Gas discharge device and flat light source using the same, and driving method therefor

A gas discharge device for ultraviolet light emission including a plurality of gas discharge tubes arranged in parallel, each of the gas discharge tubes serving as a unit light-emitting source comprising:

• a transparent thin glass tube filled with discharge gas and having a front side surface and a back side flat surface facing each other in a transverse section;
• and first and second electrodes provided outside of the back side flat surface, each of the first and second electrodes including:
• trigger electrode portions constituting a trigger discharge portion interposed between adjacent ends of them;
• and main electrode portions extend in a direction of being away each other from the trigger discharge portion along a longitudinal direction of the glass tube, wherein the first and second electrodes of the gas discharge tubes are respectively electrically connected in common,
• wherein the gas discharge tube comprises a borosilicate glass having a thickness of 300 μm or less at the front side surface serving as a light-emitting surface, and further comprises an ultraviolet light-emitting phosphor layer provided on an inside at the back side flat surface.

A flat light source for ultraviolet light emission comprising:

• a plurality of gas discharge tubes, each of the gas discharge tubes filled with discharge gas and having a front side flat surface and a back side flat surface facing each other on a transverse section thereof, and providing an ultraviolet light-emitting phosphor layer on an inner surface at the back side flat surface;
• and an insulating film commonly supporting the back side flat surfaces of the plurality of gas discharge tubes arranged in parallel, wherein
• the insulating film includes first and second electrode sheets commonly facing the back side flat surface of each discharge tube, the first and second electrode sheets having a common electrode pattern which includes:
• a pair of trigger electrode portions constituting a trigger discharge portion interposed between adjacent ends of them;
• and main electrode portions extending in a direction of being away each other from the trigger discharge portion along a longitudinal direction of the gas discharge tube,
• wherein the gas discharge tube comprises a borosilicate glass having a thickness of 300 μm or less at the front side surface serving as a light-emitting surface.

A flat light source for ultraviolet emission comprising:

• a plurality of gas discharge tubes each of which is filled with discharge gas and having a front side and a back side flat surface facing each other on a transverse section thereof;
• an ultraviolet light-emitting phosphor layer on an inner surface at the back side flat surface;
• an insulating support commonly supporting the back side flat surfaces of said plurality of gas discharge tubes arranged in parallel;
• and first and second electrodes commonly facing the back side flat surface of each gas discharge tube on the insulating support with a pattern extending to either side with a gap constituting a trigger discharge portion in each gas discharge tube,
• wherein the gas discharge tube comprises a borosilicate glass having a thickness of 300 μm or less at the front side serving as a light-emitting surface.