Abstract: A fluorescent lamp includes a glass envelope having a sealed end portion, a base shell member of a cup-shape configuration adapted to engage the envelope end portion, and a collar of shrink wrap material disposed around the envelope end portion and sides of the base shell member, the shrink wrap material being shrunken and compressing against the envelope end portion and the base shell member, to fix the base shell member on the envelope end portion.

Abstract: In a lighting system which includes an electronic operating device and a gas discharge lamp with filaments, one filament terminal is respectively connected to an impedance network. The impedance network has an impedance function with a zero point at the frequency f1. For preheating purposes, the electronic operating device outputs a voltage whose frequency is close to the frequency f1. As a result, the voltage across the lamp is below the non-starting voltage during preheating.

Abstract: An amalgam assembly for a fluorescent lamp includes a glass exhaust tubulation extending from an envelope portion of the lamp toward a base portion of the lamp, the tubulation being closed at an end adjacent the lamp base portion, and a glass body disposed in the tubulation and retained by a pinched portion of the tubulation, the glass body being disposed between the pinched portion and the closed end of the tubulation. A mercury amalgam body is disposed between the glass body and the closed end of the tubulation. A mercury wetting metallic layer is disposed on a selected one of (i) an inside surface of the tubulation between the pinched portion and the closed end of the tubulation, and (ii) a surface of the glass body whereby to a wet at least one of (i) the interior surface of the glass tubulation and (ii) the surface of the glass body, to prevent the amalgam, when liquidized, from flowing past the tubulation pinched portion and into the lamp envelope.

Abstract: A highly loaded fluorescent lamp (10) (FIG. 1) comprises a hollow, translucent glass body (12) containing a medium capable of generating at least several wavelengths of UV radiation. A plurality of phosphors is disposed on the inside surface of the glass body (12), the plurality of phosphors visible radiation upon exposure to the UV radiation. At least one of the plurality of phosphors is subject to degradation upon lone-term exposure to one of the at least one of several wavelengths of UV radiation. The at least one of the plurality of phosphors subject to degradation is installed (FIG. 12) adjacent the inside surface (14) of the glass body (12) to form a first layer (16); and the remainder of the plurality of phosphors is disposed on the first layer to form a second layer (18), the second layer not being subject to long-term degradation upon exposure to the UV radiation.

Abstract: Disconnection device for an electronic operating device for gas discharge lamps. The filament breakage of a lamp is evaluated by detecting the current through a component which flows through the filaments. This is performed either by detecting this current with the aid of an optocoupler or by measuring the phase of the load circuit current.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for capping an electric lamp which has a lamp cap with at least one thermoplastic synthetic cap part (21). In particular, the invention relates to a method for cementless capping of a compact fluorescent lamp. According to the invention, the lamp vessel (1) is sealed with the aid of the thermoplastic synthetic cap part (21) by heating sections (101, 102) of the lamp vessel (1) above the softening point and preferably above the melting point of the thermoplastic, and introducing them into constricted cutouts (210) in the thermoplastic synthetic cap part (21). The heated lamp vessel sections (101, 102) soften or melt and displace the synthetic material in the region of the constricted cutouts (210). The lamp vessel (1) is embedded in the set synthetic in a self-closed fashion after the polymer melt has been allowed to set.

Abstract: An electronic ballast circuit (FIG. 1) includes a voltage-regulated DC power source and an H-bridge having a plurality of transistors (Q5, Q6, Q7, Q8). The circuit operates a high intensity discharge lamp (50). A regulating circuit electrically connected to the transistors regulates the peak current flowing through the H-bridge by discharging a parasitic capacitance (C parasitic).

Abstract: A method for inhibiting the leaching of mercury from a mercury vapor discharge lamp wherein at least a part of the mercury is present as ionic mercury includes depositing a coating of SnO2 on an interior surface of the lamp envelope. The SnO2 coating is substantially free of a substance which would cause electrical conductivity of the coating. Further included within the lamp is a quantity of oxidizable iron in an amount equal to at least 1 gram per kilogram of lamp weight.

Abstract: An inductively-coupled, electrodeless fluorescent lamp comprises a lamp body having two opposed sides; an induction coil on one side of said body; and a magnetically transparent electrostatic shield interposed between said induction coil and said one side of said body, said shield comprising an insulating substrate; an electrically conductive layer on said substrate including means for reducing capacitive coupling between a voltage on said induction coil and a plasma discharge within said lamp body, said electrically conductive layer having a thickness between 400 Å and 1000 Å, inclusive.

Abstract: A mercury capsule for use in a fluorescent lamp comprises a shell defining a chamber and a bore extending through the shell. A body of mercury is disposed in the chamber. A plug is disposed in the bore to seal the bore. The plug exhibits a melting point reached in manufacture of the fluorescent lamp, to melt from the bore to open an exit passageway for the mercury. A method for making the capsule is provided.

Abstract: A compact low-pressure discharge lamp (1) includes a discharge vessel (3) with electrodes and power supply leads (7), a discharge vessel mount (5) and a cap (12) which has a housing (13), connecting contacts (14) and a mounting plate (15) with a ballast apparatus (16), with the mounting plate (15) being fitted with the ballast arrangement (16) in the interior of the cap housing (13), and having connections for electrical connection of the mounting plate (15) to the power supply leads (7) and to the connecting contacts (14). The discharge vessel mount (5) has an essentially H-shaped cross section and includes a plate (4) with collars (9, 18) running on the edge of each side of the plate. Both the housing (13) of the cap (12) and the cover part, which is in the form of an enveloping bulb (2), a reflector or a closure cap, are mounted on this H-shaped discharge vessel mount (5).

Abstract: An apparatus and method to implement an electronic ballast for a high intensity discharge lamp having AC lamp current centered at approximately 300 kHz minimizes the ballast cost and utilizes modulation of the lamp current to avoid acoustic resonance. In order to minimize the number of additional components providing the modulation function, the ripple voltage produced by PFC circuit is fed through a capacitor to a FREQUENCY SET input of an inverter controller. The value of the capacitor can be chosen to produce the desired modulation range.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a self-locking circuit arrangement having an input voltage connection for applying an input voltage (UE), an output voltage connection for providing an output voltage (UA), a supply voltage connection for connecting a supply voltage (UV), a first switching element (T1) having a first and a second output connection and a control connection, a second switching element (T2) having a first and a second output connection and a control connection, where the first output connection of the first switching element (T1) is connected to the output voltage connection, the second output connection of the first switching element (T1) is connected to a reference-ground potential, the first output connection of the second switching element (T2) and also the control connection of the first switching element (T1) are connected to the input voltage connection, the second output connection of the second switching element (T2) is connected to the reference-ground potential, and the control connect

Abstract: To ensure reliable electric contact, a discharge lamp has a tubular lamp vessel (1), a lamp base (4) and lamp electrodes (2, 3) which are applied to the wall of the lamp vessel (1) and in each case have an electrode section (20, 30) which is arranged outside the interior (11) of the lamp vessel (1) and serves as supply lead. The electric base contacts (5, 6) are connected in each case to an electrically conductive spring element (8, 9), each spring element (8, 9) bearing against the wall of the at least one tubular lamp vessel (1) and making an electric contact between in each case one electrode section (20, 30), arranged outside the lamp vessel (1), and a base contact (5, 6).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a discharge lamp, which is preferably designed for dielectric barrier discharges. The innovation is that a frame is used in order to set, and secure in its position, an electrode running at a distance from the vessel faces in the discharge vessel of the discharge lamp. This frame is simultaneously used as an exhaust tube.

Abstract: The discharge spacings in discharge lamps for dielectrically impeded discharges are shortened below 3 mm, as a result of which dead times of pulsed active-power injecting can be increased so strongly, for example beyond 50 ms, that the dimming properties of the discharge lamp are greatly improved.

Abstract: The compact low-pressure discharge lamp (1) has a wound tubular discharge vessel (2) with at least four straight tubes (6, 7) which are in a polygonal arrangement and, close to or at the ends of the straight tubes (6, 7), are connected by transverse connections (8, 10, 11) to form a single continuous discharge path which is closed off in a gastight manner. A coil spring (14) made from metal, which runs parallel to the tubes (6, 7) is arranged in the center of the cylindrical cavity (13) formed by the straight tubes (6, 7) of the discharge vessel (2). The coil spring (14) reduces the firing voltage required.

Abstract: A mount for a fluorescent lamp has a glass base, a longitudinal electrode coil mounted upon lead-in wires extending from the base, and a shield mounted upon the base. The shield comprises a pair of spaced apart shield plates, one on either side of the electrode coil and spaced therefrom.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a synchronous rectifier circuit having a transformer (Ü) in single-phase center-tap connection. MOSFETs containing a body diode are used as switches. The MOSFETs are connected up in such a way that a current flows only from source to drain. The channel of the MOSFETs is always switched on if current would flow through the body diode.