JP2002050494A - Lighting device for discharge lamp - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent a lighting device for a discharge lamp, which is improved in build up of a lamp flux by an auxiliary amalgam and provided from reduction of the lamp flux between actuation of the auxiliary amalgam and actuation of a main amalgam. SOLUTION: For the lighting device for a discharge lamp, which serves to lighting a discharge lamp 2 by output of a discharge lamp stabilizer 1 to which electric power is supplied from a commercial power supply AC, a stabilizer outputting high-frequency power is used as the discharge lamp stabilizer 1, and a compact type discharge lamp is used as the discharge lamp 2. The discharge lamp stabilizer 1 is equipped with a luminous flux reduction detecting part 17 for detecting reduction of a luminous flux from the discharge lamp 2 by detecting, for example, lamp voltage, and an inverter control circuit 15 controls on/off of a switching element of an inverter circuit 13 according to the detection result of the luminous flux reduction detecting part 17 to change output voltage of the inverter circuit 13 so as to prevent the reduction of the luminous flux.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a discharge lamp lighting apparatus using a discharge lamp in which a control substance of a mercury vapor pressure is sealed as a compatible lamp.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art It is generally known that the luminous flux from a discharge lamp such as a fluorescent lamp depends on the mercury vapor pressure in the discharge lamp. In other words, to maximize the luminous flux from the discharge lamp (to maximize the luminous efficiency of the discharge lamp), it is necessary to set the mercury vapor pressure to an optimum value. Need to be controlled.

[0003] As a technique for controlling the mercury vapor pressure of a discharge lamp, a technique for controlling the coldest point temperature of the discharge lamp is known. This technology uses the fact that the temperature of the discharge lamp tube wall is directly proportional to the logarithmic value of the mercury vapor pressure, and the conventional discharge lamp maximizes the luminous efficiency of the discharge lamp when the ambient temperature is 25 ° C. So the coldest point was designed. That is, when the ambient temperature is 25 ° C., the mercury vapor pressure is controlled to be optimal. In the discharge lamp designed in this manner, the curve (luminous flux curve) representing the change in the luminous efficiency with respect to the ambient temperature becomes convex upward, and the ambient temperature becomes 25 ° C.
The luminous efficiency is maximized when.

However, in a lighting fixture in which the above-described discharge lamp is incorporated into the fixture body, the discharge lamp generates heat, radiates heat from a ballast, and maintains the warming effect of the fixture body. Ambient temperature of 25
° C. In other words, even if the discharge lamp is designed so that the maximum efficiency is obtained when the ambient temperature is 25 ° C. by using the above-described technology for controlling the coldest point temperature, the ambient temperature exceeds 25 ° C. in actual use. As a result, the mercury vapor pressure increases and the luminous efficiency does not reach the maximum efficiency. As a result, the discharge lamp is used in a state where the luminous flux is lower than the maximum value.

[0005] In view of the above, as a technique for suppressing the mercury vapor pressure from becoming excessive in an environment where the ambient temperature of the discharge lamp exceeds 25 ° C. and maximizing the luminous efficiency, amalgam (a mercury vapor pressure controlling substance) is used. Hereinafter, this amalgam is referred to as main amalgam.) Is known in a discharge lamp. Amalgam is a generic term for mercury (Hg) and indium (In) alloys and mercury alloys such as mercury (Hg), indium (In) and bismuth (Bi) alloys. It has the function of melting and adsorbing mercury. Therefore, the mercury released more than necessary in the discharge lamp is adsorbed by the molten main amalgam, and the mercury vapor pressure in the lamp is maintained at an appropriate value over a wide range of ambient temperatures, thereby causing a change in luminous efficiency. Can be reduced.

[0006]

By the way, in a discharge lamp in which main amalgam is sealed, when the temperature of the main amalgam itself rises to an appropriate temperature, the mercury vapor pressure is controlled to an appropriate value by the main amalgam. Even if the discharge lamp is turned on, the temperature of the main amalgam does not rise rapidly, so immediately after lighting the mercury vapor pressure is not controlled to an appropriate value, the time until the lamp luminous flux rises becomes longer, and the ambient temperature of the discharge lamp is low. This phenomenon became more pronounced.

In order to improve the rising characteristics of the lamp luminous flux, a proposal has been made in which an auxiliary amalgam in which a plating layer of indium or the like is formed on a metal surface in the form of a foil, plate or net is provided near the filament electrode. ing. In such a discharge lamp, the auxiliary amalgam captures mercury when turned off, and the mercury captured by the auxiliary amalgam evaporates due to the heat generated by the filament when lit,
Even when the temperature of the main amalgam is low, the mercury vapor pressure in the discharge lamp can be temporarily increased, and the rise of the luminous flux can be improved.

However, the amount of mercury in the lamp becomes excessive due to mercury released from the auxiliary amalgam at the time of lighting, and the mercury vapor pressure becomes higher than an appropriate value. . FIG. 12 shows the lamp luminous flux at the time of lighting when the ambient temperature is 25 ° C. In the period Ta immediately after the lighting, mercury is released from the auxiliary amalgam, so that the rising of the luminous flux is fast, but in the period Tb. The amount of mercury in the lamp becomes excessive due to mercury released from the auxiliary amalgam, and the mercury vapor pressure exceeds an appropriate value, so that the lamp luminous flux is reduced. Thereafter, in the period Tc, the temperature of the main amalgam rises to an appropriate value and melts, and excessive mercury in the lamp is adsorbed by the main amalgam, so that the mercury vapor pressure decreases to an appropriate value and the lamp luminous flux becomes an appropriate value. Will be corrected. In this way, by providing the auxiliary amalgam, although the rising of the luminous flux at the time of lighting could be improved, the phenomenon that the lamp luminous flux temporarily becomes dark for several minutes after the lamp luminous flux once brightens, There is a problem that the light beam curve draws a so-called bathtub curve.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems. It is an object of the present invention to improve the rising of a lamp light beam by an auxiliary amalgam and to operate a main amalgam after the operation of the auxiliary amalgam. An object of the present invention is to provide a discharge lamp lighting device in which a lamp luminous flux is prevented from being lowered before the discharge lamp lighting device is turned on.

[0010]

To achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a discharge lamp in which a mercury vapor pressure control substance for controlling a mercury vapor pressure is sealed, and a lighting circuit for lighting the discharge lamp. And a luminous flux correction unit that corrects a decrease in luminous flux that occurs immediately after the discharge lamp is turned on.In a conventional discharge lamp lighting device, a mercury vapor pressure control substance is enclosed in the discharge lamp. Although the phenomenon that the lamp luminous flux decreases immediately after lighting occurs, since the luminous flux correcting means for correcting the luminous flux decrease is provided, it is possible to realize a discharge lamp lighting device in which a change in the lamp luminous flux is suppressed.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the luminous flux correcting section corrects the luminous flux so as to reduce the reduction width thereof, and has the same effect as the first aspect of the present invention.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the luminous flux correcting section corrects the luminous flux so as to shorten the time during which the luminous flux decreases, and has the same effect as the first aspect of the present invention. .

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first to third aspects of the present invention, a temperature detecting section for detecting any one of the ambient temperature and the coldest point temperature of the discharge lamp is provided, and the luminous flux correcting section includes a temperature detecting section. The correction operation is performed according to the detection result of the detection unit.Since the discharge lamp is designed so that the luminous efficiency is maximized at a predetermined ambient temperature or the coldest temperature, the luminous flux correction unit detects the temperature. By performing the correction operation according to the detection result of the unit, it is possible to realize a discharge lamp lighting device in which the fluctuation of the lamp luminous flux is suppressed.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the first to third aspects of the present invention, the lighting circuit unit supplies power supplied to the discharge lamp during a steady lighting period until a predetermined time elapses after starting the discharge lamp. By increasing the power supplied to the discharge lamp, it is possible to heat the mercury vapor pressure control substance sealed in the discharge lamp. It is possible to suppress a decrease in lamp luminous flux caused by a decrease in the temperature of the vapor pressure control substance.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the first to third aspects of the present invention, the discharge lamp has a filament for preheating, a mercury vapor pressure control substance is arranged near the filament, and the lighting circuit section has: From the start of the discharge lamp to the elapse of a certain time, the preheating current supplied to the filament is increased from that at the time of steady lighting,
By increasing the preheating current supplied to the filament, the filament can be heated and the radiant heat can be used to heat the mercury vapor pressure control substance. As in a conventional discharge lamp lighting device, the temperature of the mercury vapor pressure control substance decreases. It is possible to suppress a decrease in the lamp luminous flux caused by the decrease.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the third aspect of the present invention, the mercury vapor pressure controlling substance is solid at normal temperature, and has a function of melting and adsorbing mercury as the temperature rises.
The luminous flux compensator, even when the discharge lamp is not lit,
It is characterized by comprising temperature correction means for correcting the temperature of the mercury vapor pressure control substance to a temperature at which the mercury vapor pressure can be controlled. Even when the discharge lamp is not lit, the temperature correction means controls the mercury vapor pressure. By controlling the temperature of the substance, the temperature of the mercury vapor pressure control substance can be prevented from lowering, and the discharge lamp is changed from a state in which the temperature of the mercury vapor pressure control substance is set to a temperature at which the mercury vapor pressure can be controlled. Since the lamp can be started, it is possible to suppress a decrease in lamp luminous flux caused by a decrease in the temperature of the mercury vapor pressure control substance as in a conventional discharge lamp lighting device.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the mercury vapor pressure control substance is a first control substance that operates immediately after lighting of the discharge lamp, and a predetermined time has elapsed from immediately after lighting at room temperature. It is characterized by comprising a second control substance that operates at the time, and has the same effect as the first aspect of the present invention.

[0018]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 shows Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
This will be described with reference to FIG. The discharge lamp lighting device of the present embodiment includes:
A discharge lamp 2 is lit by an output of a discharge lamp ballast 1 as a lighting circuit unit to which power is supplied from a commercial power supply AC. As the lamp 2, a compact discharge lamp in which amalgam as a mercury vapor pressure control substance is sealed is used.

The discharge lamp ballast 1 is composed of a diode bridge and is connected to a commercial power supply AC input through a fuse F.
Rectifier circuit 11 for rectifying the AC voltage, a chopper circuit 12 comprising a boost chopper for smoothing the output voltage of the rectifier circuit 11 by switching with a switching element (not shown), and a DC voltage smoothed by the chopper circuit 12 And an inverter circuit (DC-AC) that converts a DC voltage of the smoothing capacitor C1 into a high-frequency AC voltage by switching the DC voltage of the smoothing capacitor C1 with a switching element (not shown).
A chopper circuit 12 by controlling on / off of a switching element of the chopper circuit 12.
A chopper control circuit 14 for changing the output of the discharge lamp 2, a luminous flux reduction detecting unit 17 for detecting a luminous flux reduction of the discharge lamp 2 by detecting a lamp voltage, for example, and a luminous flux reduction detecting unit 17
And an inverter control circuit 15 which controls the on / off of the switching element of the inverter circuit 13 in accordance with the detection result and changes its output. Here, the inverter control circuit 15 and the luminous flux reduction detecting unit 17 constitute a luminous flux correction unit that corrects a reduction in the luminous flux that occurs immediately after the discharge lamp is turned on.

FIG. 2 is a specific circuit diagram of the above-described discharge lamp lighting device, in which the smoothing capacitor C1 of FIG. The inverter circuit 13 includes a series circuit of a pair of switching elements Q1 and Q2 connected between both ends of the DC power supply E, and each of the switching elements Q1 and Q2.
2, diodes D1 and D2 respectively connected in anti-parallel.
The two filaments 23a of the discharge lamp 2 are connected between both ends of the low-side switching element Q2 via a series circuit of a resonance inductor L1 and a DC cut capacitor C4. The power supply terminal 23b is connected. Also,
A resonance capacitor C2 is connected between the non-power-supply-side terminals of both filaments 23a and 23b of the discharge lamp 2. The operation of the inverter circuit 13 is the same as that of a general half-bridge type inverter circuit, and the description thereof is omitted.

Although FIG. 2 shows the discharge lamp 2 as a straight tube for convenience, the discharge lamp 2 used in the present embodiment is a compact type having a shape as shown in FIGS. It is a discharge lamp. Also, the switching element Q
Power transistors and MOS field effect transistors (hereinafter referred to as MOSFETs) can be used as the switching elements Q1 and Q2.
When ET is used, diodes D1 and D2 are constituted by body diodes formed in the MOSFET.

The inverter control circuit 15 is composed of, for example, IR2111 manufactured by International Rectifier Corporation, etc.
1 and Q2 are alternately turned on / off to generate a square wave voltage, and a sinusoidal AC voltage is applied to the discharge lamp 2 by the resonance action of the inductor L1 and the capacitor C2, thereby lighting the discharge lamp 2. In addition, the inverter control circuit 15
Is provided with a determination circuit 16 composed of a microcomputer.

As shown in FIGS. 4 (a) and 4 (b), the discharge lamp 2 has an H-shaped lamp tube 21 in which two straight pipes are bridged by bridges 21a. A base is provided at one end of the tube 21 in the longitudinal direction. The base is a so-called base, and is made of a synthetic resin support base 22a.
, And has a shape in which electrode pins 22b protrude from a surface of the support base 22a opposite to a surface on which the lamp tube 21 protrudes. As shown in FIG. 5, a pair of electrode pins 22 b, 22 b penetrates the end of the lamp tube 21, and protrudes into the lamp tube 21.
The filament 23 is connected between the ends of the “b”. Also,
A main amalgam 25 is stored in a storage portion 24 extending from one end of the lamp tube 21. The opening area of the storage section 24 is narrowed by a solid bar 26 so that the main amalgam 2
5 does not fall out of the storage section 24. An auxiliary amalgam 27 is attached to one of the electrode pins 22b. Here, the lamp tube 21 is formed by bridging the vicinity of the tip of two straight tubes with a bridge 21a.
Since it is formed in the shape of a letter, the coldest point temperature can be controlled by the presence of the bridge 21a, and the mercury vapor pressure can be controlled by the coldest point temperature, the main amalgam 25 and the auxiliary amalgam 27. Has become. However, even in the discharge lamp 2 having such a shape, if the ambient temperature increases, the control of the mercury vapor pressure by the main amalgam 25 becomes dominant.

A specific example of the discharge lamp 2 is as follows.
For high-frequency lighting, the rated power is approximately 32 W, and the optical path length (that is, the length of the light emitting portion between both filaments 23) is 70.
A tube having a diameter of 0 to 900 mm and a tube diameter of 17.5 mm can be used (compact type lamp: FHP3
2).

The luminous flux reduction detecting section 17 is provided with the discharge lamp 2.
And a series circuit of resistors R1 and R1 'connected between the power supply terminals of the two filaments 23a and 23b.
A diode D3 having an anode connected to a connection point 1 'via a capacitor C5, and a parallel circuit of a resistor R3 and a capacitor C3 connected between a cathode of the diode D3 and a negative electrode of the DC power supply E via a resistor R2. And the resistor R2
It is composed of comparators CP1 and CP2 which compare the level of the voltage Va at the connection point of R3 with the reference voltages Vref1 and Vref2, respectively, and detects a decrease in lamp luminous flux from the lamp voltage. Here, FIG. 3A shows the lamp voltage Vla immediately after lighting, and since the characteristic curve of the lamp voltage Vla is substantially the same as the luminous flux curve in FIG. 12, the lamp voltage Vla changes due to the change in the mercury vapor pressure. As a result, it can be said that a so-called bathtub curve is generated in the light flux curve immediately after lighting. Therefore, in this embodiment, a change in the lamp luminous flux is detected by detecting a change in the lamp voltage Vla.

The lamp voltage Vla of the discharge lamp 2 is equal to the resistance R
1, R1 ', the DC component is cut by the capacitor C5, rectified by the diode D3, further divided by the resistors R2, R3, and then the capacitor C3
Is smoothed. The voltage Va across the capacitor C3
Are input to non-inverting input terminals of comparators CP1 and CP2, respectively, and reference voltages Vref1 and Vref2 are applied to inverting input terminals of comparators CP1 and CP2, respectively.

Here, the reference voltage Vref1 inputted to the comparator CP1 is lower than the lamp voltage when the discharge lamp 2 is normally lit (period Tc in FIG. 12) and a bathtub curve occurs (FIG. 12). Is set higher than the lamp voltage in the period Tb). The reference voltage Vref2 input to the comparator CP2 is set to a voltage lower than the ramp voltage when the bathtub curve occurs (Vref2 <Vref1). Thus, if the lamp luminous flux of the discharge lamp 2 has risen to the luminous flux at the time of normal lighting, the voltage Va across the capacitor C3 becomes the reference voltages Vref1, Vref2.
, Both outputs of the comparators CP1 and CP2 become high. On the other hand, when a so-called bathtub curve is generated and the lamp luminous flux is reduced, the voltage Va across the capacitor C3 is lower than that during normal lighting and lower than the reference voltage Vref1, so that the output of the comparator CP1 becomes low and the comparator CP2 becomes low. Only goes high. The outputs of the comparators CP1 and CP2 are input to the discrimination circuit 16, and the discrimination circuit 16 outputs the input signal to the inverter control circuit 15 as it is.

In the inverter control circuit 15, when the outputs of the comparators CP1 and CP2 are both high, the main amalgam 25 controls the mercury vapor pressure to an appropriate value.
It is determined that the lamp luminous flux is controlled to the predetermined value, and the switching operation of switching elements Q1 and Q2 is performed continuously. On the other hand, when only the output of the comparator CP2 becomes high, the inverter control circuit 15 determines that the lamp luminous flux has decreased immediately after lighting, and the switching element Q2
The output of the inverter circuit 13 is changed by changing the switching frequency and the on-duty of Q1 and Q2, and the decrease of the lamp luminous flux is corrected. For example, when the switching elements Q1 and Q2 perform the oscillating operation in the delay region, and the inverter control circuit 15 detects the occurrence of the bathtub curve from the detection result of the light flux decrease detection unit 17, FIG.
As shown in (b), by changing the oscillation frequency of the switching elements Q1 and Q2 to approach the resonance frequency, the power Wla supplied to the discharge lamp 2 is increased by about 10%. When the power Wla supplied to the discharge lamp 2 increases, the temperature of the main amalgam 25 increases and the main amalgam 2
5 promotes the mercury adsorption effect and adsorbs excessive mercury, so that the mercury vapor pressure in the lamp decreases and the supply power Wla is not increased (b in FIG. 6A). 6 (a), the period A during which the lamp luminous flux decreases can be shortened, and the decrease width B of the lamp luminous flux can be reduced, thereby realizing a discharge lamp lighting device in which the fluctuation of the lamp luminous flux is small.

In this embodiment, the lamp voltage is detected to detect a decrease in the lamp luminous flux.
As shown in FIG. 7, a lamp current detecting unit 18 for detecting a lamp current may be provided, and a decrease in lamp luminous flux may be detected from the detection result of the lamp current detecting unit 18. FIG. 3B shows the lamp current Ila immediately after lighting, and the characteristic curve of the lamp current Ila is a curve obtained by inverting the luminous flux curve shown in FIG. It can be said that Ila changes, and as a result, a so-called bathtub curve occurs in the light flux curve immediately after lighting. Thus, the discharge lamp lighting device shown in FIG. 7 detects a decrease in the lamp luminous flux by detecting a change in the lamp current Ila instead of the lamp voltage Vla, and the inverter control circuit 15 uses the same method as described above. Thus, the output of the inverter circuit 13 is changed to prevent a decrease in lamp light flux. The lamp current detector 1
8 can be realized by a conventionally well-known circuit configuration, and a description thereof will be omitted.

In this embodiment, a half-bridge type inverter circuit is used as the inverter circuit 13. However, the configuration of the inverter circuit 13 is not limited to the half-bridge type. An inverter circuit that shares a switching element with the chopper circuit 12 may be used.

Further, in this embodiment, a light flux decrease detecting section 17 for detecting a decrease in lamp light flux is provided.
7, the output of the inverter circuit 13 is changed, but instead of the luminous flux drop detecting section 17, a luminous flux detecting section for detecting a lamp luminous flux of the discharge lamp 2 or an illuminance detecting section for detecting ambient illuminance. May be provided, and the output of the inverter circuit 13 may be changed in accordance with the detection result of the light beam detection unit or the illuminance detection unit. As described above, the occurrence of the bathtub curve is prevented, and the change of the light beam is suppressed. An electric lighting device can be realized.

(Embodiment 2) FIG. 8 shows Embodiment 2 of the present invention.
This will be described with reference to FIG. In the first embodiment, when the inverter control circuit 15 detects a decrease in the lamp luminous flux, the output of the inverter circuit 13 is increased to thereby increase the main amalgam 2.
5, the temperature of the main amalgam 25 is increased by heating the main amalgam 25 from the outside of the discharge lamp 2 to reduce the lamp luminous flux. Restrained. Since the basic configuration of the discharge lamp lighting device is the same as that of the first embodiment, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof will be omitted.

The discharge lamp lighting device of this embodiment turns on the discharge lamp 2 by the output of the discharge lamp ballast 1 supplied with power from the commercial power supply AC. Output lamp, discharge lamp 2
Uses a compact discharge lamp in which main amalgam 25 is sealed. The discharge lamp ballast 1 has a function of applying a starting voltage to the discharge lamp 2 to start the discharge lamp 2,
It has a function of maintaining lighting after the discharge lamp 2 is turned on. Further, the discharge lamp ballast 1 has a function of dimming and lighting the discharge lamp 2, and the discharge lamp ballast 1 controls the discharge lamp 2 in accordance with a dimming signal input from the dimming control unit 1a. The discharge lamp 2 is dimmed and lit by changing the supply power of the discharge lamp 2.

Here, a power supply terminal 3 is provided at a connection portion of the discharge lamp ballast 1 to the commercial power supply AC, and a discharge lamp 2 is connected to a lamp socket 4 connected to an output terminal of the discharge lamp ballast 1.
Is removably connected to. Further, a heater 5 for heating the main amalgam 25 from outside the discharge lamp 2 to increase the temperature of the main amalgam 25, and a luminous flux reduction detecting unit 17 for detecting a decrease in lamp luminous flux by detecting, for example, a lamp voltage. And a heater control unit 5a for controlling the energization of the heater 5 according to the detection result of the light flux decrease detection unit 17. Here, the power supply terminal 3, the discharge lamp ballast 1,
The dimming control unit 1a, the lamp socket 4, the discharge lamp 2, the heater 5, the heater control unit 5a, and the luminous flux drop detecting unit 17 constitute the lighting fixture 6 by being attached to the fixture main body.

The luminous flux drop detecting section 17 has the same configuration as that of the first embodiment.
When detecting a decrease in lamp luminous flux from la, the heater control unit 5a controls energization to the heater 5 according to the detection signal,
The main amalgam 25 inside the discharge lamp 2 is heated by the radiant heat from the heater 5. When the temperature of the main amalgam 25 rises, the mercury adsorption effect of the main amalgam 25 is promoted, and excess mercury is adsorbed. Therefore, compared with the case where the main amalgam 25 is not heated by the heater 5, the inside of the discharge lamp 2 is reduced. The time required for the mercury vapor pressure to reach the steady state is shortened, the time during which the lamp luminous flux decreases (FIG. 12A) can be shortened, and the decrease in the lamp luminous flux (FIG. 12B) can be reduced. . Thus, the occurrence of a bathtub curve can be suppressed, and a discharge lamp lighting device in which the fluctuation of the lamp luminous flux is suppressed can be realized.

(Embodiment 3) In the discharge lamp lighting device of Embodiment 1, the main amalgam 25 is heated by increasing the power Wla supplied to the discharge lamp 2 when the lamp luminous flux is reduced, so that mercury is removed by the main amalgam 25. Although the suction effect is promoted, in the present embodiment, the lamp luminous flux is corrected by increasing the constant preheating current of the discharge lamp 2 when the lamp luminous flux decreases. Since the configuration of the discharge lamp lighting device is the same as that of the first embodiment, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and illustration and description are omitted.

As described in the first embodiment, the main amalgam 25 is stored in the storage portion 24 provided at one end of the lamp tube 21, and the opening of the storage portion 24 is narrowed by the solid rod 26. Since the main amalgam 25 is disposed in the vicinity of the filament 23, the heat generation of the filament 23 can be increased by constantly increasing the preheating current, and the main amalgam 25 can be heated by the radiant heat from the filament 23. Thus, the temperature of the main amalgam 25 rises when the lamp luminous flux decreases immediately after lighting,
Since the mercury adsorption effect of the main amalgam 25 is promoted, excess mercury is adsorbed, and the time required for the mercury vapor pressure in the discharge lamp 2 to reach a steady state becomes shorter as compared with the case where the preheating current is not constantly increased. In addition, the time during which the lamp luminous flux decreases (FIG. 12A) can be shortened, and the reduction width of the lamp luminous flux (FIG. 12B) can be reduced. Further, in the present embodiment, the main amalgam 25 is heated using the radiant heat of the filament 23, and it is necessary to separately provide the heater 5 to heat the main amalgam 25 as in the discharge lamp lighting device of the second embodiment. Therefore, the size and cost of the discharge lamp lighting device can be reduced.

(Embodiment 4) FIG. 9 shows Embodiment 4 of the present invention.
This will be described with reference to FIG. Since the configuration of the discharge lamp lighting device is the same as that of the second embodiment, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and illustration and description are omitted.

By the way, it has been found that the time width (B in FIG. 12) in which the lamp luminous flux is reduced immediately after lighting is longer as the time (left time) since the last time the light is turned off is longer.
This phenomenon occurs because the longer the amount of mercury released from the auxiliary amalgam 27, the longer the time required for the main amalgam 25 to adsorb excess mercury, and the longer it takes to transfer mercury to the main amalgam 25. In order to prevent such a phenomenon, it is necessary not to lower the temperature of the main amalgam 25.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, when the power supplied to the discharge lamp 2 decreases or power is no longer supplied, the main amalgam 25 is heated by radiant heat from the outside. FIGS. 9A and 9B show the heater control unit 5a.
Indicates the timing of heating the heater 5 at time t.
2, the power supplied to the discharge lamp 2 (lamp input) is cut off, and immediately after the discharge lamp 2 is turned off, the temperature of the main amalgam 25 is high. The power (heater input) supplied to the heater 5 by the unit 5a is reduced.
Thereafter, the heater control unit 5a gradually increases the power supplied to the heater 5 according to the elapsed time from when the lamp is turned off, and supplies a substantially constant power to the heater 5 when a predetermined time has elapsed.

As described above, in a state where the discharge lamp 2 is not turned on, the heater control unit 5a controls the energization of the heater 5, and the main amalgam 25 is heated by the heater 5, so that the temperature of the main amalgam 25 decreases. Since the temperature of the main amalgam 25 is corrected to a temperature at which the control operation of the mercury vapor pressure can be performed, the discharge lamp 2 is started with the temperature of the main amalgam 25 constantly raised. Since the lamp can be turned on, the time width during which the lamp luminous flux decreases immediately after lighting can be shortened. Here, the heater 5 and the heater control unit 5
a constitutes a temperature correcting means.

In this embodiment, the main amalgam 25 is heated by the radiant heat of the heater 5 while the lamp is turned off so that the temperature of the main amalgam 25 does not decrease. , The filament 23 of the discharge lamp 2 may be heated, and the main amalgam 25 may be heated by the radiant heat of the filament 23. FIG. 10 is a time chart showing the lamp voltage supplied from the discharge lamp ballast 1 to the discharge lamp 2. When the discharge lamp 2 is turned off, every time a predetermined time elapses,
A period for supplying only the preheating current from the discharge lamp ballast 1 to the discharge lamp 2 is provided.
By passing a preheating current through 3, the filament 23 is heated, and the radiant heat heats the main amalgam 25. Therefore, since the discharge lamp 2 can be started and turned on while the temperature of the main amalgam 25 is constantly raised, the time width during which the lamp luminous flux decreases immediately after lighting can be shortened, and the discharge lamp stabilizer 1 can be used as a human sensor. This is particularly effective when the power supplied to the discharge lamp 2 is turned on / off according to the human body detection signal of the above and the lighting on / off of the discharge lamp 2 is automatically controlled. In addition, a battery is provided inside the discharge lamp ballast 1,
When the discharge lamp 2 is turned off, the discharge lamp ballast 1 may be operated using a battery as a power supply.

Incidentally, the phenomenon that the lamp luminous flux decreases immediately after the discharge lamp is turned on is also affected by seasonal temperature changes. That is, the discharge lamp 2 is often turned off at midnight in applications such as facility lighting, but the ambient temperature when the discharge lamp 2 is turned off is sufficiently high in summer but low in winter. Further, when winter time or summer time is adopted, the time period during which the discharge lamp 2 is turned on changes between winter time and summer time, so that the time during which the discharge lamp 2 is left is also changed. Therefore, when the discharge lamp 2 is turned off, the main amalgam 2
5, the temperature of the main amalgam 25 decreases in winter, and the rise of the lamp luminous flux is delayed.

Therefore, in the discriminating circuit 16 composed of a microcomputer, a program is designed so as to take into account the seasonal changes in the ambient temperature and the light-off time, and the inverter control circuit 1
5 may change the heating operation of the main amalgam 25 when the discharge lamp 2 is turned off in accordance with the output of the determination circuit 16. For example, by increasing the heating amount of the main amalgam 25 when the discharge lamp 2 is turned off in winter, The temperature of the main amalgam 25 is prevented from lowering, and the temperature is controlled so that the control operation of the mercury vapor pressure can be performed, so that the rising characteristics of the lamp luminous flux can be surely improved.

(Embodiment 5) Embodiment 5 of the present invention is shown in FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIG. In the present embodiment, in the discharge lamp lighting device of the first embodiment, a temperature detector 19 for detecting an ambient temperature of the discharge lamp 2 is provided. The temperature detector 1
Configurations other than 9 are the same as those of the first embodiment, and therefore, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof will be omitted.

The temperature detector 19 is a thermocouple, such as a thermocouple, which disposes different kinds of metals in a place where the ambient temperature of the discharge lamp 2 can be detected, and detects an ambient temperature by detecting a potential difference generated between the two metals. Using a simple sensor.

As described in the first embodiment, the inverter control circuit 15 changes the output of the inverter circuit 13 according to the detection result of the luminous flux drop detection unit 17,
Although the reduction of the lamp luminous flux of the discharge lamp 2 is corrected, in the present embodiment, the inverter control circuit 15 performs a correction operation in consideration of the detection result of the temperature detection unit 19.
That is, the inverter control circuit 15
When the detected temperature is high, the correction amount is reduced, and when the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit 19 is low, the correction amount is increased. When the ambient temperature is low, the temperature of the main amalgam 25 is low, and the mercury adsorption effect of the main amalgam 25 is low. Therefore, the inverter control circuit 15 increases the correction amount, so that the lamp luminous flux can be further suppressed from decreasing. .

In this embodiment, a sensor such as a thermocouple is used as the temperature detector 19,
Is not intended to be limited to a thermocouple,
PTC thermistor or NT instead of detecting ambient temperature
The ambient temperature of the discharge lamp 2 may be detected from the component temperature inside the discharge lamp lighting device using a C thermistor.

[0050]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a discharge lamp in which a mercury vapor pressure control substance for controlling a mercury vapor pressure is sealed, lighting means for lighting the discharge lamp, and immediately after lighting of the discharge lamp. The discharge lamp lighting device is characterized in that a mercury vapor pressure control substance is sealed in the discharge lamp, and the phenomenon that the lamp luminous flux is reduced Although this occurs, since the luminous flux correcting means for correcting the reduction of the luminous flux is provided, it is possible to realize a discharge lamp lighting device in which a change in lamp luminous flux is suppressed.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the luminous flux correcting means performs correction so as to reduce a decrease in the luminous flux, and has the same effect as the first aspect of the present invention.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the luminous flux correcting means performs correction so as to shorten the time during which the luminous flux is reduced, and has the same effect as the first aspect of the invention. .

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first to third aspects, the ambient temperature or the coldest point temperature of the discharge lamp is selected from the group consisting of:
Temperature detecting means for detecting any one of the temperatures, wherein the luminous flux correcting means performs a correcting operation in accordance with the detection result of the temperature detecting means, and the ambient temperature or the coldest point of the discharge lamp detected by the temperature detecting means. The lamp luminous flux can be corrected according to the temperature.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the first to third aspects of the present invention, the lighting means increases the power supplied to the discharge lamp from the start of the discharge lamp until a predetermined time has elapsed. By increasing the power supplied to the discharge lamp, it is possible to heat the mercury vapor pressure control substance sealed in the discharge lamp, and to increase the temperature of the mercury vapor pressure control substance as in a conventional discharge lamp lighting device. Can be suppressed from lowering the lamp luminous flux caused by the lowering.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the first to third aspects, the discharge lamp has a preheating filament.
The lighting means is characterized in that the preheating current supplied to the filament is increased from the start of the discharge lamp to the elapse of a predetermined time, and the filament is heated by increasing the preheating current supplied to the filament. ,
The radiant heat can heat the mercury vapor pressure control substance, and can suppress a decrease in lamp luminous flux caused by a decrease in the temperature of the mercury vapor pressure control substance as in a conventional discharge lamp lighting device.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the third aspect of the present invention, a temperature correcting means for correcting the temperature of the mercury vapor pressure control substance to a desired temperature when the discharge lamp is turned off is provided. By turning off the temperature of the mercury vapor pressure control substance to a desired temperature when the light is turned off,
Since the temperature of the mercury vapor pressure control substance can be prevented from lowering while the lamp is turned off, the discharge lamp can be started from a state where the temperature of the mercury vapor pressure control substance is set to a desired temperature. As described above, it is possible to suppress a decrease in lamp luminous flux caused by a decrease in the temperature of the mercury vapor pressure control substance.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the mercury vapor pressure control substance is a first control substance that operates immediately after lighting of the discharge lamp, and a predetermined time has elapsed from immediately after lighting at room temperature. It is characterized by comprising a second control substance that operates at the time, and has the same effect as the first aspect of the present invention.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block circuit diagram of a discharge lamp lighting device according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a specific circuit diagram of the above.

FIG. 3 is a waveform chart illustrating the operation of the above.

FIG. 4 shows an example of a discharge lamp used in the above lamp, and (a)
Is a side view, and (b) is a front view.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a main part of the discharge lamp used in the above.

FIGS. 6A and 6B are explanatory diagrams illustrating the operation of the above.

FIG. 7 is a block circuit diagram showing another discharge lamp lighting device of the above.

FIG. 8 is a block circuit diagram of a discharge lamp lighting device according to a second embodiment.

FIGS. 9A and 9B are explanatory diagrams illustrating the operation of the discharge lamp lighting device according to the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a time chart for explaining the above operation.

FIG. 11 is a block circuit diagram of a discharge lamp lighting device according to a fifth embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a waveform diagram illustrating an operation of a conventional discharge lamp lighting device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Discharge lamp stabilizer 2 Discharge lamp 13 Inverter circuit 15 Inverter control circuit 17 Luminous flux drop detection part AC commercial power supply

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on front page F term (reference) 3K072 AA02 AA07 BA03 BA05 DA04 DB03 DD04 DE01 DE02 DE04 DE06 EB04 GA01 GA03 GB01 GB12 GC04 HA06 HA10 3K082 AA03 AA08 AA20 AA61 BA05 BA24 BA25 BA31 BA58 BC27 BD03 BD13 BD14 BD11 CA37 FA03

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A discharge lamp filled with a mercury vapor pressure control substance for controlling a mercury vapor pressure, a lighting circuit for lighting the discharge lamp, and a luminous flux correction for correcting a decrease in luminous flux generated immediately after the discharge lamp is lit. And a discharge lamp lighting device. 2. The discharge lamp lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the luminous flux correcting section corrects the luminous flux so as to reduce the reduction width. 3. The discharge lamp lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the luminous flux correcting section corrects the luminous flux so as to shorten the time during which the luminous flux is reduced. 4. A temperature detecting section for detecting any one of the ambient temperature and the coldest point temperature of the discharge lamp, and the luminous flux correcting section performs a correcting operation according to the detection result of the temperature detecting section. The discharge lamp lighting device according to claim 1, wherein: 5. The lighting circuit unit according to claim 1, wherein the power supplied to the discharge lamp is increased from the time of steady lighting until a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of the discharge lamp. The discharge lamp lighting device as described in the above. 6. A discharge lamp has a filament for preheating, a mercury vapor pressure control substance is arranged near the filament, and a lighting circuit unit operates until a predetermined time elapses after starting the discharge lamp. The discharge lamp lighting device according to claim 1, wherein a preheating current supplied to the filament is increased during steady lighting. 7. The mercury vapor pressure control substance is solid at room temperature, has a function of melting and adsorbing mercury as the temperature rises, and the luminous flux compensating unit operates even when the discharge lamp is not turned on. 4. The discharge lamp lighting device according to claim 3, further comprising temperature correction means for correcting the temperature of the mercury vapor pressure control substance to a temperature at which a control operation of the mercury vapor pressure can be performed. 8. A mercury vapor pressure control substance comprising a first control substance which operates immediately after lighting of a discharge lamp and a second control substance which operates when a predetermined time has elapsed from immediately after lighting at room temperature. The discharge lamp lighting device according to claim 1, wherein: