US Patent 7952289 UV lamp system and associated method with improved magnetron control

An ultraviolet lamp system for irradiating a substrate includes a magnetron and a memory physically attached to the magnetron. An electrodeless lamp is configured to emit ultraviolet light when excited by microwave energy generated from the magnetron. Main control circuitry is operable to read and write operational data associated with the magnetron to the memory. The ultraviolet lamp system is operated by generating microwave energy from the magnetron. A plasma within an electrodeless lamp is excited with the microwave energy to emit ultraviolet light. Operational data associated with the magnetron is tracked and written to the memory associated with the magnetron.