WO2009075482A1

WO2009075482A1 - External electrode fluorescent lamp and external electrode fluorescent lamp assembly having auxiliary lamp, and lamp apparatus using the same

Info

Publication number: WO2009075482A1
Application number: PCT/KR2008/007059
Authority: WO
Inventors: Myong-Gi Jang; Jong-Hyun Choi
Original assignee: EI LIGHTING Co Ltd
Current assignee: EI LIGHTING Co Ltd
Priority date: 2007-12-10
Filing date: 2008-11-28
Publication date: 2009-06-18
Anticipated expiration: 2010-06-10
Also published as: KR100921404B1; KR20090060857A

Abstract

An external electrode fluorescent lamp (EEFL) having an auxiliary lamp, an EEFL assembly, and a lamp apparatus using the same are disclosed. The EEFL includes: a main lamp including a discharge gas filled therein; and at least one auxiliary lamp communicating with the main lamp and including an electrode formed on its outer circumferential surface to induce plasma discharge within the main lamp. The EEFL assembly secures a light emitting region of the EEFL to its maximum level and has a socket which is integrally assembled with the lamp to thus facilitate lamp replacement. The lamp apparatus has an improved stability and external appearance by preventing wirings for applying power to the lamp from being exposed.

Description

EXTERNAL ELECTRODE FLUORESCENT LAMP AND EXTERNAL ELECTRODE FLUORESCENT LAMP ASSEMBLY HAVING AUXILIARY LAMP, AND LAMP APPARATUS USING THE SAME

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an external electrode fluorescent lamp

(EEFL), having an auxiliary lamp, capable of maximizing lamp efficiency and life span by extending a light emitting region of the lamp and securing the degree of freedom of designing an external electrode, an EEFL assembly, and a lamp apparatus using the same.

2. Description of the Related Art Unlike a general fluorescent lamp, an external electrode fluorescent lamp

(EEFL) has an electrode provided at an outer side a lamp. Plasma discharge is induced within the lamp by an electric field applied to the electrode (or the external electrode), emitting light.

The main feature of the EEFL lies in that a lamp glass below the external electrode serves as a dielectric, and as shown in FIG. 1 , because of the effect as if capacitors C1 and C2 were connected with both ends of a lamp R1 , a plurality of lamps can be driven in parallel, and there is a need to lengthen the external electrode to increase a corresponding capacitance value.

However, in the related art EEFL, external electrodes (E) are formed at both ends of the straight tube type lamp (L), and the length of the external electrodes (E) is determined to have a certain value irrespective of the lamp characteristics due to the necessity of limiting the length of the lamp and securing a light emitting region of a lamp.

The area taken by the external electrodes (E) is one of the key factors for determining the characteristics of the EEFL such as efficiency, a life span, the intensity of radiation, and the like. Thus, if the length of the external electrodes is determined by mechanical specifications of a lamp apparatus employing the EEFL, the external electrodes cannot exert optimized lamp characteristics, resulting in degradation of the efficiency and reliability of the lamps.

In order to overcome such shortcomings, only the configuration of the external electrodes is increased or the use of a lamp with a dual-pipe structure has been reported, but the basic solution is yet to be presented.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, in order to address the above matters, the various features described herein have been conceived.

A first object of the present invention is to provide an external electrode fluorescent lamp (EEFL) capable of maximizing the efficiency and a life span by extending a light emitting region and secure the degree of freedom in designing an external electrode. A second object of the present invention is to provide an EEFL capable of emitting light of various colors by sections by a single lamp while securing a light emitting region of the lamp.

A third object of the present invention is to provide an EEFL assembly having a socket with a structure capable of applying power to a lamp without screening a light emitting region of the lamp.

A fourth object of the present invention is to provide an EEFL assembly capable of improving convenience and stability of replacing a lamp by providing a socket with a structure which is integrally assembled with the lamp and replaced together with the lamp.

A fifth object of the present invention is to provide an EEFL assembly having a structure that can minimize a safety accident such as a defective lamp due to an intrusion of an external foreign material by completely sealing an external electrode.

A sixth object of the present invention is to provide a lamp apparatus with an improved stability and external appearance which does not expose wirings for applying power to a lamp.

To achieve the above objects, there is provided an EEFL (1 ) including: a main lamp including a discharge gas filled therein; and at least one auxiliary lamp communicating with the main lamp and including an electrode formed on its outer circumferential surface to induce plasma discharge within the main lamp. To achieve the above objects, there is also provided an EEFL assembly

(2) including: the EEFL (1 ) and a socket including a socket electrode electrically connected with the electrode formed at the auxiliary lamp and an insulating case housing the socket electrode such that the main lamp is exposed.

To achieve the above objects, there is also provided a lamp apparatus (3) including: at least one EEFL (1 ); a plurality of sockets including a socket electrode electrically connected with the electrode formed at the auxiliary lamp of the EEFL and an insulating case housing the socket electrode such that the main lamp is exposed; a plurality of socket supports detachably combined with the plurality of sockets; and an inverter providing power to the plurality of sockets. The present invention has the following advantages.

First, a light emitting region of the main lamp can be secured, the length, area, position, shape of the external electrode can be changed by changing the auxiliary lamp irrespective of the main lamp, and a nearly unlimited degree of freedom can be obtained in designing the external electrode, so the EEFL can be designed with an optimum high efficiency and long life span. In particular, when the auxiliary lamp is separately manufactured from the main lamp, the material, a tube diameter, a tube thickness, the shape of the auxiliary lamp can be different from those of the main lamp, to thereby considerably improve a capacitance value.

Accordingly, an operation voltage for driving the lamp can be drastically reduced.

Second, because a light emitting region of the main lamp is extended, a high-end lamp apparatus can be fabricated without a non-light emitting region in appearance.

Third, when the EEFL of the present invention is applied to a backlight for an LCD, the light emitting region of the main lamp can be extended, compared with the conventional lamp, by forming external electrodes both at the auxiliary lamp and at the main lamp and adjusting the length of the external electrodes to prevent a front exposure of the external electrodes formed at the auxiliary lamp.

Fourth, when a plurality of auxiliary lamps are connected to the main lamp, independent power can be applied to the respective auxiliary lamps to freely adjust the length of the light emission of the main lamp, so the lamp can be utilized as indicators indicating the level of volume, temperature, or the like. In addition, various colors can be presented by coating different fluorescent substances on an inner wall of the main lamp by sections between the plurality of auxiliary lamps. In this case, the brightness and intensity of each section can be adjusted by controlling the voltage and current applied to each auxiliary lamp, and various mixed colors can be implemented by installing a diffuser or the like on the lamp.

Fifth, because the main lamp for emitting light and the auxiliary lamps with external electrodes are separately formed, the socket may be formed to cover only the auxiliary lamps, so as not to cover the light emitting region of the main lamp.

Sixth, because the socket and the lamp are integrally assembled, the convenience and stability of replacing lamps can be improved. Seventh, because the socket completely seals the external electrodes, a defective lamp and a safety accident caused by an intrusion of an external foreign material can be minimized.

Eighth, power connection between EEFLs is made behind the frame of the lamp apparatus and the power connection line is not exposed, quality of the external appearance of the lamp apparatus can be improved, a safety accident can be prevented, and the space can be effectively utilized compared with the case where the power connection line is drawn out in a lengthwise direction of the lamp.

The foregoing and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a conceptual view of a circuit of an external electrode fluorescent lamp (EEFL);

FIG. 2 is a front view of the related art straight pipe type EEFL; FIG. 3 is a front view of an EEFL according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIGs. 4 and 5 are front views of EEFLs according to an embodiment of the present invention, showing formation of external electrodes when the light emitting region of a main lamp is shorter than the length of the main lamp;

FIG. 6 is a front view of an EEFL according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIGs. 7 to 22 show an example of a method for fabricating the EEFL according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIGs. 23 to 25 illustrate an EEFL assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 23 is an exploded perspective view, FIG. 24 is an assembled perspective view, and FIG. 25 is an assembled perspective bottom view; FIGs. 26 and 27 illustrate an EEFL assembly according to another embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 26 is an exploded perspective view and FIG. 27 is an assembled perspective view;

FIGs. 28 and 29 illustrate an EEFL assembly according to still another embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 28 is an exploded perspective view and FIG. 29 is an assembled perspective view;

FIGs. 30 and 31 illustrate an EEFL assembly according to yet another embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 30 is an exploded perspective view and FIG. 31 is an assembled perspective view;

FIGs. 32 and 33 are exploded and assembled perspective views of a lamp apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 34 is an assembled perspective view of an EEFL assembly and a socket support used for the lamp apparatus according to an embodiment of the preset invention; and

FIGs. 35 and 36 are exploded and assembled perspective views of the socket support in FIG. 34. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention introduces a concept of a main lamp and an auxiliary lamp such that a relationship between the length of an external electrode and a light emitting region of a lamp in an external electrode fluorescent lamp (EEFL) has an independency, not a dependency as in the related art, to thereby maximize the lamp characteristics.

With reference to FIG. 3, an EEFL 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a main lamp 110 and an auxiliary lamp 120.

The main lamp 110 is a discharge tube in which light emission occurs and filled with a discharge gas (e.g., Ar and Ne) therein. As shown in FIG. 3, because no external electrode is formed on an outer circumferential surface of the main lamp 110, a light emitting region of a lamp can be extended compared with the conventional lamp. A fluorescent material used for the general EEFL may be coated on an inner wall of the main lamp 110, or if the main lamp 110 is used as an ultraviolet lamp, coating of the fluorescent material may be omitted.

The auxiliary lamp 120 communicates with the main lamp 110 and includes an external electrode 121 formed on its outer circumferential surface to induce plasma discharge within the main lamp 110. In this embodiment, the external electrode 121 is formed on a portion or the entirety of the auxiliary lamp 120, so the main lamp 110 can be entirely used as a light emitting region.

In this embodiment, two auxiliary lamps 120 are connected in a alphabet "U" shape to the both ends of the main lamp 120, respectively. Here, the 'both ends' of the main lamp 120 may include edge regions or upper side portions of the both ends of the main lamp 120 (not shown), as well as the lower side portions of the both ends of the main lamp 120 as shown in the drawings of the present invention. In a different embodiment, the auxiliary lamp 120 may be connected with only one end of the main lamp 110 and an external electrode is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the main lamp 110 at the other end of the main lamp 110 to induce plasma discharge (not shown). In addition, a plurality of auxiliary lamps may be further disposed between the auxiliary lamps 120 connected with the both ends of the main lamp 110 (See FIG. 6). Namely, in the present invention, the number of the auxiliary lamps, the formation position of the auxiliary lamps, the shape of the auxiliary lamps, the connection shape of the auxiliary lamps with the main lamp are not limited.

As described above, by introducing the auxiliary lamp 120 into the present invention, when a light emitting region of a lamp needs to be extended, only the length of the main lamp 110 is increased, and if the length of the external electrode 121 needs to be lengthened, only the length of the auxiliary lamp 120 is increased to thereby secure an optimum length of the external electrode in any mechanical limitation. A method for manufacturing the lamp 100 as shown in FIG. 3 includes a method for bending a straight pipe type lamp by applying heat thereto, and a method in which the main lamp 110 and the auxiliary lamp 120 are separately fabricated and one point of the main lamp 110 and one corresponding point of the auxiliary lamp 120 are heated to be molten so as to be communicated by a gas pressure. When the auxiliary lamp 120 is separately fabricated and attached to the main lamp 110 as in the latter case, the auxiliary lamp 120 may be handled as a single component and previously fabricated in various materials and forms, so the latter case can be considered a more effective method in terms of easiness, mass- production, and the like, in designing the lamp. Namely, in the EEFL, lamp glass below the external electrode serves as a dielectric, so the factors such as the material, the tube diameter, the tube thickness, the shape, and the like, of the auxiliary lamp 120 that affect capacitance may be different from those of the main lamp 110, so as to be freely changed to maximize the characteristics of the EEFL. For example, preferably, the glass tube of the auxiliary lamp 120 is made of a material with a higher dielectric constant than that of the glass tube of the main lamp 110.

One or more support members (150 in FIG. 23) may be provided between the straight pipe type main lamp 110 and the auxiliary lamp 120 parallel to the main lamp 110 of the EEFL 110. One surface of the support member may be attached to the main lamp 110 with an adhesive, and the other surface of the support member may be attached to the auxiliary lamp 120 with the adhesive, to thereby prevent damage of the connection portions between the main lamp 110 and the auxiliary lamp 120.

FIGs. 4 and 5 are front views of EEFLs according to an embodiment of the present invention, showing formation of external electrodes when the light emitting region of a main lamp is shorter than the length of the main lamp. Like a backlight for an LCD, if a portion of the lamp is positioned at an inner side of a device, preventing the use of emitted light, the lamp region shielded by the device may be secured as an external electrode region to effectively use the lamp.

With reference to FIG. 4, the external electrode is formed only at a portion of the outer circumferential surface of a main lamp 110a, extending a light emitting region of a lamp compared with the conventional lamp. In addition, an external electrode 111 a formed at the main lamp 110a and an external electrode 121a formed at an auxiliary lamp 120a are connected. Thus, only the external electrode 121a formed at the auxiliary lamp 120a may be combined with a socket electrode and power is applied thereto. Also, in this case, a portion of the main lamp 110a may be used as the external electrode region while employing various forms and materials of the auxiliary lamps 110a, thereby designing lamps most suitable for each application field.

With reference to FIG. 5, the length of an external electrode 111 b formed at a main lamp 110b is the same as that of an external electrode 121 b formed at the auxiliary lamp. With this configuration, when the lamp of the present invention is applied to the backlight for the LCD, the external electrode 111 b formed at the main lamp 110b and the external electrode 121 b formed at the auxiliary lamp can be positioned at an inner side of a device, to thus prevent the external electrode 121 b formed at the auxiliary lamp from being exposed. With reference to FIG. 6, a plurality of auxiliary lamps 120-1 , 120-2, 120-3, and 120-4 may be connected to the main lamp 110 to provide various presentations by using the single lamp. The auxiliary lamps 120-1 and 120-4 are connected with both ends of the main lamp 110, and at least one auxiliary lamp, namely, two auxiliary lamps 120-2 and 120-3 in this embodiment of the present invention, are disposed between the two auxiliary lamps 120-1 and 120-4. The length of a light emission of the main lamp can be freely adjusted by selectively and independently applying power to the respective auxiliary lamps 120-1 , 120-2, 120-3, and 120-4, so the lamp can be utilized as indicators indicating the level of volume, temperature, or the like. In addition, different fluorescent substances may be coated on the inner wall of the main lamp 110 by sections between the plurality of auxiliary lamps 120- 1 to 120-4 to present various colors. For example, of the inner wall of the main lamp 110, a fluorescent substance (R) that emits red light may be coated on the section between the auxiliary lamps 120-1 and 120-2, a fluorescent substance (G) that emits green light may be coated on the section between the auxiliary lamps 120-2 and 120-3, and a fluorescent substance (B) that emits blue light may be coated on the section between the auxiliary lamps 120-3 and 120-4. In this case, the brightness and intensity of each section may be adjusted by controlling the voltage and current applied to the respective auxiliary lamps 120-1 to 120-4, or a diffuser (not shown) may be installed on the lamp to implement various mixture colors.

The method for fabricating the EEFL according to the present invention will now be described with reference to FIGs. 7 to 22.

As described above, the method for fabricating the EEFL includes a method for forming an auxiliary lamp by bending a portion of a lamp, and a method for separately fabricating a main lamp and an auxiliary lamp and attaching them. Hereinafter, the latter method will now be described. However, the present invention is not limited to the fabrication method and order as described below.

First, a main lamp is prepared. To this end, a glass tube 11 with both ends open is prepared and cleaned (FIG. 7), and then, a fluorescent substance 12 is coated on the inner wall of the glass tube 11 (FIG. 8). When a ultraviolet lamp is used, the process of coating the fluorescent material 12 is omitted. Next, one end of the glass tube 11 is sealed by using a torch (FIG. 9).

And then, two auxiliary lamps, namely, first and second auxiliary lamps 20 and 40 are prepared. In order to prepare the first auxiliary lamp 20, a glass tube 21 with both ends open is prepared and cleaned (FIG. 10), and then, a fluorescent substance 22 is coated on the inner wall of the glass tube 21 (FIG. 11 ). Here, in order to obtain reliability, the process of coating the fluorescent substance 22 may be omitted. Thereafter, one end of the glass tube 21 is sealed by using a torch (FIG. 12). The second auxiliary lamp 40 is also prepared in the same manner. Subsequently, the first auxiliary lamp 20 is connected to one side of the main lamp 10. To this end, connection portions 13 and 23 of the main lamp and the first auxiliary lamp 10 and 20 are heated by the torch (FIG. 13). And then, the torch is removed and the distance between the main lamp 10 and the first auxiliary lamp 20 is narrowed and air or nitrogen (N₂) is injected into the main lamp and the first auxiliary lamp 10 and 20 (FIG. 14). Then, the connection portions 13 and 23 are burst by the gas pressure to form a first communicating portion 30 (FIG. 15). Then, the other end of the main lamp 10 is sealed by using the torch (FIG. 16).

Thereafter, the second auxiliary lamp 40 is connected to the other side of the main lamp 10. To this end, connection portions 14 and 44 of the main lamp and the first auxiliary lamp 10 and 40 are heated by the torch (FIG. 17). And then, the torch is removed and the distance between the main lamp 10 and the second auxiliary lamp 40 is narrowed and air or nitrogen (N₂) is injected into the first and second auxiliary lamps 20 and 40 (FIG. 18). Then, the connection portions 14 and 24 are burst by the gas pressure to form a second communicating portion 50 (FIG. 19). Then, the other end of the first auxiliary lamp 10 is sealed by using the torch (FIG. 20). And then, the gas in the lamp is discharged through the other end of the second auxiliary lamp 40 to make the interior vacuumized, into which mercury (Hg) is injected (FIG. 21 ), and finally, the other end of the second auxiliary lamp 40 is sealed by using the torch (FIG. 22).

If the external electrode is desired to be formed only at the auxiliary lamp as shown in FIG. 3, the external electrode may be formed at the auxiliary lamp any time after the process as shown in FIG. 10, or preferably, after the process as shown in FIG. 12, in the lamp fabrication process as described above.

FIGs. 23 to 31 illustrate various embodiments of the EEFL assembly formed by combining the EEFL obtained in the manner as described above with the socket.

With reference to FIGs. 23 to 31 , the EEFL assembly according to the present invention includes the EEFL 100 and sockets 200, 200a, 200b, and 200c. Here, the socket 200, 200a, 200b, and 200c include socket electrodes 210, 210a, 210b, and 210c electrically connected with the external electrode 121 formed at the auxiliary lamp 120 of the EEFL 100 and insulating cases 220, 220a, 220b, and 220c housing the socket electrodes 210, 210a, 210b, and 210c such that the main lamp 110 of the EEFL 100 is exposed.

In the present invention, the main lamp 100 serving to emit light and the auxiliary lamp 120 with the external electrode 121 are separately provided and the insulating cases 220, 220a, 220b, and 220c are formed to cover only the auxiliary lamp 120, so the light emitting region of the main lamp 100 cannot be shielded. In addition, because the sockets 200, 200a, 200b, 200c and the EEFL 100 are integrally assembled to thus improve the convenience and stability of replacing the lamp. Also, the insulating cases 220, 220a, 220b, and 220c can completely cover the external electrode 121 , a defective lamp and a safety accident due to an introduction of an external foreign material can be minimized.

With reference to FIGs. 23 to 29, a portion of the socket electrodes 210, 210a and 210b is penetratingly protruded from the insulating case. In detail, as shown in FIGs. 23 to 25, the main lamp 110 is positioned at an upper side of the insulating case 220, and the portion of the socket electrode 210 is protruded downwardly from the insulating case 220 to serve as a power input terminal 211 for transferring power received from an external inverter (not shown) to the external electrode 121. Because the power input terminal 211 is downwardly drawn out of the insulating case 220, power connection between lamps and power connection between the lamp and the inverter are made at the rear side of the frame of the lamp apparatus, preventing an exposure of the power connection lines. Alternatively, as shown in FIGs. 26 and 27, a portion of the socket electrode 210a may be protruded backwardly from the insulating case 220a to serve as a power input terminal 211a. Or, as shown in FIGs. 28 and 29, a portion of the socket electrode 210b may be protruded forwardly from the insulating case 220a to serve as a power input terminal 211b. The protrusion direction of the power input terminals may be freely changed according to the specifications of the lamp apparatus in which the EEFL assembly is installed.

In the above-described embodiments, the power input terminals 211 , 211a, and 211 b are drawn downwardly, backwardly and forwardly from the insulating cases 220, 220a and 220b, respectively. In this embodiment, as shown in FIGs. 30 and 31 , a conductive magnet 230c is used instead of the power input terminals. The conductive magnet 230c is combined with the socket electrode 210c, and at least one surface of the conductive magnet 230c is exposed via a through hole formed on the insulating case 220c. The other configurations are the same as those of the embodiments of FIGs. 23 to 29. When the conductive magnet 230c is used, as shown in FIG. 31 , there is no protrusion from the external appearance of the product after the socket is combined, having an advantage of packaging and distribution, and because the magnet serves as a mechanical combination by a magnetic force in conjunction with an electrical contact point, an additional device for fixing the lamp is not required to thus improve the user convenience. The lamp apparatus using the EEFL as described above will now be explained.

With reference to FIGs. 32 and 33, the lamp apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention includes at least one EEFL 100, the plurality of sockets 200, a plurality of socket supports 300, and an inverter (not shown) providing power to the plurality of sockets.

The socket 200 includes the socket electrode 210 electrically connected with the external electrode 121 formed at the auxiliary lamp 120 of the EEFL 100 and the insulating case 220 housing the socket electrode 210 such that the main lamp 110 of the EEFL 100 is exposed.

The socket support 300 is detachably combined with the socket 200. Accordingly, the assembly of the EEFL 100 and the socket 200 can be replaced at one time when the lamp is replaced, to thereby improve user convenience and stability of lamp replacement.

With reference to FIG. 32, three EEFLs are aligned side by side, and a plate 400 is installed between the main lamps 110 of the EEFLs and the plurality of socket supports 300. Here, the plate 400 may be a reflection plate with a material, which well reflects light, coated thereon.

In the present invention (in particular, the embodiments as shown in FIGs.

23 to 25 and the embodiments as shown in FIGs. 30 and 31 ), the parallel connection between the EEFLs 100 and the connection between the EEFL 100 and the inverter (not shown) is made behind the plate 400, not exposing the power connection lines. Thus, the quality of the external appearance of the lamp apparatus can be improved and a safety accident is prevented. Also, such configuration is advantageous in terms of space utilization, compared with the case in which the power connection line is drawn out of the lamp in the lengthwise direction.

FIGs. 34 to 36 show another embodiment of the lamp apparatus according to the present invention. A method for connecting power source and fixing between a socket having such a conductive magnet as shown in FIGs. 30 and 31 and a socket support will now be described. Combining configuration of this embodiment is the same as that of FIG. 33, so its illustration will be omitted.

In this embodiment, a socket support 300 and a socket electrode of the socket 200 are combined by the medium of a conductive magnet. The conductive magnet may be formed only at the socket support 300, only at the socket 200, or at both the socket support 300 and the socket 200. When the conductive magnet is formed only at one side, the other side uses a conductive member that can be combined with the conductive magnet.

With reference to FIGs. 35 and 36, the socket support 300 includes a metallic terminal 310 combined with the conductive magnet by a magnetic force, a conductive connection pin 320 combined with the metallic terminal 310 and having end portions thereof drawn out in a different direction to each other, and an insulating housing 330 for housing the metallic terminal 310 and the conductive pin 320 such that one surface of the metallic terminal 310 and each end portion of the conductive connection pin 320 are exposed.

Here, the metallic terminal 310 is directly combined with the conductive magnet included in the socket, thus making an electrical connection and mechanical combining. In addition, the number of EEFLs for a parallel driving can be increased by the conductive connection pin 320.

As the present invention may be embodied in several forms without departing from the characteristics thereof, it should also be understood that the above-described embodiments are not limited by any of the details of the foregoing description, unless otherwise specified, but rather should be construed broadly within its scope as defined in the appended claims, and therefore all changes and modifications that fall within the metes and bounds of the claims, or equivalents of such metes and bounds are therefore intended to be embraced by the appended claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. An external electrode fluorescent lamp (EEFL) comprising: a main lamp including a discharge gas filled therein; and at least one auxiliary lamp communicating with the main lamp and including an electrode formed on its outer circumferential surface to induce plasma discharge within the main lamp.

2. The lamp of claim 1 , wherein each auxiliary lamp is connected with both ends of the main lamp.

3. The lamp of claim 1 , wherein no electrode for inducing plasma discharge within the main lamp is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the main lamp.

4. The lamp of claim 1 , wherein an electrode for inducing plasma discharge within the main lamp is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the main lamp, and the electrode formed at the main lamp and the electrode formed at the auxiliary lamp are connected with each other.

5. The lamp of claim 1 , wherein at least one of a material, a tube diameter, a pipe thickness and a shape of the auxiliary lamp is different from those of the main lamp.

6. The lamp of claim 2, further comprising: at least one auxiliary lamp positioned between two auxiliary lamps connected with both ends of the main lamp.

7. The lamp of claim 6, wherein different fluorescent substances, which are to emit visible light of different colors, are coated on the inner wall of the main lamp by sections between two neighboring auxiliary lamps.

8. The lamp of claim 1 , wherein the main lamp is a straight pipe type lamp, and the auxiliary lamp is formed to be parallel to the main lamp.

9. An external electrode fluorescent lamp (EEFL) assembly comprising: the EEFL according to claim 1 ; and a socket including a socket electrode electrically connected with the electrode formed at the auxiliary lamp and an insulating case housing the socket electrode such that the main lamp is exposed.

10. The assembly of claim 9, wherein a portion of the socket electrode is protruded from the insulating case by penetrating the insulating case.

11. The assembly of claim 9, wherein the socket comprises a conductive magnet combined with the socket electrode and having at least one surface exposed via a through hole formed at the insulating case.

12. A lamp apparatus comprising: at least one EEFL according to claim 1 ; a plurality of sockets including a socket electrode electrically connected with the electrode formed at the auxiliary lamp of the EEFL and an insulating case housing the socket electrode such that the main lamp is exposed; a plurality of socket supports detachably combined with the plurality of sockets; and an inverter providing power to the plurality of sockets.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the socket support and the socket electrode of the socket are combined by the medium of a conductive magnet.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the socket support comprises a metallic terminal combined with the conductive magnet by a magnetic force, a conductive connection pin combined with the metallic terminal and having end portions thereof drawn out in a different direction, and an insulating housing for housing the metallic terminal and the conductive connection pin such that one surface of the metallic terminal and each end portion of the conductive connection pin are exposed.

15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein at least two EEFLs are aligned side by side, a plate is installed between the main lamps of the EEFLs and the plurality of socket supports, and a parallel connection between the EEFLs and the connection between each of the EEFLs and the inverter are made behind the plate.