Self-ballasted compact fluorescent lamp and method for manufacturing

Method for manufacturing a compact fluorescent lamp comprising the steps of:

• a) providing an outer envelope comprising a substantially spherical portion and an elongated end portion with a neck portion being terminated by an open end for receiving a base shell;
• b) closing and terminating the open end of the neck portion of the envelope with a flare comprising a blow tube of a material compatible with the material of the outer envelope,
• c) cutting a substantially circular opening in the flare and thereby removing at least the blow tube;
• d) separating the envelope by cutting along a circumferential line in a plane substantially perpendicular to the principal axis of the envelope into an upper part for receiving a discharge tube arrangement with lead-in wires and a lower part terminated by the closing and neck reinforcing means at a base side for receiving a ballast circuit with connection points for lead-out wires of the power supply and lead-in wires of the discharge tube arrangement;
• e) connecting the lead-in wires of the discharge tube arrangement and the lead-out wires of the power supply to the respective connection points of the ballast circuit, thereby providing a lamp ballast assembly;
• f) introducing the ballast circuit part of the lamp ballast assembly into the lower part of the envelope and leading the lead-out wires through the substantially circular opening of the closing and neck reinforcing means;
• g) bringing the separated upper part and lower part of the envelope along the separating line into contact with each other;
• h) connecting and sealing the upper and lower part of the envelope along the separating line;
• i) providing the outer envelope with a circumferential groove with an inside surface of the groove being in contact with the printed circuit board of the ballast circuit,
• j) providing the neck portion of the envelope with a base shell;
• and
• k) connecting the lead-out wires to contact terminals of the base.