Compact self-ballasted fluorescent lamp with improved rising characteristics

• US 20040232815A1
• Filed: 02/25/2004
• Published: 11/25/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Tomiyoshi, Yasushige, Iida, Shiro
• Granted Patent: US 7,116,043 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 313/318.1
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 61/327 "Compact"-lamps, i.e. lamps having a folded discharge path

Abstract

A compact self-ballasted fluorescent lamp includes a double-spiral arc tube formed by winding a glass tube to its both ends around a spiral axis, and sealing electrodes each having a filament coil at the ends of the glass tube, and a holding member that has a closed bottom and holds the arc tube. The holding member has, at its end wall, insertion openings through which the ends of the glass tube are inserted. The ends of the glass tube are inserted to such positions that enable the filament coils to be positioned within the holding member, and the minimum distance L, in the insertion direction of the ends of the glass tube, between the filament coil and the edge of the insertion opening of the holding member is 6 mm.

Claims

1. A compact self-ballasted fluorescent lamp, comprising:

an arc tube including a glass tube at least partially bent, and electrodes sealed at both ends of the glass tube, each electrode including a filament coil; and

a holder having a pair of insertion openings formed therein, and holding the arc tube by fixing the ends of the glass tube inserted through the insertion openings,

wherein the ends of the glass tube are inserted to such positions that enable each filament coil to be positioned within the holder, and a minimum distance L1, in an insertion direction of the ends of the glass tube, between each filament coil and an edge of corresponding one of the insertion openings is in a range of 0 to 10 mm inclusive.

2. The compact self-ballasted fluorescent lamp of claim 1, wherein

mercury is singly enclosed in the glass tube, and

an inner diameter of the glass tube is in a range of 5 to 9 mm inclusive.

3. The compact self-ballasted fluorescent lamp of claim 1, further comprising

a globe covering the arc tube,

wherein the arc tube is thermally connected to the globe via a heat conductive medium, at a coolest position of the arc tube during lighting, or a position in a vicinity of the coolest position.

4. The compact self-ballasted fluorescent lamp of claim 1, wherein

the arc tube has a double-spiral construction in which the glass tube is wound from a middle to both ends thereof around one axis.

5. The compact self-ballasted fluorescent lamp of claim 1, wherein

an amount of 2 to 5 mg inclusive of mercury is enclosed in the glass tube.

6. The compact self-ballasted fluorescent lamp of claim 4, wherein

a pitch of (a) each of both end parts of the glass tube and (b) an adjacent spiral part in a direction of the axis is larger than a pitch of other adjacent spiral parts, to widen a gap between each end part and the adjacent spiral part.

7. The compact self-ballasted fluorescent lamp of claim 5, wherein

a winding pitch of the glass tube is changed to enlarge at such a position back from each end by 60 to 120°

inclusive with respect to the axis, as viewed in the direction of the axis.

8. The compact self-ballasted fluorescent lamp of claim 5, wherein

a gap between the other adjacent spiral parts is in a range of 1 to 3 mm inclusive, and

a distance between (a) a first point that is on each end and (b) a second point that faces the first point and that is on an outer surface of an adjacent spiral part in the direction of the axis, is in a range of 3 to 6 mm inclusive.

9. The compact self-ballasted fluorescent lamp of claim 4, wherein

an annular outer diameter of the arc tube with the double-spiral construction is in a range of 30 to 40 mm inclusive.

10. The compact self-ballasted fluorescent lamp of claim 3, wherein

the holding member is in a cylindrical shape and has an end wall where the insertion openings are formed,

the compact self-ballasted fluorescent lamp further comprises a case that is fit to cover a circumferential wall of the holding member, and

the globe is fixed in a state where an opening end thereof is fit in a gap formed between the circumferential wall of the holding member and the case.