Patent ID: 7569998

Claim:
An inverter for igniting a lamp comprising: a control voltage generator configured to generate a control voltage signal that varies from a first level to a second level at a first predefined rate during a strike mode of the inverter, a first voltage converter configured to receive the control voltage signal and to generate a first control output in response to a first range of values for the control voltage signal, wherein the first control output controls duty cycles of driving signals for the inverter; and a second voltage converter configured to receive the control voltage signal and to generate a second control output in response to a second range of values for the control voltage signal, wherein the second control output controls frequency of the driving signals for the inverter and at least a portion of the second range of values for the control voltage signal do not overlap with the first range of values for the control voltage signal to thereby sequentially control a duty cycle sweep and a frequency sweep of the driving signals for the inverter.