摘要 |
A method for starting a high intensity discharge lamp and a ballast incorporating same. The method includes obtaining a cumulative probability function of breakdown times, P(t), for the lamp at a voltage, V; determining a minimum pulse length, Tp, for a selected probability of ignition, Pign; if the lamp is operable at the minimum pulse length, then operating the lamp with a DC pulse having a duration Tp and voltage V; or alternatively, if the lamp is not operable at the minimum pulse length, then determining a relaxation time, Trel, for a burst mode, selecting a probability of ignition per burst, Pb, calculating a minimum number of pulses, np, in a burst, determining a number of bursts, Nb, for the selected probability of ignition, and operating the lamp in the burst mode with Nb bursts separated by relaxation time, Trel, with each burst having np pulses of voltage V. |