Patent ID: 7218064

Claim:
A method for driving a cold cathode flat fluorescent lamp having at least a first electrode having a first voltage and a second electrode having a second voltage, comprising steps of: (a) increasing said first voltage to a first increased voltage with a first rate according to said second voltage; (b) maintaining said first increased voltage for a first period; (c) repeating said steps (a) and (b) at least once to achieve a relatively extreme voltage; (d) reducing said relatively extreme voltage with said first rate to a first reduced voltage; (e) maintaining said first reduced voltage for said first period; (f) repeating said steps (d) and (e) at least once for said first electrode to achieve said first voltage; (g) increasing said second voltage to a second increased voltage with a second rate according to said first voltage; (h) maintaining said second increased voltage for a second period; (i) repeating said steps (g) and (h) at least once to achieve said relatively extreme voltage; (j) reducing said relatively extreme voltage with said second rate; (k) maintaining said second reduced voltage for said second period; (l) repeating said steps (j) and (k) at least once for said second electrode to achieve said second voltage.