JPH08330085A - Electrodeless lamp lighting device, electrodeless lamp lighting device and lighting device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Object] An object of the present invention is to provide an electrodeless lamp lighting device capable of improving the starting performance of an electrodeless lamp, a lighting device for an electrodeless lamp, and a lighting device using the same. An electrodeless lamp 5 in which a starting auxiliary thin tube 6 is arranged in an arc tube; an excitation coil 4 for exciting the electrodeless lamp; a voltage which causes a glow discharge in the starting auxiliary thin tube when the electrodeless lamp is started. And a high-frequency generator for supplying a high-frequency wave whose current phase is advanced by 90 to 180 degrees with respect to the output voltage phase of the starting circuit to the excitation coil. [Effect] Since the current phase supplied to the excitation coil is advanced by 90 to 180 degrees with respect to the output voltage phase of the starting circuit, the electrodeless lamp lighting device and the lighting for the electrodeless lamp can further improve the startability of the electrodeless lamp. The equipment could be provided.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electrodeless lamp lighting device for exciting an electrodeless lamp by an excitation coil, a lighting device for an electrodeless lamp, and a lighting device using the same.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An electrodeless lamp is one in which an excitation coil is wound around an arc tube in which a luminous gas or a luminous metal is enclosed, and high frequency power is supplied from this exciting coil to a ring plasma in the arc tube for high frequency lighting. Therefore, a conventional electrodeless lamp lighting device described in Japanese Patent Application No. 6-21068 is shown in FIG. 4, for example, which is being developed as a lamp having high brightness, high color rendering, high efficiency and long life. In this figure, the DC power supply VB obtained by rectifying and smoothing the commercial AC power supply 6 is converted into a high frequency by the inverter circuit 8. The output terminal of the inverter circuit 8 is connected to the excitation coil 1 via the matching circuit 12.
6 is connected. The matching circuit 12 includes, for example, an inductor 13 connected in series with an excitation coil 16.
And a capacitor 15 in a series circuit, and a capacitor 15 connected in parallel to the excitation coil 16.

The high-voltage side (hot side) of the excitation coil 16 is connected to a starting circuit SC6 via a capacitor 36, and the high-voltage output end of the starting circuit SC6 constituting a resonance circuit emits light from the electrodeless lamp LP. It is connected via a probe 45 to the top of the starting thin tube 2 protruding from the tube 1.

The starting circuit SC6 includes a capacitor 36 connected in series, a resistor 37, an inductor 38, and a capacitor 5.
0 parallel circuit and a starting switch 18 for connecting a common connection point of the parallel circuit to the starting thin tube 45.

In the electrodeless lamp lighting device having such a structure, when the starting switch 18 is turned on at the time of starting the lamp, the starting high voltage generated in the starting circuit sc6 is applied to the starting thin tube 2 to start the lamp. A glow discharge, which is an auxiliary discharge, is formed between the capillary tube 2, the arc tube 1, and the excitation coil 16 on the low potential side. Triggered by the auxiliary discharge formed in the arc tube 1, the high frequency power supplied to the arc tube 1 by the excitation coil 16 forms ring plasma in the tube, and the lamp shifts to a lighting state.

[0006]

According to the above prior art, the glow discharge generated in the starting thin tube is used as a trigger,
Since plasma is generated in the arc tube, there is an advantage that the startability of the lamp is improved as compared with the case where the starting thin tube is not provided.

However, it is desired to reduce the high frequency noise generated at the time of starting and to reduce the applied voltage, and for that purpose, it has been a subject to further improve the startability.

Therefore, the present invention focuses on the voltage applied to the starting auxiliary thin tube and the high frequency current supplied to the excitation coil,
An object of the present invention is to provide an electrodeless lamp lighting device capable of further improving startability, a lighting device for an electrodeless lamp, and a lighting device using the same.

[0009]

An electrodeless lamp lighting device according to claim 1, wherein an electrodeless lamp having a starting auxiliary thin tube arranged in an arc tube; an excitation coil for exciting the electrodeless lamp;
A starting circuit that applies a voltage that causes glow discharge in the starting auxiliary thin tube at the time of starting the electrodeless lamp; and a high frequency whose current phase is advanced by 90 to 180 degrees with respect to the output voltage phase of the starting circuit is supplied to the excitation coil. And a high frequency generating means for

In the inventions described above and in the claims below, the electrodeless lamp means a lamp in which the electrodes are not sealed, and the luminescent metal or luminescent gas is sealed in a low pressure or high pressure state. Including everything. Further, the high frequency means an alternating current in the audible frequency range or higher.

An apparatus for lighting an electrodeless lamp according to a second aspect of the present invention is an excitation coil for exciting an electrodeless lamp in which a starting auxiliary thin tube is provided in an arc tube; and a glow inside the starting auxiliary thin tube when the electrodeless lamp is started. A starting circuit that applies a voltage that causes discharge; and a high-frequency generating unit that supplies a high-frequency wave whose current phase advances by 90 to 180 degrees with respect to the output voltage phase of the starting circuit to the excitation coil. Characterize.

The electrodeless lamp lighting device according to claim 3 is
An electrodeless lamp having a starting auxiliary thin tube arranged in an arc tube; an excitation coil for exciting the electrodeless lamp; a starting circuit for applying a high-frequency voltage that causes glow discharge in the starting auxiliary thin tube when the electrodeless lamp is started And; a high frequency generating means for supplying a high frequency of a frequency different from the output frequency of the starting circuit to the excitation coil.

A lighting device for an electrodeless lamp according to a fourth aspect of the present invention comprises an excitation coil for exciting an electrodeless lamp having a starting auxiliary thin tube arranged in an arc tube; and a glow in the starting auxiliary thin tube when the electrodeless lamp is started. A starter circuit for applying a high-frequency voltage that causes discharge; and a high-frequency generator for supplying a high-frequency wave having a frequency different from the output frequency of the starter circuit to the excitation coil are provided.

An illumination device according to a fifth aspect of the invention is an electrodeless lamp in which a starting auxiliary thin tube is arranged in an arc tube; a lighting device for an electrodeless lamp according to claim 2 or 4; And a tool.

[0015]

According to the first aspect of the invention, the starting circuit applies a voltage to the starting auxiliary thin tube when the electrodeless lamp is started. Further, the high frequency generator operates so as to supply a high frequency to the excitation coil. Then, dielectric breakdown occurs in the starting auxiliary thin tube to form glow discharge, and this glow discharge enters the arc tube of the electrodeless lamp. Along with this, the electromagnetic energy generated in the excitation coil is effectively supplied to the arc tube of the electrodeless lamp, and inside the arc tube,
A glow arc transition occurs and a ring plasma is formed.

The operation based on the relationship between the output voltage phase of the starting circuit and the current phase of the excitation coil will be described below. That is, the internal gas pressure of the arc tube is 125 to 600 To.
The relationship between the phase difference between the output voltage phase of the starting circuit and the current phase flowing in the excitation coil and the high-frequency current value supplied to the excitation coil was observed for various electrodeless lamps within the range of rr, as shown in FIG. The experimental results were obtained.
Here, this experimental result is a plot of the high-frequency current value flowing in the excitation coil required to cause the glow-arc transition in the arc tube.The smaller the current, the better the startability of the electrodeless lamp. It means that As is clear from the result shown in the figure, the current phase supplied to the excitation coil is 90 to the output voltage phase of the starting circuit.
It was found that the high-frequency current was significantly reduced for all the electrodeless lamps shown in FIG. Thus, the reason why the startability of the electrodeless lamp is improved in a specific phase difference region and the theoretical analysis of the change in startability due to the phase difference have not been sufficiently clarified. It is speculated that the potential gradient between the excitation coil and the excitation coil is relatively changed by the phase difference.

It is considered that the absolute value of the potential gradient between the starting thin tube and the exciting coil varies depending on the arrangement position and structure of the exciting coil, the starting thin tube and the arc tube, but the starting characteristics shown in FIG. It has been confirmed that they show a similar tendency.

The function of the invention described in claim 2 is the function of the invention described in claim 1.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the starting circuit applies a voltage to the starting auxiliary thin tube when the electrodeless lamp is started. Further, the high frequency generator operates so as to supply a high frequency to the excitation coil. Then, dielectric breakdown occurs in the starting auxiliary thin tube to form glow discharge, and this glow discharge enters the arc tube of the electrodeless lamp. Along with this, the electromagnetic energy generated in the excitation coil is effectively supplied to the arc tube of the electrodeless lamp, and glow arc transition occurs inside the arc tube to form ring plasma.

Further, since the high frequency generating means supplies a high frequency of a frequency different from the output frequency of the starting circuit to the excitation coil, the voltage applied to the starting auxiliary thin tube by the starting circuit and the high frequency supplied to the excitation coil. The phase difference with the current transits with time. In other words, the phase of the high-frequency current flowing in the excitation coil with respect to the high-frequency voltage phase of the starting circuit is 9
The state advanced from 0 to 180 degrees appears periodically.
Therefore, the same operation as that of the invention described in claim 1 is achieved.

The invention described in claim 4 has the same operation as the invention described in claim 3.

In the invention described in claim 5, the same operation as the invention described in claims 1 to 4 is achieved.

[0023]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram showing an embodiment of the electrodeless lamp lighting device of the present invention. 1 is a drive circuit for switching FETs 2 and 3, 2 and 3 are field effect transistors (FETs) that form a high frequency current generation circuit, 4 is an excitation coil that supplies electromagnetic energy to the electrodeless lamp 5,
Reference numeral 5 is an electrodeless lamp, 6 is a starting auxiliary thin tube for assisting the starting of the electrodeless lamp in the arc tube, 7 is an electrode for applying a high voltage to the starting auxiliary thin tube 6, 8 is a switch for turning on and off the starting circuit, and 9 is a capacitor C01. , C02 and coils L1 and L2, a starter circuit 10 is a power supply circuit for supplying a predetermined direct current to the device. Further, 1 and C2 are capacitors that form a matching circuit.

Here, the exciting coil 4 is made of a metal having a high conductivity such as high dull aluminum, copper, or silver, and the coil wire has a non-circular cross section, for example, a flat shape. There is. Further, the starting auxiliary thin tube 6 formed at one end of the arc tube is preferably made of the same material as the arc tube, and is isolated from the inside of the arc tube through a partition wall. Then, at least one kind of argon or krypton, for example, is enclosed as a rare gas for starting in the thin tube.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.
When the power of the device is turned on, a predetermined DC voltage is supplied from the power supply circuit 10 to the FETs 2 and 3. Along with this, the drive circuit is activated, and the drive circuit 1 changes the FETs 2, 3
When the switching control signal is input to the gate of the
T2 and T3 are switched to generate a high frequency of 13.56 MHz, for example. This high frequency causes capacitors C1 and C2
Is supplied to the excitation coil 4 side via a matching circuit consisting of. Initially, since a large reactive current flows in the excitation coil 4, a high voltage is generated at both ends by self-induction of the excitation coil 4, but since the switch 8 is initially turned on, the high voltage generated in the excitation coil 4 is generated. Is applied to the starting circuit 9 side. As a result, the starting circuit 9 generates a high voltage due to its resonance boosting action, and this high voltage is applied to the electrode 7. For this reason, glow discharge is generated in the starting auxiliary thin tube 6, and this glow discharge enters the arc tube of the electrodeless lamp 5 to ionize the rare gas in the electrodeless lamp 5.

In such a state, a high-frequency current also starts flowing in the excitation coil 4, and the electric field generated by the excitation coil 4 forms a ring-shaped discharge path in the electrodeless lamp 5. At this point, the high voltage application to the electrode 7 is stopped. The ring-shaped discharge formed in the electrodeless lamp 5 is magnetically coupled to the excitation coil 4, and the high-frequency current flowing in the coil 4 is further increased, so that the electromagnetic energy generated in the excitation coil 4 is ring-shaped discharge. And is injected into the electrodeless lamp 5 through the. Then, the ring-shaped discharge undergoes an arc transition, and thereafter, the switch 8 is turned off and the electrodeless lamp 5 is lit stably.

Here, as in the present embodiment, the one using the capacitors C01 and C02 and the coils L1 and L2 as the starting circuit has the current phase advanced by 90 to 180 degrees with respect to the voltage phase. .

Next, the operation based on the relationship between the output voltage phase of the starting circuit 9 and the phase of the high frequency current flowing through the excitation coil 4 will be described. As is clear from the results shown in FIG. 1 described above, when the current phase supplied to the excitation coil is advanced by 90 to 180 degrees with respect to the output voltage phase of the starting circuit, all electrodeless lamps shown in FIG. It has been found that the high frequency current is significantly reduced. Thus, the reason why the startability of the electrodeless lamp is improved in a specific phase difference region and the theoretical analysis of the change in startability due to the phase difference have not been sufficiently clarified. It is speculated that the potential gradient between the excitation coil and the excitation coil is relatively changed by the phase difference. It is considered that the absolute value of the potential gradient between the starting capillary and the exciting coil may change depending on the positions and structures of the exciting coil, the starting thin tube, and the arc tube, but the starting characteristics shown in FIG. Has confirmed that.

Therefore, according to the above embodiment, the startability of the electrodeless lamp is further improved.

In the above embodiment, capacitors C01 and C02 and coils L1 and L2 are used as the starting circuit, and the current phase supplied to the exciting coil is 90 to 180 degrees with respect to the output voltage phase of the starting circuit. However, the phase difference may be controlled by using, for example, an existing PLL control technique.

In the above embodiment, the phase of the current supplied to the exciting coil is set to a phase difference within a specific range with respect to the output voltage phase of the starting circuit. However, as shown in FIG. If the output frequency of the starting circuit and the output frequency of the high frequency generating means are made to be electrically independent from the high frequency generating means, and the output frequency of the high frequency generating means is made different, the voltage applied to the starting auxiliary thin tube by the starting circuit and the excitation coil are supplied. The phase difference with the generated high-frequency current transits with time. That is,
A state in which the phase of the high-frequency current flowing through the excitation coil advances by 90 to 180 degrees with respect to the high-frequency voltage phase of the starting circuit periodically appears. Therefore, the same operation as that of the above embodiment is achieved.

[0033]

As described above, according to the first and second aspects of the invention, the current phase supplied to the excitation coil is advanced by 90 to 180 degrees with respect to the output voltage phase of the starting circuit. It is possible to provide an electrodeless lamp lighting device and an electrodeless lamp lighting device capable of further improving the starting performance of

According to the third and fourth aspects of the present invention, since the state of the phase difference periodically occurs, it is possible to provide an electrodeless lamp lighting device and an electrodeless lamp lighting device which can further improve the startability of the electrodeless lamp. .

According to the invention of claim 5, above-mentioned claims 1 to
It is possible to provide a lighting device having the effect of the invention of item 4.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a characteristic diagram showing a current value of an excitation coil with respect to a phase difference between an output voltage phase of a starting circuit and a current phase supplied to the excitation coil.

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram showing a conventional electrodeless lamp lighting device.

[Explanation of symbols]

4 ... Excitation coil, 5 ... Electrodeless lamp, 6 ...
Starting auxiliary thin tube 9 ... Starting circuit

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Akira Ito 4-3-1, Higashi-Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo Within Toshiba Litec Co., Ltd. No. within Toshiba Litec Co., Ltd.

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An electrodeless lamp having a starting auxiliary thin tube arranged in an arc tube; an excitation coil for exciting the electrodeless lamp; a voltage for causing glow discharge in the starting auxiliary thin tube when the electrodeless lamp is started. An electrodeless lamp, comprising: a starting circuit to be applied; and a high-frequency generator that supplies a high-frequency wave having a current phase advanced by 90 to 180 degrees with respect to the output voltage phase of the starting circuit to the excitation coil. Lighting device. 2. An excitation coil for exciting an electrodeless lamp having a starting auxiliary thin tube arranged in an arc tube; a starting circuit for applying a voltage for causing glow discharge in the starting auxiliary thin tube when the electrodeless lamp is started. ; With respect to the output voltage phase of the starting circuit,
An electrodeless lamp lighting device, comprising: a high-frequency generator for supplying a high-frequency wave having a current phase advanced by 90 to 180 degrees to an excitation coil. 3. An electrodeless lamp having a starting auxiliary thin tube arranged in an arc tube; an excitation coil for exciting the electrodeless lamp; a high-frequency voltage for causing glow discharge in the starting auxiliary thin tube when the electrodeless lamp is started. An electrodeless lamp lighting device, comprising: a starting circuit for applying a high frequency; and a high frequency generating means for supplying a high frequency of a frequency different from the output frequency of the starting circuit to the excitation coil. 4. An exciting coil for exciting an electrodeless lamp having a starting auxiliary thin tube arranged in an arc tube; a starting circuit for applying a high-frequency voltage for causing glow discharge in the starting auxiliary thin tube when starting the electrodeless lamp. And a high frequency generating means for supplying a high frequency of a frequency different from the output frequency of the starting circuit to the excitation coil, the lighting device for an electrodeless lamp. 5. An electrodeless lamp having a starting auxiliary thin tube arranged in an arc tube; a lighting device for an electrodeless lamp according to claim 2; and a lighting fixture containing the electrodeless lamp. Lighting device characterized by being