Abstract: A light source device includes a discharge tube, a discharge medium sealed inside the discharge tube, and inner and outer electrodes for exciting the discharge medium. The inner electrode is arranged inside the discharge tube. The outer electrode includes a first outer electrode and a second outer electrode that are connected electrically with each other. The first outer electrode is in contact with an outer surface of the discharge tube at a plurality of first contact portions that are located at different distances from the inner electrode and are provided discontinuously. The second outer electrode is in contact with the outer surface of the discharge tube at second contact portions. The second contact portions are arranged closer to the inner electrode than the first contact portions at a surface density greater than that of the first contact portions.

Abstract: A light source device includes at least one discharge tube, a discharge medium sealed inside the discharge tube, and first and second electrodes for exciting the discharge medium. The first electrode is arranged inside or outside the discharge tube, and the second electrode has a plurality of contact portions at which the second electrode is in contact with an outer surface of the discharge tube. The contact portions are located at different distances from the first electrode and are provided discontinuously. Xenon gas and at least one selected from argon gas and krypton gas are sealed in the discharge tube, in which the xenon gas accounts for 60 vol % to 80 vol %. Thus, it is possible to provide a light source device and a liquid crystal display device that provide light emission with high brightness and excellent brightness distribution and that can be manufactured readily.

Abstract: A light source device includes at least one discharge tube, a discharge medium sealed inside the discharge tube, and first and second electrodes for exciting the discharge medium. The first electrode is arranged inside or outside the discharge tube, and the second electrode has a plurality of contact portions at which the second electrode is in contact with an outer surface of the discharge tube. The contact portions are located at different distances from the first electrode and are provided discontinuously. Thus, it is possible to provide a light source device with an improved light emission efficiency, and a liquid crystal display device in which the light source device is employed.

Abstract: A light source device includes a substrate, a plurality of discharge tubes arranged on one principal surface of the substrate, a driving circuit mounted on the other principal surface of the substrate that is opposite to the foregoing principal surface, a discharge medium sealed in the discharge tubes, and first and second electrodes for exciting the discharge medium. The foregoing discharge medium does not contain mercury. Thus, the light source device can be formed smaller in size and thinner in thickness, and a liquid crystal display device employing the same can be provided.

Abstract: A light-emitting device includes a discharge container having a discharge space inside; and a plurality of electrodes provided in the discharge space, a circumference of each of the plurality of electrodes being covered with a dielectric structure, and an alternating voltage being applied to the plurality of electrodes.

Abstract: A method for producing a trivalent rare earth ion-containing aluminate phosphor includes preparing a phosphor raw material comprising a granular aluminum containing compound in a phosphor raw material production process, heating the phosphor raw material in an oxidizing atmosphere at a predetermined temperature (e.g., 1500° C. to 1800° C.) so as to produce an intermediate phosphor in an intermediate phosphor production process. After the intermediate phosphor is cracked, the intermediate phosphor is heated in a reducing atmosphere at a predetermined temperature (e.g., 1400° C. to 1800° C.) in a trivalent rare earth ion-containing aluminate phosphor production process. The heating temperature in a reducing atmosphere is equal to or less than the heating temperature in an oxidizing atmosphere. A post treatment is performed, if necessary. Thus, a trivalent rare earth ion-containing aluminate phosphor can be obtained.

Abstract: A phosphor host compound is produced from a host compound material. Then, the host compound and a trivalent europium compound are reacted in a reducing atmosphere to generate a desired divalent europium-activated phosphor. If the divalent europium-activated phosphor is generated in this manner, a chemical reaction between the raw material for the host compound and the trivalent europium compound can be suppressed. Therefore, variations in the luminescent color among different production lots of the phosphor can be suppressed, and a phosphor with high color purity can be provided with high repeatability.

Abstract: An alkaline earth metal compound containing no fluorine atoms in its molecules, a rare earth compound containing no fluorine atoms in its molecules, and an aluminum compound containing no fluorine atoms in its molecules are fired in a high-temperature reducing atmosphere ranging from 1600.degree. to 2000.degree. C., so that an aluminate phosphor, the particle diameter and shape thereof are controlled, is provided. A mixture of 22 wt % of barium carbonate, 11 wt % of basic magnesium carbonate, 65 wt % of spherical alpha-alumina of 10 .mu.m diameter and 2 wt % of europium oxide is fired in a mixed gas atmosphere consisting of gaseous hydrogen of 5 volume % and gaseous nitrogen. The temperature is raised at 400.degree. C./hr, and lowered at 400.degree. C./hr after firing for two hours at 1700.degree. C. As a result, a spherical aluminate phosphor of 10 .mu.m diameter, which is expressed by formula (Ba.sub.0.9,Euo.sub.0.1)MgAl.sub.10 O.sub.17 is obtained.

Abstract: A display device includes an ambient light sensor positioned adjacent a display screen so as to confront an occupant in front of the display device, and a luminance level setting unit for inputting a desired luminance level. An output from the ambient light sensor is fed to a screen luminance calculating unit for calculating the adjustable range of screen luminance to be adjusted on the basis of an output signal from the ambient light sensor. A luminance determining unit determines a proper screen luminance based on an output signal from the screen luminance calculating unit and an output signal from the luminance level setting unit. A screen luminance control unit operates in response to an output signal from the luminance determining unit to adjust the screen luminance to the proper screen luminance.

Abstract: A projection type image display device comprises plural light sources, optical converging systems, liquid crystal display elements, a color synthesizing system and a optical projection system.

Abstract: There is provided a lighting apparatus comprising a light source, an ellipsoidal reflector having the first focal point at the light source, a spherical reflector having the center of sphere at the light source, a converging lens arranged at the outside of the spherical reflector and having a focal point thereof at the second focal point of the ellipsoid, and a light-controlling plate arranged in front of or at the back of the lighted object, so that the light beam projected on the part other than the effective lighted part of the lighted object is reflected by the light-controlling plate with various characteristics which are changeable such as the position or spectral distribution of the light resulting in lighting which is efficient and of uniform intensity and color on the lighted object.

Abstract: A lighting system for use in a vehicle cabin comprises a first lamp arranged to a roof, a second lamp arranged to a seat, and a third lamp arranged to a door. A demand is generated for providing a predetermined information to a passenger when getting out, and the first, second and third lamps are turned on in response to this demand.

Abstract: A lighting system for use in a vehicle cabin comprises four ceiling lamps arranged to a roof at its peripheral portions so as to be above a plane including an eye point of a seat occupant, a first foot lamp arranged to an instrument lower cover at its lower portion to be between the top of a front seat cushion and a floor, and a second foot lamp arranged to be adjacent to a rear seat cushion and between the bottom of a rear seat cushion and the floor. Two set mode selector switches allow selection of a lamp set mode between normal and rest modes.

Abstract: A lighting system for use in a vehicle cabin comprises a step lamp arranged to a door, a foot lamp arranged to a seat and a seat lamp arranged to a roof. An ON-OFF circuit turns on the step, foot and seat lamps when the door is opened, and turns off these lamps when the door is closed. An arithmetic circuit controls the step, foot and seat lamps in luminance to obtain a gradual increase in brightness in order of the road and step, the floor and the seat.

Abstract: To illuminate only a lower room space below the front and rear seat and the vehicle room floor, at least one first foot lamp is disposed on the lower surface of the instrument panel at a height roughly the same as that of the front seat cushion so as to illuminate a front floor before the front seat and a middle floor under the front seat. Further, at least one second foot lamp is preferably disposed on the rearmost and downmost position of the front seat cushion so as to further illuminate the middle floor under the front seat and a rear floor before the rear seat. Since the vehicle room floor is illuminated brighter than that of the upper room space, the passengers' eyes usually see the vehicle floor the farthest away from the passenger's eyes. Therefore, they feel that the vehicle room is broad and at ease at night, and can easily pickup an object on the floor, because it is possible to minimize the occurrence of shadows of objects on the room floor.

Abstract: A lighting system for use in a vehicle cabin comprises a plurality of first lamps which are arranged between a roof and a plane including an eye point of a seat occupant for illuminating predetermined surfaces, and at least one second lamp for illuminating a floor. Luminance levels of the predetermined surfaces are controlled by, for example, an illuminance measuring apparatus, a luminance measuring apparatus, and a lighting controller.

Abstract: At least one first foot lamp is disposed on the lower surface of the instrument panel at a height roughly the same as that of the front seat cushion so as to illuminate a front floor before the front seat and a middle floor under the front seat. Further, at least one second foot lamp is disposed on the rearmost and downmost position of the front seat cushion, so as to further illuminate the middle floor under the front seat and a rear floor before the rear seat. Since the vehicle room floor is illuminated brighter than that of the upper room space, the passengers' eyes usually see the vehicle floor the farthest away from the passenger's eyes. Therefore, they feel that the vehicle is broad and roomy and can easily pick up an object on the floor.