Low pressure inert gas discharge device
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A low pressure inert gas discharge device, comprising:
- (a) a lamp having a sealed bulb containing inert gas primarily composed of neon at a pressure ranging from 1.5 to 15 Torr, and an electrode structure contained in the bulb, and(b) means for supplying said lamp with electrical power at a frequency of not less than 5 kHz, wherein the peak value Iop (A) of the electrical current and the pressure P (Torr) of the sealed inert gas satisfy the following formulae;
space="preserve" listing-type="equation">when 1.5≦
P≦
8, Iop≧
7/P.sup.1.1,and
space="preserve" listing-type="equation">when 8<
P≦
15, Iop≧
69/P.sup.2.2.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A lamp primarily containing neon gas is supplied with alternating electrical power at a frequency of not less than 5 kHz. The discharge current is determined on the basis of the gas pressure such that no striations occur. If necessary, getter means including a metal element belonging to the second, third, fourth or fifth periodic group are provided near each electrode, oriented so as not to interfere with any electron emissions from the lamp electrodes.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A low pressure inert gas discharge device, comprising:
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(a) a lamp having a sealed bulb containing inert gas primarily composed of neon at a pressure ranging from 1.5 to 15 Torr, and an electrode structure contained in the bulb, and (b) means for supplying said lamp with electrical power at a frequency of not less than 5 kHz, wherein the peak value Iop (A) of the electrical current and the pressure P (Torr) of the sealed inert gas satisfy the following formulae;
space="preserve" listing-type="equation">when 1.5≦
P≦
8, Iop≧
7/P.sup.1.1,and
space="preserve" listing-type="equation">when 8<
P≦
15, Iop≧
69/P.sup.2.2. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A low pressure inert gas discharge device, comprising:
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(a) a lamp having a sealed bulb containing inert gas including neon and argon at a pressure ranging from 1.5 to 8 Torr, and an electrode structure contained in the bulb, and (b) means for supplying said lamp with electrical power at a frequency of not less than 5 kHz, wherein the mixture ratio for argon A (%), the peak value Iop (A) of the electrical current and the pressure P (Torr) of the sealed inert gas satisfy the following formulae;
space="preserve" listing-type="equation">A≦
5P.sup.-2,
space="preserve" listing-type="equation">1.5≦
P≦
8,and
space="preserve" listing-type="equation">5.3/P≦
Iop≦
7/P.sup.1.1. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A low pressure inert gas discharge device, comprising:
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(a) a lamp having a sealed bulb containing inert gas including neon and krypton at a pressure ranging from 1.5 to 8 Torr, and an electrode structure contained in the bulb, and (b) means for supplying said lamp with electrical power at a frequency of not less than 5 kHz, wherein the mixture ratio for krypton A (%), the peak value Iop (A) of the electrical current and the pressure P (Torr) of the sealed inert gas satisfy the following formulae;
space="preserve" listing-type="equation">A≦
8P.sup.-2,
space="preserve" listing-type="equation">1.5≦
P≦
8,and
space="preserve" listing-type="equation">4.5/P.sup.0.9 ≦
Iop≦
7/P.sup.1.1. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of operating a low pressure inert gas discharge device, comprising the steps of:
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(a) charging a sealed lamp envelope with inert gas primarily composed of neon to a pressure ranging from 1.5 to 15 Torr, and (b) supplying electrodes mounted in the lamp with electrical power at a frequency of not less than 5 kHz, wherein the peak value Iop (A) of the electrical current and the pressure P (Torr) of the sealed inert gas satisfy the following formulae;
space="preserve" listing-type="equation">when 1.5≦
P≦
8, Iop≧
7/P.sup.1.1,and
space="preserve" listing-type="equation">when 8<
P≦
15, Iop≧
69/P.sup.2.2.
-
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20. A method of operating a low pressure inert gas discharge device, comprising the steps of:
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(a) charging a sealed lamp envelope with inert gas including neon and argon to a pressure ranging from 1.5 to 8 Torr, and (b) supplying electrodes mounted in the lamp with electrical power at a frequency of not less than 5 kHz, wherein the mixture ratio of argon A(%), the peak value Iop (A) of the electrical current and the pressure P (Torr) of the sealed inert gas satisfy the following formulae;
space="preserve" listing-type="equation">A≦
5P.sup.-2,
space="preserve" listing-type="equation">1.5≦
P≦
8,and
space="preserve" listing-type="equation">5.3/P≦
Iop≦
7/P.sup.1.1.
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21. A method of operating a low pressure inert gas discharge device, comprising the steps of:
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(a) charging a sealed lamp envelope with inert gas including neon and krypton to a pressure ranging from 1.5 to 8 Torr, and (b) supplying electrodes mounted in the lamp with electrical power at a frequency of not less than 5 kHz, wherein the mixture ratio for krypton A (%), the peak value Iop (A) of the electrical current and the pressure P (Torr) of the sealed inert gas satisfy the following formulae;
space="preserve" listing-type="equation">A≦
8P.sup.-2,
space="preserve" listing-type="equation">1.5≦
P≦
8,and
space="preserve" listing-type="equation">4.5/P.sup.0.9 ≦
Iop≦
7/P.sup.1.1.
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Specification