US5030894A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Rare gas discharge lamp device
Assignee: Toshiba Corp
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Filing: 1989-10-31
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Granted: 1991-07-09
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Expires: 2009-10-31
Abstract
Abstract A rare gas discharge lamp device comprises a bulb with a rare gas sealed therein, a pair of internal electrodes provided within the bulb, a phosphor layer formed on the inner surface of the bulb, a lighting circuit adapted to apply voltage across two internal electrodes to produce a discharge or a positive column between the internal electrodes, and an auxiliary electrode formed on the outer surface of the bulb and extending in the longitudinal direction of the bulb, the positive column being attracted toward the auxiliary electrode, and a window formed on the bulb in a manner to face the auxiliary electrode for emitting visible light to be produced within the bulb.
Inventors
- 👤 Yoshiji Yoshiike
- 👤 Yoshinori Satou
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 20:59
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01J; H01J61/00; H01J61/02; H01J61/12; H01J61/16; H01J61/70; H01J61/76
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
146 words
A rare gas discharge lamp for producing light using a predetermined voltage comprising: an elongated bulb having an inner and an outer surface; a rare gas sealed inside said bulb; a pair of internal electrodes provided within said bulb and set apart from each other along the longitudinal axis of said bulb, a positive column being produced when the predetermined voltage is applied between said internal electrodes, a phosphor layer formed on said inner surface of said bulb, and means disposed on said outer surface of said bulb in a region between said electrodes, for attracting said positive column toward a portion of said inner surface of said bulb which is close to said attracting means to maintain a potential difference between said attracting means and said positive column between said internal electrodes throughout operation of said rare discharge lamp to obtain a uniform light emission.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
146 words
A rare gas discharge lamp for producing light using a predetermined voltage comprising: an elongated bulb having an inner and an outer surface; a rare gas sealed inside said bulb; a pair of internal electrodes provided within said bulb and set apart from each other along the longitudinal axis of said bulb, a positive column being produced when the predetermined voltage is applied between said internal electrodes, a phosphor layer formed on said inner surface of said bulb, and means disposed on said outer surface of said bulb in a region between said electrodes, for attracting said positive column toward a portion of said inner surface of said bulb which is close to said attracting means to maintain a potential difference between said attracting means and said positive column between said internal electrodes throughout operation of said rare discharge lamp to obtain a uniform light emission.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
68 words
A rare gas discharge lamp according to claim 1, wherein said attracting means includes: an auxiliary electrode which is provided along said outer surface of said bulb and extends in the longitudinal direction of said bulb such that the length thereof is substantially equal to the distance between said internal electrodes; and means for producing a potential difference between said auxiliary electrode and each of said internal electrodes.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
A rare gas discharge lamp according to claim 2, further including a window facing said auxiliary electrode for allowing said light emitted from the lamp to be emitted in a determined direction.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
A rare gas discharge lamp according to claim 2, wherein said rare gas consists essentially of xenon.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
A rare gas discharge lamp according to claim 2, wherein said rare gas is filled at a pressure of 30 to 160 torrs.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
A rare gas discharge lamp according to claim 1, wherein said elongated bulb is cylindrical and has an inside diameter of greater than 2 mm but less than 10 mm.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
A rare gas discharge lamp according to claim 3, wherein said auxiliary electrode has a width W1 which is smaller than a width W2 of said window as viewed in a circumferential direction.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
A rare gas discharge lamp according to claim 7, wherein said window is formed through the absence of said phosphor layer over a part of said inner surface of said bulb.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
A rare gas discharge lamp according to claim 7, wherein a light shielding layer is formed on an outer surface of said bulb except at said window.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
A rare gas discharge lamp according to claim 7, wherein a reflective layer is partially formed between said inner surface of the bulb and said phosphor layer.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
42 words
A rare gas discharge lamp according to claim 7, wherein said width W2 of said window is determined by an included angle O, said angle O, determined with reference to the longitudinal axis of said bulb and being between 30° and 90°.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
149 words
A rare gas discharge lamp for producing light comprising: a lamp which includes: a tubular bulb, a rare gas sealed within said bulb, a pair of internal electrodes provided within said bulb and set apart from each other along the longitudinal axis of said bulb, and a phosphor layer formed on an inner surface of said bulb; a lighting circuit connected to said internal electrodes to apply voltage across said internal electrodes to produce a positive column across said internal electrodes; and means disposed on the outside of said bulb in a region between said electrodes for attracting the positive column toward a portion of said inner surface of said bulb which is close to said attracting means to maintain a potential difference between said attracting means and said positive column between said internal electrodes throughout operation of said rare gas discharge lamp to obtain a uniform light emission.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
149 words
A rare gas discharge lamp for producing light comprising: a lamp which includes: a tubular bulb, a rare gas sealed within said bulb, a pair of internal electrodes provided within said bulb and set apart from each other along the longitudinal axis of said bulb, and a phosphor layer formed on an inner surface of said bulb; a lighting circuit connected to said internal electrodes to apply voltage across said internal electrodes to produce a positive column across said internal electrodes; and means disposed on the outside of said bulb in a region between said electrodes for attracting the positive column toward a portion of said inner surface of said bulb which is close to said attracting means to maintain a potential difference between said attracting means and said positive column between said internal electrodes throughout operation of said rare gas discharge lamp to obtain a uniform light emission.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
66 words
A rare gas discharge lamp according to claim 12, wherein said attracting means include: an auxiliary electrode provided along an outer surface of said bulb which extends in the longitudinal direction of said bulb and has a length which is substantially equal to the distance between said internal electrodes; and means for producing a potential difference between said auxiliary electrode and each of said internal electrodes.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
A rare gas discharge lamp device according to claim 12, wherein said rare gas consists principally of xenon.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
A rare gas discharge lamp device according to claim 12, wherein said gas is filled at a pressure of 30 to 160 torrs.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
27 words
A rare gas discharge lamp device according to claim 15, wherein said bulb has an inside diameter of greater than 2 mm but less than 10 mm.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
29 words
A rare gas discharge lamp device according to claim 13, further including a window facing said auxiliary electrode for allowing said light to be emitted in a determined direction.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
54 words
A rare gas discharge lamp device according to claim 13, wherein said auxiliary electrode is connected to said lighting circuit through a capacitor that functions throughout operation of the rare gas discharge lamp to produce a phase difference between the voltage applied to the internal electrodes and the voltage applied to the auxiliary electrode.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
29 words
A rare gas discharge lamp device according to claim 13, wherein said auxiliary electrode is grounded to obtain said potential difference between said internal electrodes and said auxiliary electrode.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
34 words
A rare gas discharge lamp device according to claim 17, wherein said auxiliary electrode has a width W1 which is smaller than a width W2 of said window as viewed in a circumferential direction.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
30 words
A rare gas discharge lamp device according to claim 17, wherein said window is formed through the absence of said phosphor layer formed on said inner surface of said bulb.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
28 words
A rare gas discharge lamp device according to claim 17, wherein a light shielding layer is formed on an outer surface of said bulb except at said window.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
28 words
A rare gas discharge lamp device according to claim 17, wherein a reflective layer is partially formed between said inner surface of said bulb and said phosphor layer.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
43 words
A rare gas discharge lamp device according to claim 20, wherein said wide W2 of said window is determined by an included angle O, said angle O determined with reference to the longitudinal axis of said bulb and being between 30° and 90°.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-07-08 | 1995-01-07 | 1995-07-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-07-08 | 1999-01-07 | 1999-07-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-07-08 | 2003-01-07 | 2003-07-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |