Abstract: A fluorescent lamp is identified by supplying an amplitude-modulated lamp current to the lamp and comparing the amplitude of the voltage peak occurring when the amplitude of the lamp current increases steeply with the amplitudes of the voltage peaks of known lamps that are stored in a memory.

Abstract: Fluorescent lamp (1) having a glass discharge vessel (2) in which a gas is present, which discharge vessel (2) is provided with a tubular end portion (3) having a longitudinal axis, which end portion (3) includes a glass stem (5), wherein an exhaust tube (6) extends axially outward from said stem (5) for supplying and/or discharging gases during the production of the lamp (1), wherein an electrode (8) extends axially inward through the stem (5) for maintaining a discharge in the discharge vessel (2), wherein the inwardly disposed end (10) of the electrode (16) is radially surrounded by a shield (15) for intercepting material emitted by the electrode (16), which shield (15) is mounted on an elongate support (16) which extends inward from the stem (5), and wherein said support (16) extends outward through the stem (5) into the exhaust tube (6).

Abstract: Fluorescent lamp (1) comprising a glass discharge vessel (2) in which a gas is present, which discharge vessel (2) is on two sides provided with a tubular end portion (3) having a longitudinal axis, which end portion (3) includes a glass stem (5), wherein an exhaust tube (6) extends axially outwardly from said stem (5) for supplying and/or discharging gases during the production of the lamp (1), wherein an electrode (8) extends axially inwardly through the stem (5) for generating and maintaining a discharge in the discharge vessel (2).

Abstract: Fluorescent lamp (1) comprising a glass discharge vessel (2) in which a gas is present, which discharge vessel (2) is on two sides provided with a tubular end portion (3) having a longitudinal axis, which end portion (3) includes a glass stem (5), wherein an exhaust tube (6) extends axially outwardly from said stem (5) for supplying and/or discharging gases during the production of the lamp (1), wherein an electrode (8) extends axially inwardly through the stem (5) for generating and maintaining a discharge in the discharge vessel (2). The fluorescent lamp (1) is characterised in that it meets at least one of the following equations: 1 ξ = R 1 R 2 + 1 R 3 R 4 + 1 < 0.4 ⁢   ⁢ or α = R 1 R 2 < 0.

Abstract: Fluorescent lamp (1) comprising a glass discharge vessel (2) in which a gas is present, which discharge vessel (2) is provided with a tubular end portion (3) having a longitudinal axis, which end portion (3) includes a glass stem (5), wherein an exhaust tube (6) extends axially outward from said stem (5) for supplying and/or discharging gases during the production of the lamp (1), wherein an electrode (8) extends axially inward through the stem (5) for maintaining a discharge in the discharge vessel (2), wherein the inwardly disposed end (10) of the electrode (16) is radially surrounded by a shield (15) for intercepting material emitted by the electrode (16), which shield (15) is mounted on an elongate support (16) which extends inward from the stem (5), and wherein said support (16) extends outward through the stem (5) into the exhaust tube (6).