Patent ID: 6541899
Filing Date: 2003-04-01
Classification: H01J

Abstract:
A lighting system comprising:a low-pressure discharge lamp provided with a discharge vessel which is closed in a gastight manner and contains an ionizable filling, which low-pressure discharge lamp is further provided with at least first and second electrodes for maintaining an electric discharge in the discharge vessel wherein the first electrode is provided with first and second electrode bodies of a refractory metal which are at least partly covered with an electron-emitting material, said first electrode being fed by current conductors which after passing through a stem extend into said discharge lamp along a first direction, said first and second electrode bodies being parallel to each other and being connected between said current conductors at different distances from said stem along said first direction; and a ballast circuit which is connected to the current conductors, and which serves to cold ignite the low-pressure discharge lamp and to feed a high-frequency lamp current to the low-pressure discharge lamp.