A boost-type high power factor single switch electronic ballast for compact fluorescent lamps (energy-saving lamps)

A high power factor single switch electronic ballast is proposed in this paper for compact fluorescent lamp (CFL). With the gradual widespread use of CFL in the near feature to replace incandescent lamps, it is very important that CFL is able to maintain the same high power factor performance that incandescent lamps achieve. However, due to size and cost limitations, the current CFLs available on the market are not able to achieve high power factor. On the other hand, conventional high power factor electronic ballast using a boost pre-regulator is too costly for CFL applications. In this paper, the proposed electronic ballast solves the aforementioned problems by combining the boost power factor correction (PFC) stage and the resonant inverter stage using one switch. Moreover, the voltage stress and conduction loss across the switch is reduced when compared to other reference single switch topologies. Detailed description of the circuit operating principles will be discussed in this paper. Simulation and experimental results are given on a 11W CFL tube to highlight the merits of the proposed work.