Mercury-free ultraviolet discharge source
US5866984A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 6, 1997 |
| Grant date | Feb 2, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 6, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01J61/16
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A mercury-free ultraviolet (UV) discharge source includes an elongated envelope having a diameter in a preferred range from approximately 2 to 3 cm, containing a rare gas fill (xenon or krypton, including mixtures of these with other rare gases) at a pressure in a range from approximately 10 millitorr to approximately 200 millitorr and a power supply for ionizing the rare gas fill and generating a discharge current in a range from approximately 100 to approximately 500 milliamperes (mA). The UV discharge source has an efficiency and output comparable to existing mercury-based low-pressure discharge sources and is intended for use with a suitable phosphor capable of converting the UV radiation to visible light in a fluorescent lamp.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.