Abstract: The orientation of fluorescent lamps is detected in a manufacturing method for a direct backlight unit that alternates orientations of adjacent fluorescent lamps. In a preparation step of the manufacturing method for the backlight unit of the present invention, a plurality of fluorescent lamps are prepared. In each of the fluorescent lamps, a length (a1) from a first sealed portion of a glass bulb (26) to a non-phosphor layer (32) area is shorter than a length (a2) from a second sealed portion to a non-phosphor layer (32) area (a1<a2). In a detection step, the difference between the lengths is detected with use of a sensor. In an installation step, the fluorescent lamps are arranged with use of the detection results so that the first and second ends alternate on a same side of a housing.

Abstract: The orientation of fluorescent lamps is detected in a manufacturing method for a direct backlight unit that alternates orientations of adjacent fluorescent lamps. In a preparation step of the manufacturing method for the backlight unit of the present invention, a plurality of fluorescent lamps are prepared. In each of the fluorescent lamps, a length (a1) from a first sealed portion of a glass bulb (26) to a non-phosphor layer (32) area is shorter than a length (a2) from a second sealed portion to a non-phosphor layer (32) area (a1<a2). In a detection step, the difference between the lengths is detected with use of a sensor. In an installation step, the fluorescent lamps are arranged with use of the detection results so that the first and second ends alternate on a same side of a housing.

Abstract: A low-pressure discharge lamp (1) is provided that includes a glass tube (2) having an inner diameter in a range of 1 to 5 mm and a pair of electrodes (3) disposed at end portions in the glass tube (2). The pair of electrodes (3) contain at least one transition metal selected from transition metals of Groups IV to VI. Mercury and a rare gas containing argon and neon are sealed in an inner portion of the glass tube (2). A relationship between a cathode glow discharge density J and a composition index ? of the sealed rare gas of the low-pressure discharge lamp (1) satisfies the following expression ??J=I/(S·P2)?1.5? (where S represents an effective discharge surface area (mm2) of an electrode, I represents a RMS lamp current (mA), P represents a pressure (kPa) of a sealed rare gas, and ? represents a composition index of a sealed rare gas that is a constant expressed by ?=(90.5A+3.4N)×10?3 when a total of a composition ratio A of argon and a composition ratio N of neon is expressed by A+N=1).

Abstract: A cold-cathode fluorescent lamp including a glass bulb and a pair of electrodes which are cylindrical and respectively inserted in two ends of the glass bulb. Two end portions of the glass bulb are substantially circular in transverse cross section, the two end portions respectively corresponding to the inserted pair of electrodes in length. At least part of a middle portion of the glass bulb is flat in transverse cross section, the middle portion corresponding to a space in the glass bulb between the pair of electrodes.

Abstract: A low-pressure discharge lamp (1) is provided that includes a glass tube (2) having an inner diameter in a range of 1 to 5 mm and a pair of electrodes (3) disposed at end portions in the glass tube (2). The pair of electrodes (3) contain at least one transition metal selected from transition metals of Groups IV to VI. Mercury and a rare gas containing argon and neon are sealed in an inner portion of the glass tube (2). A relationship between a cathode glow discharge density J and a composition index ? of the sealed rare gas of the low-pressure discharge lamp (1) satisfies the following expression ??J=I/(S·P2)?1.5? (where S represents an effective discharge surface area (mm2) of an electrode, I represents a RMS lamp current (mA), P represents a pressure (kPa) of a sealed rare gas, and ? represents a composition index of a sealed rare gas that is a constant expressed by ?=(90.5A+3.4N)×10?3 when a total of a composition ratio A of argon and a composition ratio N of neon is expressed by A+N=1).

Abstract: A low-pressure discharge lamp (1) is provided that includes a glass tube (2) having an inner diameter in a range of 1 to 5 mm and a pair of electrodes (3) disposed at end portions in the glass tube (2). The pair of electrodes (3) contain at least one transition metal selected from transition metals of Groups IV to VI. Mercury and a rare gas containing argon and neon are sealed in an inner portion of the glass tube (2). A relationship between a cathode glow discharge density J and a composition index ? of the sealed rare gas of the low-pressure discharge lamp (1) satisfies the following expression ??J=I/(S·P2)?1.5? (where S represents an effective discharge surface area (mm2) of an electrode, I represents a RMS lamp current (mA), P represents a pressure (kPa) of a sealed rare gas, and ? represents a composition index of a sealed rare gas that is a constant expressed by ?=(90.5A+3.4N)×10?3 when a total of a composition ratio A of argon and a composition ratio N of neon is expressed by A+N=1).

Abstract: The present invention has an object to provide a cold-cathode fluorescent lamp which can suppress sputtering caused by electric discharge and reduce consumption of mercury so as to achieve a longer lifetime even if a lamp current is large and a lighting tube has a small diameter. The cold-cathode fluorescent lamp according to the present invention is characterized in that a distance between the inner surface of the lighting tube and the outer surface of a cylindrical electrode is set such that electric discharge develops mainly on the inner surface of the cylindrical electrode. When the lighting tube has an inside diameter D1 of 1 to 6 mm and the maximum lamp current is 5 mA or more, an outside diameter D2 of the cylinder electrode is preferably set at D1?0.4 [mm]?D2<D1.

Abstract: A cold-cathode fluorescent lamp including a glass bulb and a pair of electrodes which are cylindrical and respectively inserted in two ends of the glass bulb. Two end portions of the glass bulb are substantially circular in transverse cross section, the two end portions respectively corresponding to the inserted pair of electrodes in length. At least part of a middle portion of the glass bulb is flat in transverse cross section, the middle portion corresponding to a space in the glass bulb between the pair of electrodes.

Abstract: A low-pressure discharge lamp (1) is provided that includes a glass tube (2) having an inner diameter in a range of 1 to 5 mm and a pair of electrodes (3) disposed at end portions in the glass tube (2). The pair of electrodes (3) contain at least one transition metal selected from transition metals of Groups IV to VI. Mercury and a rare gas containing argon and neon are sealed in an inner portion of the glass tube (2). A relationship between a cathode glow discharge density J and a composition index ? of the sealed rare gas of the low-pressure discharge lamp (1) satisfies the following expression ??J=I/(S·P2)?1.5? (where S represents an effective discharge surface area (mm2) of an electrode, I represents a RMS lamp current (mA), P represents a pressure (kPa) of a sealed rare gas, and ? represents a composition index of a sealed rare gas that is a constant expressed by ?=(90.5A+3.4N)×10?3 when a total of a composition ratio A of argon and a composition ratio N of neon is expressed by A+N=1).

Abstract: The present invention has an object to provide a cold-cathode discharge lamp which can suppress sputtering on a lead-in wire and reduce consumption of mercury so as to achieve a longer lifetime without increasing an amount of applied mercury. The cold-cathode discharge lamp of the present invention is characterized in that a lead-in wire connected to a cylindrical electrode in a lighting tube is made of a material same as a material that forms the cylindrical electrode. It is possible to suppress concentration negative glow discharge shifted to the lead-in wire and to allow the electrode to be covered with even negative glow discharge. Thus, it is possible to reduce mercury consumed by excessive sputtering on the outer surface of the internal lead-in wire and to achieve a longer lifetime of the cold-cathode discharge lamp.

Abstract: The present invention has an object to provide a cold-cathode fluorescent lamp which can suppress sputtering caused by electric discharge and reduce consumption of mercury so as to achieve a longer lifetime even if a lamp current is large and a lighting tube has a small diameter. The cold-cathode fluorescent lamp according to the present invention is characterized in that a distance between the inner surface of the lighting tube and the outer surface of a cylindrical electrode is set such that electric discharge develops mainly on the inner surface of the cylindrical electrode. When the lighting tube has an inside diameter D1 of 1 to 6 mm and the maximum lamp current is 5 mA or more, an outside diameter D2 of the cylinder electrode is preferably set at D1−0.4 [mm]≦D2<D1.

Abstract: The present invention has an object to provide a cold-cathode fluorescent lamp which can suppress sputtering caused by electric discharge and reduce consumption of mercury so as to achieve a longer lifetime even if a lamp current is large and a lighting tube has a small diameter. The cold-cathode fluorescent lamp according to the present invention is characterized in that a distance between the inner surface of the lighting tube and the outer surface of a cylindrical electrode is set such that electric discharge develops mainly on the inner surface of the cylindrical electrode. When the lighting tube has an inside diameter D1 of 1 to 6 mm and the maximum lamp current is 5 mA or more, an outside diameter D2 of the cylinder electrode is preferably set at D1−0.4 [mm]≦D2<D1.

Abstract: The present invention has an object to provide a cold-cathode discharge lamp which can suppress sputtering on a lead-in wire and reduce consumption of mercury so as to achieve a longer lifetime without increasing an amount of applied mercury. The cold-cathode discharge lamp of the present invention is characterized in that a lead-in wire connected to a cylindrical electrode in a lighting tube is made of a material same as a material that forms the cylindrical electrode. It is possible to suppress concentration negative glow discharge shifted to the lead-in wire and to allow the electrode to be covered with even negative glow discharge. Thus, it is possible to reduce mercury consumed by excessive sputtering on the outer surface of the internal lead-in wire and to achieve a longer lifetime of the cold-cathode discharge lamp.

Abstract: The present invention has an object to provide a cold-cathode fluorescent lamp which can suppress sputtering caused by electric discharge and reduce consumption of mercury so as to achieve a longer lifetime even if a lamp current is large and a lighting tube has a small diameter. The cold-cathode fluorescent lamp according to the present invention is characterized in that a distance between the inner surface of the lighting tube and the outer surface of a cylindrical electrode is set such that electric discharge develops mainly on the inner surface of the cylindrical electrode. When the lighting tube has an inside diameter D1 of 1 to 6 mm and the maximum lamp current is 5 mA or more, an outside diameter D2 of the cylinder electrode is preferably set at D1−0.4 [mm]≦D2<D1.

Abstract: A wiper control device suitable used for controlling the wiper apparatus possible to solve a difference in the wiping range caused by the difference in the operation speed (inertial force) of the wiper blade by using the wiper linkage provided with an eccentric mechanism and changing the rotational direction of a wiper motor according to the operation speed, the wiper control device is provided with a wiper switch, the wiper motor, a position switch, a controller and a motor driving circuit, and the controller executes control to change the rotational direction of the wiper motor at the time when the wiper blade arrives in the upper or lower turning position in response to switching operation of the wiper mode.

Abstract: A wiper control device includes a wiper switch having a variable resistor which is switched to the respective resistance value corresponding to the respective operation mode of the wiper apparatus. An interface circuit is provided with a reference resistor and a capacitor. A microcomputer is provided with a reference charging port for changing the capacitor through the reference resistor, a detective charging port for changing the same capacitor through the variable resistor switched into various resistance values corresponding to the respective operation modes and a reading port for reading as to whether the capacitor is changed up to a predetermined potential level. The microcomputer determines the selected operation mode on the basis of a relative value calculated from the time required for charging the capacitor through the reference resistor by the reference charging port and the time required for charging the capacitor through the variable resistor of the wiper switch by the detective charging port.

Abstract: A discharge lamp or an electrodeless discharge lamp including a discharge gas filled inside a bulb, an electrode part present inside the bulb for emitting thermoelectrons into the discharge gas, and a cesium compound placed in a position other than the electrode part inside the bulb. According to this configuration, this discharge lamp has a short starting delay time even at a low temperature including room temperature, without using any starting auxiliary light source or a radioactive material. The cesium compound is contained on the surface of a metal mesh which is fixed via a supporting arm in a position avoiding the electrode part inside the bulb. It is preferable that the cesium oxide is in contact with the discharge space. In this way, starting property can be improved without using any starting auxiliary light source or a radioactive material. The electrodeless discharge lamp has the cesium compound at an optional position in the discharge space.

Abstract: In a fluorescent lamp device, a discharge tube is made by arranging electrodes at the ends of a glass tube, sealing mercury and a rare gas into the glass tube and coating the inner surface of the glass tube with a phosphor, and an amalgam forming material is disposed close to one or the other of the ends of the discharge tube. This fluorescent lamp is operated with a d.c. current using as the anode the electrode arranged on the discharge tube end side where the amalgam forming material is located.

Abstract: In a fluorescent lamp of the type in which a lamp envelope comprises an outer bulb having generally a spherical or a partially spherical or a cylindrical configuration and an inner bulb inserted into the outer bulb in predetermined nested relationship; either of the inner surface of the outer bulb or the outer surface of the inner bulb is formed with a groove which defines a zig-zag discharge path between the outer and inner bulbs; a phosphor is formed at least over the wall surfaces of the groove; electrodes are disposed at the ends, respectively, of the discharge path and a uv (ultraviolet) radiation-emitting discharge gas consisting of mercury vapor and a rare gas or a rare gas mixture is filled in the discharge path, both the open end portions of the outer and inner bulbs are flared radially outwardly and inwardly respectively, or either of the open end portion of the outer or inner bulb is flared radially outwardly or inwardly so that glass frit can be filled into the annular space defined between the op

Abstract: In a fluorescent lamp of the type in which a lamp envelope comprises an outer bulb having generally a spherical or a partially spherical or a cylindrical configuration and an inner bulb inserted into the outer bulb in predetermined nested relationship; either of the inner surface of the outer bulb or the outer surface of the inner bulb is formed with a groove which defines a zig-zag discharge path between the outer and inner bulbs; a phosphor is formed at least over the wall surfaces of the groove; electrodes are disposed at the ends, respectively, of the discharge path and a uv (ultraviolet) radiation-emitting discharge gas consisting of mercury vapor and a rare gas or a rare gas mixture is filled in the discharge path, both the open end portions of the outer and inner bulbs are flared radially outwardly and inwardly respectively, or either of the open end portion of the outer or inner bulb is flared radially outwardly or inwardly so that glass frit can be filled into the annular space defined between the op