Patent attributes
An external electrode fluorescent lamp includes an external electrode having an increased surface area. The external electrode fluorescent lamp includes a lamp tube, the lamp tube including a “W”-like shaped end portion, and a double-tube external electrode formed on an outer surface of the “W”-like shaped end portion, the double-tube external electrode including a first electrode on a concave outer surface of the “W”-like shaped end portion, and a second electrode formed on a non-concave outer surface of the “W”-like shaped end portion. Alternatively, the external electrode fluorescent lamp includes a lamp tube, the lamp tube having two end portions and an intermediate portion between the end portions and a diameter of the end portions being larger than a diameter of the intermediate portion, and external electrodes respectively formed on an outer surface of the end portions of the lamp tube.
