(57) A high power tubular CCFL device (11) comprises at least one CCFL (2); and a light
transmission tube (3) having two ends, where the at least one CCFL is at a fixed location
inside the light transmission tube. At least two fixtures (4) are used, one fixture
at each of the two ends of the light transmission tube. At least two connectors (5)
are used, one connector at each of the two ends of the light transmission tube for
connection to input electric power. Preferably a portion of a driver (12; which preferably
includes at least one high voltage transformer) is employed in the fixture. The fixture
connects the light transmission tube, the CCFL(s) and the connector. To design a CCFL
device that generates multi-color lighting for various purposes such as entertainment,
two or more CCFLs may be used. A driver circuit converts input electric power to an
AC output in the range of about 5 -400 volts and at a frequency in the range of about
1 kHz-800kHz. At least one high voltage transformer responds to said AC output to
cause suitable voltage(s) to be supplied to each of the CCFLs to cause the CCFLs to
supply light. In one embodiment, a plurality of CCFL lamp units are used, each equipped
with its own driver control circuit that supplies a suitable voltage to the CCFL of
such unit. Hence, the driver circuits applying AC outputs to the two or more CCFL
lamp units may apply AC outputs that are different from one another, so that the two
or more CCFL units are individually controlled to emit light of the same or different
intensities.
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