Abstract: A power supply for an inert gas lamp which enables automatically changing the portion of the lamp which is lit in accordance with a predefined pattern. The power supply includes an a.c. to d.c. conversion circuit, and a high frequency-high voltage transformation circuit with an input coupled to the conversion circuit and an output to be coupled to an inert gas lamp. A control or function module controls and automatically changes the voltage supplied to the transformation circuit, in accordance with a predefined pattern, and thereby causes the portion of the lamp which is lit to change in accordance with that pattern. The transformation circuit and the control module are arranged so that the portion of the lamp which is lit can be smoothly and controllably varied from zero to 100 percent of the length of the lamp.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the high frequency-high voltage power module includes an output transformer having a first primary winding and a first secondary winding and a second transformer, that is saturable, having a second primary winding and a second secondary winding. The AC power applied to the power module is converted to a substantially direct current by a diode, a capacitor and a thermistor. A center tap on the first primary winding is connected to the positive side of the capacitor. Either end of the first primary winding of the output transformer is connected to a respective end of the second primary winding of the second transformer via a respective resistor. The center tap on the second secondary winding is connected via an RC circuit to the negative side of the capacitor. A pair of switching transistors operates in a balanced push-pull relationship and is switched by the current flowing through the divided windings of the second secondary winding.