Gas discharge lamp and a device for controlling the temperature thereof

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device for the regulated temperature control of a gas discharge lamp, and a gas discharge lamp. The device according to the invention includes a transformer core of a transformer, the transformer core being designed for accommodating at least one discharge current-conducting connecting line of the gas discharge lamp as a primary winding. The transformer forms an energy source for heating a functional area of the gas discharge lamp that determines a function of the gas discharge lamp, and that is formed by an amalgam reservoir. The device also includes a secondary winding on the transformer core, and a means for temperature control that is used to regulate the energy that heats the amalgam reservoir. The means for temperature control is electrically connected to the secondary winding.

Claims

1. A device for the regulated temperature control of a gas discharge lamp, comprising: a transformer core of a transformer, the transformer core being designed for accommodating at least one discharge current-conducting connecting line of the gas discharge lamp as a primary winding, the transformer forming an energy source for heating a functional area of the gas discharge lamp that determines a function of the gas discharge lamp, and the functional area being formed by an amalgam reservoir; a secondary winding on the transformer core; and a means for temperature control that is used to regulate the energy that heats the amalgam reservoir, the means for temperature control being electrically connected to the secondary winding.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the means for temperature control is formed by a temperature control electronics system, and also includes a temperature sensor for directly or indirectly measuring the temperature of the amalgam reservoir, the temperature sensor being electrically connected to the temperature control electronics system.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the device also includes an electrical heating element for heating the amalgam reservoir, and which is electrically connected to the temperature control electronics system.

4. The device according to claim 2, wherein the transformer core is designed for heating the amalgam reservoir, for which purpose the transformer core is heat-conductively connected to the amalgam reservoir, and for which purpose the device also includes an electronic switch that is controllable by the temperature control electronics system and that is electrically connected to the secondary winding.

5. The device according to claim 2, wherein the device also includes a power supply circuit, which on the input side is connected to the secondary winding and on the output side is connected to the temperature control electronics system.

6. The device according to claim 2, wherein the device also includes a sleeve that is made of a heat-conducting material and is pushable onto the amalgam reservoir.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein the means for temperature control is formed by a heat-conducting resistor that is heat-conductively connected to the amalgam reservoir.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device also includes a sleeve that is made of a heat-conducting material and is pushable onto the amalgam reservoir.

9. The device according to claim 3, wherein the transformer core is designed for heating the amalgam reservoir, for which purpose the transformer core is heat-conductively connected to the amalgam reservoir, and for which purpose the device also includes an electronic switch that is controllable by the temperature control electronics system and that is electrically connected to the secondary winding.

10. The device according to claim 3, wherein the device also includes a power supply circuit, which on the input side is connected to the secondary winding and on the output side is connected to the temperature control electronics system.

11. The device according to claim 4, wherein the device also includes a power supply circuit, which on the input side is connected to the secondary winding and on the output side is connected to the temperature control electronics system.

12. The device according to claim 11, wherein the power supply circuit includes an electrical energy store.

13. The device according to claim 3, wherein the device also includes a sleeve that is made of a heat-conducting material and is pushable onto the amalgam reservoir.

14. The device according to claim 4, wherein the device also includes a sleeve that is made of a heat-conducting material and is pushable onto the amalgam reservoir.

15. The device according to claim 5, wherein the device also includes a sleeve that is made of a heat-conducting material and is pushable onto the amalgam reservoir.

16. The device according to claim 12, wherein the device also includes a sleeve that is made of a heat-conducting material and is pushable onto the amalgam reservoir.

17. The device according to claim 14, wherein the sleeve is heat-conductively connected to the transformer core.

18. The device according to claim 7, wherein the device also includes a sleeve that is made of a heat-conducting material and is pushable onto the amalgam reservoir.

19. A gas discharge lamp comprising the following components: a cavity filled with a dischargeable gas; two electrodes in the cavity, each having at least one connecting line for conducting a discharge current; a functional area that determines a function of the gas discharge lamp, and that is formed by an amalgam reservoir; and a device for the regulated temperature control of the gas discharge lamp including: a transformer core of a transformer, the transformer core being designed for accommodating at least one discharge current-conducting connecting line of the gas discharge lamp as a primary winding, the transformer forming an energy source for heating a functional area of the gas discharge lamp that determines a function of the gas discharge lamp, and the functional area being formed by an amalgam reservoir; a secondary winding on the transformer core; and a means for temperature control that is used to regulate the energy that heats the amalgam reservoir, the means for temperature control being electrically connected to the secondary winding, wherein at least one of the connecting lines is designed as a primary winding of the transformer.

20. A gas discharge lamp according to claim 19 wherein the means for temperature control is formed bya temperature control electronics system, and also includes a temperature sensor for directly or indirectly measuring the temperature of the amalgam reservoir, the temperature sensor being electronically connected to the temperature control electronics system.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Further advantages, particulars, and refinements of the invention result from the following description of two preferred embodiments of the invention, with reference to the drawings, which show the following:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of a first preferred embodiment of a gas discharge lamp according to the invention; and

(3) FIG. 2shows a schematic illustration of a second preferred embodiment of the gas discharge lamp according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(4) FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of a first preferred embodiment of a gas discharge lamp according to the invention. The gas discharge lamp is formed by a low-pressure mercury vapor lamp, and includes a glass tube 01 in which mercury vapor (not illustrated) is present. The glass tube 01 is closed at its two axial ends. A first electrode 02 is situated at one of the two axial ends of the glass tube 01, while a second electrode 03 is situated at the other of the two axial ends of the glass tube 01. The two electrodes 02, 03 are situated in the interior of the glass tube 01. The first electrode 02 is connected via a first connecting line 04 and via a second connecting line 06. In addition, the second electrode 03 is connected via a first connecting line 07 and via a second connecting line 08. The two connecting lines 04, 06 of the first electrode 02 and the two connecting lines 07, 08 of the second electrode 03 are connected to a ballast 09. The ballast 09 provides a discharge current for operating the gas discharge lamp, which results in the gas discharge and thus, the emission of UV radiation. In addition, in an operation start phase the ballast 09 provides a heating current for heating the two electrodes 02, 03. The currents flowing through the four connecting lines 04, 06, 07, 08 are respectively denoted by reference characters currents I.sub.1, I.sub.2, I.sub.3, I.sub.4 in the illustration.

(5) The two connecting lines 04, 06 of the first electrode 02 are led through a transformer core 11, where they form a first primary winding 12 and a second primary winding 13 of a transformer 14. The transformer 14 also includes a secondary winding 16 on the transformer core 11. The two primary windings 12, 13 have the same winding direction.

(6) The secondary winding 16 feeds a power supply circuit 17 that is used for converting the alternating voltage that is present at the secondary winding 16. The power supply circuit 17 supplies a temperature measurement electronics system 18, a temperature control electronics system 19, and a power controller 21 with electrical energy.

(7) Situated in the glass tube 01 of the gas discharge lamp is an amalgam reservoir 22, in which an amalgam composition (not illustrated) is present. The temperature of the amalgam composition influences the gas discharge in the gas discharge lamp, so that the amalgam reservoir 22 represents a functional area of the gas discharge that influences the function of the gas discharge lamp.

(8) A temperature sensor 23 for measuring the temperature of the amalgam reservoir 22, and an electrical heating element 24 for heating the amalgam reservoir 22, are situated at the amalgam reservoir 22, outside the glass tube 01.

(9) The temperature sensor 23 is electrically connected to the temperature measurement electronics system 18, which in turn is electrically connected to the temperature control electronics system 19, so that a temperature measuring signal is available in the temperature control electronics system 19. The temperature control electronics system 19 is also electrically connected to the power controller 21, via which the electrical heating element 24 receives electrical energy.

(10) FIG. 2 shows a schematic illustration of a second preferred embodiment of the gas discharge lamp according to the invention. This second embodiment is similar to the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1. In contrast to the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the second embodiment does not have the electrical heating element 24 and the power controller 21. Instead, the temperature control electronics system 19 is electrically connected to an electronic switch 26, via which the secondary winding 16 may be short-circuited. Another difference from the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is that the transformer core 11 is heat-conductively connected to the amalgam reservoir 22 via a thermal coupling 27, so that heat generated by the transformer core 11 is partially transferred to the amalgam reservoir 22.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

(11) 01 glass tube 02 first electrode 03 second electrode 04 first connecting line of the first electrode 05 - 06 second connecting line of the first electrode 07 first connecting line of the second electrode 08 second connecting line of the second electrode 09 ballast 10 - 11 transformer core 12 first primary winding 13 second primary winding 14 transformer 15 - 16 secondary winding 17 power supply circuit 18 temperature measurement electronics system 19 temperature control electronics system 20 - 21 power controller 22 amalgam reservoir 23 temperature sensor 24 electrical heating element 25 - 26 electronic switch 27 thermal coupling