Gas Discharge Lamp with Planar Electrodes
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Gas discharge lamps with external electrodes, particularly mercury lamps, suffer from a short lifespan due to blacking of the inner discharge tube surface caused by mercury ions reacting with the quartz glass, which is exacerbated by the electric field perpendicular to the surface.
Innovation Solution
The design features a gas discharge lamp with planar disc-shaped electrodes arranged perpendicular to the cylindrical discharge region, reducing the contact area and minimizing blacking, along with a homogeneous magnetic field generated by strategically placed magnets to enhance the Zeeman effect for spectral line separation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of moving object
If ring electrodes are used to surround the cylindrical discharge tube, then the electrode surface area is increased, but the blacking of the discharge tube inner surface is exacerbated and lifespan is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional electrode arrangement by placing planar disc-shaped electrodes at the ends of the cylindrical discharge tube instead of surrounding it with ring electrodes. This inversion changes the electric field geometry from radial to axial, reducing ion impingement on the tube surface and thereby extending lamp lifespan while maintaining adequate electrode surface area for electrical conduction
2Reliability
If ring electrodes clamp the discharge tube, then electrical contact is improved, but the contact area with the discharge tube increases causing more blacking
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the electrode geometry from surrounding ring electrodes to end-mounted planar disc electrodes. This inversion eliminates the clamping contact with the discharge tube entirely, removing the source of blacking while maintaining reliable electrical contact through the planar electrode surfaces positioned axially at the tube ends
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the electrodes from their conventional position surrounding the discharge tube and relocates them to the ends of the tube. This extraction separates the electrical contact function from the discharge maintenance function, allowing reliable electrical contact without the harmful side effect of tube surface blacking
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration significantly increases the lamp's lifespan by more than a factor of six and provides a stable, homogeneous magnetic field for accurate mercury concentration measurement, ensuring clear spectral lines and improved measurement accuracy.
Implementation Method 1
a possible part of the explanation for this long life time is presumably that the electro-magnetic field which is formed between the planar holding section with this specific geometry
Implementation Method 2
the invention also includes a light source surrounding the gas discharge lamp in accordance with the invention, wherein magnets are provided between which a generally homogenous magnetic field can be generated
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a gas discharge lamp with a gas discharge tube having a cylindrical discharge region and having two electrodes which are arranged at an outer side of the gas discharge tube. To achieve an improved gas discharge tube having external electrodes with an increased lifetime it is proposed that each electrode has a planar disc shaped holding section which each have a respective opening and in that the cylindrical discharge region is received in the openings in a shape matched manner, wherein the cylinder axis of the cylindrical discharge region lies perpendicular to the planar holding sections.