Circuit assembly and method for operating a high pressure discharge lamp

A circuit arrangement for operating a high-pressure discharge lamp with an operating circuit for the high-pressure discharge lamp with an input for receiving a switch-on/switch-off signal for the high-pressure discharge lamp and at least one output for providing an operating signal to the high-pressure discharge lamp,

• wherein the operating circuit is configured to reduce the power of the operating signal provided at the at least one output once a switch-off signal has been received at its input,
• wherein the operating circuit furthermore is configured to provide the operating signal as an AC signal above a predetermined power threshold value and configured to couple the output to a DC signal from a separate source below the predetermined power threshold value,
• wherein the operating circuit comprises a drive circuit, the drive circuit is configured to store, in the event of shutdown, a polarity during a last quasi DC operating mode, the drive circuit furthermore being configured to use the other polarity for the quasi DC operating mode in the event of the next shutdown,
• wherein the drive circuit comprises a low-side driver and a high-side driver for at least a first electronic switch and a second electronic switch, the low-side driver and the high-side driver having in each case one output for coupling to the respective electronic switch, in each case one control input for coupling to a control apparatus and in each case one supply terminal for coupling to a terminal for connecting a supply voltage, a capacitor being associated with said high-side driver, said capacitor being coupled between the supply terminal and a center point between the first electronic switch and the second electronic switch.