5 to 8 Torr, and an electrode structure contained in the bulb, and (b) means for supplying said lamp with electrical power at a frequency of not less than 5 kHz, wherein the mixture ratio for krypton A (%), the peak value Iop (A) of the electrical current and the pressure P (Torr) of the sealed inert gas satisfy the following formulae: A≦8P.sup.-2, 1.5≦P≦8, and 4.5/P.sup.0.9 ≦Iop≦7/P.sup.1.1.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
49 words
A device according to claim 14, wherein said lamp includes getter means, for each electrode, having a metal component chosen from one of the second, third, fourth, or fifth periodic groups, said getter means being disposed such that it does not interfere with electron emissions from said electrode structure.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
36 words
A device according to claim 14, wherein the amount of getter contained in each getter means is not less than one twentieth of that of an electron emitting substance attached to a cathode in each electrode.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
A device according to claim 14, wherein at least one of said electrodes is a preheating thermionic emission type of electrode.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
33 words
A device according to claim 14, wherein the getter means has a metal component chosen from the group consisting of magnesium (Mg), barium (Ba), titanium (Ti), zirconium (Zr), vanadium (V), and tantalum (Ta).
Claim 22
Independent Claim
88 words
A method of operating a low pressure inert gas discharge device, comprising the steps of: (a) charging a sealed lamp envelope with inert gas primarily composed of neon to a pressure ranging from 1.5 to 15 Torr, and (b) supplying electrodes mounted in the lamp with electrical power at a frequency of not less than 5 kHz, wherein the peak value Iop (A) of the electrical current and the pressure P (Torr) of the sealed inert gas satisfy the following formulae: when 1.5≦P≦8, Iop≧7/P.sup.1.1, and when 8<P≦15, Iop≧69/P.sup.2.2.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
88 words
A method of operating a low pressure inert gas discharge device, comprising the steps of: (a) charging a sealed lamp envelope with inert gas primarily composed of neon to a pressure ranging from 1.5 to 15 Torr, and (b) supplying electrodes mounted in the lamp with electrical power at a frequency of not less than 5 kHz, wherein the peak value Iop (A) of the electrical current and the pressure P (Torr) of the sealed inert gas satisfy the following formulae: when 1.5≦P≦8, Iop≧7/P.sup.1.1, and when 8<P≦15, Iop≧69/P.sup.2.2.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
91 words
A method of operating a low pressure inert gas discharge device, comprising the steps of: (a) charging a sealed lamp envelope with inert gas including neon and argon to a pressure ranging from 1.5 to 8 Torr, and (b) supplying electrodes mounted in the lamp with electrical power at a frequency of not less than 5 kHz, wherein the mixture ratio of argon A(%), the peak value Iop (A) of the electrical current and the pressure P (Torr) of the sealed inert gas satisfy the following formulae: A≦5P.sup.-2, 1.5≦P≦8, and 5.3/P≦Iop≦7/P.sup.1.1.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
91 words
A method of operating a low pressure inert gas discharge device, comprising the steps of: (a) charging a sealed lamp envelope with inert gas including neon and argon to a pressure ranging from 1.5 to 8 Torr, and (b) supplying electrodes mounted in the lamp with electrical power at a frequency of not less than 5 kHz, wherein the mixture ratio of argon A(%), the peak value Iop (A) of the electrical current and the pressure P (Torr) of the sealed inert gas satisfy the following formulae: A≦5P.sup.-2, 1.5≦P≦8, and 5.3/P≦Iop≦7/P.sup.1.1.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
93 words
A method of operating a low pressure inert gas discharge device, comprising the steps of: (a) charging a sealed lamp envelope with inert gas including neon and krypton to a pressure ranging from 1.5 to 8 Torr, and (b) supplying electrodes mounted in the lamp with electrical power at a frequency of not less than 5 kHz, wherein the mixture ratio for krypton A (%), the peak value Iop (A) of the electrical current and the pressure P (Torr) of the sealed inert gas satisfy the following formulae: A≦8P.sup.-2, 1.5≦P≦8, and 4.5/P.sup.0.9 ≦Iop≦7/P.sup.1.1.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
93 words
A method of operating a low pressure inert gas discharge device, comprising the steps of: (a) charging a sealed lamp envelope with inert gas including neon and krypton to a pressure ranging from 1.5 to 8 Torr, and (b) supplying electrodes mounted in the lamp with electrical power at a frequency of not less than 5 kHz, wherein the mixture ratio for krypton A (%), the peak value Iop (A) of the electrical current and the pressure P (Torr) of the sealed inert gas satisfy the following formulae: A≦8P.sup.-2, 1.5≦P≦8, and 4.5/P.sup.0.9 ≦Iop≦7/P.sup.1.1.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1987-07-24 | 1988-01-23 | 1988-07-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-07-24 | 1992-01-23 | 1992-07-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-07-24 | 1996-01-23 | 1996-07-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |