Abstract: A piezo ceramic transformer working at a full wave length mode, &lgr;-mode, in accordance with the present invention has a driving region divided into two sections in the center and two generating regions at the end regions of a thin rectangular bar. Two input sections are built into multi-layered structure with multiple internal-electrodes and poled along the thickness direction with polarization in the neighboring layers opposite to each other. Alternating internal electrodes are connected in parallel through two external electrodes in each input section. Polarization in the same layer of two input sections are disposed in the same direction, and two external electrodes of two input sections in the same side of driving region are connected 180 degree out of phase to each other to a driving circuit. Two CCFLs are connected directly to two output electrodes at the end of the piezo ceramic transformer, respectively.

Abstract: The application of a piezoceramic resonator (PR), connected in parallel to a discharge lamp and in series to cathode filaments of a lamp, provides reliable means of preheating of cathode filaments facilitating a soft start of a fluorescent lamp. The piezoceramic resonator is a polarized piezoceramic element formed in a form of rectangular plate, disk, cylinder, etc. The linear size and shape of the PR determine the type of oscillation, electromechanical resonant frequency and frequency characteristics. The PRs with radial, contour or longitudinal oscillations are best suited for application to a piezoelectronic ballast. Piezoceramic resonators and filters as frequency-selective elements in measuring and radio communication instruments are widely used in weak alternating electrical fields, where the intensity of field does not exceed an order of volts per mm.