Abstract:
A low cost under-cabinet and display case lighting system that permits the highest degree of flexibility in the installation and location of luminaires for under-cabinet and display case lighting. The system consists of a high-frequency power source, an interconnection cord, and one or more high-frequency luminaires. The high-frequency power source is powered from a source of 50 or 60 Hertz power. The interconnection cord is connected to the high-frequency output of high-frequency power source. The high-frequency luminaires are mounted in the desired locations under the cabinets or display case shelves. The interconnecting cord is then routed to each of the high-frequency luminaires and placed over the input terminals. The protective cover is then forced over the interconnecting cord in the area of the input terminals forcing the input terminals to pierce and displace the insulation of the cord and make contact with the conductors within the interconnecting cord. Any number of additional high-frequency luminaires (within the capacity of the high-frequency power source) may be added in the same manner.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of Invention 
     This invention relates to gas discharge lamp luminaires in general, and to gas discharge lamp luminaires for under-cabinet type lighting in particular. 
     2. Description of Prior Art 
     Current fluorescent luminaires for under-cabinet applications typically consist of a plastic or metal enclosure which contain a fluorescent lamp ballast, wiring to lampholders, lampholders, one or more fluorescent lamps, and a lens. The fluorescent lamp ballast, wiring to lampholders and the back part of the lampholders are contained in one compartment of the enclosure. This part of the enclosure also contains the connection of the wiring from the 60-Hertz power source to the input of the fluorescent lamp ballast. A less common arrangement is to place the 60-Hertz fluorescent lamp ballast in a “remote ballast enclosure” and connect the “remote ballast enclosure” to the balance of the luminaire by way of a BX cable. In both cases, the size of the enclosure is substantial compared to the size of the fluorescent lamps themselves. This is because the fluorescent lamp ballast is powered from a 60-Hertz source, which results in a physically large package. Using an electronic ballast generally contributes to a significant weight reduction, assuming the ballast is not potted with asphalt, but the physical size is usually not dramatically reduced. The connection from the 60 Hertz source to the fluorescent lamp ballast has to be made in an enclosure that meets specific requirements dictated by Underwriters Laboratories&#39; STANDARD FOR FLUORESCENT LIGHTING FIXTURES (UL1570); therefore, the enclosure is much larger, heavier and more expensive than it might otherwise need to be. Nilssen discloses the use of high-frequency power limited voltage to power fluorescent lamps in a number of his patents. In FIG. 14 of U.S. Pat. No. 5,640,069; Nilssen discloses an under-cabinet lighting system where a number of lamp structures are plugged into one another by connecting the male-type input port of one lamp structure into the female-type output port of the preceding lamp structure. As shown in FIG. 14 of the Nilssen patent, this is accomplished by plugging the male-type-input port directly into the female-type output port. This approach works well for designs that use linear lamps and where a continuous line of light is desired. This approach does not work at all for single-ended lamps. That same figure also shows an alternate approach, which is implemented by making this connection with a short interconnecting cord. Although adding some flexibility when used in combination with the previous approach it requires that a wide selection of lengths of previously manufactured interconnecting cords be stocked and available or that the various lengths of cords need to be made up at the time of installation. If the interconnecting cords are used under a wall cabinet, a relatively large hole needs to be drilled between the lower portion of the adjacent sides of the wall cabinets to accommodate the connectors on the interconnecting cords, which are significantly larger than the cord itself 
     OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES 
     Accordingly, several objects and advantages of my invention are a simpler and more flexible system for installing and connecting under-cabinet type lighting plus a self-contained one-piece ballasted-socket assembly for single-ended lamps that can be mounted directly beneath a cabinet or a shelf. The unit is much lighter and more compact than existing under-cabinet fixtures currently available and it allows for a number of luminaires to be connected along the same high-frequency power cord without the need for providing separate male and female connectors o n the power cord or in the luminaires. 
     Still further objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the ensuing description and accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 shows a view of the underside of a kitchen wall cabinet and the basic components of the under-cabinet lighting system; 
     FIG. 2 shows a more detailed view of a high-frequency ballasted-socket assembly shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 shows a two-lamp ballasted-socket assembly for under-cabinet lighting using two double Biax lamps; 
     FIG. 4 shows a ballasted-socket assembly applied to a single long Biax lamp; 
     FIG. 5 schematically shows a typical one-lamp ballasted-socket assembly circuit; 
     FIG. 6 schematically shows a typical two-lamp ballasted-socket assembly circuit. 
     Reference Numerals 
     1  10  wall cabinet 
     2  12  wall cabinet bottom 
     3  14  high-frequency power supply 
     4  16  duplex wall outlet 
     5  18  high-frequency output cord 
     6  20  access hole 
     7  22  cabinet side panels 
     8  24  high-frequency ballasted-socket assembly 
     9  26  slide-on cover 
     10  28   2 D lamp 
     11  30  recessed channel 
     12  32  reflector 
     13  34  high-frequency input terminal # 1   
     14  36  high-frequency input terminal # 2   
     15  38  base 
     16  40  base tabs 
     17  42  column 
     18  44  four-pin lamp socket 
     19  46  lamp plug assembly 
     20  48  cover tabs 
     21  50  center ridge 
     22  52  screw holes 
     23  54  two lamp high-frequency ballasted-socket assembly 
     24  56  recessed channel A 
     25  58  recessed channel B 
     26  60  base cover plate 
     27  62  double Biax lamp 
     28  64  mounting base 
     29  66  ballast housing 
     30  68  Biax lamp ballasted-socket assembly 
     31  70  long Biax lamp 
     32  72  Biax lamp socket 
     33  74  support bracket 
     34  76  recess 
     35  78  transformer 
     36  80  cathode windings 
     37  82  ballasting capacitor 
     38  84  power level jack 
     39  86  power level plug 
     40  87  gas discharge lamp 
     41  88  output terminals 
     42  89  cathode 
     43  90  power increasing capacitor 
     44  91  cathode terminal 
     45  92  tank capacitor 
     46  94  tank inductor 
     47  96  starting aid capacitor 
     48  98  supplemental ballasting capacitor 
     49  100  three-terminal socket 
     50  102  power level jumper 
     SUMMARY 
     This invention is directed to a design of an under-cabinet type lighting system. The system is comprised of a high-frequency power source, an interconnecting power cord, and one or more self-contained one-piece ballasted-socket assemblies for single-ended lamps. The high-frequency power source is connected to a 50 or 60 Hertz power line. An interconnecting power cord is connected to the output of the high-frequency power source and routed beneath the cabinets or shelves. In one embodiment, the ballasted-socket assemblies are then mounted directly beneath the cabinets or shelves. The interconnecting power cord is then placed into a recessed channel built into the ballasted-socket luminaire and a cover is slid over the channel forcing the cord down and into a pair of input terminals that make electrical contact with the conductors within the interconnecting cord. A number of additional ballasted-socket assemblies can be added at any point along the length of the interconnecting power cord up to the maximum power rating of the high-frequency power source. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION 
     Preferred Embodiment 
     FIG. 1 shows a view of the underside of a kitchen wall cabinet  10 . As shown in the drawing the front, sides, and back of the cabinet actually extend 1.5 to 2 inches below the wall cabinet bottom  12 . A high-frequency power supply  14  is shown plugged into a duplex wall outlet  16 . A high-frequency output cord  18  extends from the high-frequency power supply  14  through access holes  20  that are drilled through the cabinet side panels  22 . Beneath the cabinet is shown high-frequency ballasted-socket assembly  24  with slide-on cover  26  and  2 D lamp  28 . An optional reflector  32  can be installed between the wall cabinet bottom  12  and the high-frequency ballasted-socket assembly  24 . 
     FIG. 2 shows a more detailed view of the high-frequency ballasted-socket assembly  24  shown in FIG.  1 . In the base  38  of the high-frequency ballasted-socket, assembly  24  is a recessed channel  30 . The recessed channel  30  contains high-frequency input terminal # 1   34  and high-frequency input terminal # 2   36 . The two high-frequency input terminals are located in opposite lanes within the recessed channel  30  and protrude approximately {fraction (1/16)} to ⅛ of an inch above the bottom of the channel. Above the top surface of and on alternate side of the recessed channel  30  protrude a pair of base tabs  40 . Extending down from the base  38  is a column  42 , which along with the base  38  contains ballasting circuitry such as that shown in FIG.  5 . The column  42  also includes a four-pin lamp socket  44 . Incorporated into the four-pin lamp socket  44  are a pair of recesses (not shown), which are engaged by a pair of support tabs (also not shown) built into the base of the  2 D lamp plug assembly  46  of the  2 D lamp  28 . A pair of screw holes  52  is provided on alternate side of column  42  through base  38 . The slide-on cover  26  includes a pair of cover tabs  48  on alternate sides of the slide-on cover, which are designed to engage with the base tabs  40 . In the center of the slide-on cover  26  is a center ridge  50 . The center ridge  50  extends the length of the slide-on cover approximately ⅛ of an inch above the inside surface. Each end tapers down to being flush with the inside surface starting approximately ⅛ inch in from each end. 
     FIG. 3 shows a two-lamp ballasted-socket assembly  54  for under-cabinet lighting shown with two double Biax lamps  62 . The mounting base  64  contains four screw holes  52  and a recessed channel A  56  and a recessed channel B  58  intersecting at right angles. In the area common to recessed channel A  56  and recessed channel B  58  are two conductive input terminals, high-frequency input terminal # 1   34  and high-frequency input terminal # 2   36 . The terminals are offset from one another, such that, if the two intersecting channels are thought of as two lane highways each of the two terminals is in the opposite lane of each of the respective channels. The ballast housing  66  extends down from the mounting base  64  and encloses the high-frequency ballasting circuitry (not visible in this figure, but shown schematically in FIG.  6 ). Incorporated into the ballast housing are two four-pin lamp sockets  44 . The four-pin lamp sockets  44  are capable of receiving and supporting a double Biax lamp  62 . The base cover plate  60  contains four screw holes  52 . It may be desirable to provide matching recesses in the base cover plate  60  to aid assembly. 
     FIG. 4 shows a Biax lamp ballasted-socket assembly  68  shown with a long Biax lamp  70 . As in the previous example the mounting base  64  contains four screw holes  52  and a recessed channel A  56  and a recessed channel B  58  intersecting at right angles. In the area common to recessed channel A  56  and recessed channel B  58  are two conductive input terminals, high-frequency input terminal # 1   34  and high-frequency input terminal # 2   36 . The terminals are offset from one another as described above. The ballast housing  66  extends down from the mounting base  64  and encloses the high-frequency ballasting circuitry (not visible in this figure, but shown schematically in FIG.  5 ). Incorporated into the ballast housing is a long Biax lamp socket  72 . The Biax lamp socket  72  is capable of receiving and supporting one end of a Biax lamp  70 . Due to the length and weight of a long Biax lamp, an additional support bracket  74  is required to hold the far end of the lamp in place. The support bracket  74  is provided with recess  76 . The base cover plate  60  contains four screw holes  52 . 
     FIG. 5 schematically shows a typical single-lamp ballasted-socket circuit for under-cabinet lighting. The high-frequency input terminal # 1   34  and high-frequency input terminal # 2   36  are provided for connection to high-frequency output cord  18  shown in FIG.  1 . The output terminals  88  are part of the four-pin lamp socket  44  of FIG. 2 or long Biax lamp socket  72  of FIG.  4 . The output terminals  88  provide voltage to heat lamp cathodes and current-limited voltage to provide lamp current. Transformer  78  is used to step-up or step-down the lamp starting voltage as required by the particular lamp to be used and to supply cathode voltage from the cathode windings  80 . Primary ballasting capacitor  82  limits the current supplied to the lamp after lamp ignition. Tank capacitor  92  and tank inductor  94 , in concert with the reflected load and primary ballasting capacitor  82 , form a parallel resonant tuned circuit. Across primary ballast capacitor  82  may be connected an optional power level jack  84  with terminals  84   a  and  84   b . Power level plug  86  is an insulated module containing power-increasing capacitor  90  and having two parallel-elongated terminals  86   a  and  86   b  projecting from it. Gas discharge lamp  87  has two cathodes  89 . Each of the cathodes has one or more cathode terminals  91 . 
     FIG. 6 schematically shows a typical circuit for a ballasted-socket for two lamps as is shown in FIG.  3 . The high-frequency input terminal # 1   34  and high-frequency input terminal # 2   36  are provided for connection to high-frequency output cord  18  shown in FIG.  1 . The output terminals  88  are part of the two separate four-pin lamp sockets  44 . The output terminals  88  provide voltage to heat lamp cathodes and current-limited voltage to provide lamp current. Transformer  78  is used to step-up or step-down the lamp starting voltage as required by the particular lamp to be used. Transformer  78  also supplies cathode voltage from the three cathode windings  80  and  80   a . A starting aid capacitor  96  can be provided between the isolated cathode winding and one of the other cathode windings. Primary ballasting capacitor  82  limits the current supplied to the lamps after lamp ignition. Tank capacitor  92  and tank inductor  94 , in concert with the reflected load and primary ballasting capacitor  82 , form a parallel resonant tuned circuit. An optional supplemental ballasting capacitor  98  can be provided in series with the primary ballasting capacitor  82 . If so provided, a three-terminal socket  100  is also provided as shown in the schematic. Terminal  100   b  is connected to the junction of primary ballasting capacitor  82  and supplemental ballasting capacitor  98 . Socket terminal  100   a  is connected to the opposite end of primary ballasting capacitor  82  and socket terminal  100   c  is connected to the opposite end of supplemental capacitor  98 . The socket terminal  100   a  is spaced the same distance from  100   b  as  100   c  is spaced from  100   b . Power level jumper  102  is an insulated plug arrangement with two parallel-elongated terminals suitable for insertion into either socket terminals  100   a  and  100   b  or socket terminals  100   b  and  100   c . The pair of gas discharge lamps  87  each has two cathodes  89 . Each of the cathodes has one or more cathode terminals  91 . 
     OPERATION 
     Preferred Embodiment 
     As shown in FIG. 1 the bottom  12  of kitchen wall cabinets  10  are actually located 1.5 to 2 inches above the bottom edge of the front, rear, and sides of the cabinet. This provides an ideal location to hide lighting to illuminate the kitchen counter top. Unfortunately, the side walls of the cabinets also extend below this bottom. To install lighting under these cabinets it becomes necessary to either cut out sections of the cabinet side panels  22  to create a means to interconnect the lighting fixtures or drill relatively large holes through these side panels to run conduit, BX, or to feed the connector of an interconnecting cord set through. The instant invention permits a much smaller hole to be used to provide wiring access between the individual wall cabinet bottoms for installing the under-cabinet lighting as well as eliminating plugs and or sockets on the luminaires as well as on the interconnecting cords. 
     Referring to FIG. 1, in the preferred embodiment, a high-frequency power supply  14  is plugged directly into a standard duplex wall outlet  16 . The high-frequency output voltage is sinusoidal and may be any voltage up to approximately 150 Volts. Using a voltage of 150 volts has the advantage of minimizing the effect of contact resistance, and it also permits a smaller conductor to be used, but lower voltages could be used if shock hazard is a consideration. Access holes  20  are drilled through the cabinet side panels  22  as close to the wall cabinet bottom  12  as possible. These access holes  20  can be less than a quarter of an inch in diameter. The high-frequency output cord  18  is then fed through the access holes  20  to each wall cabinet bottom  12  requiring lighting. A high-frequency ballasted-socket assembly  24  is then mounted to the wall cabinet bottom  12 , such that, the recessed channel  30  is in line with the high-frequency output cord. The high-frequency output cord  18  is placed into the recessed channel  30  of the high-frequency ballasted-socket assembly  24 . The slide-on cover  26  slides over the recessed channel  30  forcing the high-frequency output cord  18  down into the recessed channel  30 , and onto a pair of high-frequency input terminals  34  and  36  which are shown in more detail in FIG. 2. A gas discharge lamp, such as, a  2 D lamp  28  is then inserted into the high-frequency ballasted-socket assembly  24 . 
     To improve the overall efficacy of the lighting system an optional reflector  32  can be provided. The reflector can be as simple as a flat sheet of reflective plastic or metal, or a molded or fabricated piece including bends or ribs to improve rigidity and to attempt to focus and direct the light. In any case the reflector  32  can simply be mounted by placing it on the wall cabinet bottom  12 , mounting the high-frequency ballasted-socket assembly beneath it, and then fastening the combination to the bottom of the wall cabinet bottom  12  with screws inserted through the screw holes  52  provided in both the high-frequency ballasted-socket assembly  24  and the reflector  32 . Alternately the reflector  32  can be incorporated as part of the high-frequency ballasted-socket assembly  24 . As a third alternate design the reflector  32  can include an aperture between the two screw holes  52  large enough to pass over the column  42  and be mounted between the lamp  28  and the high-frequency ballasted-socket assembly  24 . 
     Although the high-frequency power supply  14  is shown as an assembly that is plugged directly into a duplex outlet  16 , another design incorporates a line cord emanating from one side of an enclosure and the high frequency output cord emanating from another side. The enclosure is then mounted to the wall cabinet bottom  12 . The lights may be turned on and off with a switch incorporated into the high-frequency power supply  14  or via a switch incorporated into the plug of the line cord. 
     FIG. 3 shows a two-lamp high-frequency ballasted-socket assembly  54 . In the basic embodiment shown, the assembly is installed by first locating the base cover plate  60  on the wall cabinet bottom  12  (FIG.  1 ). The high-frequency output cord is then passed over the base cover plate. A decision is then made, depending on the application, as to whether the lamps should be oriented such that they are parallel to the high-frequency output cord  18  or perpendicular to it. The two-lamp high-frequency ballasted-socket assembly  54  is then placed over the high-frequency output cord  18 , routing the cord through recessed channel A  56  or recessed channel B  58 . Appropriate size screws are then inserted through the screw holes  52  of both the high-frequency ballasted-socket assembly  54  and base cover plate  60 . As the screws are tightened down the high-frequency input terminals # 1  and # 2  ( 34  and  36 ) are forced into high-frequency output cord  18  (FIG. 1) and make electrical connection to the appropriate conductors within the cord. FIG. 3 shows a two-lamp high-frequency ballasted-socket assembly with double Biax lamps. This assembly can be configured to also operate as a single lamp high-frequency ballasted-socket assembly as well as be adapted to handle a variety of gas discharge lamp types. 
     FIG. 4 shows a Biax-lamp ballasted-socket assembly  68  with a long Biax lamp  70 . Shorter varieties of gas discharge lamps, such as, compact fluorescent Biax types can be totally supported by the socket that they are plugged into. Due to the length of the long Biax category of lamps, the lamps cannot be cantilevered out from the socket, but require an additional support element to support the end of the lamp opposite the connector. The support bracket  74  is provided to accomplish this function. The installation of the Biax lamp ballasted-socket assembly is essentially the same as discussed previously regarding the high-frequency ballasted-socket assembly shown in FIG. 3 except the support bracket  74  must also be mounted. Here again the Biax-lamp ballasted-socket assembly  68  can be mounted in one of four possible orientations depending on the application. The lamp can be oriented parallel to the high-frequency output cord or perpendicular to it. If the lamp is oriented parallel to the cord, a recess  76  is provided in the support bracket  74  to allow the high-frequency output cord to pass through and act as a support for the cord. 
     FIG. 5 is typical of a circuit, which can be used in a ballasted-socket assembly for under-cabinet lighting. In a preferred embodiment, the circuit is designed to be powered from a class II or class III power-limited supply. As a result, the National Electrical Code does not require the interconnecting wires between the power supply and the ballasted-socket assembly to be run in conduit or BX even if the wiring is run within a wall, but permits much lighter weight non-armored cable to be used. In application where the wiring for the under-cabinet lighting is totally exposed (i.e., not run in the wall or behind a cabinet) there is no requirement for the source of power to be restricted to class II or class III source. In order to minimize the physical size of the electronic components used for the ballast circuitry (tank capacitor  92 , tank inductor  94 , ballasting capacitor  82 , and transformer  78 ), operating at a frequency in the range of 18 kHz to 100 kHz is preferred. The cathode windings  80  provide voltage to heat the lamp cathodes for rapid start operation. Ballasting capacitor  82  is connected in series with transformer  78  to limit the current supplied through the gas discharge lamp  87  connected with the output terminals  88 . 
     By placing the ballasting capacitor in series with the input side of the transformer  78 , the voltage across the input to the transformer  78  is reduced after the gas discharge lamp is ignited and begins to draw current through the lamp, in addition to the current being drawn by the cathodes of the gas discharge lamp. This is due to the fact that a portion of the voltage supplied across the two high-frequency input terminals # 1  and # 2  ( 34  and  36 ) is dropped across the ballasting capacitor. As a result of the voltage being reduced to the input of the transformer, the voltage supplied across the cathodes of the gas discharge lamp is also reduced. This causes a reduction in the power dissipated in the cathodes during normal operation, which allows for increased efficiency of operation. By eliminating the cathode windings  80  and increasing the open circuit output voltage delivered across the lamp, instant start operation of the gas discharge lamp can also be achieved. 
     An optional power level jack  84  can be incorporated by connecting its&#39; two terminals  84   a  and  84   b  on alternate ends of ballasting capacitor  82 . A power level plug  86  containing power increasing capacitor  90  can be plugged into power level jack  84  on ballasted-socket assemblies where the light level of the gas discharge lamp needs to be increased. Placing the power increasing capacitor  90  in parallel with the ballasting capacitor  82  decreases the impedance in series with the input to the input of transformer  78 , which results in an increased lamp current through the gas discharge lamp and an increase in light output. A variety of power level plugs with various values of power increasing capacitors  90  can be made available to provide numerous power levels. Since the power level can only be increased using this approach, the minimum power level is established by ballasting capacitor  82 . 
     Tank capacitor  92  and tank inductor  94 , in concert with the reflected load and primary ballasting capacitor  82 , form a parallel resonant tuned circuit which is set-up to match the fundamental frequency of the high-frequency power supply. By tuning the ballasted-socket assembly in this manner, the power factor of the ballasted-socket assembly can be made to approach unity. 
     FIG. 6 is typical of a circuit, which can be used in a two-lamp ballasted-socket assembly for under-cabinet lighting. This circuit operates the same as the circuit in FIG. 5 except that an alternate approach is shown for selecting the power level and the circuit is set up for rapid start operation of two lamps in series. Two four-pin lamp sockets  44  are provided for connecting to two separate gas discharge lamps  87 . An additional isolated cathode winding  80   a  provides cathode voltage to the two cathodes (one from each lamp) which end up being connected in parallel via output terminals  88   a  and  88   b . Since the two lamps are connected in series, the same current flows through both lamps, except for the small current, which flows through the starting aid capacitor  96  connected in parallel with one of the lamps. The starting aid capacitor permits the pair of lamps to start with a voltage substantially less than twice that required to ignite a single lamp. 
     If power level selection is desired, a supplemental ballasting capacitor  98  is added in series with ballasting capacitor  82 . A three-terminal socket  100  is connected across the two capacitors  82  and  98 , such that, terminal  100   b  is connected to the junction of ballasting capacitor  82  and supplemental ballasting capacitor  98 . Terminal  100   a  is connected to the other end of ballasting capacitor  82  and  100   c  is connected to the other end of supplemental ballasting capacitor  98 . If the value ballasting capacitor  82  is chosen to provide the proper nominal light output from the gas discharge lamp and the value of supplemental ballasting capacitor  98  is chosen to be less than the value of ballasting capacitor  82 , three levels of light are available. To set the light level at the nominal level the power level jumper is inserted between socket terminals  100   b  and  100   c . A lower light level is selected by inserting the power level plug into terminals  100   a  and  100   b . The lowest light level is selected by leaving the power level jumper out completely. 
     Alternately, if the value ballasting capacitor  82  is chosen to provide the proper nominal light output from the gas discharge lamp and the value of supplemental ballasting capacitor  98  is chosen to be greater than the value of ballasting capacitor  82 , three levels of light are also available. To set the light level at the nominal level the power level jumper is again inserted between socket terminals  100   b  and  100   c . A higher light level is selected by inserting the power level plug into socket terminals  100   a  and  100   b . The lowest light level is selected by leaving the power level jumper out completely. 
     Since the power level selection is accomplished on the input to the transformer in both. FIG.  5  and FIG. 6, the cathode voltage is also affected by changing the power level of the lamps. Since lamp life can be adversely affected by reducing the cathode voltage excessively at the same time the lamp current is reduced for dimming, the range of dimming is somewhat limited unless the cathodes are provided with somewhat higher voltage for nominal operation. This limitation can be eliminated by moving the power level selection circuitry and ballasting capacitor to their traditional location, which is in series with the output of the transformer instead of in series with the input to the transformer. This will eliminate the reduction of cathode voltage as a function of the lamp current level (dimming) and permit a much greater dimming range without adversely affecting the life of the lamps. 
     CONCLUSIONS, RAMIFICATIONS, AND SCOPE 
     Accordingly, it can be seen that the invention provides a dramatic reduction in the cost to manufacture, ship and store luminaires. In addition, substantial savings in the cost of installation are achieved since the luminaires can easily be assembled, installed and connected to the power source by non-skilled, non-electrician installers. 
     Although the description above contains many specificities, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but as merely providing illustrations of some of the presently preferred embodiments of this invention. Various other embodiments and ramifications are possible within it&#39;s scope. For example, although the preferred embodiment describes the Under-cabinet Lighting System with a ballasted-socket designed for a class II or class III high-frequency power input, the Under-cabinet Lighting System concept can also be used with non-class I or III, AC and DC circuits. The ballasted-socket in these situations would merely have to enclose all non-class II and III circuits and wiring, while the input connection would have to meet the local codes that may apply. In the preferred embodiment, the enclosure of the ballasted-socket assemblies are constructed out of non-conductive material, which eliminates the need to carry a ground wire in the interconnecting cord, but they could also be made out of conductive material if the exposed conductive material is grounded. 
     Thus, the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given. 
     DEFINITIONS 
     luminaire: a complete lighting unit consisting of a lamp or lamps together with the parts designed to distribute the light, to position and protect the lamps, and to connect and interface the lamps to the power source. 
     compact fluorescent lamps: single-ended fluorescent lamps such as, Biax, double Biax, triple Biax, quad Biax, long Biax, flat, helical, spring, etc. 
     high-frequency: frequencies greater than 10 kHz. 
     insulation displacement connection: an electrical connection technique in which an insulated wire is inserted into an opening of a connector. A metal terminal is forced through the insulation thus displacing the insulation and forming an electrical connection between the terminal and the conductor.