U.S. Philips Corporation

Koninklijke Philips Corporation N.V.

North American Philips Corporation

Anthony Kroes

Pieter G Van Engen

Olaf Mastenbroek

Rob Van Rooij

John Daniels

The present invention relates to glow-switch starters, lighting devices therewith and use thereof. The glow-switch starteris suitable for use with three phase supply voltages substantially higher than the common 230V supply voltage. This allows more efficient gas discharges in e.g. fluorescent lamps, and/or more lamp power, and/or less energy losses in ballastsand lamp electrodes. To make the glow-switch starter suited for such use, according to the invention, the gas fillingof the starteris adapted. An important criterion is that the glow current in the steady state operation of the fluorescent lamp that is started by the starter is small enough to prevent closing of the (bimetallic) switch.

Glow-switch starter, lighting device and lighting system therewith, and use thereof

In a glow discharge starter, a layer of lanthanum is present on one of the conductors and the gas filling is a Penning mixture. The glow discharge starter does not contain radioactive material. The delay time between the application of a voltage between the conductors and establishing a glow discharge remains short during the whole life of the glow discharge starter, even when the starter was kept in a room with a low light level for a prolonged time.

Glow discharge starter

A glowswitch starter according to the invention is provided with a discharge vessel (1) which is closed in a gastight manner and which has a wall (2), with a pair of electrical conductors (3a, 3b) passed through a portion (2b) of the wall of the discharge vessel, and with a bimetal element (4a) in the discharge vessel which is conductively connected to one (3a) of the electrical conductors (3a, 3b), the discharge vessel containing an ionizable filling. The glowswitch starter according to the invention, which is characterized in that at least that portion (2b) of the wall through which the electrical conductors are passed is made from a glass containing at least 5% BaO by weight, has a short ignition delay time.

Glowswitch starter with specific glass envelope composition

The electrodeless low-pressure discharge lamp comprises a tube which is closed at one end, which surrounds a body of soft magnetic material with clearance, and which is enclosed with clearance in the cavity in the outer bulb, which cavity enters the cavity in the discharge vessel. The tube provides a good insulation of the body from the heat of the discharge in the discharge vessel.

Electrodeless low-pressure discharge lamp

The electrodeless low-pressure discharge lamp has a lamp vessel (1) with a protuberance (2), in which an electrical coil (4) is situated around a soft magnetic body (3). A heat-resistant envelope (5) separates the coil (4) from the body (3).

The electrodeless low-pressure discharge lamp comprises a discharge vessel (1) having an inwardly extending protuberance (2) and an evacuated outer bulb (5) having a protuberance (6) projecting into the protuberance (2). A soft magnetic body (3) is arranged in the protuberance (6). It is a heat-resistant envelope (22) and is surrounded by an electrical coil (4) outside the envelope (22).

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Terneuzen, Netherlands

Anthony Kroes