Patent ID: 8450945

Claim:
A high-frequency lamp ( 10 ) comprising a signal generating portion ( 12 ) for generating a high-frequency signal ( 14 ), and an ionization chamber ( 16 ) connected downstream of the signal generating portion, wherein the signal generating portion ( 12 ) comprises a switchable high-frequency oscillator ( 18 ), and at the output thereof a power amplifier ( 20 ) for increasing a power of the high-frequency signal ( 14 ), wherein the ionization chamber ( 16 ), which comprises at least one gas-filled glass bulb ( 22 ), has at least one electrode ( 28 ) associated, wherein an impedance transformer ( 26 ), which is at its output in connection with the at least one electrode ( 28 ), is connected downstream of the power amplifier ( 20 ), wherein the signal generating portion ( 12 ) in addition comprises a coupler ( 36 ) connected downstream of the power amplifier ( 20 ), in particular arranged between the power amplifier ( 20 ) and the impedance transformer ( 26 ), a high-frequency detector ( 38 ) and a processing unit ( 34 ), wherein a high-frequency signal reflected at the at least one electrode ( 28 ) during the operation of the high-frequency lamp ( 10 ) is supplied to the high-frequency detector ( 38 ) via the coupler ( 36 ), and wherein a control signal is generated by the processing unit ( 34 ) as an actuating signal ( 35 ) based on an output signal of the high-frequency detector ( 38 ) is supplied to the high-frequency oscillator ( 18 ) for optimizing the high-frequency signal ( 14 ) based on the reflected signal.