Abstract A circuit for the operation of fluorescent lamps which allows the current through the lamps to be raised above the manufacturer recommended limit without adversely effecting the lamps. Two oppositely poled diodes are connected to the two contact pins at each end of the lamps, and an AC voltage is applied thereto. The arrangement results in current through two properly poled diodes during one half cycle of the applied voltage, and through the two oppositely poled diodes during the second half cycle of the voltage. As a result of this alternate loading, the thermal stress in the lamp electrodes is substantially lowered, and the current through the lamp may be raised above the recommended limit. The AC voltage is preferably at a high frequency, for example twenty kilohertz, which results in illumination from the lamps originating along the glass walls due to the skin effect, and increases the illumination efficiency of the lamps. A particular design for a transformer is also disclosed wherein the primary windings are adapted to be coupled to a transistorized direct current converter and the secondary windings are adapted to be coupled to the fluorescent lamp.
A circuit arrangement for increasing the luminous flux in a hand lamp having a fluorescent tube, characterized in that each of the four contact pins of the fluorescent tube has a suitably poled diode connected in series therewith, the polarity of the diodes being different within each pair of pins, and wherein a high frequency operating voltage is coupled to said fluorescent tube through a transformer having its primary windings adapted to be coupled to a transistorized direct current converter and its secondary windings adapted to be coupled to said fluorescent tube.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
92 words
A circuit arrangement for increasing the luminous flux in a hand lamp having a fluorescent tube, characterized in that each of the four contact pins of the fluorescent tube has a suitably poled diode connected in series therewith, the polarity of the diodes being different within each pair of pins, and wherein a high frequency operating voltage is coupled to said fluorescent tube through a transformer having its primary windings adapted to be coupled to a transistorized direct current converter and its secondary windings adapted to be coupled to said fluorescent tube.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
A circuit arrangement for increasing the luminous flux in a hand lamp having a fluorescent tube according to claim 1, said high frequency operating voltage having a frequency of at least twenty kilohertz.