Iwasaki Electric Co., Ltd.

Minoru Yasukawa

Takenobu Iida

Jojiro Shiina

A metal vapor discharge lamp of the type comprising a translucent outer bulb that houses an arc tube and a starter which is connected in parallel to the arc tube and which includes a nonlinear capacitor, at least one of the lead wires of the nonlinear capacitor being connected to a support line whose thickness is such that it does not obstruct the oscillation due to any electrostriction of the nonlinear capacitor and such that it fuses whenever a large current flows through the nonlinear capacitor. Due to this construction, the oscillation of the nonlinear capacitor is not obstructed, so that a high-voltage pulse can be generated and the noise level lowered. Furthermore, since the support line is designed to be fused by a large electric current, thus breaking the electric circuit, any burning of the ballast can be prevented.

Metal vapor discharge lamp

In parallel connecting a starter to a luminous tube, the starter being formed by a coiled nonfusible metal wire which is wound to or laid along the outer wall of the luminous tube and a nonlinear capacitor which is in series connected to the nonfusible metal wire. As a result of this, the discharge lamp can be assuredly and stably lit with a small size ballast. Furthermore, pass of large current through the starter can be prevented even if the luminous tube is leaked. Furthermore, if the vacuum outer bulb is leaked or broken, the circuit of the starter can be opened by melting the nonfusible metal wire.

Metal vapor discharge lamp having starter therein

A nonlinear capacitor for generating high-voltage pulses comprises a ferroelectric substrate, electrode layers formed on both sides of said substrate, a mineral glass coating covering the entire surface of the capacitor except for the connector portions for said electrode layers and for the outer peripheral surface of said ferroelectric ceramic substrate, and lead terminals electrically connected to the electrode layers through said connector portions. This construction prevents the mechanical oscillation due to electrostriction from being restrained, thereby permitting the capacitor to generate high-voltage pulses of great amplitude and energy.

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Kohnosu, Japan

Minoru Yasukawa