(19)
(11) EP 0 407 160 A3

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88) Date of publication A3:
31.07.1991 Bulletin 1991/31

(43) Date of publication A2:
09.01.1991 Bulletin 1991/02

(21) Application number: 90307289.0

(22) Date of filing: 04.07.1990
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)5: H01J 65/04, H01J 61/12
(84) Designated Contracting States:
BE DE FR GB IT NL

(30) Priority: 07.07.1989 GB 8915611

(71) Applicant: GE LIGHTING LIMITED
Enfield, Middlesex EN1 1SB (GB)

(72) Inventors:
  • Greb, Ulrich
    Cossington, Leicester, LE7 8UT (GB)
  • Mucklejohn, Stuart Albert
    Wigston, Magna, Leicestershire (GB)
  • Wharmby, David Osborn
    Leicestershire LE11 2BE (GB)

(74) Representative: Pratt, Richard Wilson et al
London Patent Operation G.E. Technical Services Co. Inc. Essex House 12/13 Essex Street
London WC2R 3AA
London WC2R 3AA (GB)


(56) References cited: : 
   
       


    (54) A discharge tube arrangement


    (57) A method of generating visible light from a discharge tube (20) having walls made of a light-transmissive dielectric material. The discharge tube containing a fill (24) comprising at least one compound selected from a group consisting of metal halides and metal oxyhalides. The method comprises the step of applying a radio frequency electric field over a part of a wall of the discharge tube at a power sufficient to excite a surface wave in the fill, whereby the fill is excited to generate visible light.







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