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:
May. 16, 2000
Filed:
Jun. 17, 1998
Edward E Hammer, Mayfield Village, OH (US);
Alvin A Bush, South Euclid, OH (US);
General Electric Company, Schenectady, NY (US);
Abstract
A compact fluorescent lamp system includes a housing and an external base connector mounted in the housing. The external base connector receives electrical power from an external source. A ballast unit is secured within the housing and is electrically connected to the external base connector. The ballast unit controls the electrical power received from the external source. A lamp unit defines an interior volume. The lamp unit includes first and second lamp electrodes extending into the lamp unit. The lamp unit contains a gas which breaks-down permitting electrical current to pass through the lamp unit. An interior of the lamp unit is coated with a material which fluoresces when the gas within the sealed lamp unit ionizes. An electrically conductive hollow cylinder is located within the interior volume. A breakdown voltage path within the lamp unit is modified by the electrically conductive hollow cylinder.