Abstract: Disclosed herein is a low pressure discharge lamp having a coating disposed upon at least a portion of inner lead-in wires, wherein the coating comprises refractory nanoparticles. Also disclosed herein, in particular, are fluorescent lamps having a coating disposed upon at least a portion of inner lead-in wires, the coating comprising refractory oxide nanoparticles having a median primary particle size of less than about 70 nm, with a thickness of from about 0.5 micrometer to about 10 micrometer. Disclosed advantages may include lessened end discoloration over the operational lifetime of the lamp, enhanced lumen maintenance, and inhibited mercury consumption.

Abstract: A direct current discharge lamp with an anode (10) and a cathode (12) that are arranged opposite one another at a predetermined distance (r) inside a discharge vessel (14) filled with a filling gas, it being possible to apply electric power (P) to the anode (10) and the cathode (12) in order to produce a gas discharge. At least the predetermined distance (r) between the anode (10) and the cathode (12), the electric power (P) and a geometry of the anode (10) are adapted to one another in such a way that a region (22) of a surface (24) of the anode (10) facing the cathode (12) is free flowing in the heated state of the direct current discharge lamp.

Abstract: It is provided a dielectric barrier discharge lamp (10) for providing ultraviolet light, comprising an outer tube (12) filled with a discharge gas for providing ultraviolet light, an inner tube (14) arranged at least partially inside the outer tube (12), an outer electrode (16) electrically connected to the outer tube (12) and an inner electrode (18) electrically connected to the inner tube (14), wherein the inner electrode (18) comprises a conductor (20) and a plurality of an conductive granulated material (22) for providing an electrical contact between the conductor (20) and the inner tube (14). Due to the conductive granulated material (22) an electrical contact between the conductor (20) and the inner tube (14) is safeguarded and different thermal expansions of the inner electrode (18) and the inner tube (14) are compensated at the same time without applying mechanical stress to the inner tube (14).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the thermal treatment of tungsten electrodes having a fibrous mocrostructure and being free from thorium oxide for high-pressure discharge lamps, to such a tungsten electrode free from thorium oxide, to a method of manufacturing a high-pressure gas discharge lamp with at least one such tungsten electrode free from thorium oxide, to a high-pressure gas discharge lamp with at least one such tungsten electrode free from thorium oxide, and to a lighting unit with at least one such high-pressure gas discharge lamp.

Abstract: An electrode assembly for a discharge lamp, particularly a ceramic metal halide (CMH) lamp, having a ceramic body defining a discharge chamber and at least one leg having an opening therethrough. An electrode assembly is received at least in part in the body, preferably including a niobium mandrel, a molybdenum mandrel, and a molybdenum overwind received over the mandrel. A tungsten portion is then joined to the molybdenum composite. Adjacent turns of the overwind are spaced by a gap to facilitate receipt of an associated seal material on the overwind and the molybdenum mandrel. The gap is approximately 10% to 50% of the dimension between adjacent turns of the overwind relative to a diameter of the overwind.

Abstract: The invention describes a high intensity gas-discharge lamp (1) comprising a discharge vessel (5, 5?) enclosing a fill gas in a discharge chamber (2) and comprising a pair of electrodes (3, 3?, 4, 4?) extending into the discharge chamber (2), and wherein the fill gas includes a halide composition comprising a halide of sodium and, optionally, scandium iodide to a total proportion of at least 30 wt %, and a halide of terbium and/or gadolinium to a proportion of at least 5 wt %.

Abstract: The disclosed subject matter includes a fluorescent lamp and particularly a cold cathode fluorescent lamp that can be employed as a light source for a LCD backlight unit for a television, a computer, a display, and the like. The fluorescent lamp can include a couple of electrode units located opposite to each other at each end of a tube, a couple of welding beads sealing both the tube and the couple of electrode units, and a filler gas located in the tube. Each of the electrode units can include an emitter electrode that is configured with a crystalline silicon semiconductor material having an electrical conductivity or configured with other semiconductor materials, and can include a concave portion formed thereon. The electrode units can prevent blackening on an inner surface of the tube by avoiding the occurrence of spattering. Thus, the fluorescent lamp using the electrode units can enjoy a long life, high reliability, easy manufacture, and the like.

Abstract: A gas discharge lamp includes a lamp tube, two electrodes and an electron emitter. The lamp tube has a hermetic discharge chamber filled with a rare gas and two sealing neck portions. Each of the sealing neck portions has a metallic foil disposed therein. Each of the two electrodes includes an emitting part and a connecting part. The connecting part is connected to a metallic wire via the metallic foil. The metallic wire extends out of the sealing neck portion to form a circuit contact. The electron emitter is made of a conductive material and electrically connected to one of the electrodes. A portion of the electron emitter disposed in the hermetic discharge chamber, and a diameter of an end of the electron emitter in the hermetic discharge chamber is less than an outer diameter of the connecting part.

Abstract: [Problems] Disclosed is a surge absorber which can absorb a surge having a long wave tail, wherein a stable sparkover voltage is obtained without applying a discharging aid to electrodes. [Means for Solving the Problems] The surge absorber is comprised of a pair of terminal electrode members (2) which are opposed to each other; and the insulation tube (3) on which the pair of terminal electrode members (2) are disposed on opposite ends thereof and that has a discharge control gas sealed therein. Bulging electrode elements (4) having an expanded center portion (4a) are formed on the inner surfaces of the terminal electrode members (2). The bulging electrode elements (4) contain metal which can emit more electrons than the terminal electrode members (2).

Abstract: An electron emission device including a first substrate, a second substrate, a gas, a sealant, and a phosphor layer is provided. The first substrate has a cathode thereon, and the cathode has a patterned profile. The second substrate is opposite to the first substrate and has an anode thereon. The sealant is disposed at edges of the first substrate and the second substrate to assemble the first and second substrates. The gas is disposed between the cathode and the anode and configured to induce a plurality of electrons from the cathode, wherein the pressure of the gas is between 10 torr and 10?3 torr. The phosphor layer is disposed on the moving path of the electrons to react with the electrons so as to emit light.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an electrode device for gas discharge sources, a gas discharge source comprising such an electrode device and to a method of operating the gas discharge source. The electrode device comprises an electrode wheel (1) rotatable around a rotational axis (3) and a wiper unit (11) arranged to limit the thickness of a liquid material film applied to at least a portion of an outer circumferential surface (18) of the electrode wheel (1) during rotation of said electrode wheel (1). The wiper unit (11) is arranged and designed to form a gap (17) between the outer circumferential surface (18) and a wiping edge (19) of the wiper unit (11) and to inhibit or at least reduce a migration of liquid material from side surfaces to the outer circumferential surface (18) of the electrode wheel (1) during rotation.

Abstract: A mercury-free discharge lamp with an electrical power consumption of less than 35 Watts may include a translucent discharge vessel which has a discharge space into which electrodes protrude for generating a gas discharge, wherein metal halides and ignition gas are contained in the discharge space, wherein the metal halides are present in a quantity in the range from 5 milligrams to 15 milligrams per 1 milliliter of discharge space volume in the discharge space.

Abstract: A fluorescent lamp that can be easily manufactured to provide high brightness and high efficiency, a method of manufacturing the same, and a backlight unit having the same are provided. First and second non-emissive glass tube are joined to an emissive glass tube coated with a phosphor, and first and second electrodes are formed on outer surfaces of the first and second non-emissive glass tubes. The first and second non-emissive tubes may have the same diameter as the emissive glass tube. The first and second non-emissive glass tubes are simply joined to the emissive glass tube, thereby reducing the manufacturing process and cost. The first and second non-emissive glass tubes are formed to be thinner than the emissive glass tube, thereby enhancing the brightness and efficiency of the fluorescent lamp.

Abstract: An arc discharge lamp (10) has an envelope (12) including a base (14) containing lead-ins (16, 18). An arc tube (20) is positioned within the envelope (12) and has electrodes (22, 24) sealed therein. The electrodes have connection ends (26, 28) extending outside of the arc tube (20). A flexible primary electrical connector (30) is fixed between one of the lead-ins (16) and one of the connection ends (26) of one of the electrodes (22), the flexible primary electrical connector (30) having an area “A” subject to intergranular corrosion in the presence of oxygen and arc tube operating temperatures. A rigid secondary, intergranular-corrosion-resistant electrical connector (32) is electrically connected between the lead-in (16) and the one of the connection ends (26) of the one of the electrodes (22), the rigid secondary electrical connector (32) by-passing the area “A” that is subject to intergranular corrosion.

Abstract: High-pressure discharge lamp having a ceramic discharge vessel, in which two electrodes and a light-emitting filling are contained, wherein capillaries are positioned at the ends of the discharge vessel, in which capillaries leadthroughs are sealed off, which leadthroughs are each connected to an electrode (15) consisting of tungsten. The electrode (15) is in the form of a pin and integrally comprises two parts (25, 26) having different diameters, wherein the first part (25) having a given diameter D1 forms the electrode tip, the second part (26) having a diameter D2 is positioned in the capillary, and the diameter D2 of the second part makes up at least 108% of the diameter D1 of the first part.

Abstract: A short arc type high voltage electrical discharge electrode includes an electrode center spindle made from a refractory metal and having a tip; and an electrode main body made from a refractory metal and disposed at the tip of the electrode center spindle. The electrode center spindle is subjected to final sintering, the electrode main body is subjected to temporary sintering, and the final-sintered electrode center spindle is inserted into a center hole of the temporary-sintered electrode main body so as to form combination which is sintered together.

Abstract: An extra-high pressure discharge lamp, comprises an optical transparent light emitting section, sealing sections connected to the light emitting section, a pair of electrodes which face each other in the light emitting section, wherein one of the electrodes having a thick portion, a thin portion and an intermediate portion which is formed between the thick portion and the thin portion, wherein 0.15 mg/mm3 of mercury is enclosed in the light emitting portion, and wherein the number of crystal grains which exist on a cross section perpendicular to an axis of the one of the electrodes is three.

Abstract: A discharge bulb and an arc tube are provided. The discharge bulb includes an arc tube main body having a discharge arc chamber, in which two discharge electrodes are disposed to oppose to each other; a tube portion disposed at each end portion of the arc tube main body, each of the tube portions being in communication with the discharge arc chamber and holding one of the discharge electrodes, wherein a wall for forming the discharge arc chamber has a taper portion whose diameter is reduced gradually from a cylinder portion of the arc tube main body in a center area to the tube portion of the arc tube main body, and an inner diameter Di of the cylinder portion is about 1.0 mm to about 2.5 mm, and a projection length Le of the discharge electrode into the discharge arc chamber is about 1.5 mm to about 2.5 mm.

Abstract: A preferred embodiment microcavity plasma device array of the invention includes a plurality of first metal circumferential metal electrodes that surround microcavities in the device. The first circumferential electrodes are buried in a metal oxide layer and surround the microcavities in a plane transverse to the microcavity axis, while being protected from plasma in the microcavities by the metal oxide. In embodiments of the invention, the circumferential electrodes can be connected in patterns. A second electrode(s) is arranged so as to be isolated from said first electrodes by said first metal oxide layer. In some embodiments, the second electrode(s) is in a second layer, and in other embodiments the second electrode(s) is also within the first metal oxide layer. A containing layer, e.g., a thin layer of glass, quartz, or plastic, seals the discharge medium (plasma) into the microcavities. In a preferred method of formation embodiment, a metal foil or film is obtained or formed with micro-holes.

Abstract: A short arc type discharge lamp has a pair of electrodes, at least one of which has an electrode body and an axis part. A taper part is formed at a base side of the electrode body. Plural holes extending in an axis direction of the electrode in line are formed at the taper part.

Abstract: A cold cathode fluorescent lamp for a backlight of a liquid crystal display device includes a light-transmitting glass tube in which a rare gas and mercury are sealed, and a phosphor film which is formed on an inner peripheral surface of the glass tube. The phosphor film is formed such that a phosphor suspension is formed by mixing phosphors into a suspension produced by strongly stirring a mixed solvent made of butyl acetate and nitrocellulose and by re-stirring the mixture, and the phosphor suspension is applied to the inner peripheral surface of the glass tube by coating.

Abstract: A high-intensity discharge lamp includes a discharge vessel made of an insulator, and a cathode and anode. A V-shaped gap is provided between the anode and a first region of the vessel directly adjacent to where the anode separates from an interior surface of the vessel. A secondary cathode is provided on an exterior surface of the vessel at the first region, where the secondary cathode is positioned so that the V-shaped gap and the first region are between the secondary cathode and the anode. An electric field at the first region produces a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) which generates ultraviolet (UV) and vacuum ultraviolet VUV photons that impinge on the cathode and initiate a breakdown between the cathode and anode.

Abstract: An apparatus of light source includes a cathode structure, an anode structure, a fluorescent layer, a secondary electron generating layer, and a low-pressure gas layer. The fluorescent layer is located between the cathode structure and the anode structure. The low-pressure gas layer is filled between the cathode structure and the anode structure. The secondary electron generating layer is located on the cathode structure. The secondary electron generating layer can generate additional secondary electrons to hit the fluorescent layer for improving the performance of the light source.

Abstract: A plasma display panel includes: pairs of electrodes having first electrode and second electrode which are arranged in parallel with each other; first substrate having dielectric layer formed so that the dielectric layer can cover the pairs of electrodes; and second substrate having third electrode which is arranged crossing the pairs of electrodes, and the plasma display panel further includes: floating electrodes, protruding onto a discharge space provided on dielectric layer at positions respectively corresponding to first electrode and second electrode, wherein floating electrodes are opposed to each other. Due to the above composition, the discharge starting voltage is reduced and the drive voltage is decreased. Accordingly, the light emitting efficiency is enhanced.

Abstract: An electrode structure configured to operate in a discharge lamp and a method to make such an electrode structure are described. The electrode structure includes an electrode head portion comprising a plurality of raised features arranged in a configuration such that an average pitch of the plurality of raised features is at least 105%. The method includes providing an electrode configured to operate in the discharge lamp and forming raised features on an electrode head portion of the electrode at an average pitch of at least 105%.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an electrode device for gas discharge sources, a gas discharge source comprising such an electrode device and to a method of operating the gas discharge source. The electrode device comprises an electrode wheel (1) rotatable around a rotational axis (3) and a wiper unit (11) arranged to limit the thickness of a liquid material film applied to at least a portion of an outer circumferential surface (18) of the electrode wheel (1) during rotation of said electrode wheel (1). The wiper unit (11) is arranged and designed to form a gap (17) between the outer circumferential surface (18) and a wiping edge (19) of the wiper unit (11) and to inhibit or at least reduce a migration of liquid material from side surfaces to the outer circumferential surface (18) of the electrode wheel (1) during rotation.

Abstract: A high intensity discharge lamp comprises an arc tube, which encloses an arc chamber. The arc chamber contains a gas fill and the arc tube is terminated by at least one sealed portion. The sealed portions enclose an electrode assembly. The electrode assembly comprises an electrode, a lead-in wire and an electrically conducting foil. The electrode extends into the arc chamber. The lead-in wire extends outward from the sealed portion for providing electric contact with a power supply. The electrically conducting foil connects the lead-in wire and the electrode and provides a sealed electric connection through a sealed portion of the arc tube. At least one of the electrodes is provided with surface irregularities in a region between the foil and the arc chamber in order to control shape and size of cracks in a seal wall surrounding the electrodes. In the method, an electrode of predetermined geometry and structure is provided with at least one artificial surface irregularity.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a filament for a fluorescent lamp, having a structure that can increase an amount of emitter applied thereto, and having optimized cold resistance (Rc) and a heat resistance (Rh) which capable of recognizing appropriate temperature thereof by which evaporation or scattering of the emitter can be decreased and maintaining a temperature thereof within an appropriate range, thereby reducing a loss rate of the emitter applied to the filament to increase the lifespan of the fluorescent lamp. The filament includes an inner coil wound in a spiral shape in one direction, a core wire wound in a spiral shape to surround the inner coil in a longitudinal direction of the inner coil, and an outer coil wound in a spiral shape to surround the core wire and surrounding the inner coil together with the core wire and characterized in that a ratio (Rh/Rc) between a heat resistance Rh and a cold resistance Rc of the filament is 4.8 to 6.2.

Abstract: Provided is an electrode for a high pressure discharge lamp, which prevents spring-back of an electrode coil, and which has high productivity and high accuracy in positioning the coil. The electrode for the high pressure discharge lamp includes: an electrode core bar (30); and a coil (35) mounted on the electrode core bar, and is configured as follows. The electrode core bar (30) includes: a small-diameter section (31) on a power supply side; and a large-diameter section (32) on a leading end side. The large-diameter section (32) has: a large-diameter portion (32a) on the small-diameter section side; a small-diameter portion (32b) having a smaller outer diameter than the large-diameter portion, the small-diameter portion forming a step (s) with the large-diameter portion therebetween; and a leading end portion (32c). The coil (35) covers a portion between the step (s) and the leading end portion.

Abstract: A high pressure discharge lamp comprises a pair of electrodes that face each other in an electric discharge container, wherein an electrode axis of each electrode is buried in a sealing portion, each electrode axis is joined to a metallic foil, two or more grooves are formed in an axis direction on a portion of the electrode axis, which corresponds to the sealing portion, an upper shoulder portion of each groove is formed in a shape of a curved surface, a diameter of the electrode axis is 0.3 mm to 1 mm, and a curvature radius of the curved surface upper shoulder portion is 5 ?m-50 ?m.

Abstract: An all-metal electron emissive structure for low-pressure lamps is disclosed. The all-metal electron emissive structure consisting of one or more metal is operable to emit electrons in response to a thermal excitation, wherein an active region of the electron emissive structure under steady state operating conditions has a temperature greater than about 1500 degree K, and wherein the cathode fall voltage in the discharge medium under steady state operating conditions is less than about 100 volts. A lamp including an envelope, an electrode including the all-metal electron emissive structure, and a medium, is also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a tungsten electrode for ultra-high pressure mercury lamps comprising an electrode rod, a first coil wound around the front end side of the electrode, and a second coil wound around the electrode rod starting from the end of the first coil. The tungsten wire of the first coil is smaller in diameter than the tungsten wire of the second coil.

Abstract: A fluorescent tube in which no luminance gradient in the longitudinal direction occurs even when a one-side high-voltage driving method is used, a method of driving the fluorescent tube, an illuminating device for display device, and a display device having the illuminating device are provided. The fluorescent tube for one-side high-voltage driving is arranged behind a display panel via optical sheets. An internal diameter of the fluorescent tube is arranged to become larger gradually toward an electrode part at a high-voltage driving side, which prevents the occurrence of the luminance gradient in the longitudinal direction when a one-side high-voltage driving method is used.

Abstract: A dielectric barrier discharge lamp is disclosed, which has a discharge vessel enclosing with a wall a discharge volume filled with discharge gas. There is a phosphor layer within the discharge volume. The discharge lamp comprises first and second sets of interconnected electrodes, which are isolated from the discharge volume by at least one dielectric layer. At least one of the dielectric layers is the wall of the discharge vessel. Both the first and second sets of electrodes are located external to the discharge vessel. Advantageously, the discharge vessel comprises an outer tubular portion with an internal surface and an inner tubular portion with an outward surface. The outer tubular portion surrounds the inner tubular portion, and the discharge volume is enclosed between the internal surface of the outer tubular portion and the outward surface of the inner tubular portion.

Abstract: A high-pressure discharge lamp assembly has a discharge lamp (1) and a concave reflector (11) arranged around a longitudinal axis (30). The discharge lamp is closed in a gastight manner and comprises a first and second end portion (3, 4) and an ionizable gas filling, and in which a pair of electrodes (5, 6) is arranged. A first and a second current-supply conductor (7, 8) are connected to the pair of electrodes and issue to the exterior of the discharge lamp (1). The first end portion of the discharge lamp extends through an opening (14) arranged in a center section of the reflector. A conduction member (9) is connected to the second current-supply conductor and extends through the opening in the center section of the reflector. The conduction member is connected to a contact member provided on a surface of the reflector facing away from the discharge lamp.

Abstract: A combined igniter and flame sense electrode for a dual stage gas burner that includes a first burner and a second burner is disclosed. The electrode includes a first conductive element mounted on the shaft and positioned closer to the first burner than to the second burner; a second conductive element mounted on the shaft and positioned closer to the second burner than to the first burner; and one or more electrical connectors connected to the conductive elements. An electrode according to the invention can also be used with a single stage gas burner, by placing the first conductive element at the position of high level flame from the burner and by placing the second conductive element at the position of low level flame from the burner. A gas burner assembly incorporating such an electrode, and a gas appliance incorporating such a gas burner assembly, are also disclosed.

Abstract: An electrode for a high-pressure discharge lamp, cut out in one piece from a rod or pin is provided. The electrode may include an electrode head as first segment; and a shaft as second segment, wherein the electrode has an asymmetrical shape which has been produced by means of a sublimation laser.

Abstract: A discharge lamp has an electrode comprising a base portion having a base portion side flange portion, and a lid portion having a lid portion side flange portion. In a sealed space of the electrode, heat conductive member is enclosed. At time of lighting, the electrode is not damaged, and the discharge lamp can be stably operated. In the electrode, the diameter direction width of a welding portion of a base portion side flat portion and a lid portion side flat portion is 0.8 to 3.0. Further, an angle formed by the base portion side flat portion and a base side slope portion is 30 degrees or less and an angle formed by the lid portion side flat portion and a lid side slope portion is 30 degrees or less. The sum total of these angle is 160 degrees or less.

Abstract: The object of this invention is to prevent surface discharge even when a high voltage is applied in a dielectric-barrier discharge lamp or a capacitively coupled high frequency discharge lamp with no electrodes in a discharge space. Ribbon foil electrodes 3 are embedded in the wall of a quartz discharge vessel 1. The discharge vessel 1 is disposed such that the foil electrodes 3 face each other on both sides of the axis of the quartz discharge vessel 1. It may be disposed such that the foil electrodes 3 have a truncated V-shaped cross-section. The single tube quartz discharge vessel 1 is filled with discharge gas to form excimer molecules by dielectric barrier discharge or capacitively coupled high-frequency discharge.

Abstract: It is provided a dielectric barrier discharge lamp (10) for providing ultraviolet light, comprising an outer tube (12) filled with a discharge gas for providing ultraviolet light, an inner tube (14) arranged at least partially inside the outer tube (12), an outer electrode (16) electrically connected to the outer tube (12) and an inner electrode (18) electrically connected to the inner tube (14), wherein the inner electrode (18) comprises a conductor (20) and a plurality of an conductive granulated material (22) for providing an electrical contact between the conductor (20) and the inner tube (14). Due to the conductive granulated material (22) an electrical contact between the conductor (20) and the inner tube (14) is safeguarded and different thermal expansions of the inner electrode (18) and the inner tube (14) are compensated at the same time without applying mechanical stress to the inner tube (14).

Abstract: A lamp, a method of making a bulb for a lamp and an optical apparatus are disclosed. The lamp may include an anode and cathode disposed within a bulb. The bulb may include an optically refractive wall that is rotationally symmetric about an axis. A thickness of the wall may decrease with increase in azimuthal angle between an equatorial plane of the bulb and a point on the bulb's surface. The apparatus may include the lamp and an ellipsoidal reflecting surface. An alternative apparatus may include an ellipsoidal reflecting surface and a lamp having an anode and cathode within a bulb. A gap between the anode and cathode may be proximate a focus of the reflecting surface. The bulb may include an optically refractive wall configured such that a 0.24/0.13 NA power ratio for bulb light coupled to the interior ellipsoidal reflecting surface is between about 3.0 and about 3.3.

Abstract: An electrode for an extra-high pressure discharge lamp, comprises large diameter portion which is symmetrical with respect to an axis of the electrode, a small diameter portion connected to the large diameter portion, wherein the large diameter portion is connected to the small diameter portion through an outer surface portion of the electrode, wherein a stripe lines like pattern portion, extending along an electrode axis direction, is formed on a portion to be brought in contact with glass of a lamp, and wherein unevenness is formed over an entire circumference of the electrode in a cross sectional view of the electrode taken along a direction perpendicular to the electrode axis direction.

Abstract: An emitter is disclosed. The emitter includes a a base layer comprising an array of nanocavities on an emission surface of the base layer, wherein facets of the nanocavities are substantially along equivalent crystallographic planes of one or more families of planes having substantially equal surface energies, wherein the equivalent crystallographic planes have surface energies equal to or lower than a surface energy of the crystallographic plane of the emission surface. Methods of making such emitters and radiation sources including such emitters are also disclosed.

Abstract: A high-pressure gas discharge lamp 10 is described with a sealed discharge vessel 20 with an inner discharge space 22. Two electrodes 24 project into the discharge space 22. The filling in the discharge space 22 comprises metal halides and a rare gas. In order to provide a lamp with good environmental properties suited for automotive use, in particular with good lumen maintenance, the filling is free of Hg and Th and comprises halides in an amount of 7.1-11.4 ?g/mm3 of the volume of the discharge space 22. The halides comprise at least NaI and ScI3, provided in such amounts that a ratio of the masses of NaI to ScI3 is 1.2-1.6.

Abstract: A flat light source structure includes an upper substrate made of a light transmitting material; a lower substrate separated from the upper substrate by a distance; a barrier rib for maintaining the distance, thereby defining a discharge space filled with a discharge gas; a phosphor coated on at least one of the inner surfaces of the upper substrate and the lower substrate, respectively; a pair of main electrodes disposed at predetermined positions on the surface of the upper or lower substrate and applied with a predetermined driving voltage, frequency and duty ratio to excite the phosphor by plasma generated; an auxiliary electrode formed at a predetermined position on the lower and/or upper substrate(s) to have a parallel component which is parallel with any one of the main electrodes when viewing the discharge space from the upper substrate and a perpendicular component which traverses across the pair of main electrodes.

Abstract: A gas discharge tube which generates discharge between an anode 24 and a cathode 56 disposed within a sealed container 12 in which a gas is sealed, includes a cylindrical part 28 restricting the discharge path, the cylindrical part being disposed between the anode and the cathode and having a through hole 42 for narrowing the discharge path between the anode and the cathode, and a discharge shielding part 50 which is disposed so as to cover a surrounding of the part restricting the discharge path and is electrically insulated from the part restricting the discharge path, wherein the part restricting the discharge path has a cathode side end projecting by a predetermined projecting amount more than a surface on the cathode side of the discharge shielding part and an anode side end projecting into a space 62 on the side where the anode is positioned so that a high-density electron region is formed only in a part on the cathode side of the through hole of the part restricting the discharge path to reliably gener

Abstract: The disclosed subject matter includes a fluorescent lamp and particularly a cold cathode fluorescent lamp that can be employed as a light source for a LCD backlight unit for a television, a computer, a display, and the like. The fluorescent lamp can include a couple of electrode units located opposite to each other at each end of a tube, a couple of welding beads sealing both the tube and the couple of electrode units, and a filler gas located in the tube. Each of the electrode units can include an emitter electrode that is configured with a crystalline silicon carbide material having an electrical conductivity and including a concave portion formed thereon. The electrode units can prevent blackening on an inner surface of the tube by avoiding the occurrence of spattering. Thus, the fluorescent lamp using the electrode units can enjoy a long life, high reliability, easy manufacture, and the like.

Abstract: This cold cathode tube lamp comprises: a discharge tube composed of a glass tube (11) having at least a rare gas sealed therein and a pair of electrodes (21, 22) arranged opposite each other inside the glass tube (11) at opposite ends thereof. The electrodes (21, 22) have cylindrical portions (21a, 22a) having a cylindrical shape with an opening at one end and bottom portions (21b, 22b) closing the other end of the cylindrical portions (21a, 22a). Projecting portions (41, 42) are formed on interior surfaces of the cylindrical portions (21a, 22a).

Abstract: A discharge lamp in which fluctuation of the arc when the lamp starts and in which devitrification and damage of the arc tube are prevented, so that light intensity can be kept uniform over a long time is achieved by the cathode having a tapering part with a diameter which decreases in the direction to the tip that is formed with an area with different diameters extending around the tapering part in the peripheral direction which has concave-convex parts with groups of convex parts which are located next to one another in the axial direction of the cathode, the concave-convex parts in longitudinal cross section being arranged such that corner points of each convex part are located inside of an edge line of the tapering part, and an envelope curve which connects the corner points is convex with respect to the center line of the cathode.

Abstract: An ultraminiature light source using a double-spiral shaped tungsten filament includes end contact portions which are separated to allow for radial and length-wise unwinding of the spiral. The double-spiral filament is spaced relatively far apart at the end portions thereof so that contact between portions of the filament upon expansion is avoided. The light source is made by fabricating a double-spiral ultraminiature tungsten filament from tungsten foil and housing the filament in a ceramic package having a reflective bottom and a well wherein the filament is suspended. A vacuum furnace brazing process attaches the filament to contacts of the ceramic package. Finally, a cover with a transparent window is attached onto the top of the ceramic package by solder reflow in a second vacuum furnace process to form a complete hermetically sealed package.