Matsushita Electric Works Research and Development Laboratory Inc

Matsushita Electric Works R&d Lab

Matsushita Electric Works Research and Development Laboraties Inc.

Matsushita Electric R & D Laboratory

Matsushita Research and Development Laboratory Inc.

Munisamy Anandan

Jakob Maya

An integrally molded flat fluorescent lamp comprising a convoluted channel member (11) formed of vitreous glass with convoluted channel (14) fabricated by employing a combination of vacuum-assisted sag molding, press molding and blow molding techniques. While the part (11) is molten, a planar member (13) is fused to it by pressing the parts (11 and 13 at 15) together to form a closed glass envelope. The inside of the envelope is coated with a phosphor layer and preferably the external surface of the envelope is coated with a reflective layer. A pair of electron-emissive electrodes are fused to openings (12) in the envelope. They are sealed through glass flares at the two holes integral to the envelope. The envelope is evacuated and filled with a rare gas and mercury to a suitable pressure and sealed off to form a lamp.

Integrally molded flat compact fluorescent lamp

A substantially flat, gas filled, arc discharge fluorescent lamp having an internal path in which the arc travels, where the path is formed by vertical sections between a substantially flat top and bottom surface. The path length can be controlled along with the height of the lamp to provide a wide range of lumens per unit volume while improving lamp life at low cost. A reflective coating, formed adjacent to the phosphor coating within the path, directs light to where wanted, while obviating the need for a separate reflector in the lamp fixture. One application of the present inventive lamp is to replace incandescent lamps by virtue of being mechanically interchangeable by virtue of having the flexibility for accommodating a small ballast within the lamp assembly.

Substantially flat compact fluorescent lamp

A flat compact fluorescent lamp is disclosed. The lamp contains a fill of rcury and inert gas. It includes a top panel and bottom glass panel and a convoluted glass partition having a substantially planar upper surface disposed between the inner surfaces of the top and bottom panels. The partition forms a convoluted channel having an initial and a terminal end. One edge of the partition is integrally molded with the bottom panel and a peripheral portion is joined to the inner surface of the top panel. An inner portion of the partition can engage the inner surface of the top panel. The inner portion has a predetermined width at the point of its engagement and a predetermined spacing between the point and the top panel. A layer of frit of predetermined thickness is used to join the peripheral portion of the convoluted partition to the inner surface of the top panel. The frit layer forms a sealed envelope with the top and bottom panels, whereby to provide the predetermined spacing and form a convoluted channel within the envelope. A conventional phosphor coating is disposed on the inner surface of the envelope and at least two electrodes are disposed at the initial and terminal ends of the convolution whereby an arc can be formed in the lamp between the electrodes thereby to excite the phosphor to emit light.

Flat compact fluorescent lamp with inter-channel discharge suppression

Manufacture of a substantially flat compact fluorescent lamp using a molded cup-like continuous concentric (spiralled) channel and a circular plate, resembling a lid for the cup. The cup with the channel is coated with a light reflective layer followed by a phosphor layer (whereas the lid, on one side, is coated with the phosphor layer only) and has two holes through which two electrodes are sealed such that one of the said holes has, in addition to the electrode, an integral exhaust tubulation. The space between the cup and the lid is filled with a material capable of emitting ultraviolet under electrical excitation. Electrical discharge created between the electrodes, strictly follows the path of the channel physically imposed by the sealed structure, in spite of a nonsealed contact of the top surface of the channel walls and the plane surface of the lid. On absorption of the ultra-violet from the discharge, the phosphor emits visible radiation.

Method of manufacturing substantially flat compact fluorescent lamp

A flat compact fluorescent lamp is disclosed. The lamp contains a fill of mercury and inert gas. The lamp includes a glass front panel (1) having an inner surface and a glass bottom panel (2) also having an inner surface. A convoluted glass partition (3) having an eccentric spiral shape and smooth bends is disposed between the inner surfaces of the front and bottom panels and with the bottom panel (2) defines a channel (4) in the lamp. The channel (4) has a fairly uniform width. A phosphor coating (6) of a predetermined density between about 3 and 5 mg./cm.sup.2 is disposed on the inner surface of the channel (4) and a phosphor coating (8) of a predetermined density of between about 0.5 and 1.5 mg./cm.sup.2 is disposed on the inner surface of the front panel (1). Two electrodes (14a & 14b) are disposed at opposite ends of the spiral in the lamp to form an arc which emits UV light to excite the phosphor (6 & 8) to emit light. Substantially all the light emerging from the phosphor 6 on the channel (4) passes through the thinner phosphor (8) coating on the front panel (1).

Growing community of inventors

Burlington, MA, United States of America

Munisamy Anandan