Hybrid luminosity control system for a fluorescent lamp

A luminosity control system for a fluorescent lamp, the fluorescent lamp having a glass enclosure, at least one pair of lead wires that extends into the glass enclosure, and a filament located in the glass enclosure that is electrically coupled to the lead wires for producing heat in the glass enclosure when electrical power is applied to the lead wires, the luminosity control system comprising:

• an amalgam located in the glass enclosure adjacent said filament, the amalgam releasing mercury into the glass enclosure when electrical power is applied to the lead wires and the filament produces heat;
• a heating element in thermal contact with the exterior surface of the glass enclosure for raising the temperature inside the glass enclosure as the amalgam releases mercury into the glass enclosure;
• a heating element temperature sensor attached in thermal communication with said glass enclosure in the region of said heating element;
• a spot cooling device in thermal communication with a portion of the glass enclosure for controlling the temperature inside the glass enclosure;
• a spot cooling device temperature sensor in thermal communication with said portion of said glass enclosure;
• and
• a power and control system coupled to said lead wires, said heating element, said heating element temperature sensor, said spot cooling device and said spot cooling device temperature sensor for receiving temperature information from said heating element temperature sensor and said spot cooling device temperature sensor and for applying electrical power to said lead wires, said heating element and said spot cooling device such that the temperature in said glass enclosure is rapidly raised above a predetermined temperature after power is first applied to said lead wires and thereafter said portion of said glass enclosure is maintained at said predetermined temperature.

A method of controlling the luminosity of a fluorescent lamp, the fluorescent lamp including a glass enclosure having a length dimension and at least one pair of lead wires that extends into the glass enclosure and a filament located in the glass enclosure that is electrically coupled to the lead wires for producing heat in the glass enclosure when electrical power is applied to the lead wires, the method comprising:

• releasing mercury from an amalgam into the glass enclosure upon application of electrical power to the lead wires;
• raising the temperature of the glass enclosure by applying heat to the glass enclosure along substantially the entire length of the glass enclosure to above a predetermined temperature while the amalgam releases mercury into the glass enclosure;
• and
• cooling a portion of the glass enclosure to the predetermined temperature after the temperature of the glass enclosure is raised above the predetermined temperature.