Amalgam heater for fluorescent lamps

摘要

A fluorescent lighting device includes an arc tube, an exhaust tube extending from the arc tube, and an amalgam. A resistive heater is located adjacent to at least one of the arc tube and the exhaust tube. A power supply circuit is operatively coupled with the resistive heater. When the fluorescent lighting device is switched from an OFF state to an ON state, the power supply circuit temporarily energizes the resistive heater, thereby heating the at least one of the arc tube and the exhaust tube while the resistive heater is energized, and automatically de-energizing the resistive heater after said heating.

主权项

1. A fluorescent lighting device, comprising:
an arc tube; an exhaust tube extending from the arc tube; an amalgam; a resistive heater located adjacent to at least one of the arc tube and the exhaust tube; a power supply circuit operatively coupled with the resistive heater; a bracket holding the resistive heater near the amalgam and mounted to the at least one of the arc tube and the exhaust tube, the bracket comprising opposing first and second arms having profiles that conform to the shape of the at least one of the arc tube and the exhaust tube to thereby hold the bracket in place on the at least one of the arc tube and the exhaust tube, wherein when the fluorescent lighting device is switched from an OFF state to an ON state, the power supply circuit temporarily energizes the resistive heater, thereby heating the at least one of the arc tube and the exhaust tube while the resistive heater is energized, and automatically de-energizing the resistive heater after said heating.