Patent ID: 8115403

Claim:
A method for starting an HID lamp using an igniter circuit, comprising the steps of: (a) obtaining a cumulative probability function of breakdown times, P(t), for the lamp at a voltage, V; (b) determining a minimum pulse length, T p , for a selected probability of ignition, P ign ; (c) if the lamp is operable at the minimum pulse length, then operating the lamp with a DC pulse having a duration T p and voltage V; (d) or alternatively, if the lamp is not operable at the minimum pulse length, then determining a relaxation time, T rel , for a burst mode, selecting a probability of ignition per burst, P b , calculating a minimum number of pulses, n p , in a burst, determining a number of bursts, N b , for the selected probability of ignition, and operating the lamp in the burst mode with N b bursts separated by relaxation time, T rel , with each burst having n p pulses of voltage V.