A description is given of a gas-discharge lamp base (11) with a housing comprising an upper part (10) and a cover (40), a support (16) accommodated in the housing for receiving the components, with a transformer, with inductances connected in series with the lamp (1) and a capacitance connected in parallel with the lamp (1), the transformer comprising a bar transformer (23). This construction permits particularly efficient production, because the support can be constructed as a simple leadframe which permits automatic component fitting.

A solid-state high-voltage pulse generator based on a three-phase chopper capacitance charger is described. In a first phase, an intermediate capacitor is resonance-charged via a diode. In a second phase, the intermediate capacitor is discharged to the load through one or more solid-state switches. In a third phase, the energy remaining in the intermediate capacitor is returned to a power-supply filter capacitor. In one embodiment, the three-phase chopper includes an intermediate capacitor that is charged by first and fourth branches of a bridge and discharged by second and third branches of a bridge. In one embodiment, each branch of the bridge includes a diode in series with an inductor. In one embodiment, a composite solid-state switch connects the intermediate capacitor to a primary winding of an output transformer such that the intermediate capacitor discharges through the primary winding. In one embodiment, a secondary winding of the output transformer is provided to an output load. In one embodiment, the output load is a reactive load. In one embodiment, the output load is a capacitive load.

A gas discharge lamp base (1) with a starting device has a carrier part (16) for electronic components (23 through 30) of the starting device. The carrier part (16) has a top side and a bottom side. Only high voltage-carrying components (23 through 26) of the starting device are arranged on the one side of the carrier part (16), and only low voltage-carrying components (27 through 30) of the starting device are arranged on the other side (low voltage side) of the carrier part (16).

A double ended high intensity lamp holder of the type used in television and motion picture lighting applications is provided with an improved lamp holder for securely and safely supporting a double ended lamp. The improved fixture includes a pair of lamp holder assemblies each including a generally U-shaped lamp holder member with a spring clip thereon for quick and easy snap-fit reception of the opposite ends of a double ended lamp. The two lamp holder members are resiliently suspended by a spring mounting arrangement from a corresponding pair of support brackets, whereby the double ended lamp is resiliently mounted in a manner substantially isolating and protecting the lamp against damage due to thermal stress, physical shock, vibration, etc.