The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 14, 1998
Filed:
Aug. 14, 1995
Atilla Biro, Willoughby Hills, OH (US);
Sandor Lukacs, Veroce, HU;
Edit Katona, Debrecen, HU;
Helen Rapp, Cleveland Heights, OH (US);
General Electric Company, Schenectady, NY (US);
Abstract
A compact fluorescent lamp having improved warm-up characteristics is provided. The lamp includes a sealed glass envelope formed from U-shaped tubes each having a pair of substantially parallel leg sections closed at one end and a transversely extending bridging section joining the other end of the leg sections. Adjacent leg sections of adjacent tubes are joined by connecting conduits which complete a convoluted and elongate discharge path between a pair of electrodes. A main amalgam located within in a sealed stem at a closed end of an interior leg section for controlling mercury vapor pressure during a discharge period except for a starting period thereof. Auxiliary amalgams are attached to electrode support structures extending from the closed ends of the exterior leg sections for emitting mercury vapor during the starting period. Furthermore, an additional auxiliary amalgam is attached to a support structure extending from a sealed stem at a closed end of an interior leg section and in the discharge path at a substantially equal distance from each of the electrodes for emitting mercury vapor during the starting period.