Abstract: Provided is a cold cathode fluorescent lamp (CCFL) that can be used as an illumination light source. The CCFL includes cold cathode electrodes disposed at both ends of a glass tube, a fluorescent layer being formed on an inner surface of the glass tube. Each of the cold cathode electrodes includes: a base metal connected to front ends of lead wires for connection with a power source; a helical wire coil formed by helically winding a tungsten or tungsten-alloy wire around a cup shape, the helical wire coil being connected to the base metal in a manner such that the helical wire coil is erected in a length direction of the glass tube; and an emitter-coated coil inserted in the helical wire coil and coated with an emitter for inducing emission of electrons.

Abstract: Disclosed is a fluorescent lamp having ceramic-glass composite electrodes, which has a higher dielectric constant, higher secondary electron emission, and higher polarization under the same electric field, and thus enables the movement of many more electrons and cations, resulting in high brightness. The fluorescent lamp having ceramic-glass composite electrodes includes a glass tube, which has a phosphor applied on the inner surface thereof and is filled with a mixture of inert gas and metal vapor, both ends of which are sealed; and hollow cylindrical electrodes provided at both ends of the glass tube, each of the hollow cylindrical electrodes having a stepped portion between a central portion thereof and an end portion thereof, and being formed of a ceramic-glass composite. As the material for the electrode, a composite, including a CaO—MgO—SrO—ZrO2—TiO2 ceramic composition and glass frit, is used.

Abstract: A fluorescent lamp includes a discharge tube having an inner wall forming a discharge chamber. One or more coiled electrodes are disposed within the discharge tube. A mercury containing composition is disposed on at least one coiled electrode.

Abstract: The present invention provides a ceramic-glass composite electrode and a fluorescent lamp having the same. The ceramic-glass composite electrode according to the present invention is a ceramic-glass composite, which is disposed at the ends of a glass tube of the fluorescent lamp. A stopper is disposed at the end of the glass tube for pushing against the ceramic-glass composite electrode and limiting the position of the ceramic-glass composite electrode slipped on the glass tube. Thereby, flowing of adhesives into the glass tube is avoided when the adhesives are used for gluing the glass tube and the ceramic-glass composite electrode, and hence extending the lifetime of the fluorescent lamp.

Abstract: A 3-dimension facet light-emitting source device including a transparent container, an anode plate, a cathode plate, a plurality of transparent plates and a low-pressure gas layer is provided. The transparent container has a sealed space. The transparent plates are disposed between the anode plate and the cathode plate, and have a fluorescent layer thereon respectively. The lower pressure gas layer is filled in the sealed space to induce electrons emitting from the cathode plate, and the electrons fly in a direction parallel to the transparent plates and hit each fluorescent layer to emit light, so as to form a set of 3-dimension facet patterns.

Abstract: A planar filament comprising two bonding pads and a non-linear filament connected between the two bonding pads. The planar filament may be wider in the center to increase filament life. The planar filament can form a double spiral-serpentine shape. The planar filament may be mounted on a substrate for easier handling and placement. Voltage can be used to create an electrical current through the filament, and can result in the emission of electrons from the filament. The planar filament can be utilized in an x-ray tube.

Abstract: A paste composition for forming an electrode includes: Component A: a conductive powder; Component B: a glass frit having a transmittance of about 65% or less at a wavelength of 550 nm; Component C: an organic binder; and Component D: a solvent.

Abstract: An electrode for a discharge lamp is provided with a mayenite compound in at least a part of the electrode that emits secondary electrons, and a surface of a surface layer of the mayenite compound is plasma treated.

Abstract: An electrode for a fluorescent lamp includes a filament and an emitter provided on the filament. The emitter includes a mayenite compound.

Abstract: An electrode for a discharge lamp includes an electrode body configured to emit thermal electrons. The electrode body is formed by a sintered body of a conductive mayenite compound.

Abstract: A gas discharge device such as a plasma display panel (PDP) device having one or more substrates and a multiplicity of pixels or subpixels. Each pixel or subpixel is defined by a hollow Plasma-shell filled with an ionizable gas. One or more addressing electrodes are in electrical contact with each Plasma-shell. The Plasma-shell may include inorganic and organic luminescent materials that are excited by the gas discharge within each Plasma-shell. The luminescent material may be located on an exterior and/or interior surface of the Plasma-shell or incorporated into the shell of the Plasma-shell. Up-conversion and down-conversion materials may be used. The substrate may be rigid or flexible with a flat, curved, or irregular surface.

Abstract: A mount (30) for a fluorescent lamp (32) has a glass flare (34) with a first portion (36) penetrating the fluorescent lamp (32) and a second portion (38) the fluorescent lamp (32). Two spaced-apart lead-in wires (40, 42) are sealed in the glass flare (34): and an electron emitter (12) is fixed between the spaced-apart lead-in wires (40, 42) and mated thereto by an electrical connection (46). The electron emitter (12) comprises a substrate (10) of a first material having an electron emitting material (11) thereon and two ends (20,22) and an element (23) mechanically and electrically fixed to each of the ends (20, 22), the element (23) comprising a second material different from the first material and is used to make the electrical connection (46) between the ends (20, 22) and the lead-in wires (40, 42).

Abstract: A surface light source includes a plate type light source body having a sealed discharging space formed therein, a plate type electrode unit having a plurality of regions adjacent to at least one major surface of the light source body, and a multiple voltage applying unit operable to apply voltages independently to each of the plurality of regions. In this way, brightness of the surface light source can be controlled independently in each of the plurality of regions and a local dimming for a surface light source can be realized.

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 plasma display device includes plasma display panel and a data driver. Plasma display panel includes a front substrate and a rear substrate faced to each other to form a discharge space therebetween. The front substrate includes a plurality of display electrodes, each having scan electrode and sustain electrode. The rear substrate includes a plurality of data electrodes intersected with the display electrodes. Discharges cells are formed at the intersections of the display electrodes and data electrodes. Data electrodes have a plurality of main electrode parts) formed in portions facing the display electrodes, and wiring parts that connect main electrode parts and have a width smaller than the widths of main electrode parts. Further, the corner of main electrode part is chamfered.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a cold cathode fluorescent lamp (CCFL) is disclosed. The CCFL includes a light transmitting shell and an electrode disposed at one end of the light transmitting shell. The method includes the steps of exhausting a gas existing inside the light transmitting shell via a vent of the light transmitting shell, charging at least one inert gas into the light transmitting shell, and removing an amalgam, which is initially disposed in a gas adjusting instrument, into a temporal region of the light transmitting shell after the step of exhausting.

Abstract: Disclosed is a starter member to which a mercury-absorbing layer is applied and which can be used in low-pressure mercury discharge lamps. A starter member for a low-pressure amalgam discharge lamp comprises a mercury-absorbing layer on a base. A coating layer which is provided on the mercury-absorbing layer has a getter effect and prevents the material of the mercury-absorbing layer from coming off.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention, an electron/photon source is disclosed based on field emission, cathodoluminescent and photo-enhanced field emission, including an evacuated chamber inside a housing, further including an anode and a cathode arranged inside the evacuated chamber. Furthermore, the cathode is arranged to emit electrons when a voltage is applied between the anode and cathode, the anode being arranged to emit light at a first wavelength range when receiving electrons emitted from the cathode, and a wavelength range converting material arranged to receive the emitted light of the first wavelength range and emit light at a second wavelength range. In a novel way, an embodiment of the present invention makes it possible to, in two steps, convert the electrons emitted from the cathode to visible light.

Abstract: An electrode (1) for cold cathode tube of the present invention includes a cylindrical sidewall portion (2), a bottom portion (3) provided at one end of the cylindrical sidewall portion, and an opening portion (4) provided at the other end of the cylindrical sidewall portion. The electrode is formed of a sintered body of a high melting point metal (W, Nb, Ta, Mo or Re). When an overall length of the electrode is L, an inside diameter of the cylindrical sidewall portion at a position of L/2 is d1, an inside diameter of the bottom portion is d2, and an arc of an inner surface (5) of the cylindrical sidewall portion connecting a portion of the inside diameter d1 and a portion of the inside diameter d2 is R, the electrode satisfies the following condition; L?6 [mm], d2>d1, R?20 [mm].

Abstract: A new Rhenium alloy usable for improving the performance of emission filaments used in mass spectrometers or other similar scientific instruments, which is made by adding low level concentrations of Yttrium Oxide to Rhenium of less than 10%. This new alloy has demonstrated superior performance characteristics compared to pure Rhenium for this purpose. Filaments made from the Yttria/Rhenium alloy exhibit the same voltage, current and emission properties as Rhenium but have the added advantage of greatly decreasing warping during use. The Rhenium alloy filaments are usable with various shapes and configurations including straight filaments, multiple coiled filaments and pin shaped filaments. Electron microscopy and microscopy studies verify that the Yttria/Rhenium material of the new alloy has a smaller grain size and increased strength when compared to pure Rhenium, which accounts for the enhanced structural strength.

Abstract: A light emitting element of the present invention includes an electrode substrate; a thin-film electrode; and an electron acceleration layer sandwiched between the electrode substrate and the thin-film electrode. In the electron acceleration layer, as a result of a voltage applied between the electrode substrate and the thin-film electrode, electrons are accelerated so as to be turned into hot electrons. The hot electrons excite surfaces of the silicon fine particles contained in the electron acceleration layer so that the surfaces of the silicon fine particles emit light. Such a light emitting element of the present invention is a novel light emitting element, which has not been achieved by the conventional techniques. That is, the light emitting element of the present invention is able to (i) be produced by using a silicon material, which is available at low price, through a simple production method, and (ii) efficiently emit light.

Abstract: A light emitting device includes a package body including a multilayer cavity; a first light emitting part including a first light emitting device in a first cavity of a first layer area of the multilayer cavity, and a second light emitting part including a second light emitting device in a second cavity of a second layer area higher than the first layer area.

Abstract: A mount (30) for a fluorescent lamp (32) has a glass flare (34) with a first portion (36) penetrating the fluorescent lamp (32) and a second portion (38) the fluorescent lamp (32). Two spaced-apart lead-in wires (40, 42) are sealed in the glass flare (34): and an electron emitter (12) is fixed between the spaced-apart lead-in wires (40, 42) and mated thereto by an electrical connection (46). The electron emitter (12) comprises a substrate (10) of a first material having an electron emitting material (11) thereon and two ends (20,22) and an element (23) mechanically and electrically fixed to each of the ends (20, 22), the element (23) comprising a second material different from the first material and is used to make the electrical connection (46) between the ends (20, 22) and the lead-in wires (40, 42).

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 fluorescent lamp includes a discharge tube having an inner wall forming a discharge chamber. One or more coiled electrodes are disposed within the discharge tube. A mercury containing composition is disposed on at least one coiled electrode.

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 provides an AC plasma display device using metal nanostructures, including: a front panel and a rear panel which are disposed in parallel to each other and at least one of which is provided with electrodes for gas discharge; an electrode layer, a front dielectric layer and a protective film which are sequentially formed on a side of the front panel which faces the rear panel; a phosphor layer which is formed on the rear panel and which is excited and simultaneously radiated by gas discharge occurring in the electrodes; and metal nanostructures included in the protective film and the phosphor layer, and provides a method of manufacturing the same. The AC plasma display device can improve a secondary electron emission coefficient and photoluminescent intensity using surface plasmon excitation because it is provided with a protective film including metal nanostructures.

Abstract: A flat discharge lamp transmitting radiation in ultraviolet or visible, including first and second flat, or substantially flat, glass elements substantially parallel to each other and defining an internal space filled with gas, the first and/or second glass element being made of a material that transmits the radiation; at least one first electrode and at least one second electrode, which may be at different potentials and may be supplied by an AC voltage, the first and second electrodes being associated with one or more main faces of the first glass element, the first and second electrodes being essentially elongate and substantially parallel to one another, and separated by at least one interelectrode space of given width substantially constant; and at least one third electrode which may be at a given potential associated with a main face of the second glass element and at least partly occupying, in projection, the interelectrode space.

Abstract: A light emitting device has an enclosure with a face portion, a cold cathode within the enclosure, a phosphor layer disposed on an interior surface of the face portion, an extracting grid between the cold cathode and the phosphor layer and a defocusing grid between the extracting grid and the phosphor layer. Electrons emitted from the cold cathode are defocused by the defocusing grid and impact the phosphor layer when an electric field is created between the cold cathode and the phosphor layer due to applied voltages at the cold cathode, extracting grid, defocusing grid and phosphor layer. The phosphor layer emits light through the face portion in response to electrons incident thereon. Secondary electron emission may also occur resulting in increased electron impact upon the phosphor layer, thereby increasing light output. A mirror layer may be included to reflect light toward the face portion of the light emitting device.

Abstract: An electron emission light-emitting device includes a cathode structure, an anode structure, a fluorescent 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, having a function of inducing the cathode to emit electron uniformly. The low-pressure gas layer has an electron mean free path, allowing at least sufficient amount of electrons to directly impinge the fluorescent layer under an operation voltage.

Abstract: A display apparatus includes a plasma display panel (PDP) having an upper substrate at which black matrices are disposed. The apparatus includes an external light shield having a panel side facing a display surface of the PDP and an opposing viewer side facing away from the display surface. The light shield includes a base unit and includes pattern units that absorb external light from the viewer side. The pattern units have boundaries defined by intersections of the pattern units and the base unit. The boundaries define widths of pattern tops disposed toward the panel side or the viewer side and define widths of pattern bottoms disposed toward the other of the panel side and the viewer side. A distance between a pair of adjacent black matrices is 4 to 12 times greater than a distance between adjacent boundaries, of a pair of adjacent pattern units, at adjacent pattern bottoms.

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: Provided is a fluorescent lamp electrode, having excellent sputtering resistance and able to retain excellent dark-start characteristics over a long period of time when used as an electrode in a cold cathode fluorescent lamp, and which can be produced inexpensively. A fluorescent lamp of this invention has a prolonged life resulting from the use of said electrode. Said electrode is made by dispersing in a nickel or nickel alloy base one or more rare earth metals selected from among lanthanum, cerium, yttrium, samarium, praseodymium, niobium, europium and gadolinium in the form of a precipitated boride phase.

Abstract: A xenon short arc lamp which has a middle section with a length to diameter ratio greater than 1.6 and which is directly interchangeable with a xenon short arc lamp of the same wattage in a lamphouse without modifying the lamphouse.

Abstract: An external electrode fluorescent lamp includes a glass tube made of soft glass, and external electrodes affixed to outer surfaces of both ends of the glass tube. The fluorescent lamp further includes a joining material applied between at least the glass tube and the external electrodes for affixing the external electrodes, which are made up of a material having a thermal expansion coefficient that is larger than that of the glass tube. According to the manufacturing method of the fluorescent lamp, first, the external electrodes are attached to the outer surface of each end of the glass tube, the external electrodes are then immersed in fused solder, and finally, the glass tube is cooled to room temperature. In this manner, the external electrodes are affixed to the outer surface of the glass tube via soldering.

Abstract: A metal halide lamp includes a ceramic discharge vessel and two electrodes. The discharge vessel encloses a discharge volume containing an ionizable gas filling including at least a metal halide, two current lead-through conductors connected to the respective electrode, and a seal having sealing material through which at least one of the respective current lead-through conductors issues to the exterior of the discharge vessel. The sealing material of the seal includes a ceramic sealing material with cerium oxide, aluminum oxide and silicon dioxide as a mixture of oxides and/or one or more mixed oxides.

Abstract: Disclosed is an EEFL and LCD device using the same, the EEFL comprising: a glass tube coated with a fluorescent material therein and filled with discharge gas, main electrodes at both ends of the glass tube and sub-electrodes formed at an outer surface of the glass tube and being respectively spaced from the main electrodes, or comprising: a glass tube coated with a fluorescent material therein and filled with discharge gas, main electrodes at both ends of the glass tube, sub-electrodes at an outer surface of the glass tube and being respectively spaced from the main electrodes and electrode connection lines connecting each of the main electrodes and the sub-electrodes to each other.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a high-definition PDP having a high luminance and low electric power consumption by keeping a line resistance of a bus electrode low and supplying enough electric power to a bus electrode edge in an extending direction of the bus electrode. Therefore, in a PDP having a construction in which a barrier rib (14) for separating adjacent discharge cells (101) is provided so as to cross over a display electrode pair (4), a projection (91) is formed in a barrier rib crossing part (93) in which a bus electrode (9) crosses over the barrier rib (14). Then, a line width (D1) of the projection (91) is set to be larger than a line width (D2) of a discharge space part (92) facing to a discharge space. Also, a width (W1) of the projection (91) is set to be smaller than a maximum width (W2) of the barrier rib (14).

Abstract: A fluorescent lamp includes a fluorescent tube, a thermal electron, a first cover electrode and a second cover electrode. The fluorescent tube has a discharge space. The thermal electron emitting part is disposed in the discharge space. The first cover electrode is disposed at an end portion of the fluorescent tube, and is electrically connected to a first end portion of the thermal electron emitting part. The second cover electrode is spaced apart from the first cover electrode disposed at the end portion of the fluorescent tube, and is electrically connected to a second end portion of the thermal electron emitting part. The thermal electron emitting part is electrically connected to the first cover electrode and the second cover electrode.

Abstract: A conductive composition and applications thereof are provided. The conductive composition comprises a mixture consisting of a metal powder and a glass powder. The diameter of the metal powder ranges from about 1 ?m to about 3 ?m. The diameter of glass powder ranges from about 0.5 ?m to about 1 ?m. The weight percentage of the metal powder to the mixture is from about 60% to about 98%. The conductive composition could be used to manufacture the electrodes of a flat lamp.

Abstract: The disclosed subject matter includes a filament electrode that can include a filament coil connected with a pair of lead wires with confidence. It is possible for a fluorescent lamp using the filament electrode to emit light with a wider range while located in a thin tube. The filament electrode can include a pair of connecting pipes, a pair of lead wires located parallel to each other, and a filament coil including two connecting parts. Each of the two connecting parts of the filament coil can attach to respective ends of the pair of lead wires via the pair of connecting pipes via pressure bonding so as not to contact the connecting parts of the filament coil with the ends of the pair of lead wires located in the pair of connecting pipes and so as to align the structures. Thus, the filament electrode can be used even in a thin glass or quartz tube and can provide an effective heat-shield operation.

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 lamp electrode includes a sealed tube for generating light when powered by an external power supply and a pair of electrodes formed on the ends of the sealed tube. Solder is filled into the space between each electrode and the sealed tube, and formed on the surface of the exterior surface of the electrodes. A method for forming the lamp electrode includes forming a cylindrically shaped electrode on an end of a sealed tube; maintaining a supply of solder in the liquid state; and dipping the end of the tube on which the electrode is formed into the solder.

Abstract: A flat-type fluorescent lamp includes upper and lower glass substrates facing each other; a spacer glass having a zigzag shape between the upper and lower glass substrates for providing a plurality of discharge areas; first and second electrode parts at ends of the upper and lower glass substrates along a longitudinal direction thereof; first and second reflective sheets respectively formed on upper and lower surfaces of the spacer glass; and a plurality of first fluorescent substances formed on the upper glass substrate and a plurality of second fluorescent substances formed on the lower glass substrate.

Abstract: There is provided a cold cathode fluorescent lamp that has excellent sputtering resistance and long life, even if high tube current is applied, and can be easily manufactured at low cost. In a cold cathode fluorescent lamp comprising a transparent tube having a fluorescent layer provided on an inner wall surface, containing a rare gas and mercury inside, and having both ends enclosed by sealing members, electrodes provided near both ends inside the transparent tube, and lead wires connected to the electrodes and provided through the sealing members, the electrode contains nickel as a main component and contains cerium metal or cerium oxide.

Abstract: A display device includes a plurality of gas discharge tubes sandwiched between a front support plate and a rear support plate. A plurality of signal electrodes are formed on the rear support plate to extend along the longitudinal direction of the gas discharge tubes. The signal electrodes are divided into a plurality of groups. The distance between adjacent ones of the signal electrodes in each group has a first distance. The distance between adjacent ones of the signal electrodes between adjacent groups has a second distance that is larger than the first distance. Thus, a space may be provided between the two adjacent gas discharge tubes of the respective adjacent groups.

Abstract: A cathode has an emission layer that thermionically emits electrons upon exposure with a laser beam. The material of the emission layer has a product of density (?), measured in kg m 3 , heat capacity (Cp), measured in J kg ? ? K and heat conductivity (?), measured in W mK that is, at room temperature, maximally 500,000 J 2 m 4 ? K 2 ? s . Such a cathode has an improved thermionic emission of electrons.

Abstract: A plasma display panel (200) of the present invention includes a first panel (1) and a second panel (8). A discharge space (14) is formed between the first panel (1) and the second panel (8). In the plasma display panel (200), an electron emitting material (20) is disposed to face the discharge space (14). The electron emitting material (20) contains Sn, an alkali metal, O (oxygen), and at least one element selected from the group consisting of Ca, Sr, and Ba.

Abstract: A Plasma Display Panel includes a front panel having a display electrode and a dielectric layer formed on a glass substrate; and a rear panel having an electrode, a barrier rib, and a phosphor layer formed on a substrate. The front panel and the rear panel are disposed facing each other and sealed together at peripheries thereof with discharge space provided therebetween. The display electrode has at least a metal bus electrode including a metal electrode layer containing silver and a glass material, and a black layer containing a black material and a glass material. The glass material of the metal electrode layer and the black layer includes bismuth oxide. An undercut amount of the metal bus electrode is 25 ?m or more.

Abstract: A long-life hot cathode fluorescent lamp can include a pair of parallel lead wires that can be arranged at each end of a tube. A coiled filament can be connected at its opposite end portions to the lead wires. The coiled filament can have two long pitched regions in which a coil pitch is longer than regions outside of the long pitched regions. Emitter can be located in a region defined between the two long pitched regions. Shape characteristics and intensive current flow obtained by the presence of the long pitched regions can form the origins of discharge near the boundaries between long and short pitched regions. Accordingly, stable discharge can be achieved with the origins of discharge located at ends of the emitter. As a result, the hot cathode fluorescent lamp is allowed to have a long life and stable light emission characteristics.