Abstract: Electronic device (1) to control and power discharge lamps (320) comprising: one power signal generator (2); a number of dedicated control units (3), each one dedicated to the control of at least one discharge lamp (320). According to this device, the control units (3) are connected in parallel by a single power bus (41) to the said generator (2) and, for each of the lamps (320) to which the units are dedicated, each of the control units comprises an electronic circuit (32) connected to the said lamp (320) and to the power bus (41) and comprises a resonance means (322, 328) capable of resonating at a power-supply signal frequency in such a way as to create an over-voltage at the terminals of the said discharge lamp (320) and so trigger its illumination.

Abstract: A ballast for fluorescent tubes and the use thereof for producing fluorescent tube lighting fixtures using a novel gas excitation mode in which light is generated by means of controlled pulses leading to an increased power efficiency, with a data collection and transmission functionality, are disclosed.