This paper presents improved start-up scenario for single-stage electronic
ballast derived with synchronous switch technique (SST), Based on the SST,
the derivation of a single-stage inverter (SSI) used for realizing the ball
ast is then addressed. The SSI can achieve both high power factor and balla
sting function. During lamp start-up transition, power imbalance may exist
between the power factor correction semi-stage and the ballast semi-stage,
and filament preheating is an important issue. Power imbalance usually resu
lts in a high de-link voltage which, in turn, imposes high stress on the sw
itching devices. Investigation of the ballast operation is conducted, from
which control strategies for reducing component stresses and hot resistance
detection circuits for minimizing electrode sputtering are therefore propo
sed. Hardware measurements have verified that on-off tests are higher than
18 000 times without significant sputtering.