JPH07230886A - Electrodeless discharge lamp lighting device and lighting equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] To facilitate the formation of auxiliary discharge, lower the starting voltage, and ensure the reliable starting of the lamp. [Arrangement] An arc tube 1 in which a luminescent gas or a luminescent metal is enclosed, and an electrode which is provided so as to project at different positions of the arc tube for forming an auxiliary discharge, is filled with a rare gas, and penetrates into a narrow tube. An electrodeless discharge lamp LP3 having first and second starting capillaries 4 and 5 to which E5 and E6 are attached respectively, and a DC power supply VB converted into a high frequency power supply, and excitation wound around the arc tube 1. A high-voltage DC power supply 17 is connected via a series circuit of a starting switch 18 and a resistor 19 to an inverter circuit 8 that supplies high-frequency power to the coil 16 and a positive terminal of a starting capacitor 20 whose negative terminal is grounded. The plus terminal of the starting capacitor 20 is connected to the electrode E5 of the first starting thin tube 4 through the starting winding 21 wound around the arc tube 1 together with the excitation coil 16, Electrode E6 of the starting thin tube 5 is provided with a starting circuit SC4 that is grounded.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electrodeless discharge lamp lighting device for lighting a lamp by supplying high frequency power from an excitation coil wound around an arc tube to magnetically coupled ring plasma in the tube, and a lighting device thereof. The present invention relates to a lighting device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an electrodeless discharge lamp, an excitation coil is wound around an arc tube in which luminous gas or luminous metal is enclosed.
High-frequency power is supplied from this excitation coil to the ring plasma in the tube for high-frequency lighting, and research and development is being carried out as a lamp with high brightness, high color rendering, and high efficiency.
FIG. 20 shows a conventionally known electrodeless discharge lamp lighting device. In this figure, the DC power supply VB obtained by rectifying and smoothing the commercial AC power supply 6 is converted into a high frequency power supply by the inverter circuit 8. The output terminal of the inverter circuit 8 is connected to the excitation coil 16 via the matching circuit 12. The matching circuit 12 includes, for example, a series circuit of an inductor 13 and a capacitor 15 that are connected in series with the excitation coil 16, and a capacitor 15 that is connected in parallel with the excitation coil 16. Also, the excitation coil 1
The high-voltage side (hot side) of 6 is connected to a starting circuit SC6 via a capacitor 36, and the high-voltage output end of this starting circuit SC6 that constitutes a resonance circuit is provided so as to project on the arc tube 1 of the electrodeless discharge lamp LP. The probe 45 is attached to the top of the starting thin tube 2.
Connected via. The starting circuit SC6 includes a capacitor 36 connected in series, a parallel circuit of a resistor 37, an inductor 38, and a capacitor 50, and a starting switch 18 that connects a common connection point of the parallel circuit to a starting thin tube 45.

In the electrodeless discharge lamp lighting device having such a structure, when the starting switch 18 is turned on at the time of starting the lamp, the high starting voltage generated in the starting circuit SC6 is applied to the starting thin tube 2, An auxiliary discharge is formed between the starting thin tube 2, the arc tube 1, and the excitation coil 16 on the low potential side.
Auxiliary discharge formed in the arc tube 1 is a trigger,
A high-frequency power supplied into the arc tube 1 by the excitation coil 16 forms ring plasma in the tube, and the lamp shifts to a lighting state.

[0004]

The above electrodeless discharge lamp lighting device has the following features. 1) Excitation coil 1 to start and maintain electrodeless discharge
6 requires a large current (large voltage). 2) In order to generate a large current (large voltage) in the excitation coil 16, it is necessary to provide a resonance part on the load side of the high frequency power supply. 3) This resonant part has a high Q with no load before the lamp is turned on. 4) High Q circuits are greatly affected by component accuracy. 5) Since the starting circuit also loads the high frequency power source, the circuit characteristics are affected.

Therefore, in the conventional electrodeless discharge lamp lighting device, it becomes difficult to maintain the circuit characteristics when the component values of a high Q circuit are varied or the number of elements is increased. It becomes a hindrance. In addition, the switching elements 9 and 10 of the inverter circuit 8 may be destroyed when the operating point of the circuit changes due to variations in circuit elements or changes with time. It is necessary to select it, which leads to higher costs.

Further, the parasitic inductance and stray capacitance of the starting circuit are apt to change, and the starting resonance point becomes unstable, so that there is a problem that the lamp cannot be surely started. There is also a problem that electromagnetic noise is easily radiated from the starting circuit.

Further, in the conventional electrodeless discharge lamp shown in FIG. 21 (a), the starting thin tube 2, the arc tube 1 and the excitation coil 1 are used.
The auxiliary discharge path formed at the time of starting the lamp between the low potential side of 6 can be equivalent to the series circuit of FIG. In this equivalent circuit, C1 is a small capacitance between the probe 45 and the starting thin tube 2, R1 is a space resistance in the starting thin tube 2, and C2 is a small junction between the starting thin tube 2 and the arc tube 1. A capacitance, R2 is a space resistance in the arc tube 1, C3 is a small capacitance due to the tube wall of the arc tube 1, and C4 is a small capacitance between the arc tube 1 and the excitation coil 16. Thus, the presence of the small electrostatic capacitances C1, C2, C3, C4 in the auxiliary discharge path, and R1,
Since the breakdown of R2 is not easy, a high starting voltage is required at the time of starting the lamp. This allows
The problem arises that the starting circuit becomes complicated.

The present invention has been proposed in order to solve the problems of the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to reduce the starting voltage to facilitate the starting of the lamp and to start the lamp. It is intended to stabilize the load characteristics seen from the high frequency power supply by simplifying the circuit and further separating the starting circuit from the main circuit. Another object of the present invention is to stabilize the characteristics of the starting circuit by suppressing changes in parasitic inductance and stray capacitance of the starting circuit. Another object of the present invention is to provide a lighting device that stabilizes the circuit characteristics by lowering the Q of the main circuit and is not affected by variations in circuit elements or aging. Another object of the present invention is to provide a highly reliable lighting device which can reliably start the lamp and can stably light the lamp.

[0009]

In order to achieve this object, an electrodeless discharge lamp lighting device according to the present invention is provided with an arc tube in which a luminous gas or a luminous metal vaporized at the time of discharge is enclosed, and an auxiliary discharge. An electrodeless discharge lamp, which has a starting thin tube that is provided so as to project from the arc tube, is filled with a rare gas, and has two electrodes attached at a distance so as to penetrate into the thin tube, and a DC power supply. Is converted into a high frequency power source, and an inverter circuit for supplying high frequency power to the excitation coil wound around the arc tube and a plus terminal of a starting capacitor whose negative terminal is grounded, a high voltage DC power source is used as a starting switch and A starter connected via a series circuit of resistors, the positive terminal of the starting capacitor is connected to one electrode of the starting thin tube, and the other electrode of the starting thin tube is grounded. It is constituted and a road.

Further, the electrodeless discharge lamp lighting device according to the present invention has a luminous tube in which a luminous gas or a luminous metal vaporized at the time of discharge is enclosed, and a luminous tube projecting at different positions for forming an auxiliary discharge. , An electrodeless discharge lamp having a first and a second starting thin tube in which a rare gas is sealed and electrodes are attached so as to penetrate into the thin tube, and a DC power source is converted into a high frequency power source, An inverter circuit for supplying high-frequency power to an excitation coil wound around the arc tube, a plus terminal of a starting capacitor whose negative terminal is grounded, and a high-voltage DC power source through a series circuit of a starting switch and a resistor. And the positive terminal of the starting capacitor is connected to the electrode of the first starting thin tube, and the electrode of the second starting thin tube is grounded. Obtain some as a constituent.

Further, the electrodeless discharge lamp lighting device according to the present invention has a luminous tube in which a luminous gas or a luminous metal vaporized at the time of discharge is enclosed, and a luminous tube projecting at different positions for forming an auxiliary discharge. , An electrodeless discharge lamp having first and second starting thin tubes to which a rare gas is enclosed and filaments attached respectively, and a direct current power source is converted into a high frequency power source, which is wound around the arc tube. An inverter circuit for supplying high-frequency power to the excited coil and a high-voltage DC power source are connected to one end of the filament of the first starting thin tube through a series circuit of a starting switch and a resistor, and the other end of the filament is connected. A starting circuit is provided in which a starting capacitor is connected between one end of the filament of the second starting thin tube and the other end of the filament is grounded. It is constituted.

Further, the electrodeless discharge lamp lighting device according to the present invention is provided with a luminous tube in which a luminous gas or a luminous metal vaporized at the time of discharge is enclosed, and a luminous tube projecting at different positions for forming an auxiliary discharge. , An electrodeless discharge lamp having first and second starting thin tubes to which a rare gas is enclosed and filaments attached respectively, and a direct current power source is converted into a high frequency power source, which is wound around the arc tube. An inverter circuit for supplying high-frequency power to the excited coil and a high-voltage AC power source are connected to one end of the filament of the first starting thin tube through a starting switch, and the other end of the filament and the second starting are connected. A starting capacitor is connected between one end of the filament of the thin tube and one end of the filament, and the other end of the filament is grounded.

Further, the electrodeless discharge lamp lighting device according to the present invention is provided with a luminous tube in which a luminous gas or a luminous metal vaporized at the time of discharge is enclosed, and a luminous tube projecting at different positions for forming an auxiliary discharge. , An electrodeless discharge lamp having a first and a second starting thin tube in which a rare gas is sealed and electrodes are attached so as to penetrate into the thin tube, and a DC power source is converted into a high frequency power source, An inverter circuit for supplying high-frequency power to an excitation coil wound around the arc tube, a plus terminal of a starting capacitor whose negative terminal is grounded, and a high-voltage DC power source through a series circuit of a starting switch and a resistor. The positive terminal of the starting capacitor is connected to the electrode of the first starting thin tube through the starting winding wound around the arc tube together with the excitation coil. It is continued, it is constituted and a starting circuit for the second starting capillary electrode is grounded.

Further, according to the present invention, there is provided a light emitting tube in which a light emitting gas or a light emitting metal vaporized at the time of discharge is enclosed, and a starting thin tube projecting from the light emitting tube for forming an auxiliary discharge and containing a rare gas. An electrodeless discharge lamp having, an inverter circuit for converting a DC power source into a high frequency power source and supplying high frequency power to an excitation coil wound around the arc tube, and connected as a load of the high frequency power source, and at the time of starting the lamp. In an electrodeless discharge lamp lighting device comprising a starting circuit having a resonant circuit for outputting a high voltage for starting to the starting thin tube,
The constituent elements of the starting circuit are mounted on a printed circuit board and housed in a shield box.

Further, according to the present invention, there is provided an arc tube in which a luminescent gas or a luminescent metal which is vaporized at the time of discharge is enclosed, and a starting thin tube projecting from the arc tube for forming an auxiliary discharge and containing a rare gas. An electrodeless discharge lamp having an inverter circuit, an inverter circuit for converting a direct current power source into a high frequency power source and supplying high frequency power to an excitation coil wound around the arc tube, and a high starting power for the starting thin tube when the lamp is started. In the electrodeless discharge lamp lighting device including a starting circuit that outputs a voltage, a negative inductance is connected in parallel to the excitation coil.

Further, the lighting equipment according to the present invention is configured such that the electrodeless discharge lamp lighting device mounted on the lighting equipment body is lit at a high frequency by each of the above-mentioned electrodeless discharge lamp lighting devices.

[0017]

According to the above-mentioned structure corresponding to claim 1, when the starting switch is turned on, the starting capacitor is charged by the high-voltage DC power supply, and when the potential of the capacitor reaches a constant value, the starting thin tube is charged. Auxiliary discharge is formed in pulses between the electrodes. When the auxiliary discharge is formed in the arc tube triggered by this auxiliary discharge, the high frequency power supplied by the excitation coil forms ring plasma magnetically coupled to the excitation coil in the arc tube, and the lamp is turned on. It By providing the electrodes on the starting thin tube in this manner, auxiliary discharge is easily formed, and the starting voltage can be reduced.

According to the structure corresponding to claim 2,
When the starting switch is turned on, the starting capacitor is charged by the high voltage DC power supply, and when the potential of this capacitor reaches a certain value, it is between the first starting thin tube, the arc tube and the second starting thin tube. The auxiliary discharge is formed in pulses. When the auxiliary discharge is formed in the arc tube, the high frequency power supplied by the exciting coil forms a ring plasma in the arc tube that is magnetically coupled to the exciting coil, and the lamp is lit. By providing the electrodes on the first and second starting thin tubes in this way, auxiliary discharge is easily formed,
The starting voltage can be reduced.

According to the structure corresponding to claim 3,
When the starting switch is turned on, the starting capacitor is charged by the high voltage DC power supply. The charging current at this time preheats the filaments of the first and second starting capillaries, which facilitates the formation of auxiliary discharge. When the potential of the starting capacitor reaches a constant value, a pulsed auxiliary discharge is formed between the first starting thin tube, the arc tube and the second starting thin tube. When the auxiliary discharge is formed in the arc tube, the high frequency power supplied by the exciting coil forms a ring plasma in the arc tube that is magnetically coupled to the exciting coil, and the lamp is lit. By providing the filaments in the first and second starting thin tubes in this way, an auxiliary discharge is easily formed and the starting voltage can be lowered.

According to the structure corresponding to claim 4,
When the starting switch is turned on, a current flows from the high-voltage AC power supply to the starting capacitor side, the filaments of the first and second starting thin tubes are preheated, and auxiliary discharge is easily formed. When the auxiliary discharge is formed between the first starting thin tube, the arc tube and the second starting thin tube triggered by the preheating of the filament, the high-frequency power supplied by the exciting coil causes the excitation coil to be generated in the arc tube. A magnetically coupled ring plasma is formed and the lamp is turned on. By providing the filaments in the first and second starting thin tubes in this way, an auxiliary discharge is easily formed and the starting voltage can be lowered.

According to the structure corresponding to claim 5,
When the starting switch is turned on, the starting capacitor is charged by the high voltage DC power supply, and when the potential of this capacitor reaches a certain value, it is between the first starting thin tube, the arc tube and the second starting thin tube. The auxiliary discharge is formed in pulses. At this time, the auxiliary discharge path operates like a spark gap, and the energy stored in the starting winding provided midway acts on the inside of the arc tube. This energy is superposed on the energy generated by the excitation coil to which high-frequency power is supplied, and ring plasma that is magnetically coupled to the excitation coil is formed in the arc tube to light the lamp. By providing the electrodes on the first and second starting thin tubes in this way, auxiliary discharge is easily formed, the starting voltage can be lowered, and a large amount of energy is input into the arc tube by the starting winding when the lamp is started. can do.

According to the structure corresponding to claim 6,
By mounting the constituent elements of the starting circuit on a printed circuit board and enclosing them in a shield box, it is possible to suppress changes in parasitic inductance and stray capacitance and also to shield electromagnetic noise radiation.

According to the structure corresponding to claim 7,
By connecting the negative inductance in parallel to the exciting coil, the reactive current due to the inductance of the exciting coil can be compensated by this negative inductance, and the resonance characteristic is lost, so that the Q of the main circuit can be reduced. .

According to the structure corresponding to claim 8,
It is possible to provide a lighting fixture having an action corresponding to each claim and capable of ensuring stable operation and reliability.

[0025]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of an electrodeless discharge lamp in which a starting thin tube is provided with an electrode, and FIG. 2 shows another embodiment. In the electrodeless discharge lamp LP1 of FIG. 1, a starting thin tube (gas probe) made of quartz glass is provided on the top of an arc tube (main tube) 1 formed of quartz glass in a spherical shape.
2 is projected in the up-down direction. Here, the luminous tube 1 is filled with luminous gas or luminous metal vaporized at the time of discharge, and the starting thin tube 2 is filled with rare gas. An electrode E1 is vertically attached to the tip of the starting thin tube 2 so as to penetrate into the thin tube, and an electrode E2 is horizontally attached to the base of the starting thin tube 2 so as to penetrate into the thin tube. It is installed.

On the other hand, in the electrodeless discharge lamp LP2 of FIG. 2, the central portion of the starting thin tube 3 in the longitudinal direction is fused to the top of the arc tube 1 in the left-right direction. Electrodes E3 and E are provided at one end and the other end of the starting thin tube 3 so as to penetrate into the thin tube.
4 are attached in the left-right direction, respectively. A high-voltage starting voltage generated by a starting circuit described later is applied to one of the electrodes E1 or E2, E3 or E4 provided on the starting thin tubes 2 and 3 of the electrodeless discharge lamps LP1 and LP2, and the other of the electrodes E1 or E2, E3 or E4 is applied. The electrode is grounded.

FIG. 3 shows an electrodeless discharge lamp lighting device using the electrodeless discharge lamp LP1. In this figure, the commercial AC power supply 6 is converted into a DC power supply VB by a rectifier circuit 7, and this DC power supply VB is converted by an inverter circuit 8 from 1 MHz to
It is converted to a high frequency power supply in the RF band of about 30 MHz. Here, the inverter circuit 8 includes, for example, switching elements 9 and 10 connected in a half-bridge type, and a drive circuit 11 that drives these switching elements 9 and 10. The output terminal of the inverter circuit 8 is connected to the excitation coil 16 via the matching circuit 12. The matching circuit 12 is composed of a series circuit of an inductor 13 and a capacitor 14 connected in series with the excitation coil 16, and a capacitor 15 connected in parallel with the excitation coil 16. The excitation coil 16 is the arc tube 1.
It is wound around the outer circumference for about 2 to 3 turns. Starting circuit SC1
A series circuit of a high-voltage DC power supply 17 for outputting a high voltage for starting, a starting switch 18, and a resistor 19 is connected to a positive terminal of a starting capacitor 20 whose negative terminal is grounded. The connection point between the resistor 19 and the starting capacitor 20 is connected to one electrode E2 of the starting thin tube 2. The other electrode E1 of the starting thin tube 2 is grounded.

In the electrodeless discharge lamp lighting device having such a structure, when the switch 18 of the starting circuit SC1 is turned on at the time of starting the lamp, the resistor 1 provided in the charging path is connected.
The capacitor 20 is charged from the high voltage DC power supply 17 via 9 and the potential of the capacitor 20 rises. When the potential of the capacitor 20 reaches a constant value that exceeds the dielectric breakdown voltage between the electrodes E2, E1 in the starting thin tube 2, the charging energy is discharged at once and the auxiliary thin discharge is pulsed in the starting thin tube 2. . The auxiliary discharge in the thin tube 2 triggers the arc tube 1
Then, the auxiliary discharge is quickly formed on the low potential side of the excitation coil 16. The auxiliary discharge reaching the arc tube 1 is generated by the excitation coil 1
Ring plasma is formed by the high-frequency power supplied by 6, and the lamp starts to be completed and the lamp is turned on. After the lamp is started, the starting switch 18 is turned off.
Since the starting thin tube 2 is provided with the two electrodes E1 and E2 spaced apart in the longitudinal direction of the thin tube in this manner, the auxiliary discharge can be easily started and the starting voltage can be lowered. Can be simplified. Also, the starting circuit SC1
Is separated from the main circuit including the matching circuit 12 and the excitation coil 16, the influence of the load seen from the high frequency power source can be reduced, and the circuit characteristics on the main circuit side can be stabilized.

The electrodeless discharge lamp LP2 can easily form the auxiliary discharge, and the lamp lighting device using this lamp can also simplify the structure of the starting circuit.

Next, an electrodeless discharge lamp lighting device of another embodiment shown in FIG. 4 will be described. In the electrodeless discharge lamp LP3 used in this embodiment, a first starting thin tube 4 is vertically provided at the top of the arc tube 1 and a second starting thin tube 5 is provided at the bottom of the arc tube 1. It is hung vertically. An electrode E5 is vertically attached to the tip of the starting thin tube 4 so as to penetrate into the thin tube, and an electrode E6 is also vertically attached to the lower end of the starting thin tube 5 so as to penetrate into the thin tube. Is attached to.

The electrode E5 provided on the first starting thin tube 4 of the electrodeless discharge lamp LP3 is connected to the starting circuit SC1 having the same structure as described in FIG. The electrode E6 on the side of the second starting thin tube 5 is grounded. The excitation coil 16 wound around the arc tube 1 is supplied with high frequency power in the RF band from the inverter circuit 8 via the matching circuit 12.

In the electrodeless discharge lamp lighting device having such a structure, when the switch 18 of the starting circuit SC1 is turned on at the time of starting the lamp, the high voltage DC power supply 17 is connected to the middle of the charging path in the same manner as described with reference to FIG. When the starting capacitor 20 is charged via the resistor 19 and the potential of the capacitor 20 reaches a constant value exceeding the dielectric breakdown voltage between the starting thin tube 4, the arc tube 1 and the starting thin tube 5, the capacitor 20 is discharged at once. Then, the auxiliary discharge is formed in a pulse shape from one starting thin tube 4 through the arc tube 1 toward the other starting thin tube 5. The auxiliary discharge formed in the arc tube 1 serves as a trigger to form a ring plasma in the arc tube 1 by the high-frequency power supplied by the excitation coil 16, and the start of the lamp is completed to shift to the lighting state. To do. After the lamp is started, the starting switch 18 is turned off.

Also in this electrodeless discharge lamp LP3, electrodes E5 and E6 are attached to the starting thin tubes 4 and 5 projecting above and below the arc tube 1.
Since each is provided, auxiliary discharge is easily formed,
Since the starting voltage can be lowered, the starting circuit SC1 can be simplified.

Next, an electrodeless discharge lamp lighting device of another embodiment shown in FIG. 5 will be described. In the electrodeless discharge lamp LP4 used in this embodiment, a filament F1 is attached instead of the electrode provided at the tip of the first starting thin tube 4, and provided at the lower end of the second starting thin tube 5. Instead of the electrodes provided, a filament F2 is likewise attached. Filament F1 of one starting thin tube 4
At one end of the high voltage DC power supply 1 that constitutes the starting circuit SC2
7. A series circuit of a starting switch 18 and a resistor 19 is connected, and the starting capacitor 2 is provided between the other end of the filament F1 and one end of the filament F2 of the other starting thin tube 5.
0 is connected. The other end of this filament F2 is grounded. The excitation coil 16 wound around the arc tube 1 is supplied with high frequency power in the RF band from the inverter circuit 8 via the matching circuit 12.

In the electrodeless discharge lamp lighting device having such a structure, when the switch 18 of the starting circuit SC2 is turned on at the time of starting the lamp, the capacitor 20 is charged from the high voltage DC power supply 17 through the resistor 19 in the charging path. To be done. At this time, since the filaments F1 and F2 of the starting thin tubes 4 and 5 are preheated by the charging current, the auxiliary discharge is easily formed. When the charging potential of the capacitor 20 exceeds the dielectric breakdown voltage between the starting thin tube 4, the arc tube 1 and the starting thin tube 5, the capacitor 20 is discharged at once, passing from one starting thin tube 4 through the arc tube 1 to the other. Auxiliary discharge is formed in a pulse shape toward the starting thin tube 5. Due to the auxiliary discharge formed in this arc tube 1, ring plasma is formed in the arc tube 1 by the high-frequency power supplied from the excitation coil 16, and the start of the lamp is completed and the lamp is turned on. After the lamp is started, the starting switch 18 is turned off.

In this electrodeless discharge lamp LP4, filaments F1 and F2 are provided in the starting thin tubes 4 and 5 above and below the arc tube 1.
Since the filaments F1 and F2 are respectively preheated at the time of starting, auxiliary discharge is easily formed and the starting voltage can be lowered. Therefore, the starting circuit S
C2 can be simplified.

Next, an electrodeless discharge lamp lighting device of another embodiment shown in FIG. 6 will be described. In this embodiment, a high-voltage AC power supply 22 is used instead of the high-voltage DC power supply, and this high-voltage AC power supply 22 is connected to one end of the filament F1 of the first starting thin tube 4 via the starting switch 18. A starting capacitor 20 is connected between the other end of the filament F1 and one end of the filament F2 of the second starting thin tube 5, and the other end of the filament F2 is grounded. The high-voltage AC power supply 22, the starting switch 18, and the starting capacitor 20 form a starting circuit SC3. Here, the frequency of the high-voltage AC power supply 22 is 50 Hz, 60 Hz, 100 H.
z, 120 Hz, 20 kHz, 50 kHz, etc.

In this electrodeless discharge lamp lighting device, when the switch 18 is turned on at the time of starting, a current flows from the high voltage AC power source 22 to the starting capacitor 22 side to preheat the filaments F1 and F2 to form auxiliary discharge. It is easy to be done. When an auxiliary discharge is formed between the starting thin tube 4, the arc tube 1, and the starting thin tube 5 triggered by the preheating of the filaments F1 and F2, the auxiliary discharge in the arc tube 1 causes the excitation coil 1
A high-frequency power supplied from 6 forms a ring plasma in the arc tube 1 to turn on the lamp. After the lamp is started, the starting switch 18 is turned off.

This starting circuit SC3 also has an advantage that the starting voltage can be lowered by providing the preheating filaments F1 and F2 in the starting thin tubes 4 and 5 of the electrodeless discharge lamp LP4.

Next, an electrodeless discharge lamp lighting device of another embodiment shown in FIG. 7 will be described. In this embodiment, the high-voltage DC power supply 17 is connected to the starting switch 18 and the resistor 19 at the positive terminal of the starting capacitor 20 whose negative terminal is grounded.
And the connection point between the resistor 19 and the starting capacitor 20 is connected to the electrode E5 of the first starting thin tube 4 via the starting winding 21 that is wound around the arc tube 1 together with the excitation coil 16. To be done. The electrode E6 of the second starting thin tube 5 is grounded. The starting capacitor 20 charges and discharges the energy supplied into the auxiliary discharge tube, as in the above-described embodiments. Here, the high-voltage DC power supply 17, the starting switch 18,
Resistor 19, starting capacitor 20, and starting winding 21
Constitute the starting circuit SC4. In the excitation coil 16,
RF from the inverter circuit 8 via the matching circuit 12
The high frequency power of the band is supplied.

In the electrodeless discharge lamp lighting device constructed as described above, when the switch 18 of the starting circuit SC4 is turned on at the time of starting the lamp, the starting capacitor 20 is charged from the high voltage DC power supply 17 through the resistor 19, Capacitor 2
The potential of 0 rises. When the potential of the starting capacitor 20 exceeds the breakdown voltage between the starting thin tube 4, the arc tube 1 and the starting thin tube 5, an auxiliary discharge is formed in pulses in the same path. At this time, the auxiliary discharge path operates like a spark gap, and the energy stored in the starting winding 21 provided on the way acts on the arc tube 1. The energy from the starting winding 21 is superposed on the energy in the arc tube 1 by the excitation coil 16 to which high-frequency power is supplied, so that a large magnetic flux density change instantaneously occurs in the arc tube 1. A ring plasma magnetically coupled to the excitation coil 16 is rapidly formed in the arc tube 1. As a result, the start of the lamp is completed and the lamp is turned on. After the lamp is started, the starting switch 18 is turned off, and thereafter the lamp is continuously turned on by the high frequency power supplied from the excitation coil 16 into the arc tube 1.

Thus, this electrodeless discharge lamp LP3
Since the starting thin tubes 4 and 5 are projectingly provided above and below the arc tube 1 and the electrodes E5 and E6 are provided respectively, the auxiliary discharge is easily formed and the starting voltage can be lowered. Therefore, the starting circuit SC4 is simplified. it can. Further, a starting winding 21 is provided so that the energy of this winding is transferred from the excitation coil 16 to the arc tube 1.
Since it is superposed on the energy supplied to the lamp, the lamp can be reliably started.

Next, an electrodeless discharge lamp lighting device of another embodiment shown in FIG. 8 will be described. In this embodiment, the exciting coil 16 wound around the arc tube 1 and the starting winding 21 are constituted by a coaxial coil 23. An outer peripheral wire of the coaxial coil 23 is used as the exciting coil 16 and a core wire is started. It is used as the winding 21. Since the excitation coil 16 and the starting winding 21 are configured by using the coaxial coil 23 in this manner, the magnetic flux formed by the excitation coil 16 and the starting winding 21 is maximally introduced into the arc tube 1. You can

Next, an electrodeless discharge lamp lighting device of another embodiment shown in FIG. 9 will be described. In this embodiment, a starting circuit SC5 is connected in series to the high voltage side of the excitation coil 16, a capacitor 36, an inductor 38 and a resistor 37 which are provided in parallel with the starting thin tube 2 of the electrodeless discharge lamp LP.
It is configured as a resonance high voltage generating circuit including a parallel circuit of the above, and the connection point of the capacitor 36 and the parallel circuit is connected to the top of the starting thin tube 2 protruding from the arc tube 1 by the probe 45. A configuration in which the resistor 37 is replaced with a capacitor is also possible. The resonance point of the starting circuit SC5 is set to 1 MHz or more and 30 MHz or less, and the fine adjustment of the resonance point can be performed by changing the capacitor 36.

Capacitor 36, inductor 38, resistor 3
The starting circuit SC5 composed of 7 is mounted on a printed circuit board 40 as shown in FIG. 10, and the constituent elements of these starting circuits SC5 are housed in a conductive shield box 39. 40a is a ground pattern for grounding. The terminal 41 provided on the printed circuit board 40 in the shield box 39 is connected to the high voltage side (hot side) of the excitation coil 16 by the input line 42. Also, the capacitor 3
A connection point between 6 and the parallel circuit of the inductor 38 and the resistor 37 is connected to the starting thin tube 2 of the lamp LP by the high voltage cable 44 via the high voltage output terminal 43 in the shield box 39. The high voltage output terminal 43 is separated from the inner wall of the upper portion of the shield box 39 by about 15 to 60 mm,
We are trying to prevent short circuit and leakage current.

As described above, in this electrodeless discharge lamp lighting device, the components of the starting circuit SC5 are mounted on the printed circuit board 40, so that the change of the parasitic inductance and the change of the stray capacitance can be suppressed. You can In addition, since the starter circuit SC5 mounted on the printed circuit board 40 is housed in the shield box 39, it is possible to suppress changes in the floating electrostatic capacitance and block electromagnetic noise radiation.

Next, an electrodeless discharge lamp lighting device of another embodiment shown in FIGS. 11 to 18 will be described. For simplification, the starting circuit for applying a high voltage for starting to the starting thin tube 2 is omitted. First, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 11, the excitation coil 16 is connected to the output terminal of the inverter circuit 8 via the L-shaped matching circuit 26. The L-shaped matching circuit 26 includes an electrostatic capacitance 24 connected in series between the output terminal of the inverter circuit 8 and the excitation coil 16 and an inductance 25 connected in parallel with the excitation coil 27. Further, a negative inductance 27 is connected in parallel with the excitation coil 16. By providing the negative inductance 27 in this way, the reactive current due to the inductance of the excitation coil 16 can be compensated by the negative inductance 27, and the matching circuit 2
Since the main circuit including 6 and the excitation coil 16 does not have the resonance characteristic, the sharpness (Q) of the main circuit is determined only by the L-shaped matching circuit 26, and the Q can be significantly reduced compared to the conventional case. For example, the value of Q of about 18 can be reduced to about 11. This facilitates selection of circuit elements and stabilizes circuit characteristics.

Next, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 12, the DC cut capacitor 2 is connected to the output terminal of the inverter circuit 8.
8, the excitation coil 16 is connected via the L-shaped matching circuit 31. The L-shaped matching circuit 31 includes an inductance 29 connected in series with the excitation coil 16 and a capacitance 30 connected in parallel with the excitation coil 16.
It is composed of Further, a negative inductance 27 is connected in parallel with the excitation coil 16.

Next, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 13, the DC cutting capacitor 28 is connected to the output terminal of the inverter circuit 8.
The primary winding 32a of the step-up transformer 32 is connected via this, and the excitation coil 16 is connected to the secondary winding 32b of this transformer 32 via the L-shaped matching circuit 26. Further, a negative inductance 27 is connected in parallel with the excitation coil 16.

Next, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 14, the DC cut capacitor 2 is connected to the output terminal of the inverter circuit 8.
The excitation coil 16 is connected via the booster transformer 32 and the L-shaped matching circuit 31. Also, the excitation coil 1
Negative inductance 27 is connected in parallel with 6.

Next, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 15, the primary winding 32a of the step-up transformer 32 is connected to the output terminal of the inverter circuit 8 via the L-shaped matching circuit 26.
The excitation coil 16 is connected to the secondary winding 32b of the transformer 32. Further, a negative inductance 27 is connected in parallel with the excitation coil 16.

Next, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 16, the DC cut capacitor 2 is connected to the output terminal of the inverter circuit 8.
8, boosting transformer 3 via L-shaped matching circuit 31
The secondary winding 32a of the second transformer 32 is connected, and the excitation coil 16 is connected to the secondary winding 32b of the transformer 32. Further, a negative inductance 27 is connected in parallel with the excitation coil 16.

Next, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 17, the primary winding 32a of the boosting transformer 32 is connected to the output terminal of the inverter circuit 8 via the series resonance tank circuit 35 consisting of the electrostatic capacity 33 and the inductance 34. The excitation coil 16 is connected to the secondary winding 32b of the transformer 32. Further, a negative inductance 27 is connected in parallel with the excitation coil 16.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 18, the DC cut capacitor 28 is connected to the output terminal of the inverter circuit 8.
The primary winding 32a of the step-up transformer 32 is connected via this, and the excitation coil 16 is connected to the secondary winding 32b of this transformer 32 via the series resonance tank circuit 35. Further, a negative inductance 27 is connected in parallel with the excitation coil 16.

By performing the boosting action by the transformer 32, it is not necessary to use the L-type matching circuit 26 or 31, and Q can be reduced to zero ideally. Further, when the transformer 32 performs the boosting action, it is desirable to connect the series resonance tank circuit 35 having the minimum Q necessary for the operation of the inverter circuit 8, and the Q can be reduced to about 2.

Next, FIG. 3 to FIG. 9 and FIG. 11 to FIG.
A lighting fixture using any one of the electrodeless discharge lamp lighting devices shown in FIG. In this lighting fixture, as shown in FIG. 19, an electrodeless discharge lamp is attached to the fixture main body 46, and a translucent cover 47 is attached around the arc tube 1. Reference numeral 48 is a reflector. From the electrodeless discharge lamp lighting device U1 arranged in the instrument body 46, high-frequency power is supplied to the excitation coil 16 wound around the arc tube 1,
The electrodeless discharge lamp is lit at high frequency.

[0057]

As described above, according to the present invention corresponding to claims 1 to 4, since the starting thin tube protruding from the arc tube is provided with the electrode or filament, the auxiliary discharge is easily formed. Therefore, there is an advantage that the starting circuit can be simplified because the starting voltage can be lowered while starting the lamp easily. Further, since the starting circuit is separated from the main circuit including the matching circuit and the excitation coil and no resonance circuit is used, there is an advantage that the starting circuit can be easily adjusted and a circuit element can be easily selected.

Further, according to the present invention corresponding to claim 5, in addition to having the same advantages as described above, the energy of the starting winding can be superposed on the energy of the excitation coil at the time of starting the lamp, so that the lamp can be further started. Easy,
There is an advantage that the lamp can be reliably switched to the lighting state.

Further, according to the present invention corresponding to claim 6, the starting circuit, which is connected to the main circuit and has the resonance circuit for generating high voltage, is mounted on the printed board and housed in the shield box. There is an advantage that changes in parasitic inductance and stray capacitance can be suppressed, and electromagnetic noise radiation can be reduced.

Further, according to the present invention corresponding to claim 7, by connecting the negative inductance in parallel to the excitation coil, the Q of the main circuit can be lowered, and the characteristic change due to the fluctuation of the circuit element value. Since it can be suppressed to a sufficiently small value, stability and reliability can be improved.

Further, according to the present invention corresponding to claim 8, there is an advantage that it is possible to stably start the lamp and to provide a highly reliable lighting fixture with little change with time.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing an embodiment of an electrodeless discharge lamp according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view showing an electrodeless discharge lamp of another embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram showing an embodiment of an electrodeless discharge lamp lighting device according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram showing an electrodeless discharge lamp lighting device of another embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram showing an electrodeless discharge lamp lighting device of still another embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram showing an electrodeless discharge lamp lighting device of still another embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a circuit diagram showing an electrodeless discharge lamp lighting device of still another embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a circuit diagram showing an electrodeless discharge lamp lighting device of still another embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a circuit diagram showing an electrodeless discharge lamp lighting device of still another embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a state where the starting circuit of FIG. 9 is housed in a shield box.

FIG. 11 is a circuit diagram showing an electrodeless discharge lamp lighting device of still another embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a circuit diagram showing an electrodeless discharge lamp lighting device of still another embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a circuit diagram showing an electrodeless discharge lamp lighting device of still another embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a circuit diagram showing an electrodeless discharge lamp lighting device of still another embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a circuit diagram showing an electrodeless discharge lamp lighting device of still another embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a circuit diagram showing an electrodeless discharge lamp lighting device of still another embodiment.

FIG. 17 is a circuit diagram showing an electrodeless discharge lamp lighting device of still another embodiment.

FIG. 18 is a circuit diagram showing an electrodeless discharge lamp lighting device of still another embodiment.

FIG. 19 is a configuration diagram of a lighting fixture that lights a lamp by using the electrodeless discharge lamp lighting device of each example.

FIG. 20 is a circuit diagram showing a conventional electrodeless discharge lamp lighting device.

FIG. 21 is a diagram for explaining a conventional problem.

[Explanation of symbols]

LP1, LP2, LP3, LP4, LP electrodeless discharge lamp E1, E2, E3, E4, E5, E6 electrode F1, F2 filament SC1, SC2, SC3, SC4, SC5 starter circuit 1 arc tube 2, 3, 4, 5 Starting thin tube 6 Commercial AC power supply 7 Rectifier circuit 8 Inverter circuit 9,10 Switching element 11 Driving circuit 12 Matching circuit 16 Excitation coil 17 High voltage DC power supply 18 Starting switch 19 Resistor 20 Starting capacitor 21 Starting winding 22 High voltage AC power supply 23 Coaxial Coil 26, 31 L-type Matching Circuit 27 Negative Inductance 32 Booster Transformer 35 Series Resonance Tank Circuit 39 Shield Box 40 Printed Circuit Board 43 High Voltage Output Terminal 46 Instrument Main Body 47 Translucent Bar 48 Reflector

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A light emitting tube in which a light emitting gas or a light emitting metal that vaporizes at the time of discharge is sealed, and a projecting projection for forming an auxiliary discharge, in which a rare gas is sealed and penetrates into a thin tube. Electrodeless discharge lamp having a starting thin tube with two electrodes attached at a distance, and a DC power supply is converted into a high frequency power supply, and high frequency power is supplied to an excitation coil wound around the arc tube. A high-voltage DC power supply is connected to the inverter circuit to be supplied and the positive terminal of the starting capacitor whose negative terminal is grounded through a series circuit of a starting switch and a resistor, and the positive terminal of this starting capacitor is the starting thin tube. An electrodeless discharge lamp lighting device, comprising: a starting circuit connected to one electrode of the starting tube and the other electrode of the starting thin tube being grounded. 2. A light emitting tube in which a light emitting gas or a light emitting metal that vaporizes at the time of discharge is sealed, and a thin tube which is projected from different positions of this light emitting tube for forming an auxiliary discharge and in which a rare gas is sealed. An electrodeless discharge lamp having first and second thin capillaries for starting each having electrodes so as to penetrate therethrough, and an excitation coil wound around the arc tube for converting a DC power supply into a high frequency power supply. A high-voltage DC power supply is connected to the positive terminal of the starting capacitor whose negative terminal is grounded through the series circuit of the starting switch and the resistor, and the positive terminal of this starting capacitor. An electrodeless discharge lamp lighting device, comprising: a starting circuit connected to an electrode of the first starting thin tube, and an electrode of the second starting thin tube being grounded. . 3. A light emitting tube in which a light emitting gas or a light emitting metal that vaporizes at the time of discharge is sealed, and a light emitting tube projecting at different positions of this light emitting tube for forming an auxiliary discharge, in which a rare gas is sealed, and a filament. An electrodeless discharge lamp having a first and a second starting thin tube attached to each of them, and an inverter for converting a DC power source into a high frequency power source and supplying a high frequency power to an excitation coil wound around the arc tube. A circuit and a high-voltage DC power supply are connected to one end of the filament of the first starting thin tube through a series circuit of a starting switch and a resistor, the other end of this filament and one end of the filament of the second starting thin tube. An electrodeless discharge lamp lighting device, comprising: a starting circuit having a starting capacitor connected thereto and the other end of the filament being grounded. 4. A light emitting gas or a light emitting tube in which a light emitting metal that vaporizes at the time of discharge is sealed, and a light emitting tube projecting at different positions of this light emitting tube for forming an auxiliary discharge, in which a rare gas is sealed, and a filament. An electrodeless discharge lamp having a first and a second starting thin tube attached to each of them, and an inverter for converting a DC power source into a high frequency power source and supplying a high frequency power to an excitation coil wound around the arc tube. A circuit and a high-voltage AC power source are connected to one end of the filament of the first starting thin tube through a starting switch, and the start is made between the other end of the filament and one end of the filament of the second starting thin tube. An electrodeless discharge lamp lighting device, comprising: a starting circuit to which a capacitor for use is connected, and the other end of the filament is grounded. 5. A light emitting tube in which a light emitting gas or a light emitting metal that vaporizes at the time of discharge is sealed, and a thin tube which is projectingly provided at different positions of this light emitting tube for forming an auxiliary discharge and in which a rare gas is sealed. An electrodeless discharge lamp having first and second thin capillaries for starting each having electrodes so as to penetrate therethrough, and an excitation coil wound around the arc tube for converting a DC power supply into a high frequency power supply. A high-voltage DC power supply is connected to the positive terminal of the starting capacitor whose negative terminal is grounded through the series circuit of the starting switch and the resistor, and the positive terminal of this starting capacitor. It is connected to the electrode of the first starting thin tube through the starting winding wound around the arc tube together with the excitation coil, and the electrode of the second starting thin tube is grounded. An electrodeless discharge lamp lighting apparatus, characterized in that it comprises a starting circuit. 6. An electrodeless electrode having a luminous tube in which a luminous gas or a luminous metal vaporized at the time of discharge is enclosed, and a starting thin tube projecting from the luminous tube for forming an auxiliary discharge and in which a rare gas is enclosed. A discharge lamp, an inverter circuit that converts a DC power source into a high frequency power source, and supplies high frequency power to an excitation coil wound around the arc tube, and is connected as a load of the high frequency power source, and the starting thin tube is used when the lamp is started. In an electrodeless discharge lamp lighting device comprising a starting circuit having a resonant circuit for outputting a high voltage for starting, the constituent elements of the starting circuit are mounted on a printed circuit board and housed in a shield box. An electrodeless discharge lamp lighting device. 7. An electrodeless electrode having an arc tube in which a luminescent gas or a luminescent metal vaporized at the time of discharge is enclosed, and a starting thin tube projecting from the arc tube for forming an auxiliary discharge and containing a rare gas. A discharge lamp, an inverter circuit that converts DC power into high frequency power and supplies high frequency power to the excitation coil wound around the arc tube, and outputs a high voltage for starting to the starting thin tube when the lamp is started. An electrodeless discharge lamp lighting device comprising a starting circuit, wherein a negative inductance is connected in parallel to the excitation coil. 8. Claim 1 or claim 2 or claim 3.
A lighting fixture characterized in that the electrodeless discharge lamp lighting device according to claim 4, 5, 5 or 6 or 7 turns on the high frequency of the electrodeless discharge lamp mounted on the fixture body. .