US 5,237,241 A · Cold-cathode fluorescent discharge tube

Abstract

A cold-cathode fluorescent discharge tube has a pair of electrodes for performing discharge between the electrodes in response to the application of a voltage therebetween. The fluorescent discharge tube of the invention includes an auxiliary electrode provided in the vicinity of one of the pair of electrodes, and a unit for applying the voltage between the pair of electrodes and between the auxiliary electrode and the one of the electrodes. With the auxiliary electrode, a discharge is firstly started between the auxiliary electrode and the one of the electrodes in response to the application of the voltage between the pair of electrodes. Thereafter, a discharge is started between the pair of electrodes. Thus, the start discharge is generated in the discharge tube in a relatively short period of time even if the discharge tube is set in the off state for a long time, particularly in the dark at a low temperature.

Claims6

Dependent claims

A cold-cathode fluorescent discharge tube for use as a back-light, comprising:

an electrode pair comprising a first electrode and a second electrode;
at least one auxiliary electrode located near said first electrode;
an enclosure for housing said auxiliary electrode and said electrode pair;
means for applying a first voltage across said first electrode and said second electrode and for also applying a second voltage across said first electrode and said auxiliary electrode;
a display, wherein said cold-cathode fluorescent discharge tube is a back-light for said display;
and
wherein, after said applying means applies said first voltage and said second voltage, a first discharge is first initiated across said first electrode and auxiliary electrode and then a second discharge is later initiated across said first electrode and said second electrode;
whereby said display is visible upon the initiation of said first discharge.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Cold-cathode fluorescent discharge tube

Life of this patent

Cold-cathode fluorescent discharge tube

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims6