[photo-3d] CCFL (was Re: alternative 3D slide viewers)

[Paul Talbot <list_post@xxxxxxxxx>]

Peter Homer wrote:

> I was puzzled as to what was meant by a cold cathode
> light source,

Elliott's viewer uses a "CCFL" or cold cathode fluorescent
light source.  The popular ultra-thin light panels provide
a color-corrected light using CCFL lamps.  I believe Elliott
used JKL components, probably purchased from digikey.com.
Some users have found that the JKL CCFL light tubes do
not provide as bright or "correct" a light as do the
light panels intended for photographic purposes.

CCFL lamps are also used as the lighting source for LCD
panels such as those found on notebook computers.

> I decided to test them with a Geiger counter which is only
> I% efficient for X rays but will give an idea. Of the two
> tested so far the Helium is not to bad with the GM tube held
> as close as possible to the cathode but the Neon goes of the
> scale of 600 counts per second ( and that should be multiplied
> by 100). I am going to inform the person who is using it and
> I suggest people using cold cathode sources in viewers have them
> checked as well. P.J.Homer

Perhaps you could get your hands on a thin light panel, such
as the Cabin or Logan.  (I'm told the Cabin is much more
affordably priced in the U.K. than here in the States),
and test it with the Geiger counter.  Meanwhile, I'll try
sending a question on this topic to the tech folks at the
lamp makers.

BTW, there used to be a CCFL discussion in "Sam's Laser FAQ"
at http://fribble.cie.rpi.edu/~repairfaq/sam/flamp.htm#ioihcl
but the site has moved and I can't find the CCFL discussion
at the new site, or in the google cache.

Hope this helps.

Paul Talbot