Abstract: In a discharge lamp lighting circuit having a DC-AC converter circuit, a circuit for generating a driving voltage for the DC-AC converter circuit is simplified and cost and power losses are reduced. A discharge lamp lighting circuit 1 has a DC-DC converter circuit 3 for converting an input voltage from a DC power source 2 to a required DC voltage, a DC-AC converter circuit 4 disposed down-circuit of the DC-DC converter circuit and having a bridge-type construction using a plurality of switching devices, and a control circuit 7 for performing lighting control of a discharge lamp 6. A voltage generated from a power supply voltage to the control circuit 7 by a driving voltage generating part 9B is supplied as the driving voltage of the DC-AC converter circuit 4.

Abstract: Within a method for forming a sacrificial silicon oxide layer, there is first provided a silicon semiconductor substrate. There is then thermally oxidized the silicon semiconductor substrate at a first temperature within a first oxidizing atmosphere to form a silicon oxide layer upon a partially consumed silicon semiconductor substrate formed from the silicon semiconductor substrate. There is then thermally oxidizing the partially consumed silicon semiconductor substrate at a second temperature greater than the first temperature, and within a second oxidizing atmosphere, to form from the silicon oxide layer upon the partially consumed silicon semiconductor substrate a further oxidized silicon oxide layer upon a further consumed silicon semiconductor substrate. Finally, there is then stripped from the further consumed silicon semiconductor substrate the further oxidized silicon oxide layer.