Abstract: A dimmer fixture has a ballast board 10, a main board 40 and switch 70. The ballast board and main board have no inductors so the fixture may be used for fluorescent and incandescent lamps. The ballast board 10 has two bridge circuits 14, 16 and two dc voltage regulators. A delay circuit 24 prevents the VCO 26 for operating for long enough to allow fluorescent lamps to warm up. The main board has four power MOSFETS or IGBTs. One of devices Q1 and Q2 is always on. One of devices Q3, Q4 completes the drive to the lamps. Control signals on ballast board 10 operate the power devices Q1-Q4.

Abstract: A compact fluorescent lamp including a housing for enclosing a ballast and, optionally, a starter; a fluorescent light tube attached to the housing and electrically connected to the ballast; and a base electrically connected to the ballast and physically attached to the housing for connecting the lamp to an electrical receptacle. The housing is provided at an upper edge thereof with male or female mating elements, for example, threads, tabs, or slots. The lamp further includes a translucent cover or shroud for surrounding the fluorescent tube, having a closed form and being open at an end thereof, and being provided at the open end with male or female mating elements cooperative with the mating elements on the housing to directly, positively, and detachably attach the cover to the housing.