Compact fluorescent lamp, self-ballasted fluorescent lamp and luminaire

A self-ballasted fluorescent lamp comprising:

• an arc tube formed by parallely arranging a plurality of U-shaped bent bulbs in such a manner that the maximum width of the bulbs ranges from about 32 mm to about 42 mm, each of which has a bent portion and straight portions;
• a cover including a base that is adapted to permit said arc tube to be attached thereto;
• a lighting circuit which includes a circuit board having the maximum width ranging up to 1.2 times the maximum width of the arc tube, said maximum width of the arc tube being the dimension along which the U-shaped bent bulbs are arranged, said lighting circuit contained in the cover in such a manner that the circuit board is positioned with one of its sides facing all the ends of the straight portions of the arc tube;
• a globe attached to the cover and enclosing the arc tube having a diameter and a base end;
• a first dimension being a distance between the globe and each crown of the arc tube;
• a second dimension being a distance between the diameter of the globe and the arc tube;
• and
• a third dimension being a distance between the base end of the globe and the arc tube,
• wherein the second dimension is greater than the first dimension when the first dimension is greater than or equal to the third dimension.