Patent ID: 7880397
Filing Date: 2011-02-01
Classification: H05B,Y02B

Abstract:
1. A method of controlling a DC to AC inverter that includes a network of plurality of switches that generates an AC signal from a DC signal, a tank circuit, and a controller for driving a discharge lamp, comprising: initializing said controller; striking said discharge lamp using a first AC signal generated by said network of plurality of switches and said tank circuit, said first AC signal having the same frequency as a resonant frequency of said tank circuit; and driving said discharge lamp using a second AC signal generated by said network of plurality of switches and said tank circuit, wherein said first AC signal has a higher electrical energy than said second AC signal; wherein said first AC signal has a larger pulse width than said second AC signal, and further wherein said striking of said discharge lamp using a first AC signal comprises modulating the pulse width of each half cycle of said first AC signal.