US Patent 7339313 Flat fluorescent lamp for display devices

A flat fluorescent lamp (FFL) for display devices, which has an improved electrode structure for plasma discharge, thus being efficiently operated using a low voltage and having high optical efficiency, is disclosed. The FFL of the present invention is provided with a plurality of branch electrodes extending from main electrodes, provided on opposite ends of a lamp body, in opposite directions toward the opposite main electrodes and being parallel to longitudinal axes of the discharge channels. Furthermore, the FFL may include joint electrodes which electrically couple the branch electrodes, provided around each of the opposite ends of the lamp body, to each other. The FFL may further include step electrodes and/or inductive electrodes.