Abstract: To decrease a power consumption of a fluorescent lamp, the fluorescent lamp is provided with a high efficiency fluorescent coating, generating more light upon receipt of a conventional amount of radiation. Decreasing the power supplied to the lamp decreases the radiation supplied to the fluorescent coating and thus the light output of the lamp. Due to the increased light output of the fluorescent coating, the light output level of the fluorescent lamp may be kept substantially equal to a light output level of a conventional lamp.

Abstract: Method of driving a high-pressure gas discharge lamp during its steady-state operation, wherein a steady-state current signal is sent through the lamp for maintaining a discharge arc in the lamp, comprising the step of comparing the lamp conductivity response to a current step in said current signal with reference parameters; and in response to said comparison at least one of the following steps: stopping the current supply to the lamp, generating a signal indicating the end-of-life status of the lamp, changing the steady-state current through the lamp, changing the steady-state waveform of the current signal through the lamp, and generating a signal indicating the lamp type, wherein said current step is obtained by sending a current pulse which is superimposed on said steady-state current signal through the lamp.

Abstract: A halogen incandescent lamp has a transparent sealed bulb, a gas filling comprising an inert gas and a halogen additive, a luminous element which is attached to a current supply system extending in a pinched portion of the bulb, and a mount extending from at least adjacent the outside of the pinched portion into the bulb and comprising at least one metal support wire which retains the luminous element in the vicinity of the end of the bulb remote from the pinched portion. The mount has a non-conducting part such that the outer end of the part of the mount at or near the outside of the pinched portion and the support wire are electrically insulated from each other.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of operating a self-stabilizing discharge lamp provided with a discharge tube which is filled with sodium and xenon.According to the invention the discharge lamp is operated in such a manner that a sodium pressure is produced in the discharge space which results in a high luminous efficacy.