Planar fluorescent lamp with metal body and serpentine channel

A planar fluorescent lamp, comprising:

• an electrically conductive lamp body, said lamp body having an interior surface and an exterior surface, said interior surface having a continuous serpentine channel formed therein, said serpentine channel having a first end, a second end and channel walls and a plurality of adjacent channel sections defined by said channel walls;
• an insulative layer coveting said interior surface of said lamp body, including said channel walls;
• a transparent, insulative lamp cover bonded to said insulative layer, to form an enclosure having a non-conductive interior surface of the insulative coating of said interior surface of said lamp body forming a portion of the non-conductive interior surface of said enclosure;
• first and second electrodes electrically insulated from said lamp body and extending into said enclosure, said first and second electrode being electrically connected to respective terminals external to said enclosure;
• an ultraviolet light-emitting gas within the enclosure, said emissive gas responsive to emit ultraviolet light in response to electrical energy passing through said emissive gas, said emissive gas being prevented by said non-conductive interior surface of said enclosure from passing between said channel walls and said lamp cover;
• and
• a fluorescent material within the lamp, said fluorescent material responsive to produce visible light in response to the ultraviolet light from the emissive gas.

A planar fluorescent lamp comprising:

• an integral metal body having a base and a plurality of sidewalls;
• a first contiguous ridge formed in said base and defining a serpentine channel therein;
• a lamp cover bonded to said sidewalls, said lamp cover, said base and said sidewalls together forming a first enclosure;
• a housing bonded below said lamp body, said housing and a portion of a lower surface of said lamp body forming a second enclosure;
• a plasma slot in said lamp body, said plasma slot providing a passageway between said first enclosure and said second enclosure;
• an electrode positioned within said second enclosure;
• and
• a gas within said first and second enclosures, said gas receiving electrical energy from said electrodes and emitting light energy in response thereto.