Integral housing for low profile fluorescent lamp

A fluorescent lamp assembly comprising:

• a fluorescent lamp having a curved configuration disposed in a single plane substantially defining a planar space and delineating an open area lying within said planar space;
• an integral, common housing into which ends of the fluorescent lamp enter and are fixedly mounted, the ends having electrode leads extending from the ends inside the common housing;
• lamp electronics electrically connected to and lying adjacent to the fixedly mounted fluorescent lamp at the electrode leads of the mounted fluorescent lamp wherein the lamp electronics lie within the open area within the planar space;
• wherein the lamp electronics are confined to within the common housing;
• the tube ends being inserted and fixed into one side of the common housing;
• the fluorescent lamp extending from the one side of the common housing and looping around same in spaced relation thereto to define a generally straight central segment spaced on the opposite side of the common housing from the lamp ends;
• and
• the common housing having a pair of lamp support arms extending from the common housing to the central segment and supportively engaging same.

A fluorescent lamp assembly comprising:

• a fluorescent lamp envelope configuration disposed in a substantially planar conformation, the lamp envelope bent into a 2D conformation, and including lamp ends which are disposed in a generally parallel relation to each other and, electrode leads extending outwardly from the lamp envelope;
• an electronic board for controlling operation of the lamp, and designed to receive the electrode leads;
• and
• a housing sized to receive at least the lamp ends and electrode leads, and the lamp electronics wherein connection between the electrode leads and lamp electronics are made within the housing.