Analysis and design method for high-frequency self-oscillating electronic ballasts

In this paper, the analysis and design methodology of a high-frequency self-oscillating (SO) electronic ballast with lamp current control are presented. SO electronic ballasts have two important drawbacks: First, the lamp current varies according to the ac input voltage, causing undesired effects in the lamp brightness, and second, the design method lacks precision at very high frequency operation (greater than 200 kHz) mainly due to the Cg₈ parasitic capacitance. The ballast is modeled by using the descriptive function method and the extended Nyquist criterion; the model of the ballast includes a control circuit and takes into account the high-frequency effect of the MOSFET parasitic capacitance Cg₈. Finally, experimental results of a 38-W SO electronic ballast prototype with lamp current control for high-intensity discharge lamps are presented to validate the analysis and the proposed methodology. The switching frequency is selected at 2 MHz in order to avoid the acoustic resonance problem.