Abstract: A fluorescent lamp has a glass container that has a phosphor layer formed on an inner surface of the glass container, and that is hermetically sealed, wherein phosphors of the phosphor layer include a blue phosphor, a green phosphor, and a red phosphor, a main luminescence peak of the blue phosphor exists in a wavelength region in a range of 430 nm to 460 nm inclusive, a half-value width of a spectrum of the main luminescence peak of the blue phosphor is less than or equal to 50 nm, a main luminescence peak of the green phosphor exists in a wavelength region in a range of 510 nm to 530 nm inclusive, a half-value width of a spectrum of the main luminescence peak of the green phosphor is less than or equal to 30 nm, and a main luminescence peak of the red phosphor exists in a wavelength region in a range of 600 nm to 780 nm inclusive, and a difference between a wavelength of the main luminescence peak of the blue phosphor and a wavelength of the main luminescence peak of the green phosphor is in a range of 70 n

Abstract: A cold cathode fluorescent lamp has an improved heat dissipation characteristic without an overall increase in size, and a lead wire thereof does not readily break. The cold cathode fluorescent lamp (20) includes electrodes (28 and 30) composed of electrode main bodies (28a and 30a) that are located in an interior of a glass bulb (21), a lead wire (28b and 30b), the glass bulb (21) having ends into which the lead wires are sealed, and a heat dissipater (32 and 34) that is provided on an other portion of the lead wire, the other portion being outside the glass bulb 21. The portion of the heat dissipater surrounding the lead wire (28b and 30b) are in contact with the end surfaces (21c and 21d) of the glass bulb, when viewed externally along an extending direction of the lead wire.

Abstract: The present invention aims to provide an external-electrode discharge lamp able to suppress luminance variation, a manufacturing method for the lamp, and a backlight unit. A lamp (10) of the present invention includes a glass tube (11) sealed at both ends, and electrodes (18) and (19) provided around outer circumferential peripheries of the ends in the axial direction of the glass tube (11). During operation of the lamp (10), the electrodes (18) and (19) and the glass tube (11) between the electrodes (18) and (19) and a discharge space (14) equivalently function as first and second capacitors, whose capacitances are substantially the same.

Abstract: A fluorescent lamp including a glass bulb that is in a shape of a tube. External electrodes are formed as conductive layers each of which covers an outer surface of the glass bulb at an end thereof. Metal members in a shape of a cap are respectively connected to the external electrodes by covering at least part of the external electrodes. The metal members are formed such that rims of the metal members recede from a center of the glass bulb in the tube axis direction a distance L than rims of the external electrodes.

Abstract: A backlight unit has an external electrode fluorescent lamp in an housing. The external electrode fluorescent lamp includes a glass bulb having a discharge space inside, and electrodes around both ends of the glass bulb. A protective layer and a phosphor layer are formed on an internal surface of the glass bulb in this order. The glass bulb is made of soda glass, and sodium oxide precipitated from this soda glass appears on part of the internal surface of the glass bulb where the protective layer is not formed, so as to be exposed to the discharge space.

Abstract: A discharge lamp includes a glass bulb and a pair of electrodes provided at both ends of the glass bulb. At least one of the electrodes is an external electrode formed on an outer surface of the glass bulb as a thin layer whose maximum thickness is 70 ?m or less, and an end portion of the external electrode becomes smaller in thickness towards an end of the external electrode.

Abstract: A cold cathode fluorescent lamp includes a glass bulb (16), a protective film (22) formed on an inner face of the glass bulb, and a phosphor layer (24) that overlaps the protective film and that contains blue phosphor particles (26B), green phosphor particles (26) and red phosphor particles (26). The glass bulb has been formed from soda glass, and the blue phosphor particles have been coated with a metal oxide (30). Also, the protective film is made of silica (SiO2). Since the protective film has been provided in the fluorescent lamp and since the blue phosphor particles, which readily deteriorate, have been coated with the metal oxide, a good luminance maintenance rate is obtained. In addition, although the glass bulb of the fluorescent lamp is made of soda glass, since the protective film is made of silica, the fluorescent lamp obtains an initial luminance equivalent to the initial luminance of a fluorescent lamp whose glass bulb is made of borosilicate glass.

Abstract: A backlight unit has an external electrode fluorescent lamp in a housing. The external electrode fluorescent lamp includes a glass bulb having a discharge space inside, and electrodes around both ends of the glass bulb. A protective layer and a phosphor layer are formed on an internal surface of the glass bulb in this order. The glass bulb is made of soda glass, and sodium oxide precipitated from this soda glass appears on part of the internal surface of the glass bulb where the protective layer is not formed, so as to be exposed to the discharge space.

Abstract: A discharge lamp includes a glass bulb and a pair of electrodes provided at both ends of the glass bulb. At least one of the electrodes is an external electrode formed on an outer surface of the glass bulb as a thin layer whose maximum thickness is 70 ?m or less, and an end portion of the external electrode becomes smaller in thickness towards an end of the external electrode.

Abstract: A backlight unit has an external electrode fluorescent lamp in an housing. The external electrode fluorescent lamp includes a glass bulb having a discharge space inside, and electrodes around both ends of the glass bulb. A protective layer and a phosphor layer are formed on an internal surface of the glass bulb in this order. The glass bulb is made of soda glass, and sodium oxide precipitated from this soda glass appears on part of the internal surface of the glass bulb where the protective layer is not formed, so as to be exposed to the discharge space.

Abstract: A fluorescent lamp including a glass bulb that is in a shape of a tube. External electrodes are formed as conductive layers each of which covers an outer surface of the glass bulb at an end thereof. Metal members in a shape of a cap are respectively connected to the external electrodes by covering at least part of the external electrodes. The metal members are formed such that rims of the metal members recede from a center of the glass bulb in the tube axis direction a distance L than rims of the external electrodes.

Abstract: A self-ballasted fluorescent lamp 50 includes a fluorescent lamp 1 and a ballast circuit 2 for operating the fluorescent lamp. The ballast circuit 2 includes: a printed circuit board 6; a heat generating component 7 disposed on a first face 6a of the printed circuit board, which generates heat when the fluorescent lamp 1 is operated; and a semiconductor component 17 disposed on a second face 6b opposite to the first face 6a of the printed circuit board 6, and wherein the semiconductor component 17 is disposed in an area other than an area on the second face 6b corresponding to an area of the first face 6a where the heat generating component 7 is disposed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a dimmable fluorescent lamp operating apparatus which comprises a fluorescent lamp, electrical characteristic detecting element for detecting an electrical characteristic of the fluorescent lamp, an inverter circuit for driving the fluorescent lamp, and a feedback controlling circuit for controlling the drive frequency of the inverter circuit such that the electrical characteristic of the fluorescent lamp becomes a predetermined value, wherein the feedback controlling circuit includes temperature detecting element for detecting the temperature of the fluorescent lamp and wherein the frequency characteristic bandwidth of the feedback controlling circuit is varied based on the detected fluorescent lamp temperature.

Abstract: A ballast for a fluorescent lamp includes a high frequency power source circuit for supplying a preheat start type fluorescent lamp with preheating and lighting current via an inductor. The high frequency power source circuit includes at least two switching elements for controlling application of voltages of different polarity to the fluorescent lamp, a self-exciting type switching element driving circuit for driving the switching elements so as to alternate on and off repeatedly; and a timer circuit for detecting lapse of a predetermined time from start of the ballast for the fluorescent lamp. The switching element driving circuit shortens an ON-period of at least one of the switching elements to restrict an increase of an amplitude of current flowing in the inductor during a period until the timer circuit detects lapse of a predetermined time.

Abstract: A ballast for a discharge lamp comprises a smoothing capacitor, an inverter circuit including at least one switching device connected in parallel to the smoothing capacitor, a driving circuit for driving the inverter circuit, an activating circuit for activating the driving circuit, a resonance circuit including first and second capacitors and an inductor connected to output terminals of the inverter circuit, a discharge lamp connected to output terminals of the resonance circuit, a third capacitor connected in parallel to the discharge lamp. A fourth capacitor and first and second rectifying elements connected in series are connected in parallel to the smoothing capacitor. Between both terminals of the fourth capacitor and terminals for connection to an AC power source, a filter and a rectifier are inserted. A terminal of the first capacitor other than that connected to the inverter circuit is connected to a junction of the first and second rectifying elements.

Abstract: An engine RPM control device has a load compensator responsive to the engine load status setting for adding a load compensation signal to the output from a control signal computing unit, thereby enabling an actuator to open or close a throttle valve. The engine RPM is controlled through a feedback loop. A load driver is actuated to drive the engine load a time interval after the engine load status setting has been detected by a load switch. Therefore, the engine load is energized or de-energized after the engine RPM has been changed to meet the engine load status setting. Any reduction or increase in the engine RPM due to the change of the engine load is thus held to a minimum.