Fluorescent lamp with integral conductive traces for extending low-end luminance and heating the lamp tube
US6191539A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 26, 1999 |
| Grant date | Feb 20, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 26, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S315/01
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A fluorescent lamp (10) includes a tube (12) and a fluorescent gas mixture sealed in the tube. A phosphor layer (20) is deposited on the interior surface of the tube. A pair of internal electrodes (14), connected by a first circuit (16) to a first power supply (18), are located in the tube at opposite ends thereof. The first power supply (18) causes a high-intensity arc discharge between the pair of internal electrodes (14) and, in turn, produces fluorescent light. An opposing pair of conductive traces (22, 24) connected by a second circuit (26) to a second power supply (28), are silk-screened onto the exterior surface of the lamp tube (12) along the length thereof. The second power supply (28) causes the opposing pair of conductive traces (22, 24) to produce a transverse electric field that creates a low-intensity transverse discharge. The low-intensity transverse discharge is used to lower the luminance range of the fluorescent lamp. The conductive traces are formed of a conductive frit, such as a silver ceramic frit. After silk-screening, the lamp tube (12) is fired to melt the frit onto the tube. At least one of the conductive traces (22, 24) is connected by a third circuit (30…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.