Illumination – Curvilinear light source
Reexamination Certificate
1998-06-04
2001-02-27
O'Shea, Sandra (Department: 2875)
Illumination
Curvilinear light source
C362S260000, C313S318020
Reexamination Certificate
active
06193390
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a circular fluorescent lamp unit and a lighting apparatus using this circular fluorescent lamp unit.
2. Description of the Prior Art
So far, the circular outer diameters of the glass bulbs of circular fluorescent lamp units commonly put to use has been, for example, 225 mm for 30 W, 299 mm for 32 W and 373 mm for 40 W, with the tube outer diameters of the respective glass bulbs being 29 mm.
Lighting apparatus using this circular fluorescent lamp unit is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 4-212276. In the lighting apparatus, an apparatus body with a truncated cone configuration is provided on a lower surface of a top board. A socket and lamp holder are symmetrically provided so as to project downwardly from this apparatus body. A base of a circular fluorescent lamp unit is connected to this socket and a glass bulb portion opposed to the base of the circular fluorescent lamp unit is fitted in the lamp holder. The circular fluorescent lamp unit is arranged below the apparatus body. In this state, a high-frequency power is fed from a high-frequency lighting circuit such as an inverter lighting circuit built in the apparatus body to the circular fluorescent lamp unit so that the circular fluorescent lamp unit turns on a light.
Meanwhile, recently, in order to make the visual environments in a dwelling space comfortable, the tendency has been toward the size reduction and thickness reduction of goods for the interiors. The lighting apparatus is also a portion of the interior goods, and is increasingly required to reduce its thickness so that it is as if the ceiling surface seems to be high.
However, in the prior lighting apparatus which is of the type in that a circular fluorescent lamp unit is located within an apparatus body, it is difficult to reduce the thickness of the whole apparatus including the circular fluorescent lamp unit.
More specifically, since the circular fluorescent lamp unit needs a lamp holder and a lamp socket for its connection and holding, a large space in the vertical directions is necessary. As a result of that, the thickness of the apparatus body is relatively enlarged. In addition, since the common circular fluorescent lamp unit has a tube outer diameter of 29 mm, limitation is imposed on fabricating a lighting apparatus with a desirable thickness.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to overcome the foregoing problems. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a circular fluorescent lamp unit the thickness of which is more reduced than that of the prior circular fluorescent lamp unit and a lighting apparatus using this circular fluorescent lamp unit the thickness of which is also more reduced than that of the prior lighting apparatus whereby the whole thickness reduction of the lighting apparatus having the circular lamp unit is realized while keeping the image of the prior apparatus in dimension so as to make the visual environments in a dwelling space comfortable in which the lighting apparatus of the present invention is set.
In addition, it is another object of the present invention to provide a circular fluorescent lamp unit, the lamp efficiency of which is improved than that of the prior circular fluorescent lamp unit while keeping the thickness thereof reduced.
In order to achieve the such objects, according to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a circular fluorescent lamp unit comprising a circular glass bulb having a circular outer diameter set within a range of 285 to 310 mm or thereabout, a tube outer diameter set within a range of 15 to 18 mm or thereabout, and an inner surface onto which a fluorescent substance is applied; a discharge medium including a rare gas and a mercury sealed up in the circular glass bulb; and a pair of electrode means fitted in both end portions of the circular glass bulb so as to be sealed therein whereby discharge occurs in the circular glass bulb by providing the pair of electrode means with a lamp power so that the circular glass bulb lights; wherein said lamp power has a high frequency which is not less than 10 kHz and said lamp power is set within a range of 20 to 40 W or thereabout.
In preferred embodiments of this aspect, the range of 20 to 40 W or thereabout of the light power includes a rated lamp power and a high-output characteristic lamp power, said rated lamp power is approximately 23 W and said high-output characteristics lamp power is approximately 38 W.
This aspect of the present invention has an arrangement that the range of 20 to 40 W or thereabout of the light power includes a rated lamp power and a high-output characteristic lamp power, said rated lamp power is approximately 27 W and said high-output characteristics lamp power approximately 38 W.
With a view to achieving the such objects, according to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a circular fluorescent lamp unit comprising a circular glass bulb having a circular outer diameter set within a range of 365 to 390 mm or thereabout, a tube outer diameter set within a range of 15 to 18 mm or thereabout, and an inner surface onto which a fluorescent substance is applied; a discharge medium including a rare gas and a mercury sealed up in the circular glass bulb; and a pair of electrode means fitted in both end portions of the circular glass bulb so as to be sealed therein whereby discharge occurs in the circular glass bulb by providing the pair of electrode means with a lamp power so that the circular glass bulb lights; wherein said lamp power has a high frequency which is not less than 10 kHz and said lamp power is set within a range of 28 to 50 W or thereabout.
In preferred embodiments of this another aspect, the range of 28 to 50 W or thereabout of the light power includes a rated lamp power and a high-output characteristic lamp power, said rated lamp power is approximately 30 W and said high-output characteristics lamp power is approximately 48 W.
This another aspect of the present invention has an arrangement that the range of 28 to 50 W or thereabout of the light power includes a rated lamp power and a high-output characteristic lamp power, said rated lamp power is approximately 34 W and said high-output characteristics lamp power approximately 48 W.
For achieving the such objects, according to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a circular fluorescent lamp unit comprising a circular glass bulb having a circular outer diameter set within a range of 210 to 235 mm or thereabout, a tube outer diameter set within a range of 15 to 18 mm or thereabout, and an inner surface onto which a fluorescent substance is applied; a discharge medium including a rare gas and a mercury sealed up in the circular glass bulb; and a pair of electrode means fitted in both end portions of the circular glass bulb so as to be sealed therein whereby discharge occurs in the circular glass bulb by providing the pair of electrode means with a lamp power so that the circular glass bulb lights; wherein said lamp power has a high frequency which is not less than 10 kHz and said lamp power is set within a range of 17 to 30 W or thereabout.
In preferred embodiments of this another aspect, the range of 17 to 30 W or thereabout of the light power includes a rated lamp power and a high-output characteristic lamp power, said rated lamp power is approximately 17 W and said high-output characteristics lamp power is approximately 28 W.
This another aspect of the present invention has an arrangement that the range of 17 to 30 W or thereabout of the light power includes a rated lamp power and a high-output characteristic lamp power, said rated lamp power is approximately 20 W and said high-output characteristics lamp power approximately 28 W.
To achieve the such objects, according to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a lighting apparatus comprising a lighting body and at least one circular fluorescent lamp unit disposed in the lighting body, wherei
Sakakibara Yuichi
Yagi Toshiharu
Yamada Ichiro
Yasuhara Akinori
Neils Peggy
O'Shea Sandra
Oblon & Spivak, McClelland, Maier & Neustadt P.C.
Toshiba Lighting & Technology Corporation
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