FLUORESCENT LAMP WITH A SECOND BALLAST FOR DIMMED LIGHTING MODE

摘要

A fluorescent lamp comprising - a discharge vessel (10) with two ends defining a discharge path extending between - a pair (16) of discharge electrodes (20) provided at both ends of said discharge vessel for discharging electrons to and from each other; and - a ballast circuit for operating the lamp in a normal lighting mode and in a dimmed lighting mode, with the special feature that the ballast circuit comprises - a first ballast for supplying a normal operating current to said pair of discharge electrodes in the normal lighting mode; and - a second ballast for supplying a reduced operating current to an auxiliary discharge electrode (24) connected to a discharge electrode (20) of said pair of discharge electrodes in the dimmed lighting mode.