CAPACITIVELY COUPLED RF FLUORESCENT LAMP WITH RF MAGNETIC ENHANCEMENT

摘要

A fluorescent light source includes a fluorescentlamp having first and second electrodes at or near theends thereof for capacitive coupling of RF electricalenergy to a low pressure discharge within thefluorescent lamp and an RF source having a firstoutput lead electrically coupled to the firstelectrode and a second output lead electricallycoupled to the second electrode. The electrodesinclude circuitry for inducing an RF magnetic fieldwithin the fluorescent lamp in the region of theelectrodes. The RF magnetic field improves theperformance of the capacitively coupled RF lightsource by creating an auxiliary inductive RF dischargenear the capacitive coupling electrodes. Theinductive discharge locally increases the plasmadensity and the electrode sheath capacitance andprovides a reduction in RF voltage across thecapacitively coupled fluorescent lamp.