Abstract: A fluorescent lamp may include a pair of hot cathode electrodes at both its ends, wherein a phosphor is formed in a laminated manner on the inner surface of a glass tube and a protection film is formed between the glass tube and the phosphor, wherein a residual impure gas in the lamp, including the amount occluded by the phosphor and the protection film, is set to 0.5% or less with the sealed rare gas partial pressure ratio, and wherein the following relationship is fulfilled: GHg=A×CL, A=0.0032-0.163 [mg/cc], wherein the amount of sealed mercury is GHg [mg], the lamp internal volume is CL [cc], and the coefficient is A [mg/cc].

Abstract: A fluorescent lamp may include a pair of hot cathode electrodes at both its ends, wherein a phosphor is formed in a laminated manner on the inner surface of a glass tube and a protection film is formed between the glass tube and the phosphor, wherein a residual impure gas in the lamp, including the amount occluded by the phosphor and the protection film, is set to 0.5% or less with the sealed rare gas partial pressure ratio, and wherein the following relationship is fulfilled: GHg=A×CL, A=0.0032-0.163 [mg/cc], wherein the amount of sealed mercury is GHg [mg], the lamp internal volume is CL [cc], and the coefficient is A [mg/cc].

Abstract: The present invention provides a rare gas discharge fluorescent lamp device which is long in life and high in brightness and efficiency. The lamp device basically comprises a rare gas discharge fluorescent lamp wherein rare gas is enclosed in the inside of a glass bulb which has a fluorescent layer formed on an inner face thereof and has a pair of electrodes at the opposite ends thereof. In one embodiment, it further comprises a dc power source and a resonance circuit for generating pulse-like voltage across the pair of electrodes having the time rate of energization time to a period higher than 5% but lower than 70% and the energization time within a period shorter than 150 .mu.

Abstract: A discharge lamp having a large light output and a stable discharge. On an external surface of a cylindrical glass bulb enclosing a rare gas such as xenon, a pair of beltlike electrodes are mounted so as to face each other. A light output part is provided between the electrodes, and the electrodes are situated close to each other on the opposite side to the light output part. An image display device is constituted by arranging a plurality of the discharge lamps.

Abstract: A gas discharge image display is formed by disposing a plurality of fluorescent lamps 1 each comprising a glass bulb 2 within which a rare gas is sealed, one or more pairs of external electrodes 5a and 5b located on the outer wall of the glass bulb 2, and a fluorescent layer 3 formed on the inner wall of the container facing the external electrodes 5a and 5b. An alternating voltage pulse is applied between the paired external electrodes 5a and 5b by an X drive circuit 9 and a Y drive circuit 10 for discharge light emission, thereby displaying an image. The pressure and alternating voltage in the fluorescent lamp 1 are changed in response to the type of fluorescent material, thereby making near light emission and discharge characteristics of the discharge lamps which differ in electric characteristics.

Abstract: A surface luminous lighting unit has a light panel comprising a plurality of light guiding plates laminated in different lengths. The longer side of the light panel is made shorter than the distance between filaments of a lamp, and longer than the distance between the portions where a luminance of the lamp is equal to 75% of the maximum luminance of the lamp. The surface luminous lighting unit comprises a light guide which comprises a plurality of light guiding plates in different length laminated in such a manner that the sides of those plates where light enters are made level with each other, where the other sides thereof are arranged in a step-like. A linear light source is affixed to the light entering side of the light guide, and a reflector is affixed to the light exiting side of the light guide in such a manner as to extend thereover.

Abstract: The present invention provides a rare gas discharge fluorescent lamp device which is long in life and high in brightness and efficiency. The lamp device basically comprises a rare gas discharge fluroescent lamp wherein rare gas is enclosed in the inside of a glass bulb which has a fluorescent layer formed on an inner face thereof and has a pair of electrodes at the opposite ends thereof. In one embodiment, it further comprises a dc power source and a resonance circuit for generating pulse-like voltage across the pair of electrodes having the time rate of energization time to a period higher than 5% but lower than 70% and the energization time within a period shorter than 150 .mu.

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 glass bulb having xenon, argon or krypton gas enclosed therein, a fluorescent layer formed on an inner face of the bulb, and a pair of electrodes located at the opposite ends of the bulb. A pulse-like voltage wherein the ratio of an energization period with respect to one cycle is higher than 5% but lower than 70% (xenon or krypton gas) or 80% (argon gas) and the energization period is shorter than 150 .mu.sec is applied between the electrodes of the lamp. Such pulse-like voltage is produced from a circuit including a dc power source, a pulse signal source, and a switching element for controlling application of a voltage of the dc power source or such voltage boosted by a boosting transformer or a resonance circuit.

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 discharge lamp comprises a substantially straight glass bulb having a discharge gas charged therein and an electrode provided at each longitudinal end portion of the bulb on the outer surface thereof. A high frequency voltage is applied across the electrodes of the discharge lamp. Each end portion has an outer surface area per unit length of the bulb larger than that at light emitting portion of the bulb. The outer surface area may be uneven or in the shape of ridges and furrows at the end portions to create a large surface area, the electrodes being configured to the ridges and furrows. The end portions may have a larger diameter than that of the light emitting portion of the bulb so that they have a larger surface area contacting with the bulb. Each of the electrodes may have a narrow belt-shaped elongate portion on the outer surface of the bulb extending longitudinally within toward the middle portion, thereby allowing use of a lower discharge voltage.