Fluorescent lamp with reduced wattage consumption having electrode shield with getter material

Claim 1

An energy saving fluorescent lamp for use with an existing ballast system designed for operation at a predetermined magnitude input voltage with a standard wattage rating fluorescent lamp, said energy saving fluorescent lamp comprising an envelope having a phosphor on the internal wall thereof, an electrode for emitting electrons and collecting ions at each end of the envelope, leads for connecting the electrodes to the existing ballast as source of electric current to energize the same, an ionizable mercury medium within said envelope, a fill gas in said envelope consisting essentially of krypton in the range of from about 75% to 90% and neon in the range from about 25% to 10%, an electrically conductive means insulated from the electrical connection to the electrodes surrounding each of said electrodes, and a getter material in said envelope for scavenging gas impurities, said fill gas and electrodes cooperating to start said lamp at a voltage at least 10% below said predetermined magnitude and to ionize the mercury to operate said lamp to produce light output when connected to said ballast and consuming at least about ten (10) percent less energy than the standard wattage rating fluorescent lamp for which the ballast system was designed, the loss in light output produced by the lamp being less than the light output which would be lost if the standard lamp were operated at the corresponding reduced energy consumption.