Method for Lighting Flat Fluorescent Lamp

Abstract

A method for lighting a flat fluorescent lamp for a large-sized backlight unit is disclosed, to prevent a discharge interference (scattering in fluorescent discharge) when lighting a plurality of groups of cylindrical electrodes being adjacent, in which an A.C. voltage is applied to one or two groups of cylindrical electrodes through introduction wires for lighting lamp in state of being not applied to adjacent one or two groups of cylindrical electrodes, so the plurality of groups of cylindrical electrodes are sequentially switched on and off in a time-division method at a speed not to generate the flicker of lamp.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 illustrates a method for lighting a flat fluorescent lamp according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.

Hereinafter, a method for lighting a flat type fluorescent lamp according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 illustrates a method for lighting a flat fluorescent lamp according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, a flat type fluorescent lamp according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention is provided with a front glass substrate of a rectangular shape and a rear glass substrate of a rectangular shape, wherein the front glass substrate 1 is coupled with the rear glass substrate 2. Then, the coupled front and rear glass substrates 1 and 2 are inserted to a glass frame 3, wherein members such as exhaust pipe is provided to the glass frame. As a result, it is possible to form a sealed body with the front and rear glass substrates and the glass frame.

Specifically, the front glass substrate 1 is provided with a plurality of rows of grooves (not shown) for reinforcement of the glass substrates. At this time, the grooves are formed in the predetermined portions except the circumference of the front glass substrate and the portion for forming members such as cylindrical electrodes. Also, a fluorescent substance (not shown) is coated on the inner surface of the front glass substrate except the circumference.

The rear glass substrate 2 is provided with a plurality of rows of grooves (not shown) in parallel. At this time, the grooves are formed in the predetermined portions except the circumference of the rear glass substrate and the portion for forming members such as the cylindrical electrodes. Also, a fluorescent substance (not shown) is coated on the inner surface of the rear glass substrate except the circumference.

When the sealed body is provided in state of positioning the grooves in horizontal, an exhaust pipe 4 is provided in an upper side of the glass frame 3. Also, a plurality of introduction wires for lighting the lamp 5 are provided to the both lateral sides of the glass frame 3, wherein a plurality of groups of cylindrical electrodes 6 are welded to the introduction wires for lighting the lamp 5. Then, a heater wire 8 and a plate-type spring 9 are provided in the lower side of the glass frame 3, wherein introduction wires for heater 7 are connected with the heater wire 8 and the plate-type spring 9.

In the aforementioned flat fluorescent lamp according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, an A.C. voltage is applied to the plurality of groups of cylindrical electrodes 6 through the introduction wires for lighting the lamp 5 from a lighting system 10, whereby the groups of cylindrical electrodes 6 are in the switching-on state. In state of providing the A.C. voltage to one or two groups of cylindrical electrodes, the A.C. voltage is not applied to adjacent one or two groups of cylindrical electrodes, whereby the adjacent one or two groups of cylindrical electrodes are maintained in the turning-off state. As a result, the plurality of groups of cylindrical electrodes are sequentially switched on and off in a time-division method at a speed not to generate the flicker of lamp, so that it is possible to prevent the discharge interference between the adjacent groups of cylindrical electrodes. Also, the frequency of the A.C. voltage for switching-on the lamp is about 50 KHz. For example, the plurality of groups of cylindrical electrodes are sequentially switched on and off at a speed of about 100 Hz, thereby preventing the flicker in the luminance of the LCD device.

FIG. 1 illustrates the lighting system 10 in the lighting method of the flat fluorescent lamp according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, wherein the lighting system 10 includes an A.C. voltage generating circuit and a time-division lighting circuit. That is, the A.C. voltage is applied to the plurality of groups of the cylindrical electrodes 6 through the introduction wires for lighting the lamp 5 in the time-division method. Under control of the lighting system 10, the A.C. voltage is applied to one group of cylindrical electrodes from the time-division lighting circuit in state of being not applied to the adjacent group of cylindrical electrodes. According to the time-division method, one group of cylindrical electrodes is in the switching-on state, and the adjacent one group of cylindrical electrodes is in the switching-off state in the speed not to generate the flicker.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

Accordingly, the method for lighting the flat fluorescent lamp according to the present invention has the following advantages.

As the competition in development for the LCD device becomes keen in Korea, Japan and Taiwan, the industry fields of the LCD device and the backlight unit have been developed and researched actively. The method for lighting the flat fluorescent lamp according to the present invention is very useful in many ways.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the inventions. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A method for lighting a flat fluorescent lamp, the flat fluorescent lamp including a front glass substrate provided with a plurality of grooves formed in the predetermined portions except the circumference of the front glass substrate and the portion for forming members such as cylindrical electrodes, and a fluorescent substance coating film formed on the inner surface of the front glass substrate except the circumference; a rear glass substrate provided with the plurality of grooves formed in the predetermined portions except the circumference of the rear glass substrate and the portion for forming members such as the cylindrical electrodes, and a fluorescent substance coating film formed on the inner surface of the rear glass substrate except the circumference; and a sealed body formed by welding the circumference of the front and rear glass substrates in state of being inserted to a glass frame having an exhaust pipe after coupling the front and rear glass substrates, on providing the sealed body, an exhaust pipe is formed to the upper side of the glass frame, a plurality of introduction wires for lighting lamp being welded to a plurality of groups of cylindrical electrodes are formed to the both lateral sides of the glass frame, and introduction wires for a heater, connected with a heater wires and a plate-type spring, are formed to the lower side of the glass frame, wherein, an A.C. voltage is applied to one or two groups of cylindrical electrodes 6 through the introduction wires for lighting lamp 5 in state of being not applied to adjacent one or two groups of cylindrical electrodes 6, so the plurality of groups of cylindrical electrodes are sequentially switched on and off in a time-division method at a speed not to generate the flicker of lamp.