Patent ID: 6184622
Filing Date: 2001-02-06
Classification: H01J,H05B

Abstract:
A fluorescent illuminating apparatus comprising:(a) a fluorescent lightbulb including:a translucent housing having a chamber for supporting a fluorescent medium, said housing having first and second ends;electrical connections on said housing to provide an electrical potential across said chamber, said connetions being in the form of first and second electrical terminals;a fluorescent medium supported in said chamber; andfirst and second electrodes located respectively at said first and second ends of said translucent housing, said first and second electrodes being respectively electrically interconnected with said first and second electrical terminals;(b) an inductive-resistive structure fixed sufficiently proximate said housing of said lightbulb to induce fluorescence in said fluorescent medium when an electric current is passed through said inductive-resistive structure while an electric potential is applied across said housing, said inductive-resistive structure having third and fourth electrical terminals thereon, said second and third electrical terminals being electrically interconnected; and(c) a source of rippled/pulsed direct current (DC) voltage having first and second ouput terminals electrically interconnected with said first and fourth electrical terminals, said source having first and second alternating current (AC) input voltage terminals, said source including:a first diode having its anode electrically interconnected with said second ouput terminal and its cathode electrically interconnected with said first AC input voltage terminal;a second diode having its anode electrically interconnected with said first AC input voltage terminal and its cathode electrically interconnected with said first output terminal;a third diode having its anode electrically interconnected with said second AC input voltage terminal and having its cathode electrically interconnected with said first output terminal;a fourth diode having its anode electrically interconnected with said second output terminal and its cathode electrically interconnected with said second AC input voltage terminal;a first capacitor electrically interconnected between said first output terminal and said second AC input voltage terminal; anda second capacitor electrically interconnected between said second output terminal and said second AC input voltage terminal.