Fluorescent lamp with wide range of luminous intensities

Apparatus for driving a gas discharge tube over a wide range of luminous intensity, said discharge tube having a set of internal discharge electrodes at its opposite ends, said apparatus comprising:

• ionization electrode means disposed externally of said tube for producing an electrostatic field within the proximity of said tube to ionize the gas therein causing the tube to glow with a luminous intensity;
• means for driving said ionization electrode means with a high voltage having an adjustable range to produce an ionized gas in said tube between said discharge electrodes, said driving means comprising an analog voltage-to-current converter having a wide dynamic range producing a voltage ranging from about 200 volts (peak-to-peak) to about 1800 volts (peak-to-peak) at a frequency ranging from about 20 KHz to about 100 KHz;
• and
• means for regulating said driving means to vary the amount of ionization of said gas in said tube over said adjustable range whereby the luminous intensity of said tube may be controlled.

Apparatus for driving a gas discharge tube over a wide range of luminous intensity, said discharge tube having a set of internal discharge electrodes at its opposite ends, said apparatus comprising:

• ionization electrode means disposed externally of said tube for producing an electrostatic field within the proximity of said tube to ionize the gas therein causing the tube to glow with a luminous intensity;
• means for driving said ionization electrode means with a high voltage having an adjustable range to produce an ionized gas in said tube between said discharge electrodes, said driving means comprising a transformer coupled, push-pull converter with an analog-current-driven primary circuit;
• and
• means for regulating said driving means to vary the amount of ionization of said gas in said tube over said adjustable range whereby the luminous intensity of said tube may be controlled.

Apparatus for driving a gas discharge tube over a wide range of luminous intensity, said discharge tube having a set of internal discharge electrodes at its opposite ends, said apparatus comprising:

• ionization electrode means disposed externally of said tube for producing an electrostatic field within the proximity of said tube to ionize the gas therein causing the tube to glow with a luminous intensity;
• means for driving said ionization electrode means with a high voltage having an adjustable range to produce an ionized gas in said tube between said discharge electrodes, said internal discharge electrodes being connected to said driving means in parallel with said ionization electrode means;
• and
• means for regulating said driving means to vary the amount of ionization of said gas in said tube over said adjustable range whereby the luminous intensity of said tube may be controlled.

Apparatus for producing fluorescent light over a broad range of luminous intensities comprising:

• a fluorescent lamp tube containing a fluorescent gas;
• first electrode means, comprising first and second electrodes disposed within said tube respectively at its opposite ends, for producing a current flow between said ends;
• second electrode means, comprising two electrodes disposed externally along the length of said tube, for producing an electrostatic field within the proximity of and transversely over the length of said tube to ionize said gas;
• means for driving said first electrode means with a high voltage to produce a current in said ionized gas between the opposite ends of said tube;
• and
• means for regulating said driving means to vary said current over a broad range and thus control the luminous intensity of said lamp tube over a broad range.

Apparatus for producing fluorescent light over a broad range of luminous intensities comprising:

• a fluorescent lamp tube containing a fluorescent gas;
• first electrode means, comprising first and second electrodes disposed within said tube respectively at its opposite ends, for producing a current flow between said ends;
• second electrode means, disposed externally of said tube, for producing an electrostatic field within the proximity of said tube to ionize said gas;
• means for driving said first electrode means with a high voltage to produce a current in said ionized gas between the opposite ends of said tube, said driving means comprising an analog voltage-to-current converter having a wide dynamic range;
• and
• means for regulating said driving means to vary said current over a broad range and thus control the luminous intensity of said lamp tube over a broad range.

Apparatus for producing fluorescent light over a broad range of luminous intensities comprising:

• a fluorescent lamp tube containing a fluorescent gas;
• first electrode means, comprising first and second electrodes disposed within said tube respectively at its opposite ends, for producing a current flow between said ends;
• second electrode means, disposed externally of said tube, for producing an electrostatic field within the proximity of said tube to ionize said gas;
• means for driving said first electrode means with a high voltage to produce a current in said ionized gas between the opposite ends of said tube, said driving means comprising a high frequency transformer with an analog-current-driven primary circuit;
• and
• means for regulating said driving means to vary said current over a broad range and thus control the luminous intensity of said lamp tube over a broad range.

Apparatus for producing fluorescent light over a broad range of luminous intensities comprising:

• a fluorescent lamp tube containing a fluorescent gas;
• first electrode means, comprising first and second electrodes disposed within said tube respectively at its opposite ends, for producing a current flow between said ends;
• second electrode means, disposed externally of said tube, for producing an electrostatic field within the proximity of said tube to ionize said gas;
• means for driving said first electrode means with a high voltage to produce a current in said ionized gas between the opposite ends of said tube, said second electrode means being connected to said driving means in parallel with said first electrode means;
• and
• means for regulating said driving means to vary said current over a broad range and thus control the luminous intensity of said lamp tube over a broad range.

A method for producing a luminous intensity in a gas discharge tube having a set of internal discharge electrodes at its opposite ends, comprising the steps of:

• producing an electrostatic field externally of and within the proximity of said tube and transversely over its length to ionize the gas therein;
• driving said electrostatic field with a high voltage having an adjustable range;
• and
• regulating said high voltage over said adjustable range whereby the luminous intensity of said tube is varied.