Patent Grant
9129793
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a high pressure discharge lamp having an auxiliary lamp that emits ultraviolet rays for decreasing required voltage value for lighting-up. The auxiliary lamp enhances lighting-up performance of the discharge lamp.
2. Description of Related Art
High pressure discharge lamps are mainly used as light sources for optical devices, for example liquid-crystal projectors, exposure devices or the like. The high pressure discharge lamp comprises: an arc tube having a space where luminescent materials such as mercury, halide, products from halogen cycle, or the like are enclosed; and a pair of main electrodes placed oppositely each other inside the arc tube. An electrical discharge by an insulation breakdown between the main electrodes that high voltage for lighting-up is applied excites the luminescent materials. The excited luminescent materials emit light.
Recently, for reducing the size of point light sources and enhancing luminance efficiency of high pressure discharge lumps, an amount of the enclosed luminescent materials is increased and a volume of the space of the arc tube is decreased. Consequently, a pressure of the arc tube in operation is extremely high, for example approximately 200 atmospheres or higher. Furthermore, this kind of the optical devices is required to reduce the time not only for cold start but for hot start.
Particularly, the higher the pressure inside the arc tube is, the higher the required voltage for generating the electric discharge is. At the hot start, when inner temperature of the arc tube is high, it is required not only to apply high voltage but to wait until the temperature of the high pressure discharge lamp becomes relatively low. And high voltage, for example more than 10 kV, is required for the cold start.
But application of the high voltage in lighting-up of the high pressure discharge lamp causes a problem. For example, insulation breakdown at unintended position is generated and the insulation breakdown causes electrification. And noises generated by the application of the high pressure voltage causes malfunction of an electronic circuit provided for the optical device. The “insulation breakdown at unintended position” is, for example, insulation breakdown between two insulation cables or creeping discharge on a surface of a connector or a connecting terminal.
Technology for lighting-up the high pressure discharge lamp with lower voltage has been developed to solve these problems. For example, see Patent Document 1 (JP-A-2002-151006). A light source 1 of the Patent Document 1, as shown in
The auxiliary lamp 3 has a discharge envelope 7, an inner electrode 8, and an outer electrode 9. The discharge envelope 7 has a discharge space enclosing medium for discharge M2 as a material that generates ultra violet UV by being excited with electrical discharge. And the discharge envelope 7 is provided toward an end face of the sealing portion 5b. The inner electrode 8 is provided inside the discharge space and connected electrically to one external lead bar 6c. One end of the outer electrode 9 is wound around an outer surface of the discharge envelope 7, and the other end of the outer electrode 9 is connected electrically to the other external lead bar 6c.
In this light source 1, high-frequency voltage is applied between the inner electrode 8 and the outer electrode 9 of the auxiliary lamp. And electrical discharge is generated between the inner electrode 8 and the outer electrode 9 through the discharge space of the discharge envelope 7. The medium for discharge M2 in the discharge space excited with the electrical discharge generates ultra violet rays UV. When the ultra violet rays UV irradiates the main electrodes 6a in the light-emitting part 5a of the high pressure discharge lamp 2, the electrical discharge between the main electrodes 6a is accelerated. Consequently, the high pressure discharge lamp 2 can be lighted with lower applying voltage.
As just described, according to the light source disclosed in the Patent Document 1, the high pressure discharge lamp 2 can be lighted with the low applied voltage. But the lower the required lighting-up voltage is, the lower the possibility of the problems as described above is. And the light source 1 can be compacted by reducing the capacity of the power feeding device 4. Consequently, the high pressure discharge lamp with auxiliary lamp that can be lighted with further lower applied voltage was required.
The present invention has been made to clear the above problems associated with the conventional arts. It is, therefore, a main objective of the present invention to provide a high pressure discharge lamp with auxiliary lamp that can be lighted with further lower applied voltage.
To accomplish the objective, in accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a high pressure discharge lamp with auxiliary lamp 10 is configured as shown in
The high pressure discharge lamp with auxiliary lamp 10 comprises:
a high pressure discharge lamp 12 having an arc tube 18 including a light-emitting part 26 with an inner space 24 enclosing a luminescent material M1 and at least one sealing portion 28a, 28b protruding from the light-emitting part 26, a pair of main electrodes 20a, 20b arranged in the inner space 24 so as to face each other, and a pair of feeders 22a, 22b supplying power to the main electrodes 20a, 20b;
an auxiliary lamp 14 having an airtight case 34 including an inner space 40 enclosing a medium for discharge M2, an inner electrode 36 with one end arranged in the inner space 40 and the other end connected to one feeder 22a, and an outer electrode 38 with one end attached on an outer surface of the airtight case 34 and the other end connected to the other feeder 22b,
wherein the inner electrode 36 has a wide shape and is arranged at a position so as to part the inner space 40 to large and small spaces 40a, 40b,
the outer electrode 38 is arranged at a position so as to face the large space 40a that is parted with the inner electrode 36,
the auxiliary lamp 14 is arranged as the large space 40a faces the sealing portion 28a. The feeders 22a, 22b have reed-shaped metal foils 30a, 30b buried in the sealing portions 28a, 28b and having one ends fixed to the main electrodes 20a, 20b, and external leads 32a, 32b extending outward from the sealing portion 28a, 28b. An arrangement angle θ2 of the metal foil 30a buried in the sealing portion 28a facing the large space 40a of the auxiliary lamp 14 is set so as not to arrange the auxiliary lamp 14 in the face of the metal foil 30a.
In the auxiliary lamp 14, discharge intensity between the outer electrode 38 arranged at the position so as to face the large space 40a and the inner electrode 36 is larger than discharge intensity generated at the small space 40b. Consequently, a large amount of ultraviolet rays is generated from the large space 40a.
The large amount of ultraviolet rays UV is guided efficiently into the sealing portion 28a by arranging the large space 40a of the auxiliary lamp 14 so as to face the sealing portion 28a of the high pressure discharge lamp 12. The guided ultraviolet rays UV enter into the light-emitting part 26 and irradiate the main electrodes 20a, 20b arranged inside the light-emitting part 26. Consequently, electrons are emitted easily from the main electrodes 20a, 20b (photoelectric effect). And when the luminescent material M1 being enclosed inside the light-emitting part 26 is irradiated with the ultraviolet rays UV, the luminescent material M1 ionizes and a “discharging route” for generating the electric discharge between the main electrodes 20a, 20b is formed. Consequently, the high pressure discharge lamp 12 can be lighted instantaneously at cold start and at hot start using low applied voltage (for example, 1.2 kV).
In addition, when the arrangement angle θ2 of the reed-shaped metal foil 30a buried in the sealing portion 28a is set so as not to arrange the auxiliary lamp 14 in the face of the metal foil 30a, the ultraviolet rays UV are difficult to hit and be blocked by the metal foil 30a. The ultraviolet rays UV from the auxiliary lamp 14 are guided into the sealing portion 28a and proceed into the light-emitting part 26 after being reflected within the sealing portion 28a several times. Consequently, the ultraviolet rays UV from the auxiliary lamp 14 are affected to the main electrodes 20a, 20b effectively. The high pressure discharge lamp 12 can be lighted surely at cold start and at hot start using low applied voltage.
It is preferable to add following element to the high pressure discharge lamp with auxiliary lamp 10.
The high pressure discharge lamp with auxiliary lamp 10 further comprises a reflector 44 covering the auxiliary lamp 14. The reflector 44 has a light reflecting surface 46 facing the auxiliary lamp 14. The light reflecting surface 46 reflects ultraviolet rays UV missing the sealing portion 28a from the auxiliary lamp 14 towards the sealing portion 28a.
According to this embodiment, the amount of the ultraviolet rays UV guided into the sealing portion 28a can be increased. Consequently, the pressure discharge lamp 12 can be lighted with lower applied voltage surely.
And feeder wire 48 from the power feeder device may be connected to one end of the outer electrode 38.
According to this embodiment, the feeder wire 48 can be used as the outer electrode 38. Then, the number of components of the high pressure discharge lamp with auxiliary lamp 10 can be reduced.
The auxiliary lamp 14 may be contacted to the sealing portion 28a.
According to this embodiment, overall radiating surface area of the high pressure discharge lamp with auxiliary lamp 10 can be increased because a part of the heat generated in the sealing portion 28a of the high pressure discharge limp 12 while lighting is conducted easily, to the auxiliary lamp 14. Then, the possibility for damage of the sealing portion 28a by the heat can be reduced, and it gives the high pressure discharge lamp 12 a longer life.
And fine concavities and convexities may be formed on the inner electrode 36 of the auxiliary lamp 14.
Forming the fine concavities and convexities on a surface of the inner electrode 36 causes “field amplification” at the convexities. The “field amplification” causes the discharge between the inner electrode 36 and the outer electrode 38 with further lower voltage. Then, the high pressure discharge lamp 12 can be lighted surely.
According to the present invention, the high pressure discharge lamp with auxiliary lamp that can be lighted with lower applied voltage can be provided.
a) is a longitudinal cross section showing the high pressure discharge lamp with auxiliary lamp of the present invention.
a) is a longitudinal cross sectional view showing a reflector being attached, and
Embodiments of the high pressure discharge lamp with auxiliary lamp 10 in the present invention are explained by using figures as below. As shown in
The high pressure discharge lamp 12 has an arc tube 18, a pair of main electrodes 20a, 20b, and a pair of feeders 22a, 22b.
The arc tube 18 is made of quartz glass and has a light-emitting part 26 including an inner space 24 enclosing luminescent material M1 such as mercury or the like, and a pair of sealing portions 28a, 28b protruding from both sides of the light-emitting part 26 for sealing the inner space 24 of the light-emitting part 26. In addition, in this embodiment, the high pressure discharge lamp 12 has two sealing portions 28a, 28b. The high pressure discharge lamp having one sealing portion, as pointed out above, may be used.
The main electrodes 20a, 20b are made of tungsten and arranged in the inner space 24 of the light-emitting part 26 in a state that the main electrodes 20a, 20b face each other. In this embodiment, the high pressure discharge lamp 12 being lighted with DC (direct-current), the electrode 20a for anode is larger than the electrode 20b for cathode. In the high pressure discharge lamp 12 being lighted with AC [alternating-current], both main electrodes 20a, 20b have the same size.
Each feeder 22a, 22b has a molybdenum reed-shaped metal foil 30a, 30b and an external lead 32a, 32b for supplying power to the metal foil 30a, 30b.
The auxiliary lamp 14 has an airtight case 34, an inner electrode 36, an external lead for inner electrode 37, and an outer electrode 38. And the auxiliary lamp 14 is arranged so as to contact one sealing portion 28a of the high pressure discharge lamp 12.
The airtight case 34 is a cylindrical quartz glass and has hemispherical one end including an inner space 40 enclosing medium for discharge M2 and the other end including an auxiliary lamp sealing portion 42 sealing the inner space 40. In this embodiment, the medium for discharge M2 is argon or the liker, or rare gas.
The inner electrode 36 is a molybdenum reed-shaped and wide member. One end 36a of the inner electrode 36 is arranged in the inner space 40 along a longer direction of the airtight case 34. The other end 36b of the inner electrode 36 is buried in the auxiliary lamp sealing portion 42. In addition, the shape of the inner electrode 36 is not limited to the reed-shape as long as the inner electrode 36 has a wide shape.
The inner electrode 36 is arranged so as to part the inner space 40 along the longer direction of the airtight case 39 into a large space 40a and a small space 40b. The auxiliary lamp 14 is so arranged that the large space 90a faces one sealing portion 28a.
“Faces one sealing portion 28a” means, as shown in
Furthermore, “to part the inner space 40” means, as shown in figure, not only a case that both ends of the inner electrode 36 on a cross-section surface contact a periphery, or inner wall of the airtight case 34, of the inner space 40 and the inner space 40 is separated totally but a case that both ends of the inner electrode 36 apart from the periphery of the inner space 40 and gaps exist between both ends and the periphery.
One end of the external load for inner electrode 37, as shown in
One end part of the outer electrode 38 is wound around the periphery surface, where faces the inner space 40, of the airtight case 34. And the other end of the outer electrode 38 is connected to the other external lead 32b protruding form the other sealing portion 28b of the high pressure discharge lamp 12.
In addition, for emitting the ultraviolet rays UV from the inner space 40 of the airtight case 34 outward, it is preferable to keep gaps between the wound outer electrodes 38. But the ultraviolet rays UV can be emitted outside through the end of the airtight case 34. The effect of the auxiliary lamp 14, therefore, is not denied even if the outer electrode 38 is wound without the gaps.
It is enough to arrange the outer electrode 38 so as to engage on the large space 40a parted by the inner electrode 36. Consequently, the outer electrode 38 may not be wound around as described above. As shown in
The trigger wire 16 is a metal wire having conductivity. One end of the trigger wire 16 is wound around a boundary between the other sealing portion 28b and the light-emitting part 26, and the other end of the trigger wire 16 is connected to the other external lead 32b. The trigger wire 16 may also be wound around the other boundary between one sealing portion 28a and the light-emitting part 26 in addition to winding the trigger wire 16 to the boundary between the one sealing portion 28a and the light-emitting part 26.
A procedure for assembling the high pressure discharge lamp with auxiliary lamp 10 in this embodiment is explained as below. The high pressure discharge lamp 12 and the auxiliary lamp 14 produced by a conventional method are prepared. The outer electrode 38 is not wound around the auxiliary lamp 14 in this step. Then, one end part of the outer electrode 38 is wound around the periphery surface of the airtight case 34 of the auxiliary lamp 14 and the auxiliary lamp 14 is arranged so as to contact the periphery surface of one sealing portion 28a. To be precise, the outer electrode 38 wound around the airtight case 34 contacts the periphery surface of the sealing portion 28a. The other end of the outer electrode 38 is connected to the other external lead 32b of the high pressure discharge lamp 12 and the external lead for inner electrode 37 is connected to one external lead 32a. At the end, one end of the trigger wire 16 is wound around the boundary between the other sealing portion 28b and the light-emitting part 26. And the other end of the trigger wire is connected to the other external lead 32b. The procedure of winding the outer electrode 38 around the airtight case 34, arrangement of the outer electrode 38 and the external lead for inner electrode 37 to the external lead 32a, 32b, and wind and connection of the trigger wire 16 are not limited to the procedure described above.
In general, as shown in
When the high pressure discharge lamp 12 is lighted, the both feeder wires 48 extending from a power supply (now shown) are connected to the both external leads 32a, 32b of the high pressure discharge lamp 12, and high voltage from the power supply is applied between the both external leads 32a, 32b. The insulation breakdown is generated between the inner electrode 36 and the outer electrode 38 of the auxiliary lamp 14, with discharge. The medium for discharge M2 in the inner space 40 being excited by the discharge emits ultraviolet rays UV. The emitted ultraviolet rays UV entering into the inner space 24 through inside of one sealing portion 28a irradiate the main electrodes 20a, 20b. The irradiated main electrodes 20a, 20b emit electrons easily (photoelectric effect). The luminescent material M1 enclosed in the inner space 24 of the light-emitting part 26 is ionized by receiving the ultraviolet UV, with formation of a “discharging route” for discharge between both main electrodes 20a, 20b. Consequently, the high pressure discharge lamp 12 can be lighted instantaneously in a cold start or a hot start with low voltage, for example 1.2 kV.
In the auxiliary lamp 14 of this embodiment, the inner space 40 of the airtight case 34 is parted into a large space 40a and a small space 40b with the inner electrode 36. Discharge intensity between the outer electrode 38 arranged at the position so as to face the large space 40a and the inner electrode 36 is larger than discharge intensity generated at the small space 40b. Consequently, a large amount of ultra violet rays UV is generated from the large space 40a.
Because the auxiliary lamp 14 is arranged at the position where the large space 40a faces one sealing portion 28a, a large amount of the ultraviolet rays UV from the large space 40a irradiate the main electrodes 20a, 20b through the sealing portion 28a. Consequently, the high pressure discharge lamp 12 can be lighted steadily with lower voltage than a voltage lighting conventional lamps.
The auxiliary lamp 14 contacts the sealing portion 28a. Consequently, overall radiating surface area of the high pressure discharge lamp with auxiliary lamp 10 can be increased because a part of the heat generated in the sealing portion 28a of the high pressure discharge lamp 12 while lighting is conducted easily to the auxiliary lamp 14. Then, the possibility for damage of the sealing portion 28a by the heat can be reduced, and it gives the high pressure discharge lamp 12 a longer life.
It is preferable that an arrangement angle of the metal foil 30a buried in the sealing portion 28a facing the large space 40a of the auxiliary lamp 14 is set so as not to arrange the auxiliary lamp 14 in the face of the metal foil 30a, as shown in
When the ultraviolet rays UV from the auxiliary lamp 19 are guided into the sealing portion 28a and proceed into the light-emitting part 26 after being reflected within the sealing portion 28a several times, the ultraviolet rays UV are difficult to hit and be blocked by the metal foil 30a. Consequently, the ultraviolet rays UV from the auxiliary lamp 14 are affected to the main electrodes 20a, 20b effectively. The high pressure discharge lamp 12 can be lighted surely at cold start and hot start with lower applied voltage.
As shown in
A light reflecting surface 46 facing the auxiliary lamp 14 is formed on an inner surface of the reflector 44. This light reflecting surface 46 reflects ultraviolet rays UVa missing the sealing portion 28a from the auxiliary lamp 14 to the sealing portion 28a.
According to this embodiment, an amount of the ultraviolet rays UV guided into the sealing portion 28a can be increased. Consequently, the high pressure discharge lamp 12 can be lighted surely with low voltage.
Furthermore, as shown in
And fine concavities and convexities may be formed on a surface of the inner electrode 36 of the auxiliary lamp 19. Forming the fine concavities and convexities on a surface of the inner electrode 36 causes the “field amplification” at the convexities. The “field amplification” causes the discharge between the inner electrode 36 and the outer electrode 38 with further lower voltage. Then, the high pressure discharge lamp 12 can be lighted surely. The fine concavities and convexities are formed by electrolytic etching with nitric acid aqueous solution. The method for forming the fine concavities and convexities is not limited to the electrolytic etching.
Table 1 shows preferred range of the angle θ1 formed by the straight line L1 connecting the center of the inner electrode 36 with the center of the inner space 40 and the straight line L2 connecting the center of the inner space 40 with the center of the sealing portion 28a. Sample lamps having the angle θ1 of 0 degrees, 45 degrees, 90 degrees, and 105 degrees were prepared, and five sample lamps were prepared for each angle θ1. High voltage of 1.0 kV, 1.2 kV, 1.4 kV, 1.6 kV, and 1.8 kV were applied to each sample lamp for lighting-up. The angle θ2 formed by the straight line L2 connecting the center of the inner space 40 with the center of the sealing portion 28a and the straight line L3 paralleled to a width direction of the metal foil 30a was set to 0 degrees.
As shown in the table 1, some sample lamps of each angle θ1 were not lighted when the high voltage was 1.0 kV or 1.2 kV. But when the high voltage was not lower than 1.4 kV, all sample lamps of the angle θ1 of 0 degrees to 105 degrees were lighted without problems. This shows that the angle θ1 of 0 degrees to 105 degrees is preferable.
Table 2 shows preferred range of the angle θ2 formed by the straight line L2 connecting the center of the inner space 40 with the center of the sealing portion 28a and the straight line L3 paralleled to a width direction of the metal foil 30a. Sample lamps having the angle of θ2 of 0 degrees, 10 degrees, 20 degrees, 30 degrees, and 40 degrees were prepared, and five sample lamps were prepared for each angle θ2. High voltage of 1.0 kV, 1.2 kV, 1.4 kV, 1.6 kV, and 1.8 kV were applied to each sample lamp for lighting-up. The angle θ1 formed by the straight line L1 connecting the center of the inner electrode 36 with the center of the inner space 40 and the straight line L2 connecting the center of the inner space 40 with the center of the sealing portion 28a was set to 0 degrees.
As shown in the table 2, some sample lamps of each angle θ2 were not lighted when the high voltage was 1.0 kV or 1.2 kV. But when the high voltage was not lower than 1.4 kV, all sample lamps of the angle θ2 of 0 degrees to 30 degrees were lighted without problems. This shows that the angle θ2 of 0 degrees to 30 degrees is preferable.
Table 3 shows differences of starting ability between with and without the reflector 44. The angle θ1 formed by the straight line L1 connecting the center of the inner electrode 36 with the center of the inner space 40 and the straight line L2 connecting the center of the inner space 40 with the center of the sealing portion 28a was set to 0 degrees, and the angle θ2 formed by the straight line L2 connecting the center of the inner space 40 with the center of the sealing portion 28a and the straight line L3 paralleled to a width direction of the metal foil 30a was set to 0 degrees.
As shown in the table 3, when the reflector 44 was not provided, five sample lamps were lighted only with the high voltage of 1.4 kV. But when the reflector 44 was provided, five sample lamps were lighted with the high voltage of not less than 1.2 kV.
Furthermore, table 4 shows differences of lighting-up ability between with and without the fine concavities and convexities on the surface of the inner electrode 36 of the auxiliary lamp 14. The angle θ1 formed by the straight line L1 connecting the center of the inner electrode 36 with the center of the inner space 40 and the straight line L2 connecting the center of the inner space 40 with the center of the sealing portion 28a was set to 0 degrees, and the angle θ2 formed by the straight line L2 connecting the center of the inner space 40 with the center of the sealing portion 28a and the straight line L3 paralleled to a width direction of the metal foil 30a was set to 0 degrees.
As shown in the table 4, when the fine concavities and convexities on the surface of the inner electrode 36 were not provided, five sample lamps were lighted only with the high voltage of 1.4 kV. But when the fine concavities and convexities were provided, five sample lamps were lighted with the high voltage of not less than 1.2 kV.
And table 5 shows how much the temperature of the sealing portion 28a while lighting of the high pressure discharge lamp 12 was reduced by contacting the auxiliary lamp 19 on the sealing portion 28a.
As shown in the table 5, a temperature of a conventional high pressure discharge lamp with auxiliary lamp of which sealing portion was separated from an auxiliary lamp in operation was approximately 409 degrees C. In contrast, a temperature of the high pressure discharge lamp with auxiliary lamp of this embodiment of which sealing portion contacted the sealing portion 28a of the auxiliary lamp 14 was approximately 355 degrees C. The temperature of this embodiment was more than 50 degrees C. lower than the temperature of the conventional lamp. According to the relation known by the inventors between the temperature of the sealing portion and a lifetime of the high pressure discharge lamp 12, the lifetime will be about 2000 hours when the temperature of the sealing portion in operation is approximately 409 degrees C. In contrast, the lifetime will be about 7000 hours when the temperature of the sealing portion in operation is approximately 355 degrees C. This tells that the lifetime dramatically lengthens by reducing the temperature of the sealing portion.
Although the invention has been described in its preferred form with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure of the preferred form has been changed in the details of construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.
The disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2011-233310 filed Oct. 24, 2011 including specification, drawings and claims is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011-233310 | Oct 2011 | JP | national |
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20090206753 | Kakisaka | Aug 2009 | A1 |
| Number | Date | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 2002-151006 | May 2002 | JP |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20130099679 A1 | Apr 2013 | US |
