Fluorescent lamp instantaneous starting device

A flourescent lamp starting device for substantially instantaneously starting a flourescent lamp, comprising:

• a ceramic substrate having components forming a semiconductor switch mounted thereon, said semiconductor switch comprising a thyristor having anode and cathode terminals coupled to first and second lead wires, respectively, a first resistor coupled between a gate electrode of said thyristor and said cathode electrode of said thyristor, second and third resistors coupled in series with one another between said anode and cathode electrodes of said thyristor, a nonlinear trigger element coupled between a common connection point of said second and third resistors and said gate electrode of said thyristor, and a capacitor coupled between said common connection point and said cathode electrode of said thyristor, said thyristor and said nonlinear trigger element comprising semiconductor chips, said first through third resistors comprising thick film resistors, and said capacitor comprising a chip-type capacitor;
• a nonlinear capacitor of a size substantially equal to the size of said substrate having first and second terminals connected to said first and second leads, respectively, said nonlinear capacitor being in the form of a thin plate, and said first and second leads supporting said nonlinear capacitor in a position adjacent and parallel to said substrate;
• a case substantially equal in size to a conventional glow starter case;
• and
• first and second connecting terminals mechanically coupled to said case and electrically insulated from said case, said first and second connecting terminals being adapted to be electrically and mechanically connected directly to a conventional glow starter socket, and said first and second leads being coupled to said first and second connecting terminals, respectively.