Striking and open lamp regulation for CCFL controller
First Claim
1. 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.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and method for igniting a lamp during a strike mode of an inverter comprising: sequentially controlling a duty cycle sweep and a frequency sweep of driving signals in the inverter to provide an increasing output voltage to the lamp. One embodiment advantageously includes a closed feedback loop to implement the duty cycle sweep and the frequency sweep such that an open lamp voltage is reliably regulated during the strike mode. For example, the closed feedback loop stops the duty cycle sweep or the frequency sweep when the output voltage to the lamp reaches a predetermined threshold and makes adjustments to the duty cycle or frequency the driving signals as needed to keep the output voltage at approximately the predetermined threshold if the lamp has not ignited.
365 Citations
10 Claims
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1. An inverter for igniting a lamp comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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Specification