An approach for selecting switching devices for CFL ballasts

This paper discusses a method for switching device selection for lowest ove rall compact fluorescent lamp (CFL) ballast cost while satisfying product l ife requirements. The inputs to selection process are lamp power, expected product life, and a range of semiconductor devices that satisfy electrical requirements of conventional half-bridge series-resonant ballast topology. The selection process is illustrated with the example of an n-channel MOSFE T pair, complementary pair of an n- and p-channel MOSFETs, bipolar junction transistor pair, and a pair of insulated gate bipolar transistors. While t his paper addresses switching device selection for CFL applications, the ou tlined approach is more universal and it can be applied to electronic equip ment in general.