Abstract: A low-pressure rare gas discharge lamp wherein a light emitting gas composed substantially 100% of rare gases is sealed in a bulb and light emitted is from the gas by electric discharge. An isolation film for the light emitting gas from the bulb is provided at least on the inner surface portion of the bulb which portion surrounds a positive column. In another embodiment, a hot cathode type low-pressure rare gas discharging fluorescent lamp includes a glass bulb, a pair of electrodes including an electrode acting as a hot cathode at least in a stable discharging state, the paired electrodes being provided within the glass bulb, a fluorescent substance layer formed on the inner surface of the glass bulb, and a light emitting gas sealed in the interior of the glass bulb. The fluorescent substance layer is rendered luminous by radiation emitted from the light emitting gas. A partial pressure of the sealed, light emitting gas is not higher than 5 Torr, and the light emitting gas includes at least krypton.

Abstract: A green-light-emitting rare gas discharge lamp includes a glass tube filled with at least one selected from the group consisting of xenon, neon, helium, argon and krypton as a rare gas capable of emitting vacuum ultraviolet rays of a wavelength of not more than 200 nm, and includes on an inner surface of the glass tube a layer of a green-light-emitting phosphor having terbium-activated yttrium silicate, whereby it is intended to obtain enhanced performance as a green-light-emitting light source and to put the discharge lamp to practical use as a green-light-emitting light source for office automation equipment, for instance.

Abstract: The invention provides a rare gas discharge fluorescent lamp device which is long in life and high in brightness and efficiency. The lamp device comprises a rare gas discharge fluorescent lamp including a bulb having rare gas such as xenon, argon or krypton gas enclosed therein, a fluorescent layer formed on an inner face of the bulb, a reflecting film formed on an inner face of the fluorescent layer, and a pair of electrodes located at the opposite ends of the bulb. The lamp device further comprises a power source for applying a voltage across the electrodes, and pulse voltage forming means connected between the electrodes and the power source for forming a dc pulse voltage from a voltage supplied from the power source. The dc pulse voltage thus formed is applied across the electrodes to cause the lamp to be lit.

Abstract: A hot-cathode type low-pressure rare gas discharge lamp comprises electrodes each of which operate as hot cathode during lighting and which is heated at a temperature ranging from 800.degree. C. to 1200.degree. C., whereby the lamp with an ordinary simple construction can be improved in luminance distribution characteristics, without any loss in life characteristic, and can be put to practical use as an ideal luminous light source for office automation equipment.

Abstract: A brake lamp apparatus causes a neon discharge lamp to light up instantly even when the vehicle key is not inserted into the key hole of the vehicle e.g., when the vehicle is being parked. A neon discharge lamp utilized in the apparatus is pre-heated but cathodes thereof to instantly light up in hot cathode discharge mode upon depression of a brake pedal when a generator drivingly connected with an engine is operating, whereas the hot cathodes of the lamp are not pre-heated but the lamp can still light up instantly in cold cathode discharge mode upon depression of the brake pedal when the generator is operating. Even if the filament coils of the lamp become cut off suddenly while the vehicle is running, the lamp can still light up, being shifted to in cold cathode discharge method, thereby overcoming a drawback that the brake lamp goes off suddenly due to a filament cut-off during running on a road.

Abstract: Hot-cathode discharge fluorescent lamps filled with low pressure rare gas being discharge fluorescent lamps filled with low pressure rare gas with a tube diameter of 16 mm or less provided with a pair of electrodes on both ends of a glass tube which operate as a hot-cathode in a stable discharge condition, having a fluorescent material layer on the inside surface of the bulb, filled with a luminous gas therein, and which is illuminated with irradiation from discharge in the luminous gas, in which at least one gas of He, Ne, Ar, and Kr are filled in addition to Xe as the luminous gas in an amount that the percentage of additional gas volume to total gas volume exceeds 50%.