Non-light producing phosphor energizable lamp simulator and methods of

Abstract

A lamp simulator for use as a replacement for a phosphor excitable lamp, such as a fluorescent lamp in a plural lamp fixture. The fixture is typically one with socket-type connectors adapted to have at least two or more phosphor excitable lamps mounted therein. The lamp simulator replaces one or more of the illuminatable lamps in the fixture. The simulator comprises a lamp body or housing having end caps on each of the transverse ends and generally has a size approximately equal to a lamp it replaces. In one embodiment, a capacitor may be physically mounted on one of the end caps and is electrically connected to one of the terminals on the end cap and electrically connected to a terminal on the other of the end caps. Further, the caps may have a diametral size at least slightly greater than the lamp tube such that a plurality of lamps can be packed in a single container without a separate jacket for each lamp. In another embodiment, the lamp is provided with an irregular surface as for example, a plurality of longitudinally extending spaced apart ridges on the interior surface of the lamp housing in order to create light dispersion and substantial elimination of shadows. Thus, the light simulator effectively takes the place of an actual lamp in that it appears as though light is actually coming from the said lamp simulator and thereby simulates an actual lamp. The invention also provides a method of securing an electrode of the capacitor to a terminal on the lamp end cap as well as a method of non-visably perceptably removing phosphor energizable light producing lamps and replacing such lamps with non-light producing lamp simulators.