Patent ID: 6300722
Filing Date: 2001-10-09
Classification: A61L,C02F,H05B,Y02B

Abstract:
A non-thermionic, ballast-free gas discharge light-producing system comprising at least one gas discharge device with electrodes spaced in a gaseous medium, a light transmissive envelope confining a gaseous discharge medium at a predetermined pressure between said electrodes, and a power supply, said power supply including a direct current source, a solid state switch means connected between said source of direct current and said electrodes and a circuit connecting said switch device to said electrodes, said switch device being operated to generate a substantially square wave alternating current wave at said electrodes so that the voltage supplied to said electrodes reverses polarity more rapidly than the pattern of electron and ion density in the envelope can shift and electrons throughout the length of the envelope are continually accelerated and will, through several cycles of said square wave create ions throughout the envelope's volume, in steady state operation.