US5204584A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Low pressure mercury vapor discharge lamp
Assignee: Toshiba Lighting and Technology Corp
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Filing: 1991-09-20
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Granted: 1993-04-20
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Expires: 2011-09-20
Abstract
Abstract A low pressure mercury vapor discharge lamp having a suitable combination of a main amalgam and an auxiliary amalgam. The main amalgam has a mercury vapor pressure not less than a third as much as a mercury vapor pressure of pure mercury at a temperature between 0 DEG C. and 50 DEG C. The auxiliary amalgam has a mercury vapor pressure not less than a third as much as the mercury vapor presure of said main amalgam at a temperature between 0 DEG C. and 50 DEG C. Such a combination is advantageous in that the mercury vapor pressure of the lamp is maintained at a certain level in the low and middle tube wall temperature area and that the luminous output is maintained at a high level in that temperature area, and also that the increasing speed of luminous flux of lamps using these amalgams during a starting period (a luminous flux increasing characteristic) is fast nevertheless, in the low and middle tube wall temperature area.
Inventors
- 👤 Toshiyuki Ikeda
- 👤 Masao Nagai
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 23:41
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01J; H01J61/00; H01J61/02; H01J61/12; H01J61/24
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
164 words
A low pressure mercury vapor discharge lamp, comprising: a tube forming a discharge space therein, said discharge space containing a discharge gas including a mercury vapor; a pair of electrodes provided in said tube, said pair of electrodes having a space therebetween; a main amalgam sealed in said tube for controlling a mercury vapor pressure in said tube, said main amalgam having a mercury vapor pressure not less than a third as much as a mercury vapor pressure of pure mercury at a temperature between 0° C. and 50° C.; and an auxiliary amalgam sealed in said tube and located closer to one of said pair of electrodes than said main amalgam, said auxiliary amalgam having a composition different from that of said main amalgam and having a mercury vapor pressure less than that of said main amalgam, but not less than a third as much as said mercury vapor pressure of said main amalgam at a temperature between 0° C. and 50° C.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
164 words
A low pressure mercury vapor discharge lamp, comprising: a tube forming a discharge space therein, said discharge space containing a discharge gas including a mercury vapor; a pair of electrodes provided in said tube, said pair of electrodes having a space therebetween; a main amalgam sealed in said tube for controlling a mercury vapor pressure in said tube, said main amalgam having a mercury vapor pressure not less than a third as much as a mercury vapor pressure of pure mercury at a temperature between 0° C. and 50° C.; and an auxiliary amalgam sealed in said tube and located closer to one of said pair of electrodes than said main amalgam, said auxiliary amalgam having a composition different from that of said main amalgam and having a mercury vapor pressure less than that of said main amalgam, but not less than a third as much as said mercury vapor pressure of said main amalgam at a temperature between 0° C. and 50° C.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
A low pressure mercury vapor discharge lamp according to claim 1, wherein said tube includes a main tube forming said discharge space therein and a thin tube connected to said main tube, said thin tube being thinner than said main tube and having said main amalgam therein.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
A low pressure mercury vapor discharge lamp according to claim 2, wherein said electrodes are located in said main tube.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
A low pressure mercury vapor discharge lamp according to claim 3, further comprising a plurality of lead wires supporting said electrodes and said auxiliary amalgam in said main tube.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
A low pressure mercury vapor discharge lamp according to claim 1, wherein said main amalgam comprises mercury and a base metal comprising bismuth and lead.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
A low pressure mercury vapor discharge lamp according to claim 5, wherein said base metal of said main amalgam has between 50 wt% and 63 wt% bismuth and between 37 wt% and 50 wt% lead.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
A low pressure mercury vapor discharge lamp according to claim 6, wherein said main amalgam comprises mercury in an amount of more than 12 wt% of a total amount of said main amalgam.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
A low pressure mercury vapor discharge lamp according to claim 5, wherein said auxiliary amalgam comprises mercury and a base metal comprising bismuth, indium and lead.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
A low pressure mercury vapor discharge lamp according to claim 1, wherein said main amalgam comprises mercury and a base metal comprising bismuth and tin.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
35 words
A low pressure mercury vapor discharge lamp according to claim 9, wherein said base metal of said main amalgam has between 50 wt% and 63 wt% bismuth and between 37 wt% and 50 wt% tin.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
A low pressure mercury vapor discharge lamp according to claim 10, wherein said main amalgam comprises mercury in an amount of not less than 15 wt% of a total amount of said main amalgam.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
A low pressure mercury vapor discharge lamp according to claim 9, wherein said auxiliary amalgam comprises mercury and a base metal comprising bismuth, indium and lead.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
A low pressure mercury vapor discharge lamp according to claim 1, wherein said main amalgam comprises mercury and a base metal comprising bismuth, indium and lead.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
A low pressure mercury vapor discharge lamp according to claim 13, wherein said auxiliary amalgam comprises mercury and a base metal comprising bismuth and indium.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
A low pressure mercury vapor discharge lamp according to claim 1, wherein said auxiliary amalgam comprises mercury and a base metal comprising bismuth, indium and lead.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
A low pressure mercury vapor discharge lamp according to claim 1, wherein said auxiliary amalgam comprises mercury and a base metal comprising bismuth and indium.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
175 words
A low pressure mercury vapor discharge lamp, comprising: a tube forming a discharge space therein, said discharge space containing a discharge gas including a mercury vapor; means for generating said discharge gas in said tube; a main amalgam sealed in said tube for controlling a mercury vapor pressure in said tube during a discharge period except for a starting period of said discharge period, said main amalgam having a mercury vapor pressure not less than a third as much as a mercury vapor pressure of pure mercury at a temperature between 0° C. and 50° C.; and an auxiliary amalgam sealed in said tube for emitting said mercury vapor during said starting period and for absorbing said mercury vapor during a non-discharge period, said auxiliary amalgam having a composition different from that of said main amalgam and having a mercury vapor pressure less than that of said main amalgam, but not less than a third as much as said mercury vapor pressure of said main amalgam at a temperature between 0° C. and 50° C.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
175 words
A low pressure mercury vapor discharge lamp, comprising: a tube forming a discharge space therein, said discharge space containing a discharge gas including a mercury vapor; means for generating said discharge gas in said tube; a main amalgam sealed in said tube for controlling a mercury vapor pressure in said tube during a discharge period except for a starting period of said discharge period, said main amalgam having a mercury vapor pressure not less than a third as much as a mercury vapor pressure of pure mercury at a temperature between 0° C. and 50° C.; and an auxiliary amalgam sealed in said tube for emitting said mercury vapor during said starting period and for absorbing said mercury vapor during a non-discharge period, said auxiliary amalgam having a composition different from that of said main amalgam and having a mercury vapor pressure less than that of said main amalgam, but not less than a third as much as said mercury vapor pressure of said main amalgam at a temperature between 0° C. and 50° C.
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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) | 1996-04-19 | 1996-10-19 | 1997-04-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-04-19 | 2000-10-19 | 2001-04-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-04-19 | 2004-10-19 | 2005-04-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |