Fluorescent lamp, fluorescent lamp unit, liquid crystal display device, and method of emitting light
First Claim
1. A fluorescent lamp comprising:
- a first substrate;
a second substrate which is arranged so as to face said first substrate;
a discharge gas which is sealed between said first substrate and said second substrate; and
a plurality of discharge electrodes which are arranged on said first substrate and/or said second substrate, wherein said fluorescent lamp emits light by causing electric discharge in different areas alternated in accordance with voltages applied to said plurality of discharge electrodes.
8 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A liquid crystal display device has a fluorescent lamp and a driving circuit as a back light. A closed container, a discharge gas sealed in the closed container, first discharge electrodes, and second discharge electrodes are included in the fluorescent lamp. The driving circuit repeats a first step of causing electric discharge in first discharge areas by applying a voltage having a negative polarity to the first discharge electrodes and a voltage having a positive polarity to the second discharge electrodes, and a second step of causing electric discharge in second discharge areas which are different from the first discharge areas by applying a voltage having a positive polarity to the first discharge electrodes and a voltage having a negative polarity to the second discharge electrodes.
24 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A fluorescent lamp comprising:
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a first substrate;
a second substrate which is arranged so as to face said first substrate;
a discharge gas which is sealed between said first substrate and said second substrate; and
a plurality of discharge electrodes which are arranged on said first substrate and/or said second substrate, wherein said fluorescent lamp emits light by causing electric discharge in different areas alternated in accordance with voltages applied to said plurality of discharge electrodes.
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2. A fluorescent lamp unit comprising:
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a fluorescent lamp according to clam 1; and
a driving circuit which drives said fluorescent lamp by applying drive voltages to said discharge electrodes of said fluorescent lamp. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method of emitting light from a lamp (back light) in which a discharge gas is sealed, and first and second discharge electrodes are formed, said method comprising:
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causing electric discharge in first discharge areas between the first and second discharge electrodes by applying a voltage having a negative polarity to the first discharge electrodes and a voltage having a positive polarity to the second discharge electrodes, and converting ultraviolet rays caused by the electric discharge into visible light through a phosphor;
causing electric discharge in second discharge areas which are different from the first discharge areas at least partially and which are between the first and second discharge electrodes by applying a voltage having a positive polarity to the first discharge electrodes and a voltage having a negative polarity to the second discharge electrodes, and converting ultraviolet rays caused by the electric discharge into visible light through the phosphor; and
controlling said causing electric discharge in the first discharge areas and said causing electric discharge in the second discharge areas to be repeated. - View Dependent Claims (23, 25, 27)
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22. A method of emitting light from a lamp (back light) in which a discharge gas is sealed, and first discharge electrodes, second discharge electrodes, and third discharge electrodes are formed, said method comprising:
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causing electric discharge in first discharge areas between the first and second discharge electrodes by applying a drive voltage of a positive potential to one of the first and second discharge electrodes and a drive voltage of a negative potential to the other of the first and second discharge electrodes, and converting ultraviolet rays caused by the electric discharge into visible light through a phosphor, causing electric discharge in second discharge areas which are different from the first discharge areas at least partially and which are between the first and third discharge electrodes by applying a drive voltage of a positive potential to one of the first and third discharge electrodes and a drive voltage of a negative potential to the other of tho first and third discharge electrodes, and converting ultraviolet rays caused by the electric discharge into visible light via the phosphor; and
controlling said causing electric discharge in the first discharge areas and said causing electric discharge in the second discharge areas to be repeated. - View Dependent Claims (24, 26, 28)
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Specification