Lighting Assembly And Method Of Operating A Discharge Lamp

Lighting assembly, including

• a discharge lamp (10) comprising a discharge vessel (14) with at least two electrodes (16) arranged at a distance (d) for generating an arc between said electrodes (16),
• and driving means (32) for operating said lamp (10) with electrical power,
• where said driving means (32) operate said lamp (10) according to a switch-off sequence before switching off said lamp, said switch-off sequence including
• a power ramp interval (24), where in said interval (24) said lamp (10) is operated with increasing electrical power over time,
• and, after said interval (24), switching off said lamp (10).

Method of operating a discharge lamp (10),

• said discharge lamp (10) comprising a discharge vessel (14) with at least two electrodes (16) arranged at a distance (d) for generating an arc between said electrodes,
• where said lamp (10) is operated according to a turn-on sequence after turning on said lamp (10), said turn-on sequence including
• a first turn-on interval (20) where said lamp (10) is operated with electrical power increasing up to an initial maximum power value, where said initial maximum power value is less than a nominal power (PN) of said lamp (10),
• and a power ramp interval (22), during which said lamp (10) is operated with electrical power increasing over time from said initial maximum power value to said nominal power (PN).

Lighting assembly, including

• a discharge lamp (10) comprising a discharge vessel (14) with at least two electrodes (16) arranged at a distance (d) for generating an arc between said electrodes (16),
• and driving means (32) for operating said lamp (10) with electrical power,
• where said driving means (32) operate said lamp (10) according to a turn-on sequence after turning on said lamp, said turn-on sequence including
• a first turn-on interval (20), where said lamp (10) is operated with electrical power increasing up to an initial maximum power value, where said initial maximum power value is less than a nominal power (PN) of said lamp (10),
• and a power ramp interval (22), during which said lamp (10) is operated with electrical power increasing over time from said initial maximum power value to said nominal power (PN).

Driver circuit for a discharge lamp, including

• driving means (32) for supplying electrical power to a lamp terminal,
• where after receiving a switch-off signal said driving means (32) supply electrical power according to a switch-off sequence, said switch-off sequence including
• a power ramp interval (24), where in said interval (24) the power supplied at said terminal is increasing over time,
• and, after said interval (24), electrical power at said terminal is switched off.