EP1776713A2

EP1776713A2 - Light source and method for mechanically stabilizing the filament or electrode of a light source

Info

Publication number: EP1776713A2
Application number: EP05768095A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Gerhard K. Wolf; Frank Friess; Georg Schwarz; Adalbert Kovacs; Axel Bunk; Georg Rosenbauer; Matthias Damm
Original assignee: IP2H AG; Patent Treuhand Gesellschaft fuer Elektrische Gluehlampen mbH
Current assignee: IP2H AG; Osram GmbH
Priority date: 2004-07-19
Filing date: 2005-07-11
Publication date: 2007-04-25
Also published as: DE102004034807A1; CN101069263B; KR20070057791A; TW200620384A; CA2574138A1; CN101069263A; WO2006007816A2; JP2008507101A; US20080036382A1; WO2006007816A3

Abstract

A light source comprising a heatable filament (1) or an electrode, wherein the filament (1) or the electrode is arranged in a lamp (2) or in a tube. In order to use the light source in a wide variety of manners even in rough conditions, the filament (1) or the electrode is provided at least partially with a mechanical stabilization system. The invention also relates to a method for mechanical stabilization of the filament (1) or electrode of a light source, wherein stabilization is produced by exposing the filament (1) or electrode to a short pulsed gas pressure increase, involving a rare gas, during heating or stabilization is formed by a coating or deposition (4).

Description

LIGHT SOURCE AND A METHOD FOR MECHANICAL STABILIZATION OF THE FILAMENT OR ELECTRODE OF ONE

LIGHT SOURCE

The present invention relates to a light source with a heatable filament or an electrode, wherein the filament or the electrode is arranged in a piston or in a tube. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a method for mechanically stabilizing the filament or the electrode of a light source.

Light sources of the type in question have long been known from practice and exist in a variety of embodiments. In particular, electric incandescent lamps, electric halogen incandescent lamps and electric discharge lamps in low-pressure or high-pressure versions as well as electric light-emitting diodes are known. The light sources are based on the glow emission, the impact excitation of gases or a luminescence effect, for example in the case of luminescent tubes.

Furthermore, it is customary nowadays to produce special individual light source types which are particularly suitable for the respective application for different fields of application. For example, in rare cases, special filaments such as tantalum carbide filaments have been used in light sources where high light output is required.

With many special filament or electrode materials, it is disadvantageous that these materials fill the desired requirements with regard to the light output, but on the other hand they are often sensitive to shocks and vibrations, frequently causing breaking of the filaments or electrodes. Such filaments or electrodes are therefore only suitable for use with the utmost care. For mass production and extensive use, the light sources equipped with the known filaments or electrodes are not suitable. The present invention is therefore based on the object to provide a light source of the aforementioned type and a method, according to which a far-reaching use of the light source is made possible even in harsh operating conditions.

According to the invention, the above object is achieved by a light source having the features of patent claim 1 and by a method having the features of patent claim 18. Thereafter, the light source of the type mentioned is configured and further developed such that the filament or the electrode at least partially has a mechanical stabilization.

In accordance with the invention, it has first been recognized that in order to reduce the sensitivity of the known light source, a specific influence on the present filament or electrode material is possible. It is therefore not necessary to use another, less sensitive filament or electrode material. In concrete terms, the filament or the electrode for solving the object in question is provided with mechanical stabilization at least in regions. As a result, at least in places of the filament or the electrode, which have been found to be particularly sensitive, an at least be¬ rich mechanical stabilization can be generated. The sensitivity of the light source to shock and vibration is significantly reduced.

Consequently, a light source is specified with the light source according to the invention, according to which a far-reaching use of the light source is made possible even in rough conditions of use with strong vibrations and shocks.

In practice, it has been shown that a breakage of the filament or of an electrode takes place, for example, in the region of the exit of the filament or the electrode from, for example, a glass bulb. Therefore, the stabilization can be produced in a particularly advantageous manner in the region of the exit of the filament or the electrode from the bulb or the tube. Stabilization only in this specific area is usually sufficient.

Concretely, the stabilization may be generated in the area of electrical supply of the filament or the electrode. It should be noted that the im Operation glowing part, for example, a filament is often formed by an incandescent filament. In this case, the stabilization can be outside this filament range, namely in the area of the electrical supply of the filament or the electrode.

With regard to a particularly secure and lasting stabilization, the stabilization can be formed by a coating or deposition on the filament or the electrode. For this purpose, several techniques can be used, all of which ensure a high mechanical stabilization.

On the one hand, the coating or deposition can be produced galvanically. In this case, an electrolyte droplet can be applied to the region of the filament or the electrode to be stabilized, the filament serving as the cathode. For example, then a thin inserted metal wire can serve as the anode of this galvanic Minianordnung. With a suitable deposition voltage, it is possible, for example, to deposit copper or nickel as local convector. In a further embodiment, however, it is also possible to use iron, molybdenum, tungsten or alloys of the abovementioned metals or another metal for the coating or deposition. W / Ni alloys can also be deposited. After the removal of the electrolyte and drying, a noticeably higher stability of the filament or electrode arrangement against impact stress is evident after the galvanic coating or deposition.

As a further coating technique, a chemical vapor deposition - CVD - done. In this case, for example, carbon can be applied to the filament or the electrode. Since the region of the filament or the electrode to be stabilized has a lower temperature than the glowing part when burning the light source, a hydrocarbon compound in the hotter region can be decomposed and deposited as carbon in the colder region away from a filament with optimized temperature distribution and gas conduction , A light source formed in this way is stable in comparison with conventional light sources even at twice the g values or acceleration values when the filament or the electrode is subjected to impact. In another technique, the coating or deposition could be produced by means of an organic covalent or organometallic chemical vapor deposition-MO-CVD. As an alternative to carbon deposition by means of CVD, metal deposition can also be produced on the same principle. As a process gas, which is subjected to thermal decomposition, it is possible to use either inorganic covalent compounds, for example metal chlorides or metal fluorides, or organometallic compounds such as, for example, titanium tetrachloride for titanium deposition, metal hexacarbonyl for chromium, molybdenum or tungsten deposition and ferrocenes are used for iron separation. There are also other metals or their organometallic compounds as coating or deposition material conceivable here.

In a further, particularly advantageous technique, the stabilization can be produced by exposing the filament or the electrode during heating to a brief one-time or multiple pulsed gas pressure increase by means of a noble gas.

Such a treatment of the filament or the electrode with a short-term noble gas pulse may in particular take place during or immediately after a synthesis or production of the filament or the electrode in which the filament or the electrode is already arranged in the bulb or in the tube. With such a manufacturing or synthesis structure, it is particularly easy to set the gas atmosphere around the filament or the electrode by selective gas supply.

In the synthesis of, for example, a tantalum carbide filament, tantalum is used as the starting material. This starting material is then subjected to carburization at 3,000 to 3,300K. Starting Ta, Ta ₂ C and subsequently TaC are generated. In the surrounding the starting material gas atmosphere are used as gases CH ₄ + a small amount of H ₂ at a gas pressure of about 0.1 to 10 mbar. The synthesis takes about five to six minutes. Carbon deposition has a pressure of about 10 to 50 mbar. The noble gas pulse treatment is carried out at about 3,000 to 3,150 K. The pressure in the noble gas treatment is preferably about 20 mbar. After the treatment of the filament or the electrode with a short-term noble gas pulse, a considerable increase in the strength and stability of the filament or the electrode, in particular in the area of the exit of the filament or the electrode from the piston or the tube. More specifically, the usual strength values, according to which stability is still present up to a load of 100 g to 200 g, can be increased to more than 2000 g. In other words, the light source stabilized according to the invention remains intact even when subjected to a shock load of more than 2000 g.

In practice, it has been shown that it is favorable to suspend the filament or the electrode after one or more momentary pulsed gas pressure increases a constant noble gas pressure until the end of synthesis. As a result, increased stability can be achieved.

Specifically, the pulse-like increase in gas pressure may take about 10 to 20 seconds. This shows the best possible stabilization of the filament or the electrode.

As a suitable gas pressure in the context of the gas pressure increase, a gas pressure of about 15 to 25 mbar is advantageous. Preferably, the gas pressure may be about 20 mbar.

For stabilization particularly suitable noble gases are helium and argon. However, it is also conceivable to use other noble gases, for example neon or krypton or xenon.

In a concrete embodiment of the light source according to the invention, the filament or the electrode may comprise tantalum carbide or consist of tantalum carbide.

With regard to the claimed method according to the invention, the above object is achieved by a method for the mechanical stabilization of the filament or the electrode of a light source having the features of patent claim 18. Thereafter, the stabilization is produced by the fact that the filament or the electrode is heated during a heating of a single or multiple short-term pulse like gas pressure increase is exposed by means of a noble gas or that the stabilization is formed by a coating or deposition.

Stabilization may occur during or after synthesis of the filament or electrode. Advantageously, the filament or the electrode can be exposed to a constant noble gas flow or pressure after the short-term one or more pulse-like gas pressure increase. The gas pressure increase can last for about 10 to 20 seconds. The gas pressure increase can be effected by means of a gas pressure of about 15 to 25 mbar, preferably about 20 mbar. As noble gas helium or argon can be used, although other noble gases such as neon, krypton or xenon are conceivable.

The heating during the brief pulse-like gas pressure increase can take place via an ohmic heating process, with current flowing through the filament or the electrode.

In order to stabilize the light source, both a short-term pulse-like increase in gas pressure can be effected in a particularly advantageous manner, to which the filament or the electrode is exposed during heating, as well as a coating or deposition on the filament or the electrode. As a result, a combined effect for stabilizing the light source can be achieved.

The effect of increasing the stability by treating the filament or electrode with a momentary pulsed gas pressure increase could be explained by a reduction of hydrogen embrittlement in the leads of the filament or electrode by dilution of the gas atmosphere. Alternatively, the effect could also be explained by a marginal surface decarburization in the feeders, which could result in a very thin, outer and mechanically stabilizing tantalum sheath in a tantalum carbide filament. As a further explanation, the pulsation could produce a strong dynamic temperature gradient in the leads of the filament or the electrode, which could result in a shift of the predetermined breaking point into the glass body or glass base of a bulb or tube. In addition to mechanical stabilization, metal deposits can also be used to introduce catalytically active metals into the light source bulb or into the light source tube. This allows a targeted influencing of the gas phase chemistry in the burning light source in a desired direction.

The invention is intended to reduce the brittleness of filaments or electrodes, in particular in the case of lamps which use carbide such as TaC for this purpose. Filament and electrode are collectively referred to as bulbs, for an incandescent lamp or discharge lamp. As a result of the invention, not only is the cold illuminant mechanically stabilized during transport to the customer, but also the illuminant brought to operating temperature, in particular a filament, in the region of the pinch edge or helix frame connection. Advantageously, the luminous body is integrally connected to an internal power supply, which extends into the glass of the piston. The outlets of the luminous means, for example of the TaC filament, in the region of the pinch edge or the helix suspension or helical welding in the frame usually still consist of the brittle Ta 2 C phase or of the not yet carburized pure Ta phase. In particular, at the pinch edge is prevented by the invention, a bonding of the Ta material with the quartz glass (such as when crushing). The Ta filament undergoes an increase in volume by 21% through phase transformation to TaC. This circumstance may lead to breakage or at least increase in resistance at the pinch edge if the connection to the quartz glass is too strong. Another advantage in lamp operation proves to be the gain of the cold outlets, where usually the Halogenfraß or other chemical reactions of other embrittling Füllgasbestandteile (hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, etc.) take place. In this way, in particular the filament, so the filament, in lamps without frame, ie lamps in which the coil and the inner power supply are integral, are stabilized, wherein the wire from which the coil is formed, welded directly to the film is, and wherein a stabilizing aid not only in the cold state, but also during the burning time mechanically and with respect to the electrical characteristics, in particular with regard to possible changes in resistance, stabilizing effect. Stabilization is a coating, a helix, but preferably a suitable combination of both. Here is a coil or pipe as Coating applied directly on the wire and the coating then applied even zu¬ addition.

Preferably, the coating spiral or the coating tube is made of hochschmelzen¬ the metal. The melting point of the metal should be at least 1900 ^° C., preferred material being W, Mo, carbon, Ta, Ru, Hf, Os. The length of the coating should at most equal the length of the internal power supply lines inside the piston. A typical length is 5% of the length of the internal power supply lines, preferably a value of 3 to 15% of this length.

This "coarse mechanical" coating should be combined with one of the above. "fein¬" acting stabilizer, namely: (a) the carbon deposition, in particular at the transition from the coating helix to simple TaC wire, (b) the metal deposition or (c) the noble gas stabilization, especially by means of helium.

Which of these options is ultimately used in combination with the coating and from which material the coating is made, depends on the ge selected Füllgassystem. The chemical constituents of the filling gas system, the material and the maximum temperature of the coating spiral and the additional stabilization chosen from the selection (a) - (c) and their design, in particular with regard to the choice of materials in (b), should be as compatible as possible ,

This technique is also suitable for use with lamps with separate control parts. By electrode is meant here a particularly massive internal power supply, which holds the coiled filament, the filament. Here, the fracture critical area is the transition from TaC filament to helix / helical weld on the electrode.

There are now various possibilities for designing and developing the teaching of the present invention in an advantageous manner. For this purpose, on the one hand to the claims subordinate to claims 1 and 18, on the other hand, to refer to the following explanation of preferred embodiments of the invention with reference to the drawings. In conjunction with the explanation of the preferred Embodiment of the invention with reference to the drawing also generally preferred embodiments and developments of the teaching are explained. In the drawing show

Fig. 1 is a schematic side view of an embodiment of a light source according to the invention and

Fig. 2 to 7 in each case schematic views of further embodiments of a light source according to the invention.

Fig. 1 shows a schematic side view of an embodiment of a light source according to the invention. The light source has a heatable filament 1, which is arranged in a piston 2. With regard to a far-reaching use of the light source even in harsh and vibration-intensive conditions of use, the filament 1 has mechanical stabilization in certain areas. The stabilization is formed in the region of an electrical feed 3 of the filament 1 by a galvanic deposition 4.

To stabilize the filament 1, however, a coating by means of chemical vapor deposition - CVD - could be generated. The deposition 4 is formed in the region of the exit of the filament 1 from a glass base 5 of the piston 2. This portion of the filament 1 is most sensitive to handling of the light source with respect to filament 1 breakage.

The filament 1 consists in the present embodiment of tantalum carbide. The electrical contacting of the filament 1 takes place via electrical contacts 6 and 7.

To stabilize the filament 1, it is alternatively or additionally possible to suspend the filament 1 during heating of a short-term pulse-like increase in the gas pressure by means of a noble gas. This also achieves a significantly higher mechanical stability of the filament 1, in particular in the region of the exit of the filament 1 from the glass base 5. As a noble gas, helium or argon can preferably be used here.

FIG. 2 shows a halogen incandescent lamp with a piston 10 and a pinch seal 11. In the piston, a coil 12 is arranged axially as a luminous element. It has internal power supply lines 13, which are attached integrally to the coil ends. The material is TaC. Over a length of about 5% of the length of the power supply 13 in the piston extends as coarse mechanical coating means a coating spiral or spiral 14 of W. This extends into the pinch and stabilizes the power supply. The outer end of the inner power supply is connected to a film 15 in the pinch 11 of the piston. From the pinch 11 rage outside massive power supply lines 17 to the outside. In the region of the inner end of the overdrive helix, a coating 18 made of carbon or else metal by means of CVD is attached, as it were, as fine-mechanical support, for further stabilization. It is typically up to 30 microns thick in the center and extends at least over a length of 2 mm in the area of the inner power supply, which is not supported by the Überzugs¬ helix. In addition, it also extends to a part of the coating helix itself. In this way, the risk of breakage in the region of the edge between the end of the coating helix and the internal, exposed current supply is optimally supported. Preferably, a Bech of at least 2 mm is coated on the coating spiral. As a result, not only the support effect, but also the electrical contact is improved.

A further embodiment is shown in Figure 3. This corresponds substantially to the embodiment of Figure 2, but the coating is formed by a tube 20 which extends over a length of about 10% of the length of the inner stroke in the piston. Otherwise, the structure is similar to that in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 shows an exemplary embodiment in which the supporting coating 21 extends relatively far over almost the entire length of the integral inner power supply 22. The coating 24 extends away from the end of the tube toward the luminous element 23. Typically, the length of the coating in the pinch is about 0.5 to 3 mm, preferably 0.5 to 1.5 mm. the length of the inner power supply on the film is advantageously 1 to 3 mm.

FIG. 5 shows a detail of a halogen incandescent lamp which has separate, in particular massive, molybdenum frame wires as internal power supply lines 25. Such lamps are used in particular for photo-optical purposes. The luminous element 26 made of HfC is clamped between the bent-back legs 27 of the two frame wires. In this case, no support spiral is necessary as a supportive coating. The coating consists of carbon or metal and extends to the so-called helical outlets, that is to say the uncoiled ends of the helix, in particular to a zone in the vicinity of the contact with the housing. The stabilization can also be done by inert gas. In this case, as shown, no coating is necessary.

A similar construction is shown in FIG. 6, where the helical outlets 30 are welded onto the solid frame wires 31. Again, the coating is about 2 mm in both directions, seen from the contact point 32. The stabilization can also be done by inert gas. In this case, as shown, no coating is needed.

Further, Figure 7 shows an embodiment in which the frame wire is made of two solid separate parts. The reaching into the bruise outer part 35 is made of molybdenum. It is bent outwards. The inner part 37 extending to the TaC helix 36 is made of a different material, preferably Ta or Nb. This inner part is again the actual holder for the helical outlets 38. The holder of the helical departure again takes place by means of clamping as illustrated or even by welding. Again, a terminal part of the helix, over a length of at least 1 mm, starting from the contact point 32 in the direction of helix, coated with metal, such as rhenium, osmium, iridium or ruthenium. The coating may also extend in the direction of the frame, preferably at least 1 to 3 mm wide. The stabilization can also be done by inert gas. In this case, as shown, no coating is needed. In burning lamps with a metal carbide filament usually Füllgasgemische be used by which a carbon cycle process er¬ is made possible. One possibility is, for example, the addition of carbon and hydrogen to the filling gas, see, for example, US Pat. No. 2,596,469. In this case, it is expedient to choose the material of the coating spiral and, if appropriate, a metallic coating so that it does not or only to a small extent react with carbon to form carbides or dissolve carbon or hydrogen. Particularly suitable materials in this case are rhenium, osmium, iridium or ruthenium. These materials extract far less carbon from the gas phase than, say, tungsten or molybdenum, or dissolve less hydrogen than, say, tantalum and zirconium (which are often referred to in the literature as hydrogen getters).

If the coating spiral protrudes only a few mm out of the pinch as described for a preferred embodiment, and if a carbon cycle is implemented in the lamp, it can preferably also be made of tungsten or molybdenum, because at low temperatures Quetsch¬ edge carbon is dissolved only very slowly in the metal and said materials of the gas phase hydrogen ent withdraw only to a comparatively small extent.

If the outgoer is coated with a metal up to the region of higher temperatures in order to stabilize the fracture-sensitive areas in which the Ta2C phase dominates, the metals rhenium, osmium, iridium or ruthenium are particularly suitable for this, since when these metals are used The gas phase during operation of the lamp only little carbon is removed. Another advantage of using these metals is that they significantly slow the uptake of hydrogen by the non-carburized tantalum near the pinch edge. As a result, the hydrogen partial pressure in the lamps is more stable than in the case of a continuous strong hydrogen termination near the pinch edge.

In a preferred embodiment when using a CH cycle process, the outlets of the helix are thus coated with one of the metals rhenium, osmium, iridium or ruthenium up to the luminous body, whereas the coating helix made of molybdenum or tungsten only a few mm from the pinch edge protrudes. Instead of the metallic deposition, it is also possible to use a C deposition, which extends to near the luminous body.

The application WO 002004107391 A1 describes how, by using oxygen-containing additives for the filling gas, a positive effect with regard to the avoidance of piston blackening or an increase in the service life can be achieved. The favorable effect of the oxygen can be further enhanced if, in the colder areas at temperatures usually around 150 ⁰ C to 400 ⁰ C metals such as iron, cobalt, nickel or molybdenum used. These metals probably act as catalysts in the sense of Fischer-Tropsch reactions, with the carbon monoxide on the catalyst reacting with hydrogen to form hydrocarbons and water. As a result, the otherwise very stable carbon monoxide molecule is decomposed again and both carbon and oxygen are fed back into the reaction process. The hydrocarbon decomposes on its way to the luminous body with the release of carbon, which can be re-attached to the luminous body. The released oxygen already reacts with the carbon transported by the luminous body to form carbon monoxide. Since this reaction - in contrast to the reaction of the carbon with the hydrogen - already proceeds at much higher temperatures, a blackening of the piston is thus even more effectively prevented. The metals in question have their greatest effectiveness in terms of catalysis of the said reaction when they are operated at temperatures around or below 500 ⁰ C, in particular at 400 to 55O ⁰ C. The metals which are suitable for said catalysis tend to form carbides or to dissolve carbon at higher temperatures. In preferred designs, therefore, the coating coil is made of these materials and designed so that it protrudes only a few millimeters above the pinch edge. In a preferred embodiment when using the COH filling gas system, the use of the coating coil described is combined with a carbon separation at a higher temperature or a noble gas stabilization.

In another design, the coil is attached to stable solid power supply lines ("frame"), see Figures 5 to 7. The attachment of the helix is carried out, for example, by clamping or welding.The very stable power supply lines (ie. Stellteile) usually have such a large diameter and thus a high thermal conductivity or such a low resistance, so that they are so low temperature that they are not significantly carburized. Preferably, such a material is selected for the frame, which dissolves hydrogen only to a relatively small extent, eg W or Mo. In addition, the use of these materials gives the advantage that these metals, when using the C-HO filler gas system as Catalysts act (see above). Even when using this construction, the carburization of the tantalum helix is not complete; the colder areas near the fixation of the filament outlets to the frame parts are not completely carburized. To increase the breaking strength in this range, the zone in which the brittle Ta 2 C phase dominates can again be covered with a stabilizing metal layer, preferably using a metal which is not prone to carburization (eg Os, Ru, Re, Ir). Instead of a metal deposit, the area in question can also be stabilized by a carbon coating; or a noble gas stabilization can be used.

In a preferred embodiment using the C-H-O fill gas system, such materials are used for the power supplies which have a catalytic function, e.g. Molybdenum. The outlets of the TaC illuminant are coated with a carbon deposit.

With regard to further advantageous embodiments and developments of the teaching according to the invention, reference is made on the one hand to the general part of the description and on the other hand to the attached patent claims in order to avoid repetition.

Finally, it should be particularly emphasized that the previously purely arbitrary chosen embodiment is merely for the purpose of discussing the teaching of the invention, but this does not restrict to this embodiment.

Claims

claims

1. Light source with a heatable filament (1) or an electrode, wherein the filament (1) or the electrode in a piston (2) or in a tube ange¬ is arranged, characterized in that the filament (1) or the electrode zu¬ at least partially having a mechanical stabilization.

2. Light source according to claim 1, characterized in that the stabilization in the region of the exit of the filament (1) or the electrode from the piston (2) or the tube is generated.

3. Light source according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the stabilization in the region of an electrical supply (3) of the filament (1) or the electrode is generated.

4. Light source according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the stabilization by a coating or deposition (4) is formed.

5. Light source according to claim 4, characterized in that the coating or deposition (4) is galvanically generated.

6. Light source according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the coating or deposition (4) comprises a metal, preferably copper, iron, nickel, molybdenum, tungsten or their alloys.

7. Light source according to one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that the coating or deposition by means of Chemical Vapor Deposition - CVD - er¬ testifies.

8. Light source according to one of claims 4 to 7, characterized in that the coating or deposition comprises carbon.

9. Light source according to one of claims 4 to 8, characterized in that the coating or deposition by means of inorganic covalent or metall¬ organic Chemical Vapor Deposition - MO-CVD - is generated.

10. Light source according to one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the coating or deposition comprises a metal, preferably titanium, chromium, molybdenum, tungsten or iron, or their organometallic compounds.

11. Light source according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the stabilization is produced in that the filament (1) or the electrode is exposed during heating of a short-term single or multiple pulse-like gas pressure increase by means of a noble gas.

12. Light source according to claim 11, characterized in that the stabilization takes place during or after a synthesis of the filament (1) or the electrode.

13. Light source according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the filament (1) or the electrode after the single or multiple short-term pulse-like increase in gas pressure is set aus¬ a constant noble gas flow or pressure.

14. Light source according to one of claims 11 to 13, characterized in that the increase in gas pressure lasts about 10 to 20 s.

15. Light source according to one of claims 11 to 14, characterized in that the gas pressure increase by means of a gas pressure of about 15 to 25 mbar, preferably about 20 mbar, takes place.

16. Light source according to one of claims 11 to 15, characterized in that the noble gas is helium, argon, neon, krypton or xenon.

17. Light source according to one of claims 1 to 16, characterized in that the filament (1) or the electrode has tantalum carbide.

18. A method for mechanically stabilizing the filament (1) or the Elekt¬ rode a light source, in particular a light source according to one of claims 1 to 17, wherein the stabilization is generated in that the filament (1) or the electrode during a heating of a one or more short-term pulse-like gas pressure increase is exposed by means of a noble gas or that the stabilization by a coating or deposition (4) is formed.

19. The method according to claim 18, characterized in that the stabilization takes place during or after a synthesis of the filament (1) or the electrode.

20. The method according to claim 18 or 19, characterized in that the filament (1) or the electrode after the single or multiple short-term pulse-like increase in gas pressure is set aus¬ a constant noble gas flow or pressure.

21. The method according to any one of claims 18 to 20, characterized in that the increase in gas pressure for about 10 to 20 s lasts.

22. The method according to any one of claims 18 to 21, characterized in that the gas pressure increase by means of a gas pressure of about 15 to 25 mbar, preferably about 20 mbar, takes place.

23. The method according to any one of claims 18 to 22, characterized in that the noble gas is helium, argon, neon, krypton or xenon.

24. Light source according to claim 1, characterized in that the mechanical stabilization is achieved by a combination of a coarse mechanical coating agent and a fine-acting proppant.

25. Light source according to claim 24, characterized in that the coarse mechanical coating agent is a helix or spiral or tube, while the fine-acting proppant is a coating of carbon or metal or a stabilizing noble gas treatment.

26. Light source according to claim 24, characterized in that the coarse mechanical coating means supports the region of the inner power supply which lies at the edge for sealing.

27. The light source as claimed in claim 24, wherein the fine-acting support means supports at least the region of the inner power supply which directly adjoins the coarse-mechanical coating medium in the direction of the luminous element.

28. Light source according to claim 27, characterized in that the finely acting support means also extends over a region of the coarse mechanical coating means.