General Electric Company

&Aacute;kos Ocsovai

Ferenc Papp

Istv&aacute;n W&uuml;rsching

J&oacute;zsef F&uuml;l&ouml;p

S&aacute;ndor Luk&aacute;cs

An electrode-to-ballast interconnect is provided in combination with a fluorescent lamp including a discharge tube bent substantially in a plane. The discharge tube is shaped at least in part to define a substantial portion of the boundary of a zone in the plane. The part of the tube defining the boundary includes at least one straight portion. The discharge tube has a symmetry axis in the plane and sealed tube ends provided with electrodes, and the tube ends re-enter said zone. A base housing is laid within said zone and receives the tube ends. The base housing includes a ballast circuit which is located at least partly on a circuit board positioned substantially parallel to the plane. The electrode-to-ballast interconnect comprises electrode-in-leads which are connected to each electrode and embedded in the tube ends. Terminals are anchored in and protruding from the circuit board. The electrode-in-leads are pre-formed to a shape suitable for connecting to the terminals. Means is formed in the circuit board for urging the electrode-in-leads to the terminals during assembly. The electrode-in-leads and the terminals are joined electrically and mechanically. The base housing protrudes at most half of the outer diameter of the discharge tube from the space defined thereby.

Growing community of inventors

Budapest, Hungary

Ákos Ocsovai

Growing community of inventors

Budapest, Hungary

&Aacute;kos Ocsovai

Ákos Ocsovai