Circuit arrangement and method for operating at least one luminous means

A circuit arrangement for operating at least one luminous means, the circuit arrangement comprising:

• an input having a first input connection and a second input connection for coupling to a DC supply voltage;
• an inverter comprising at least one first electronic switch and one second electronic switch which are coupled in series between the first input connection and the second input connection so as to form a bridge center point;
• an output having a first output connection and a second output connection for providing the at least one luminous means with an output voltage;
• a drive apparatus for at least the first electronic switch and the second electronic switch;
• a current-measuring apparatus which is designed and arranged to measure the current through the inverter;
• a short-circuiting apparatus which is coupled in a manner parallel to the output and is designed to short-circuit the output when the output voltage exceeds a first predefinable threshold value;
• and an evaluation apparatus which is coupled to the current-measuring apparatus and is designed to determine the mean value of the current through the inverter and, when the mean value undershoots a second predefinable threshold value, to drive the drive apparatus in such a manner that the latter influences the operation of the inverter, by accordingly driving at least the first electronic switch and the second electronic switch, in such a manner that the current in the short-circuiting apparatus is at least reduced.