JPH03167786A - lighting equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enhance the starting characteristics of a fluorescent lamp by constituting a heater for heating amalgam housed in a thin tube of a fluorescent lamp in such a way as being electrified when a main switch is colored, through interlocking to the main switch of a system device independent from a lamp lighting switch. CONSTITUTION:A bulb heater 7 is furnished on the surface of a bulb 2, and an amalgam heater 8 is installed on a thin tube 5. These bulb heater 7 and amalgam heater 8 are connected to a heater controller 9. This controller 9 is connected to a power supply 12 through an interlocking switch 11, which operates in linkage with a main switch 20 of a vehicle wherein the interlocked switch 11 is turned on when the main switch 20 is turned on, and the amalgam housed in the thin tube 5 is heated. When a lamp lighting switch 31 is turned on, the temp. of the amalgam itself has already risen to cause quick evaporation of mercury, and a specified Hg vapor pressure can be attained instantly so as to enhance the starting characteristics of the lamp.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Object of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) The present invention is suitable for display devices mounted on vehicles, backlights for televisions, videos, etc., and is suitable for use as a mercury vapor source. This invention relates to lighting devices whose light source is a fluorescent lamp filled with amalgam.

(Prior Art) For example, in vehicles, single-light lamps are sometimes used as bank lights for instruments, televisions, video cameras, and the like. Fluorescent lamps have advantages such as high luminous efficiency, suitable for illuminating a large area, and low heat generation.

However, in general, with fluorescent lamps, when a power supply is applied, the bulb diameter is reduced, or the bulb is surrounded by an envelope, the tube wall load increases and the bulb temperature rises. In particular, when a fluorescent lamp is used as the backlight, it is housed in a hermetically sealed or nearly hermetically sealed case, which impairs the heat dissipation of the lamp and increases the temperature of the bulb.

Fluorescent lamps used in such situations have problems with luminescent efficiency because when pure mercury, which is used in general lighting fluorescent lamps, is used as the mercury vapor source, the mercury vapor pressure inside the bulb exceeds the optimum value. There is a problem that the light becomes low and the luminous flux decreases. Recently, research has been underway to use amalgam instead of pure mercury as a source of mercury vapor. In this way, since the vapor pressure of amalgam is lower than that of pure mercury, the mercury vapor pressure inside the lamp can be controlled within an appropriate range under the above-mentioned high temperature conditions, and the luminous efficiency can be improved. It gets expensive.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) However, amalgam has a property that lk silver is inferior in evaporability compared to pure mercury.

In other words, the fluorescent lamp using the above amalgam is
Even when the lamp lighting switch is closed, a predetermined mercury vapor pressure cannot be obtained instantaneously, resulting in poor luminous flux rise characteristics.

Especially when a vehicle is parked outdoors in a cold region, the fluorescent lamp used as the light source is already cold, and even if you turn on the lamp switch, the temperature of the amalgam itself is low, so the mercury evaporates quickly. First, the predetermined mercury vapor pressure cannot be obtained immediately, and startability is poor.

The present invention was developed based on these circumstances, and the amalgam is already heated to a predetermined temperature before lighting the fluorescent lamp, and when the lamp lighting switch is closed, a predetermined luminous flux is instantaneously generated. It is an object of the present invention to provide such a lighting device.

[Structure of the Invention (Means for Solving the Problems) The present invention provides a heater for heating amalgam housed in a thin tube of a fluorescent lamp, and this heater is connected to a main switch of a system device independent of a lamp lighting switch. The device is characterized in that it is connected in such a way that it is energized when the main switch is closed.

(Function) According to the present invention, the main switch of the system device is always turned on before lighting and using the lamp, so that the heater is energized in conjunction with the closing of this main switch, and therefore the amalgam contained in the capillary tube is turned on. heated. Therefore, when the lamp lighting switch is turned on, the temperature of the amalgam itself has already risen, so the mercury evaporates quickly, and the predetermined mercury vapor pressure can be immediately obtained, improving the startability of the lamp.

(Example) The present invention will be described below based on an example shown in the drawings.

This embodiment shows a case where the crystal display device in a vehicle is used as a backlight for an F-wave television, for example, and 1 indicates a fluorescent lamp as a light source.

The fluorescent lamp 1 is housed in a cabinet (not shown) of a TV set, and irradiates light from the back of a display panel 25 through a light diffusion plate 26 disposed on the back.

The above-mentioned fluorescent lamp 1 is, for example, a straight tube type fluorescent lamp, and has a non-illustrated light material coating formed on the inner surface of the straight tube type bulb 2, and electrodes 3, 3 are provided at both ends of the bulb 2. It's sealed. These electrodes 3, 3 are each connected to a lead wire 4 that hermetically passes through a stem that seals the open end of the bulb 2.

A thin tube 5 protrudes from one end of the bulb 2, and this thin tube 5 communicates with a discharge space within the bulb 2. This thin tube 5
contains an amalgam 6 made of indium, bismuth, tin, lead, and an alloy of these metals mixed with mercury.

A valve heater 7 is provided on the outer surface of the valve 2 along the tube axis.
In addition, an amalgam heater 8 is attached to the thin tube 5. The valve heater 7 heats the bulb 7, and the amalgam heater 8 heats the thin tube. These valve heater 7 and amalgam heater 8 are connected to a heater controller 9.

The heater controller 9 supplies power to each valve heater 7 and amalgam heater 8 based on a signal from a temperature sensor 10, for example.

That is, for example, when the ambient temperature of the lamp 1 is lower than a predetermined temperature (for example, 15° C.), the heater controller 9 supplies power to the valve heater 7 and the amalgam heater 8 and controls the heaters 7 and 8 to generate heat. do.

The heater controller 9 is connected to a power source 12 such as a battery via an interlock switch 11.

This interlocking switch 11 is provided so as to be interlocked with a main switch 20 of the vehicle, and when this main switch 20 is turned on, the interlocking switch 11 is also turned on.

The main switch 20 of the vehicle is a key switch that is operated by a key, and the main switch 20 of the vehicle is operated by a key.
1 is connected to a power supply 22. Therefore, this engine 21 corresponds to the system device of the present invention.

The electrodes 3, 3 of the fluorescent lamp 1 are connected to lead wires 4, respectively.
It is connected to the lighting circuit device 30 via...

The lighting circuit device 30 is composed of high frequency lighting circuit components such as a ballast, a lighting tube, an inverter circuit, etc., and is used to start the lamp 1 and maintain stable lighting.

The lamp lighting circuit device 30 includes a lamp lighting manual switch 31.
When this manual switch 31 is turned on, lamp 1 is turned on.

This manual switch 31 is connected to a power source 33 such as a battery via an interlocking switch 32.

This interlocking switch 32 is the main switch 20 of the vehicle.
When the main switch 20 is turned on, the interlocking switch 32 is also turned on.

The operation of the illumination device having such a configuration will be explained.

In order to use the vehicle, the key switch, that is, the main switch 20 is turned on using the key to start the engine 21.

At this time, interlocking switch 1 is linked to main switch 20.
1 and 32 are turned on. However, since the lamp lighting manual switch 31 is turned off, the lamp 1
is not lit.

At this time, if the ambient temperature of the lamp 1 is lower than a predetermined temperature (for example, 15 degrees Celsius), the temperature sensor ]O detects this and activates the heater controller 9, and each valve heater 7 and amalgam heater 8 is connected to the battery. etc. power supply 12
The heaters 7 and 8 are connected to each other, and power is supplied to these heaters 7 and 8.

For this reason, the wall of the bulb 2 is warmed, the thin tube 5 is also warmed, and the amalgam 6 housed in this thin tube 5 is also warmed.

Therefore, the amalgam 6 releases or is ready to release mercury.

Under such conditions, when the lamp lighting manual switch 31 is turned on to watch a liquid crystal television, the lamp 1 is connected to the power source 33, and therefore the lamp 1 is turned on.

At this time, the amalgam 6 has already released mercury or is in a state of preparation, so when the lamp is turned on, the mercury is immediately released, and the mercury vapor pressure inside the bulb 2 immediately reaches a predetermined pressure, causing the luminous flux to change. Start-up is faster and starting performance is improved.

Note that the bulb heater 7 increases the temperature of the lamp to prevent mercury from condensing on the bulb wall.

Furthermore, when the ambient temperature of the lamp 1 is sufficiently high, for example in the summer when there is no need to keep the amalgam 6 particularly warm, the temperature sensor 10 detects the ambient temperature and does not activate the heater controller 9. You can also.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments.

That is, in the case of the above embodiment, the engine device 21 of the vehicle
The system device of the present invention is not limited to this; for example, it may be a home remote control television, OA equipment, etc. In short, the system device of the present invention may be a system device incorporating a fluorescent lamp using an amalgam as a light source. This can be implemented with any electrical system device.

Further, in the case of an electrical system device used indoors, such as the above-mentioned remote control television or OA equipment, the valve heater 7 may be omitted, and the temperature sensor 10 may not necessarily be used.

Furthermore, the interlocking switches 11 and 32 may be omitted, and the heater controller 9 may be directly connected to the main switch 20 in an interlocking manner.

Each power source 12, 22, 33 may share a single power source.

Further, although the above embodiments have been described with respect to a straight tube type fluorescent lamp, the present invention can also be practiced with annular, U-shaped, or W-shaped lamps.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the present invention, before using the lamp, the main switch of the system device is turned on, so that the heater is energized in conjunction with the closing operation of the main switch. The amalgam contained in the tube is heated. Therefore, when the lamp is lit, when the lamp switch is turned on, the temperature of the amalgam itself has already risen, so the mercury evaporates quickly, and the predetermined mercury vapor pressure can be immediately obtained, improving startability. improves.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is an overall circuit configuration diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Fluorescent lamp, 2... Bulb, 3... Electrode, 5... Capillary tube, 6... Amalgam, 8... Amalgam heater, 9... Heater controller, 10...
Temperature sensor, 20... Main switch, 21... Engine, 30... Lighting circuit device, 31... Lamp lighting switch.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] A fluorescent lamp containing amalgam in a thin tube protruding from a bulb is used as a light source, and this fluorescent lamp is connected to a lamp lighting switch and the lighting is operated by the lamp lighting switch, In a lighting device in which this lamp is used by incorporating it into other electrical system equipment, the lamp is provided with a heater that heats the amalgam,
A lighting device characterized in that the heater is connected to a main switch of the system device independent of the lamp lighting switch so as to be energized when the main switch is closed.