 | |
 | |
| |
| |
The LECIP has succeeded in its development of a new product, a flat panel lamp, that generates light from a low-profile source that illuminates over its full surface.
The flat panel discharge element is a thin planar light source an eighth of an inch/3mm in thickness, consisting of two panes of gas filled and sealed with an inert gas; when electrical voltage is applied, its whole exposed surface illuminates. Compared to conventional fluorescent lighting, the flat panel unit has a greater lifespan of on/off cycles, is made with mercury-free and lead-free glass, and lower in environmental impact in its makeup and manufacture.
So far the first stage of the program has been the development a low-profile light unit for automotive use that employs the flat discharge light source, which occupies a thickness of 17 mm once the inverter and housing are included. On the 9th of this month Daihatsu motor co., ltd. contracted with LECIP for the use of the unit as original equipment in its new mini-van model, the high-grade Atre line, as part of the Custom Turbo RS Limited Pack option package.
In creating this new type of low-profile lighting unit LECIP seeks to optimize the limited space in automobile interiors while at the same time reducing the burden on the environment connected with part production, and seeks to cultivate this unit and tailor it to original applications for buses and rail cars as well.
| Flat discharge panel element |
 |
Flat panel unit as developed for auto interior | |
 |
 |
 |
|
| C l i c k a n y i m a g e t o e n l a r g e | |||
| Features | |||
· |
Low profile | The panel lamp source itself is 3mm in thickness. When the housing and inverter are included, the unit occupies 17mm.* | |
| · | High endurance to on/off cycles | There is no internal warm-up electrode, and the endurance to the total number of power-ups is high, withstanding approximately 600,000 power-up cycles.* | |
| · | Responsive to environmental guidelines | Utilizes mercury-free and lead-free glass. | |
| · | Instantaneous startup | Upon power-up, reaches high brightness right away, regardless of changes in the surrounding temperature. | |
| · | Sure starts in freezing weather | The brightness of fluorescent lighting drops along with temperature, but the brightness of the flat panel lamp is stable with temperatures as low as -40°C (which is also -40°F) since it contains no mercury. | |
| · | Illumination color choice | By varying the gas that is injected into the chamber and the coating applied to the glass, aside from daylight white, it is also possible to generate such tones as skylight white and incandescent. | |
| · | Element producible in various forms | Rectangles, circles and geometrics such as star forms and polygonals are possible. | |
| * | Figures shown here are based on an automotive use, 110mm x 150mm unit that is run in a 12V DC setup. Model SL-GA6-1, rated for 12V DC, 10W operation. | ||
 |