Patent ID: 8373351

Claim:
A driver circuit comprising: a plurality of switching components, wherein the plurality of switching components includes a first switching leg and a second switching leg, each connected between a first direct current voltage bus and a second direct current voltage bus, wherein the first switching leg and the second switching leg each include at least a first switching component and a second switching component, and wherein the first switching component of the first switching leg is connected to the second switching component of the second switching leg to form a first diagonal pair and the second switching component of the first switching leg is connected to the first switching component of the second switching leg to form a second diagonal pair; a load circuit connecting the first switching leg and the second switching leg, wherein the load circuit comprises: a first inductor connected to a terminal between the first switching component and the second switching component of the first switching leg; a second inductor connected to a terminal between the first switching component and the second switching component of the second switching leg; and lamp terminals connected between the first inductor and the second inductor and connected in series with the second inductor; a capacitor connected in parallel with the series connected lamp terminals and the second inductor; and a control circuit connected to the plurality of switching components, wherein during a commutation period the control circuit is configured to operate the first diagonal pair in a non-conductive state and to operate the second diagonal pair in a conductive state, until a current through the first inductor reaches a predefined value, and then to operate the second diagonal pair in a non-conductive state until the current through the first inductor reaches zero.