Electronic ballast for gas discharge lamps

摘要

This invention provides in a number of measures in the form of sections for the electronic ballast by which the efficiency of the combination of the discharge lamp and the electronic ballast is increased. This is done by two measures. Measure 1 concerns a warm start circuit for the discharge lamp, by which a constant pre-heating current is available for a period of time which depends on the temperature characteristics of the discharge lamp's electrodes and by which a starting voltage is immediately offered to the discharge lamp after the pre-heating phase. Measure 2 concerns an electrode current limiter which reduces the current through the electrodes of the discharge lamp after the starting phase to a minimal value. The invention provides in an integrated use of both measures 1 and 2 in a modular way.