Patent ID: 6525479
Filing Date: 2003-02-25
Classification: H05B

Abstract:
The method for operating a lamp (3) fitted with a fluorescent tube (2), where the operating data of certain recognisable lamp types (T1, T2, Tnâˆ’1, Tn), i.e. at least the rated lamp voltage (UL), the rated lamp current (IL) and the preheating currents (Ivorh1Ivorh2, Ivorhnâˆ’1, Ivorhn) for preheating the electrodes, are stored in a register (R), where the preheating currents (Ivorh1, Ivorh2, Ivorhnâˆ’1, Ivorhn) are allocated to predefined electrode resistance ranges (RE>X; Y<=RE<=X; Z<=RE<=Y), the electrode resistance (RE) is measured during a preheating phase (V) and the preheating current (Ivorh1, Ivorh2, Ivorhnâˆ’1, Ivorhn) allocated to the measured electrode resistance (RE) is set, characterised in that the fluorescent tube (2) is operated with a dimming current (ID) of known current intensity for a predetermined time during a starting phase (S) following on from the preheating phase (V), the prevailing lamp voltage (UL) of the fluorescent tube (2) is measured after the starting phase (S), the register (R) is then searched for the rated lamp voltage (UL1, UL2, UL(nâˆ’1), ULn) that comes closest to the measured lamp voltage (UL) of the fluorescent tube (2) and the operating data required for operation of the fluorescent tube (2) and allocated to the measured lamp voltage (UL) by the register (R) are then set.