Abstract: An electronic ballast for supplying a lamp load is described. The electronic ballast comprises an inverter arranged in a half-bridge configuration for providing an AC voltage and at least one lamp load circuit. The inverter comprises an upper switch, connected to a DC terminal for receiving a DC supply voltage, and a first lower switch arranged in a half-bridge configuration for generating an AC voltage at an inverter terminal of the inverter. A first diode and a second lower switch are connected in series. This series arrangement is connected in parallel with the first lower switch. A lamp load circuit for supplying the lamp load is connected to a node between the first diode and the second lower switch. When the inverter supplies a fluorescent lamp, and the lamp load circuit comprises a heating circuit for heating an electrode of the fluorescent lamp, the heating circuit includes a heating transformer and a second lower switch connected in parallel with the primary winding of the transformer.

Abstract: A method for displaying images on a display having backlight is disclosed, where the images is updated periodically with a period. The method comprises the steps of: generating a signal with a pulse pattern for each period depending on the contents of an image to be displayed in that period; and activating backlight in accordance with the signal. Further, a display (100) comprising a display panel (102) and a backlight unit, wherein the backlight unit comprises a controller (104) and a lighting device is disclosed. The controller (104) is arranged to generate a control signal, and the lighting device is arranged to provide backlight to the display panel (102) according to the control signal, wherein the control signal comprises a pulse pattern depending on contents of displayed images.