Patent ID: 7973489

Claim:
A lighting system for illuminating a chamber with a ceiling and at least one wall comprising: at least one CCFL device comprising at least one CCFL, at least one transformer, and a circuit between said CCFL and said transformer, wherein said circuit includes at least one capacitor and at least one inductor; at least one lighting fixture mounted onto the ceiling so that light emitted by said at least one CCFL illuminates said chamber, wherein said lighting fixture mechanically supports said at least one CCFL device; wherein said CCFL device and said lighting fixture are integrated to form a unitary structure; wherein said transformer converts an AC power having a voltage in the range of about 5-400 volts at a frequency in the range of about 1-100 kc to an output power in a range of 2000 to 10,000 volts for operating the at least one CCFL, causing the at least one CCFL to emit light; a driver connected to at least one wall of the chamber and separated from the at least one CCFL device, so that said driver is substantially unaffected adversely by heat generated by the at least one CCFL device, wherein said driver converts input power from a power source to said AC power; and electrical lines located outside said chamber and behind said ceiling and said at least one wall of the chamber connecting said driver to said at least one transformer to supply said AC power from the driver to said at least one transformer.