Gas discharge lamp and power distribution system therefor

A module for driving a gas discharge lamp having heater elements contained within an envelope in response to electrical power from a source wherein the envelope contains first and second heater elements at respective ends of the envelope comprising:

• means for receiving power from the source,
• an oscillator coupled to said receiving means for transforming said received power to an output signal at a frequency and voltage for causing the lamp to produce visible light through gas discharge within the lamp envelope,
• means connecting heater power directly from said oscillator output to said first heater element,
• conductors extending the length of said envelope to said second heater element for connecting said oscillator output thereto,
• an elongated circuit board mounting said oscillator within a volume having a cross-section configured substantially the same as the cross-section of the lamp envelope, and
• means attaching said board for forming an end of the lamp envelope with said oscillator output signal connected to the lamp heater elements.

A gas discharge lamp power distribution system for fluorescent lamps and the like comprising:

• a master unit having an input and an output and further including
• means at said input for receiving A.C. power from a source,
• means for correcting the power factor reflected to said source at said input by said receiving means, and
• means for converting the A.C. power to a D.C. power at said output, and
• a plurality of gas discharge lamps coupled in parallel to said master unit output, each said lamp of said plurality including
• an elongated envelope having a light producing medium contained therein, and
• a module including a circuit board having an oscillator circuit mounted thereon with said board positioned at one end of said elongated envelope and having a cross-section conforming as an extension of said envelope, and
• means coupling the output of said oscillator circuit for exciting said medium to cause it to produce light.

A master unit for electrically powering a plurality of gas discharge lamps each of which has an elongated envelope having a light producing medium contained therein, and a module conforming as an extension of the envelope and including an oscillator circuit positioned at one end of the elongated envelope with the output of the oscillator circuit coupled for exciting the medium to cause it to produce light, said master unit comprising:

• an input and an output,
• means at said input for receiving A.C. power from a source,
• means for correcting the power factor reflected to said source at said input by said receiving means, and
• means for converting the A.C. power to a D.C. power at said output, whereby electrically coupling of said output to the oscillator circuit will cause it to excite the light producing medium while permitting minimal size of the module.