Geometry enhanced optical output for rf excited fluorescent lights

Claim 1

A fluorescent lighting structure comprising: a first glass container having an inside surface and an outside surface; a second glass container having an inside surface and an outside surface, said second glass container surrounding and spaced from said first glass container so as to define a sealed volume therebetween and so as to have the inside surface of said second glass container facing the outside surface of said first glass container; an ionizable gas contained within the volume between said first and second glass containers; an RF electrode structure disposed exclusively on the inside surface of said first glass container; and a light emitting coating that emits light in response to ultraviolet radiation disposed exclusively on the outside surface of said first glass container, said second glass container being devoid of any light emitting coating on either of its surfaces; whereby contiguous excitation of said electrode structure with RF energy causes discharge of said ionizable gas that produces ultraviolet radiation, which in turn excites the light emitting coating to emit visible light.