System and method including self oscillating feedback for acoustic operation of a discharge lamp

1. A system for driving a gas discharge lamp, said system comprising:

a ballast configured to receive a modulation input and provide an output to said lamp, said output being modulated in accordance with said modulation input;

a photodetector configured to provide an electrical feedback output in response to light emitted by said lamp being imparted thereon; and

a feedback circuit configured to receive said feedback output, said feedback circuit comprising at least one filter for passing only a portion of said feedback output corresponding to a selected acoustic resonance mode of said lamp, said feedback circuit being configured to couple said portion of said feedback output to said ballast as said modulation input to thereby cause said system to self-oscillate at said selected acoustic resonance mode.

2. The system according to claim 1 , wherein said feedback circuit comprises a limiting circuit for maintaining an amplitude of said modulation input at a fixed level.

3. The system according to claim 1 , wherein said selected acoustic resonance mode is a second longitudinal mode of said lamp.

4. The system according to claim 1 , wherein said at least one filter comprises a high pass filter and a low pass filter.

5. The system according to claim 1 , wherein said photodetector is mounted adjacent said lamp at a position corresponding to an anti-node of said selected acoustic resonance mode.

6. The system according to claim 1 , said system comprising a second photodetector configured to provide an second electrical feedback output in response to light emitted by said lamp being imparted thereon, and wherein said feedback circuit further comprises a differential amplifier for receiving said feedback output and said second electrical feedback output.

7. The system according to claim 1 , wherein said photodetector is mounted adjacent said lamp at a position corresponding to a positive phase anti-node of said selected acoustic resonance mode, and wherein said system further comprises a second photodetector configured to provide an second electrical feedback output in response to light emitted by said lamp being imparted thereon, said second photodetector being mounted adjacent said lamp at a position corresponding to a negative phase anti-node of said selected acoustic resonance mode.

8. The system according to claim 1 , said system further comprising at least one optical element for projecting an image of said lamp, and wherein said photodetector is positioned for receiving at least a portion of said image.

9. The system according to claim 8 , said system further comprising a mask comprising an opaque element having an opening therein, said photodetector being positioned for receiving said light emitted by said lamp through said opening.

10. A system for driving a gas discharge lamp, said system comprising:

a ballast configured to receive a modulation input and provide an output to said lamp, said output being modulated in accordance with said modulation input;

a photodetector configured to provide an electrical feedback output in response to light emitted by said lamp being imparted thereon; and

a feedback circuit configured to receive said feedback output, said feedback circuit comprising at least one filter for passing only a portion of said feedback output corresponding to a second longitudinal resonance mode of said lamp and a limiting circuit, said feedback circuit being configured to couple said portion of said feedback output to said ballast as said modulation input with a fixed amplitude established by said limiting circuit to thereby cause said system to self-oscillate at said second longitudinal resonance mode.

11. The system according to claim 10 , wherein said photodetector is mounted adjacent said lamp at a position corresponding to an anti-node of said selected acoustic resonance mode.

12. A method of driving a gas discharge lamp, said method comprising:

modulating a power signal to the lamp in accordance with a modulation input signal;

detecting light emitted by said lamp and providing an electrical feedback output in response thereto; and

causing self-oscillation at a selected acoustic resonance mode by providing a portion of said feedback output corresponding to said selected acoustic resonance mode as said modulation input wherein said causing self-oscillation comprises filtering said feedback output using a high pass filter and a low pass filter.

13. The method according to claim 12 , said causing self-oscillation comprises setting an amplitude of said modulation input at a fixed level using a limiting circuit.

14. The method according to claim 12 , wherein said selected acoustic resonance mode is a second longitudinal mode of said lamp.

15. The method according to claim 12 , wherein said detecting comprises detecting said light using a photodetector mounted adjacent said lamp at a position corresponding to an anti-node of said selected acoustic resonance mode.

16. The method according to claim 12 , wherein said detecting comprises detecting said light using a first photodetector configured to provide said electrical feedback output and detecting said light using a second photodetector configured to provide a second electrical feedback output, and wherein said method further comprises providing said feedback output and said second electrical feedback output to respective inputs of a differential amplifier.

17. The method according to claim 12 , wherein said detecting comprises detecting said light using a first photodetector configured to provide said electrical feedback output, said first photodetector being mounted adjacent said lamp at a position corresponding to a positive phase anti-node of said selected acoustic resonance mode, and detecting said light using a second photodetector configured to provide a second electrical feedback output, said second photodetector being mounted adjacent said lamp at a position corresponding to a negative phase anti-node of said selected acoustic resonance mode.

18. The method according to claim 12 , wherein said detecting comprises detecting said light using a photodetector, and wherein said method further comprises projecting an image of said lamp on said photodetector using an optical element.

19. The method according to claim 12 , wherein said detecting comprises detecting said light using a photodetector, and wherein said method further comprises providing a mask comprising an opaque element having an opening therein, said photodetector being positioned for receiving light through said opening.