Patent ID: 6906337

Claim:
A method for operating a UV radiation source of the low-pressure gas discharge type, the UV radiation source having a heating coil which, in response to the impingement of selected voltages thereagainst, effects the discharging of gas, the method comprising: interrogating an identification means, the identification means being associated with the UV radiation source such that a response by the identification means to an interrogation thereof is interpretable as an identifying characteristic of the UV radiation source; in the event that a response to the interrogation of the identification means positively correlates with information indicating that operation of the respective associated UV radiation source is authorized, permitting the operation of the UV radiation source to proceed as an authorized operation; and in the event that a response to the interrogation of the identification means does not positively correlate with information indicating that operation of the respective associated UV radiation source is authorized, intervening in connection with the operation of the respective associated UV radiation source such that at least one of a signal indicating the non-authorized status of the respective associated UV radiation source and a disablement of the operation of the respective associated UV radiation source are affected.