Koninklijke Philips Corporation N.V.

Philips Lighting Holding B.v.

Peter Johannes Wilhelmus Vankan

Wai Pang Chow

Johannes Theodorus Jacobus Van Haastrecht

A method for operating a fluorescent lamp () having a nominal power (WLa) and stabilized with an EM ballast (B) comprises the steps of during normal operation, short-circuiting the lamp during a closing time interval (CTI) during each current period in order to operate the lamp at a reduced power. The method comprises the step of detecting whether the lamp is stabilized by means of an inductive ballast or by means of a capacitive ballast. If it is found that the ballast is capacitive, the timing of the closing time interval (CTI) is set such that the closing time interval (CTI) has a first closing time segment (CTS) immediately before a zero-crossing of the current, having a first duration (&#x394;) higher than zero, and a second closing time segment (CTS) immediately after said zero-crossing of the current, having a second duration (&#x394;) higher than zero.

Growing community of inventors

Eindhoven, Netherlands

Peter Johannes Wilhelmus Vankan