1. A cold cathode gas discharge device, said device comprising:
a light source comprising at least one cold cathode fluorescent lamp having an elongated shape for supplying light;
a lamp support pole having a surface, wherein said cold cathode fluorescent lamp is attached to the surface at a plurality of locations along its length so that the lamp is substantially fixed in position relative to the surface; and
an electrical connector electrically connected to the lamp and supplying power to the lamp.
2. The device of claim 1, said at least one lamp having a spiral shape.
3. The device of claim 2, said at least one lamp being in the shape of one or more coils.
4. The device of claim 2, said at least one lamp surrounding the lamp support pole.
5. The device of claim 2, said at least one lamp having two ends and two electrodes at its two ends, said electrodes oriented along direction of the spiral shape of the at least one lamp.
6. The device of claim 2, said device having an axis, said at least one lamp having two ends and two electrodes at its two ends, said electrodes oriented along the axis of the device.
7. The device of claim 1, said at least one lamp having two ends and two electrodes at its two ends, said two ends having cross sectional dimensions that are larger than at least another portion of the at least one lamp to accommodate electrodes that are larger than the dimensions of such portion.
8. The device of claim 1, said lamp support pole having a shape that is substantially spherical, hemi-spherical, cylindrical, pyramidal, conical, cubical, ellipsoidal in shape or in the shape of a candle-flame or plate, an elongated stem with a round end or one having an elliptical or circular cross section.
9. The device of claim 1, wherein said lamp support pole comprises a glass, plastic, ceramic or metallic material.
10. The device of claim 1, further comprising an adhesive attaching said at least one cold cathode fluorescent lamp to the surface at a plurality of locations along its length, said adhesive comprising a material that is stable and retains its function as an adhesive when exposed to UV radiation or heat.
11. The device of claim 1, wherein said at least one cold cathode fluorescent lamp comprises an envelope having a wall that is about 0.2 to 3 mm in thickness.
12. The device of claim 1, wherein said lamp support comprises an elongated pole, and said at least one lamp surrounds said pole, said lamp support and said at least one lamp forming a straight cold cathode lamp.
13. The device of claim 1, wherein said lamp driver includes an ACAC or DCAC inverter.
14. The device of claim 1, wherein said lamp driver includes a high voltage transformer, andor a fuse andor an inductor.
15. A cold cathode gas discharge device, said device comprising:
a light source comprising at least one cold cathode fluorescent lamp for supplying light;
a lamp support having a surface, wherein said at least one cold cathode fluorescent lamp is attached to the surface at a plurality of locations along its length so that the lamp is substantially fixed in position relative to the surface; and
a driver supplying power to the at least one lamp to cause it to emit light;
an electrical connector electrically connected to the driver supplying power to the driver; and
a housing for the driver, said housing mechanically connecting the lamp support and the connector to form a substantially rigid structure.
16. The device of claim 15, wherein said at least one cold cathode fluorescent lamp is an elongated and having a shape that matches said surface of the lamp support.
17. The device of claim 15, wherein said lamp support comprises a pole.
18. The device of claim 15, wherein said lamp support has a groove or indentation which is shaped to accommodate said at least one lamp.
19. The device of claim 15, wherein said lamp support has an open or closed end.
20. The device of claim 15, wherein said lamp support comprises a glass, plastic, ceramic or metallic material.
21. The device of claim 15, wherein said housing comprises a reflective layer facing the at least one lamp.
22. The device of claim 15, wherein said at least one lamp is separated from said driver and housing by an air gap to reduce heat transfer from said at least one lamp to said driver.
23. The device of claim 15, wherein said housing having a wall facing said at least one lamp, said wall having one or more holes therein to facilitate air movement for removing heat generated by said at least one lamp.
24. The device of claim 15, further comprising an adhesive attaching said at least one cold cathode fluorescent lamp to the surface at a plurality of locations along its length, said adhesive comprising a material that is stable and retains its function as an adhesive when exposed to UV radiation or heat.
25. The device of claim 15, wherein said lamp support comprises an elongated pole, and said at least one lamp surrounds said pole, said lamp support and said at least one lamp forming a straight cold cathode lamp.
26. The device of claim 15, wherein said lamp driver includes an ACAC or DCAC inverter.
27. The device of claim 15, wherein said lamp driver includes a high voltage transformer, andor a fuse andor an inductor.
28. A cold cathode gas discharge device, said device comprising:
a light source comprising at least one cold cathode fluorescent lamp for supplying light;
a lamp support having a surface, wherein said at least one cold cathode fluorescent lamp is attached to the surface at a plurality of locations along its length so that the lamp is substantially fixed in position relative to the surface; and
a driver supplying power to the at least one lamp to cause it to emit light;
an electrical connector electrically connected to the driver supplying power to the driver;
a housing for the driver; and
a container containing said at least one lamp, said housing mechanically connecting the lamp support, the container and the connector to form a substantially rigid structure.
29. The device of claim 28, wherein said container comprises glass or plastic, has a shape of a conventional lamp, and is translucent or transparent to light from said at least one lamp.
30. The device of claim 28, wherein said container passes only light of a selected color from said at least one lamp.
31. The device of claim 28, wherein said housing comprises a reflective layer facing the at least one lamp.
32. The device of claim 28, wherein said container is close ended and totally encloses the cold cathode fluorescent lamp.
33. The device of claim 28, wherein said container is open ended and does not totally enclose the cold cathode fluorescent lamp.
34. The device of claim 28, wherein said container comprises a reflective layer that conforms to shape of a conventional MR-16, R20, R24, R30, R40 or R50 type reflector lamp.
35. The device of claim 28, wherein said container comprises a reflective layer that has holes therein for air to pass through to help heat dissipation of the lamp.
36. The device of claim 28, wherein said container comprises a glass, plastic or metallic material.
37. The device of claim 28, wherein said driver includes an ACAC or DCAC inverter.
38. The device of claim 28, wherein said driver includes a high voltage transformer, andor a fuse andor an inductor.
39. A cold cathode gas discharge device, said device comprising:
a light source comprising at least one cold cathode fluorescent lamp having a predetermined shape for supplying light;
a lamp support attached to and supporting the cold cathode fluorescent lamp so that the cold cathode fluorescent lamp has said predetermined shape; and
an electrical connector electrically connected to the lamp and supplying power to the lamp.
40. The device of claim 39, said electrical connector mechanically connected to the lamp support to form a substantially rigid structure.
41. The device of claim 39, further comprising:
a driver supplying power to the at least one cold cathode fluorescent lamp to cause it to emit light; and
a housing for the driver, said housing mechanically connecting the lamp support and the connector to form a substantially rigid structure.
42. The device of claim 39, said lamp being elongated, said device further comprising an adhesive attaching said at least one cold cathode fluorescent lamp to the surface at a plurality of locations along its length, said adhesive comprising a material that is stable and retains its function as an adhesive when exposed to UV radiation or heat.
43. The device of claim 42, said plurality of locations surrounding the lamp support so that the light source has said predetermined shape.
44. The device of claim 39, said lamp being in the shape of a coil that surrounds the lamp support.
45. The device of claim 39, wherein said predetermined shape for supplying light is substantially spherical, hemi-spherical, spiral, cylindrical, pyramidal, conical, cubical, ellipsoidal in shape or in the shape of a candle-flame or plate.
46. The device of claim 39, wherein said driver includes an ACAC or DCAC inverter.
47. The device of claim 39, wherein said driver includes a high voltage transformer, andor a fuse andor an inductor.
48. The device of claim 39, said device having a predetermined shape, the lamp support attached to and supporting the light source at a plurality of locations surrounding the lamp support so that the light source has said predetermined shape.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
What is claimed is:
1. An electrode for an alkaline storage battery comprising:
an electrode substrate; and
an active material layer formed on the electrode substrate the active material layer containing an active material and a binder as a main component,
wherein said active material layer contains thermosetting xylene-formaldehyde resin.
2. An electrode for an alkaline storage battery according to claim 1, wherein said thermosetting xylene-formaldehyde resin is alkylphenyl-modified xylene-formaldehyde resin.
3. An electrode for an alkaline storage battery according to claim 1, wherein said active material has a particle diameter within a range of 20-100 m.
4. An electrode for an alkaline storage battery according to claim 1, wherein said active material is a hydrogen storage alloy capable of reversibly making electro-chemical absorption or desorption of hydrogen.
5. An electrode for an alkaline storage battery according to claim 1, wherein a layer of said thermoplastic xylene-formaldehyde resin covers the outside of said active material layer.
6. An electrode for an alkaline storage battery according to claim 1, wherein said thermoplastic xylene-formaldehyde resin is contained in a boundary between said active material layer and said electrode substrate.
7. An electrode for an alkaline storage battery according to claim 1, wherein said thermoplastic xylene-formaldehyde resin is contained in said active material layer.
8. A method of manufacturing an alkaline storage battery by applying an active material slurry containing an active material and a binding agent as a main component to an electrode substrate, comprising the steps of:
mixing said active material and an aqueous binder or aqueous emulsion binder to create active material slurry;
applying or filling the active material slurry to or in an electrode substrate and drying the electrode substrate; and
immersing the electrode substrate in a solution with thermoplastic xylene-formaldehyde resin dissolved in organic solvent and drying it.
9. A method of manufacturing an alkaline storage battery according to claim 8, wherein said thermosetting xylene-formaldehyde resin is alkylphenyl-modified xylene-formaldehyde resin.
10. A method of manufacturing an electrode for an alkaline storage battery according to claim 8, wherein said active material is a hydrogen storage alloy capable of reversibly making electro-chemical absorption or desorption of hydrogen.
11. A method of manufacturing an alkaline storage battery by applying an active material slurry containing an active material and a binding agent as a main component to an electrode substrate, comprising the steps of:
mixing an active material and an aqueous binder or aqueous emulsion binder to create active material slurry; applying or filling the active material slurry to or in an electrode substrate and drying the electrode substrate;
emulsifying a solution of thermoplastic xylene-formaldehyde resin dissolved in an organic solvent to create an emulsion of the thermoplastic xylene-formaldehyde resin; and
immersing the electrode substrate in the emulsion of the thermoplastic xylene-formaldehyde resin and drying it.
12. A method of manufacturing an alkaline storage battery according to claim 11, wherein said thermosetting xylene-formaldehyde resin is alkylphenyl-modified xylene-formaldehyde resin.
13. A method of manufacturing an electrode for an alkaline storage battery according to claim 11, wherein said active material is a hydrogen storage alloy capable of reversibly making electro-chemical absorption or desorption of hydrogen.
14. A method of manufacturing an alkaline storage battery by applying an active material slurry containing an active material and a binding agent as a main component to an electrode substrate, comprising the steps of:
emulsifying a solution of thermoplastic xylene-formaldehyde resin dissolved in an organic solvent to create an emulsion of the thermoplastic xylene-formaldehyde resin; mixing said active material and the emulsion of the thermoplastic xylene-formaldehyde resin to create active material slurry; and
applying or filling the active material slurry to or in an electrode substrate and drying the electrode substrate.
15. A method of manufacturing an alkaline storage battery according to claim 14, wherein said thermosetting xylene-formaldehyde resin is alkylphenyl-modified xylene-formaldehyde resin.
16. A method of manufacturing an electrode for an alkaline storage battery according to claim 14, wherein said active material is a hydrogen storage alloy capable of reversibly making electro-chemical absorption or desorption of hydrogen.
17. A method of manufacturing an alkaline storage battery by applying an active material slurry containing an active material and a binding agent as a main component to an electrode substrate, comprising the steps of:
applying a solution of thermoplastic xylene-formaldehyde resin dissolved in an organic solvent to said electrode substrate and drying it; and
applying said active material slurry to said electrode substrate to which the solution of thermoplastic xylene-formaldehyde resin has been applied.
18. A method of manufacturing an alkaline storage battery according to claim 17, wherein said thermosetting xylene-formaldehyde resin is alkylphenyl-modified xylene-formaldehyde resin.
19. A method of manufacturing an electrode for an alkaline storage battery according to claim 17, wherein said active material is a hydrogen storage alloy capable of reversibly making electro-chemical absorption or desorption of hydrogen.
20. A method of manufacturing an alkaline storage battery by applying an active material slurry containing an active material and a binding agent as a main component to an electrode substrate, comprising the steps of:
emulsifying a solution of thermoplastic xylene-formaldehyde resin dissolved in an organic solvent to create an emulsion of the thermoplastic xylene-formaldehyde resin;
applying said emulsion of the thermoplastic xylene-formaldehyde resin to the electrode substrate and drying it; and
applying said active material slurry to the electrode substrate to which the emulsion of thermoplastic xylene-formaldehyde resin has been applied and drying it.
21. A method of manufacturing an alkaline storage battery according to claim 20, wherein said thermosetting xylene-formaldehyde resin is alkylphenyl-modified xylene-formaldehyde resin.
22. A method of manufacturing an electrode for an alkaline storage battery according to claim 20, wherein said active material is a hydrogen storage alloy capable of reversibly making electro-chemical absorption or desorption of hydrogen.