Method for operating low-pressure gas discharge lamps e.g. for illuminated advertisements, involves controlling heat-rating of filaments during pre-heating

摘要

A method for operating a low-pressure discharge lamp includes control of the ignition-and lighting phase of the lamp with pre-heating by heating the filament of the lamp electrodes. The heat-rating for the filament during the time-intervals in which pre-heating takes place from the ballast, is controlled so that the temperature of the ballast increases largely linearly up to the emission temperature of the electrodes and the gas-path between the electrodes is short-circuited at low-resistance so that no glow-discharge takes place. An independent claim is also included for a device for operating a low-pressure gas discharge lamp.