A sinusoidal input current and high power-factor based electronic ballast

This paper presents a high power factor and sinusoidal input current based electronic ballast using a AC-DC Cuk converter. Unlike traditional Cuk converters it can take AC voltages as inputs and by converting the input into high enough values it can also operate as a starter. The converter along with an input and output filter completes the proposed ballast circuit. Signals provided by a microcontroller or a SMPS at the gate of the switching device, with optimum duty cycles determined by sliding mode control for both the starting and running conditions, can ensure proper operation as both starter and ballast. The principle of operation, control scheme of the signal at the gate and the simulation results of the proposed circuit are included in the paper.