Abstract: A closed loop tubular discharge assembly for an electrodeless light-emitting device and discharge reactor is disclosed. The discharge assembly comprises one or more tubular segments tubularly connected at their respective ends to form the closed loop tubular assembly, which hermetically encloses an ionizable gas. At least one of the one or more tubular segments forms a non-cylindrical, hollow-shaped tubular segment. In one embodiment, the non-cylindrical, hollow-shaped segment is formed by an internal tube at least partially enclosed within an external tube, forming a hollow-shaped discharge envelope enclosing the ionizable gas there between. When a discharge current circulates in the ionizable gas of the envelope, a hollow-shaped plasma is created in the envelope and surrounds the internal tube. This design has been shown to increase performance and provide several improvements over prior art devices.

Abstract: An illuminable bracelet generally includes a buckle, a band having a first end and a second end, a closure member disposed at the second end, a light source, and at least one logo disposed along an inner surface of the band. The band may be formed of a polymeric material that allows light from the light source in the buckle to permeate through the band, illuminating the band and the at least one logo of the band. The band may form a closed-loop when a closure member is used to secure the second end of the band to the buckle. Further, the buckle may have a switch that allows a user to control the light source.

Abstract: A method of inspecting a heatable glazing is disclosed. A heatable glazing comprises a heater array having at least one heater wire. The method comprises the steps of (i) illuminating the heatable glazing with a light source to produce a shadowgraph image of the heatable glazing; (ii) passing a sufficiently high electrical current through the heater array such that the heater wire is observable in the shadowgraph image of the heatable glazing, such a shadowgraph image of the heatable glazing being referred to as an active shadowgraph image of the heatable glazing; and (iii) capturing the active shadowgraph image of the heatable glazing with an imaging sensor. Apparatus for carrying out the method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A light emitting device includes a glass bulb and a reflective film formed in a region having an angle of at least 230° on an outer peripheral surface of the glass bulb. The light emitting device can obtain the reflective film having a sufficient film thickness in a wide region on an outer peripheral surface of an electric discharge tube and has a uniform light intensity distribution.

Abstract: A semiconductor light emitting apparatus includes an elongated hollow wavelength conversion tube that includes an elongated wavelength conversion tube wall having wavelength conversion material, such as phosphor, dispersed therein. A semiconductor light emitting device is oriented to emit light inside the elongated hollow wavelength conversion tube to impinge upon the elongated wavelength conversion tube wall and the wavelength conversion material dispersed therein. The elongated hollow wavelength conversion tube may have an open end, a crimped end, a reflective end, and/or other configurations. Multiples tubes and/or multiple semiconductor light emitting devices may also be used in various configurations. Related assembling methods are also described.

Abstract: A semiconductor light emitting apparatus includes an elongated hollow wavelength conversion tube that includes an elongated wavelength conversion tube wall having wavelength conversion material, such as phosphor, dispersed therein. A semiconductor light emitting device is oriented to emit light inside the elongated hollow wavelength conversion tube to impinge upon the elongated wavelength conversion tube wall and the wavelength conversion material dispersed therein. The elongated hollow wavelength conversion tube may have an open end, a crimped end, a reflective end, and/or other configurations. Multiples tubes and/or multiple semiconductor light emitting devices may also be used in various configurations. Related assembling methods are also described.

Abstract: A semiconductor light emitting apparatus includes an elongated hollow wavelength conversion tube that includes an elongated wavelength conversion tube wall having wavelength conversion material, such as phosphor, dispersed therein. A semiconductor light emitting device is oriented to emit light inside the elongated hollow wavelength conversion tube to impinge upon the elongated wavelength conversion tube wall and the wavelength conversion material dispersed therein. The elongated hollow wavelength conversion tube may have an open end, a crimped end, a reflective end, and/or other configurations. Multiples tubes and/or multiple semiconductor light emitting devices may also be used in various configurations. Related assembling methods are also described.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a globe shield and an inner disposed inside the shield, between which a low-pressured plasmic arc discharging zone is enclosed. Further, a glass division device near the inner in the discharging zone is coated with fluorescent powder on the surface thereof and is formed by glass or sheet glass having at least one opening defined on the glass to ensure the passage of air. The present invention advantages preferable ruminant efficiency as 15 to 20% higher as that of the conventional products, increasing the thermal resistance between the high-temperature circular discharging zone of the plasmic arc and the power coupler to decrease the heat generated by the corresponding radiation conduction for the inner, so that a large power is enabled by the present invention, accomplishing a performance of 200-300 W of the lighting power, and attaining a 75-85 Lm/W of the ruminant efficiency.

Abstract: A light-emitting device (2) including a light-emitting element (2a), a first phosphor (2b), and a second phosphor (2c). The light-emitting element (2a) emits light L1 having a wavelength range within the visible region. Upon receipt of the light L1, or light L3 originating from the second phosphor (2c), the first phosphor (2b) emits light L2 having a wavelength range, which differs from that of the first light L1 and the third light L3, but falls within the visible region. Upon receipt of a specific wavelength component (ultraviolet light, or the like) included in external light, the second phosphor (2c) generates the light L3 whose wavelength range is substantially the same as that of the light L1, thereby radiating the first phosphor (2b) with the light L3.

Abstract: A plasma tube array according to the present invention includes plural light emitting tubes that have fluorescent material layers inside and are mutually lined up in parallel. The plasma tube array includes pairs of display electrodes that are formed along the respective fluorescent material layers. The fluorescent material layers are disposed in sequence in the longitudinal direction of the light emitting tubes.

Abstract: An electrodeless fluorescent lamp (10) having a burner (20), a ballast housing (30) containing a ballast (40) and a screw base (50) for connection to a power supply. A reentrant cavity (60) is formed in the burner (20) and an amalgam receptacle (70) containing amalgam (75) is formed as a part of the reentrant portion and in communication with the burner (20). A housing cap (80), formed of a suitable plastic, connects the burner (20) to the ballast housing (30) and a suitable adhesive (31) fixes the burner to the housing cap (80). An EMI cup (90) is formed as an insert to fit into the ballast housing (30), which also is formed of a suitable plastic, and has a bottom portion (100) and an EMI cap (110) with an aperture (120) therein closing an upper portion (140). The EMI cup (90) and the EMI cap (110) are preferably formed from 0.5 mm brass. The amalgam receptacle (70) extends through the aperture (120) and into the cup (90).

Abstract: A dielectric barrier discharge lamp (1) having a tubular discharge vessel (2) and a luminescent material layer on at least a part of the inner wall of the discharge vessel (2) and having elongate electrodes (3) is provided with a coating (10) on a partial region of the inner wall at least at one end of the tubular discharge vessel (2), which coating additionally covers an end of at least one elongate electrode (3) . The material of the coating (10) has a high secondary electron emission coefficient. As a result, the ignition behavior of the lamp is improved, in particular during ignition in darkness.

Abstract: A semiconductor device comprising a semiconductor element and a support member having a recess for housing the semiconductor element is disclosed. The support member includes lead electrodes and a support part holding the lead electrodes so that a surface of tip portions of the lead electrodes are exposed in a bottom of the recess. A main surface of the support member has at least a first main surface disposed adjacent to the recess and a second main surface disposed adjacent to the first main surface. The second main surface preferably has a protrusion and a further recess. The protrusion preferably forms an outer wall around a depression. The semiconductor device having this configuration has excellent and accurate positioning and can be strongly bonded with other members. The semiconductor device can also be obtained with a high process yield.

Abstract: A relatively small-diameter aperture fluorescent lamp is manufactured easily with high yield and at low cost. An aperture portion is formed in a manner that a thread-like member is inserted into a glass tube having an ultraviolet ray reflection layer and a phosphor layer formed on its inner surface, the glass tube is bent in a predetermined shape by using a bending jig, the thread-like member is pressed to the phosphor layer formed in a predetermined region in the bending member side of the glass tube while both ends thereof are pulled tight, the thread-like member is reciprocated, and phosphor of the phosphor layer in this region is exfoliated.

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 display device is provided in which a structure of a display tube is simplified so as to achieve a cost reduction and electric connection to a driving circuit is made easy. In the display device including a group of display tubes arranged in parallel for emitting light by gas discharge, plural transparent auxiliary electrodes for display are arranged in the length direction on the outer surface of the tubular vessel that defines a discharge gas space of each of the display tubes, so that the position of a discharge portion is determined. The auxiliary electrodes at the same position in the length direction of the vessel are connected to one another electrically via a band-like power supplying conductor provided on a front substrate, and a back substrate is arranged on which a band-like conductor is provided along each of the display tubes at the back side of the group of display tubes.

Abstract: In a lighting system for motor vehicles, light from a HID or MPXL lamp is collected by a collector which surrounds the light source at least partly and is guided further to a separator of optical waveguide material, which separator forms a desired light beam via a specially shaped light outlet surface so as to obtain as high as possible a light output.

Abstract: A relatively small-diameter aperture fluorescent lamp is manufactured easily with high yield and at low cost. An aperture portion is formed in a manner that a thread-like member is inserted into a glass tube having an ultraviolet ray reflection layer and a phosphor layer formed on its inner surface, the glass tube is bent in a predetermined shape by using a bending jig, the thread-like member is pressed to the phosphor layer formed in a predetermined region in the bending member side of the glass tube while both ends thereof are pulled tight, the thread-like member is reciprocated, and phosphor of the phosphor layer in this region is exfoliated.

Abstract: A cold cathode tube having a fluorescent material coated along the inner wall thereof and the tube being filled with a small amount of gas, characterized in that the inner wall of the tube is coated with a ultra-violet ray reflective film capable of reflecting ultra-violet light, and the light emission surface at the inner side of the ultra-violet light reflective film does not coat with a fluorescent material, and the remaining region of the light emission surface at the outer wall is coated with a visible light-reflective layer. In addition, the length of the parallel section of the tube can be extended to increase lighting area, and thus the efficiency of light energy output is increased.

Abstract: A noble gas discharge lamp of the present invention comprises an outer enclosure comprising a light emitting layer comprising at least one fluorescent substance, the light emitting layer formed therein and a pair of outer electrodes having tape shapes comprise a metal, which are adhered to the entire length of the outside of the outer enclosure so as to separate one outer electrode and the other outer electrode at a certain distance, and to form a first opening portion and a second opening portion; wherein the coated amount of fluorescent substance is in a range of 5 to 30 mg/cm.sup.2.

Abstract: A noble gas discharge lamp of the present invention comprises an outer enclosure comprising a light emitting layer formed therein, and a pair of outer electrodes having tape shapes comprising a metal, which are adhered to the entire length of the outside of the outer enclosure so as to separate one outer electrode and the other outer electrode at a certain distance. The electrodes form a first opening portion and a second opening portion; wherein the outer enclosure is filled with at least one kind of noble gas under the confining pressure is in a range of 83 to 200 Torr. There is at least one nonlinear portion formed at at least one side portion of the outer electrodes.

Abstract: A noble gas discharge lamp of the present invention comprises an outer enclosure comprising a light emitting layer formed therein, and a pair of outer electrodes having tape shapes comprise a metal, which are adhered to the entire length of the outside of the outer enclosure so as to separate one outer electrode and the other outer electrode at a certain distance, and to form a first opening portion and a second opening portion; wherein the thickness of the outer enclosure is in a range of 0.2 to 0.7 mm, and at least one nonlinear portion is formed at at least one the side portion of the outer electrodes.

Abstract: A fluorescent lamp (1) includes a tubular glass bulb (2), an internal electrode (5) within the tubular glass bulb (2), a fluorescent layer (4) formed on an inner surface of the glass bulb (2), an external electrode (3) provided on an outer surface of the glass bulb (2), and a covering glass tube (6) is disposed over the total length of the internal electrode (5). The fluorescent lamp (1) further includes a fluorescent layer (7) disposed on the outer surface of the glass tube (6). The fluorescent lamp (1), as configured above, makes it unnecessary to form the internal electrode into a coil, and absorbs the difference in thermal expansion coefficients. This prevents the internal electrode (5) from resonating with vibrations from the outside and prevents contact of the fluorescent layer (4) by the internal electrode (5).

Abstract: A fluorescent lamp includes a tubular glass bulb, an internal electrode provided substantially along the central axis of the tubular glass bulb, a fluorescent layer provided on the inner surface of the tubular glass bulb, and an external electrode provided on the outer surface of the tubular glass bulb, wherein the internal electrode, having a coiled shape, is laid in the tubular glass bulb with an appropriate tension. According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent a sag in the internal electrode from occurring due to a difference in coefficient of thermal expansion between the tubular glass bulb and a metallic member forming the internal electrode, and to prevent either the tubular glass bulb or the internal electrode from being broken because of an excessive stress, thereby overcoming the problem concerning such type of fluorescent lamp.

Abstract: A discharge vessel (10) closed in a gastight manner has a cavity (11) enclosing a discharge space provided with an ionizable filling. A coil (20) with a winding (21) of an electric conductor and an assembly (30) of a heat conductor (31) and one or several elongate cores (32) of soft-magnetic material are accommodated in the cavity. The cores (32) are arranged along a longitudinal axis (33) of the heat conductor (31) in one or several recesses (34) of the heat conductor which issue into a circumferential surface (36) of the assembly (30). The heat conductor (31) occupies at least half the circumference in a cross-section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (33) of the assembly (30). The construction of the lamp according to the invention renders possible lamp operation at higher lamp powers also without the use of a heat pipe.

Abstract: A backlighting unit for illuminating a planar display is provided, comprising an illumination source having a light emitting portion for emitting illumination toward the generally planar display, and a reflector for collecting the emitted illumination and reflecting the collected illumination toward the planar display, the reflector being positioned intermediate the illumination source and the display. The illumination source is a fluorescent lamp having an interior surface thereof substantially coated with a phosphor, and the light emitting portion is an aperture in the fluorescent lamp wherein no phosphor coating is present. The fluorescent lamp may be provided with a reflective wrap for increasing its illumination gain. A lens positioned between the reflector and the display receives the illumination reflected by the reflector and redirects the received illumination toward the display to provide even backlit illumination thereof.

Abstract: A fluorescent lamp having multiple discrete zones with different levels of radiation intensity along its length has a tube with a fluorescent coating on the interior of the tube adapted to produce ultraviolet radiation of substantially uniform intensity. A reflective coating is provided along a finite length of the tube adjacent one end thereof and about only a portion of the circumference thereof to provide an increased intensity of radiation emanating from the uncoated portion of the periphery of the lamp in the finite portion due to reflection of radiation from the reflective coating. This lamp is especially useful in an array for a tanning chamber to provide a higher intensity of ultraviolet radiation in the facial area.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods of focusing and to steering a group of electrons emitted from an electron source to a shield. In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus includes an electron source controlled by one or more voltages to emit electrons, a first electrode adjacent to one side of the source, and a second electrode, insulated from the first electrode, adjacent to an opposite side of the source. The shield has a shield voltage. The first and the second electrode have a first and a second voltage respectively to focus and steer a substantial portion of the emitted electrons towards the shield. One application of the present invention is in the area of flat panel displays with the shield being a screen.

Abstract: A fluorescent lamp having a logo, design or graphic information formed thereon. The glass envelope of the lamp is provided internally thereof with a coating of pigmented layer superimposed with a layer of a reflective material and one or more layers of a fluorescent material to generate the desired colored light when the lamp is energized. The logo or design is laser engraved onto the glass envelope of the lamp is a manner to ablate the respective layers of material wherever the laser beam engages the glass envelope. The arrangement is such that when the lamp is energized, the logo or design will be illuminated in the color of the light generated by the fluorescent material associated with the logo or design. In one form of the invention, multiple color light is generated by layering multiple coatings of fluorescent material internally of a lamp wherein each layer of fluorescent material will generate light of different colors.

Abstract: A low-pressure mercury vapor discharge lamp having a discharge vessel which is sealed in a gastight manner and encloses a discharge space which contains a filling of mercury and rare gas and in which an electric discharge is maintained. A portion of a surface of the discharge vessel facing the discharge space has a reflector layer of aluminum oxide particles which includes a comparatively great porportional weight of larger particles with a median diameter of 0.25 to 0.80 .mu.m and a comparatively small proportional weight of smaller aluminum oxide particles with a median diameter of 0.01 to 0.02 .mu.m, which smaller particles are present dispersed among the larger particles. The product of the median of the overall particle size distribution and the specific surface of all particles taken together is at least 4.times.10.sup.-3 m.sup.3 /kg. As a result, the lamp has a comparatively high luminous efficacy.

Abstract: A source of red light includes a double-bore capillary tube having a pair of ends and a convoluted shape. A pair of electrodes is located at one end of the capillary tube and disposed within respective bores. An ionizable medium is enclosed within the capillary tube and includes neon at a pressure from about 300 to 600 torr. When energized, the ionizable medium generates an arc discharge between the electrodes consisting primarily of radiation in the range of from 590 to 670 nanometers. An outer jacket of vitreous material may surround the capillary tube and contain an inert gas (e.g., nitrogen) at a predetermined pressure.

Abstract: A low pressure gas discharge lamp comprises an elongated tube filled with a discharge gas. An inner electrode is disposed in a first end portion of the tube and an outer electrode is formed on an outer surface of the tube. The outer electrode has a belt shaped portion formed on the outer surface of the tube along an axial direction of the tube between the first end portion and a second end portion of the tube and a ring shaped portion formed on the outer surface of the tube around the second end portion of the tube. The ring shaped portion is connected to the belt shaped portion. The discharge is generated between the inner electrode and the outer electrode. The ring shaped portion of the outer electrode prevents the discharge from shifting from a central axis of the tube, and thus makes the lamp have an even brightness distribution along the axis of the tube.

Abstract: A cold cathode mercury vapor discharge lamp includes a bulb, a support wire within the bulb, and a cathode electrode having a pair of V-shaped electrode portions mounted in spaced, end to end relationship along the support wire. The electrodes include exterior surfaces facing towards the bulb walls, and interior surfaces facing towards the support wire. Getters are mounted on the exterior surfaces, and mercury discharge units are mounted on the interior surfaces. The two electrode portions are non-overlapping along the support wire.

Abstract: A subminiature aperture of fluorescent lamp is fabricated with press seals to facilitate accurate orientation of the aperture relative to an optical system. Flat surfaces of the press seal are accurately aligned relative to the aperture during manufacturing. The press seals can include detents for axial positioning of the lamp.

Abstract: In a fluorescent lamp, a curved discharge path is constituted by a plurality of bulbs and a cap interconnecting end portions of the bulbs. Terminal electrodes are provided at end portions of the bulbs, which are situated at both ends of the discharge path. An intermediate electrode is arranged within the cap. A voltage is applied selectively between the intermediate electrode and the terminal electrodes, thereby selectively enabling the bulbs to emit light. The bulbs may have apertures having different widths and positions. Different types of phosphor layers may be formed on the inner surfaces of the bulbs, thereby selectively emitting light of different wavelengths.

Abstract: Low-pressure mercury vapor discharge lamp with an emission spectrum according to a spectral energy distribution comprising the wavelength ranges 380-490 nm, 490-590 nm, and 590-700 nm, within which wavelength ranges mutually equal or substantially equal quantities of energy are emitted with a tolerance of 25% for the mutual ratios of equal energy of 1:1:1.

Abstract: A miniature, low-wattage fluorescent lamp includes a double-bore inner capillary tube having a pair of ends and a convoluted shape. The inner capillary tube is comprised of a vitreous material (e.g., quartz) which is capable of transmitting ultraviolet radiation. A pair of electrodes (e.g., mercury pool) is located at one end of the inner capillary tube and disposed within respective bores. An ionizable medium is enclosed within the inner capillary tube and includes an inert starting gas and a quantity of mercury. When energized, the ionizable medium generates an arc discharge between the electrodes consisting of ultraviolet radiation. A phosphor coating responsive to the ultraviolet radiation is disposed on an outer surface of the inner capillary tube and remote from the arc discharge. An outer jacket of vitreous material surrounds the inner capillary tube and contains an inert gas at a predetermined pressure.

Abstract: A fluorescent lamp having an improved starting performance, especially at low temperatures. A gas under a low pressure is sealed in a glass tube having a pair of electrodes mounted thereon, and a fluorescent material is coated on the inner surface of the glass tube, the fluorescent material being activated to emit light by a discharge between the pair of electrodes. A third electrode is provided between the pair of electrodes, the third electrode being connected to one of the pair of electrodes.

Abstract: An illuminating light source for a color image recording device comprises a glass tube having a predetermined diameter, a reflecting film coated on an inner wall of the glass tube excepting a part thereof by coating, a fluorescent film formed on the reflecting film coated on the glass tube, wherein at least one of a ultraviolet ray absorbing film and the fluorescent film is formed on the part on which the reflecting film is not formed thereby to maintain a ratio of a bright line to a fluorescence being not more than 1.3 when a fluorescent lamp current is applied.

Abstract: A tri-color lamp for use as an element in the optical presentation of information. The lamp includes a sealed envelope having a common envelope member and a plurality (e.g., three) of longitudinally extending leg members. A common electrode is located within the common envelope member and is spacedly located from opposing electrodes located within each of the leg members. A phosphor layer within the sealed envelope subtends at least the major body portion of each of the leg members such that the surface brightness of the phosphor layer as viewed through the end portions of the lamp is greater than the intensity of the external surface brightness of the phosphor layer on the major body portion. In the presentation of color information, each of the leg members is coated with respective phosphors emitting the primary colors red, green and blue.

Abstract: An improved fluorescent lamp is disclosed. The lamp of the present invention includes an envelope containing an ionizable medium including mercury and having electrodes located within the envelope; an aluminum oxide reflector layer on the inner surface of the envelope, and a phosphor layer disposed on the reflector layer. The aluminum oxide reflector layer comprises particles of high purity aluminum oxide having an average particle size greater than 0.5 micrometer and less than or equal to about 1 micrometer and having a surface area of about 4 to 6 meter.sup.2 /gram. The aluminum oxide reflector layer preferably includes at least 95 weight percent alpha-alumina. Preferred coating weights for the reflector layer are from about 8.8 to about 11.1 milligram/square centimeter.

Abstract: A rare-gas arc lamp includes a pair of coil filaments disposed at the opposite ends of an elongated bulb for increasing an area of a positive column produced between the coil filament pair in a direction perpendicular to the elongated axis of the bulb, and a rare-gas mainly including xenon gas and having substantially no mercury therein sealed in the bulb at a prescribed pressure selected from the range between 20 Torr and 200 Torr. The combination of the coil filament pair and the xenon gas sealed in the bulb at a prescribed pressure in the range of 20 Torr to 200 Torr may reduce visible changes in a luminance distribution of the lamp when the positive column fluctuates during the operation of the lamp.

Abstract: In a gas discharge lamp of this invention, an internal electrode is provided in a tube bulb and an external electrode is provided on the outer surface of the bulb so as to cover it. A fluorescent material film is formed inside the bulb and is excited to emit visible light by a glow discharge, which is caused by applying a voltage between these electrodes. The fluorescent material film in the bulb has different thicknesses in the tube axial direction of the bulb to average the surface luminance of the gas discharge lamp.

Abstract: An electrodeless discharge lamp device has an envelope in which a gas that discharges to emit light upon application of a high frequency voltage is sealed, the envelope including two straight pipe parts forming a circulating discharge path, so that a high frequency electric current is caused to flow throughout the discharging gas in the entire envelope and a uniform discharge light emission can be attained.

Abstract: An improved aperture fluorescent reprographic lamp is disclosed. The lamp of the present invention includes an elongated envelope containing an ionizable medium including mercury and having electrodes at each end of the envelope: a reflector layer on a major portion of the inner surface of the envelope, a phosphor layer disposed on and coextensive with the reflector layer, and a protective coating over at least the portion of the inner surface of the lamp envelope not covered with the reflector layer. The phosphor layer comprises particles of green-emitting zinc orthosilicate phosphor which are individually coated with a non-particulate, conformal aluminum oxide coating.

Abstract: An arc discharge lamp having a sealed envelope including a major body portion and at least one minor transverse end portion. A non-specular light diffusing surface is axially located between the minor transverse end portion and one of the lamp electrodes. A phosphor layer within the sealed envelope subtends the major body portion of the envelope. The surface brightness of the phosphor layer as viewed through the minor transverse end portion of the envelope is greater than the intensity of the external surface brightness of the phosphor layer on the major body portion of the envelope during operation of the lamp. A lamp array for use as an element in a picture display is also disclosed including a plurality of sealed envelopes. In the case of a color presentation of information, one picture element is composed of three sealed envelopes phosphor coated with the primary colors red, green and blue.

Abstract: An electrodeless metal vapor discharge lamp comprising a lamp vessel (1) which is sealed in a vacuum-tight manner and is further filled with a rare gas, which lamp is provided with a core (4) of magnetic material, in which a high-frequency magnetic field can be induced by means of an electric supply unit (7) and a winding (5) arranged to surround the core, an electric field being produced in the lamp vessel (1), the surface area of a cross-section orthogonal to the axis of the winding lying between 20 mm.sup.2 and 60 mm.sup.2, the lamp vessel (1) containing as rare gas krypton and/or argon at a pressure of at most 100 Pa, and the axial length of the winding lying between 8 and 15 mm.

Abstract: A reflector type fluorescent lamp for use in an optical apparatus, such as a copying machine, has stripe shaped main aperture 3 and narrow stripe shaped sub-aperture 4, wherein the main aperture 3 has no reflective layer 5 and no phsophor layer 6, and the sub-aperture 4 has the phosphor layer 6; the light emitted from main aperture is used to illuminate a document to be copied and another light emitted from the sub-aperture 4 is used to erase electric charge on a photosensitive material drum.

Abstract: A lamp unit includes a pair of support members facing each other and three baseless fluorescent lamps supported parallel to one another by the support members. Each support member has three support recesses located at predetermined intervals. One end of each lamp is fixedly inserted into each corresponding support recess of one of the support member and the other end to each corresponding support recess of the other support member. Each lamp has a radiation window extending in the axial direction thereof. The lamps are positioned so that light beams emitted from the windows thereof intersect on a desired straight line.

Abstract: A fluorescent lamp having an improved starting performance, especially at low temperatures. A gas under a low pressure is sealed in a glass tube having a pair of electrodes mounted thereon, and a fluorescent material is coated on the inner surface of the glass tube, the fluorescent material being activated to emit light by a discharge between the pair of electrodes. A third electrode is provided between the pair of electrodes, the third electrode being connected to one of the pair of electrodes.