Patent ID: 7019468

Claim:
An ignition and operation control circuit for an electronic ballast comprising: a ballast microcontroller ( 200 ), the ballast microcontroller ( 200 ) being responsive to at least one high intensity discharge (HID) lamp feedback signal and generating an HID lamp control signal; a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) ( 204 ), the VCO ( 204 ) being responsive to the HID lamp control signal and generating a VCO output signal ( 246 ); a driver ( 206 ), the driver ( 206 ) being responsive to the VCO output signal ( 246 ) and generating a high gate signal ( 248 ) and a low gate signal ( 250 ); a rail voltage output ( 202 ), the rail voltage output ( 202 ) providing power ( 252 ); a first switch ( 208 ), the first switch ( 208 ) being responsive to the high gate signal ( 248 ) and receiving the power ( 252 ); a second switch ( 210 ), the second switch ( 210 ) being responsive to the low gate signal ( 250 ) and being operably connected between the first switch ( 208 ) and common ( 300 ); a parallel capacitive circuit ( 214 ), the parallel capacitive circuit ( 214 ) having a first end and a second end, the second end operably connected to the common ( 300 ); and an inductive circuit ( 212 ), the inductive circuit ( 212 ) operably connected between the first end of the parallel capacitive circuit ( 214 ) and a junction between the first switch ( 208 ) and the second switch ( 210 ).