Tubular LED lamp

• US 20040007980A1
• Filed: 07/09/2002
• Published: 01/15/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Fuso Denki Kougyou Kabushiki Kaisha, Hakuyo Denkyu Kabushiki Kaisha, Metro Denki Kougyou Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Fuso Denki Kougyou Kabushiki Kaisha, Hakuyo Denkyu Kabushiki Kaisha, Metro Denki Kougyou Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Shibata, Yoshihiko
• Application Number:
  US10/190,474
• Publication Number:
  US 20040007980A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 313/634
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/27 Retrofit light sources for lighting devices with two fittings for each light source, e.g. for substitution of fluorescent tubes
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2103/10 comprising a linear array of point-like light-generating elements
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

Since electrodes need to be subject to preheating before lighting in a fluorescent lamp, a preheating device such as a glow starter is necessary and it takes a long time to complete lighting. Further, in a fluorescent lamp of a cold-cathode type, which is lit up by applying high voltage between electrodes without preheating, although lighting is instantly carried out, a large ballast having a chalk coil and the like is necessary, thereby increasing the cost. Besides, since it is necessary to fill mercury steam and Argon gas in an arc tube, the material of the arc tube is limited to glass having high resistance to pressure and high hermeticity. An LED chain body 2 formed by connecting a plurality of LED lamps 3 via flexible members 4 is inserted into a transparent or translucent tube 1.

Claims

1. A tubular LED lamp, characterized in that an LED chain body is placed in a transparent or translucent tube, the LED chain body being formed by connecting a plurality of LED lamps or LED chips via flexible members.

2. The tubular LED lamp according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one of a fluorescent material, a phosphorescence material, a diffusion material for diffusing light, and a reflective material for reflecting light is applied to the tube.

3. The tubular LED lamp according to claim 1, characterized in that the tube is made of a material in which at least one of a fluorescent material, a phosphorescence material, a diffusion material for diffusing light, and a reflective material for reflecting light is mixed.