Hybrid luminosity control system for a fluorescent lamp
US5909085A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 17, 1997 |
| Grant date | Jun 1, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 17, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01J61/72
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A luminosity control system (10) for a fluorescent lamp (12) that has a glass enclosure (18) and a pair of lead wires (14) at each end of the glass enclosure is provided. A filament (16) is electrically coupled to each pair of lead wires. An amalgam (22) is located adjacent each filament. The amalgam releases mercury into the glass enclosure upon activation of the fluorescent lamp. A wrapped wire heater (24) is in thermal contact with a first portion of the exterior surface of the glass enclosure. The heater and a thermoelectric cooler (36) raise the temperature of the fluorescent lamp to a level above the temperature at which the fluorescent lamp produces maximum visible light as determined by mercury pressure within the glass enclosure while the amalgam releases mercury into the fluorescent lamp. Thereafter, the thermoelectric cooler (36) maintains a portion of the glass enclosure at this temperature.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.