Patent ID: 6100653
Filing Date: 2000-08-08
Classification: H01J,H05B

Abstract:
A fluorescent illuminating apparatus comprising:a fluorescent lamp 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 connections being in the form of first and second electrical terminals;a fluorescent medium supported in said chamber; andfirst and second electrodes 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;an inductive-resistive structure fixed sufficiently proximate said housing of said lamp 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;a source of rippled/pulsed DC voltage having two output terminals, a first of said output terminals of said source being electrically connected to said third electrical terminal, said source being electrically configured to produce a direct current exhibiting a rippled/pulsed voltage between said output terminals;a polarity-reversing circuit having two input terminals and two output terminals, a first of said input terminals of said polarity-reversing circuit being electrically interconnected with said fourth electrical terminal, a second of said input terminals of said polarity-reversing circuit being electrically interconnected with a second of said output terminals of said source, a first of said output terminals of said polarity-reversing circuit being electrically interconnected with said first electrical terminal, a second of said output terminals of said polarity-reversing circuit being electrically interconnected with said second electrical terminal, said polarity-reversing circuit alternating a polarity of a voltage between the output terminals of said polarity-reversing circuit in response to at least one control signal; anda controller operatively connected to said polarity-reversing circuit, said controller generating said at least one control signal for alternating the polarity of the voltage between said output terminals of said polarity-reversing circuit.