Importance

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Abstract

A fluorescent illuminating apparatus includes a translucent housing with a chamber within which a fluorescent medium is supported and electrical connections configured to provide an electrical potential across the chamber. An inductive-resistive structure is fixed sufficiently proximate to the housing to induce fluorescence in the fluorescent medium when an electric current is passed through the inductive-resistive structure while an electric potential is applied across the electrical connections of the housing. Preferred inductive structures for use with the present invention include elongate tape structures having a substrate with a conductive-resistive coating. A method of inducing fluorescence comprises passing a current through an inductive structure which is adjacent a fluorescing medium in an amount sufficient to induce fluorescent in the fluorescing medium in the presence of an electrical potential imposed on the fluorescing medium. An alternating current drive circuit for illuminating the fluorescent lamp includes a source of rippled/pulsed DC voltage, a polarity-reversing circuit and a controller connected to the polaritx-reversing circuit which periodically generates a signal to reverse the polarity of the voltage applied to the lamp.

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First Claim