Patent ID: 6075320
Filing Date: 2000-06-13
Classification: H01J

Abstract:
A planar fluorescent lamp, comprising:an insulative lamp body including a base having an upper surface and a lower surface, the lamp body further including a plurality of sidewalls connected to the base;a lamp cover having a lower surface and an upper surface, the lamp cover being attached to the lamp body such that the lamp cover and lamp body define a chamber;a plurality of channel walls within the chamber, the channel walls projecting from the base toward the cover, the channel walls, sidewalls, base and cover defining a serpentine channel having a first end and a second end and a plurality of turns therebetween;a first pair of primary electrodes for producing an electric plasma arc discharge within the chamber, a first one of the primary electrodes being positioned at the first end and a second one of the primary electrodes being positioned at the second end;a second pair of electrodes of the cold cathode type spaced apart along the serpentine channel for emitting electrons in a first section of the serpentine channel intermediate the first pair of primary electrodes; anda third pair of electrodes of the cold cathode type, including a first base electrode supported by the base and positioned beneath a first portion of the first section and a transparent first cover electrode supported by the cover, the first cover electrode being positioned above the first section of the serpentine channel.