Patent ID: 9048083
Filing Date: 2015-06-02
Classification: H01J

Abstract:
1. A method for operating an amalgam lamp having a nominal power Pnominal, the lamp comprising a discharge space containing a filling gas, wherein the discharge space is accessible for an amalgam deposit, which is heatable by a heating element in which a heating current (I heating ) is conducted through the heating element, the method comprising applying a lamp voltage U optimum designed for a maximum UVC emission between electrodes or flowing a lamp current I optimum designed for a maximum UVC emission between electrodes, setting a target value of a lamp current I target that is less than I optimum , turning on or increasing the heating current (I heating ) when the lamp current falls below a lower limit I 1 , and turning off or reducing the heating current (I heating ) when an upper limit I 2 for the lamp current is exceeded.