System and method for powering cold cathode fluorescent lighting

1. A method of powering a cold cathode fluorescent light (CCFL) circuit, the method including:

determining a frequency provided to power the CCFL circuit such that a duty cycle of a driving waveform to the CCFL circuit is forced to a predetermined value,

wherein determining the frequency includes:

generating a first signal functionally related to the duty cycle of the driving waveform;

generating a second signal functionally related to the current of the CCFL circuit; and

using the first signal and the second signal to determine the frequency of the driving waveform.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the duty cycle of the driving waveform is approximately 50%.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein generating the first signal includes sensing a voltage of the driving waveform at a first node.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein generating the first signal further includes setting values of a plurality of resistors for sensing the voltage of the driving waveform.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein setting values is dependent on the predetermined value of the duty cycle.

6. The method of claim 4 , wherein setting values as dependent on a high level of the driving waveform.

7. The method of claim 4 , wherein setting values is dependent on a set reference voltage.

8. The method of claim 3 , wherein generating the first signal includes generating a first DC signal that is functionally related to a time-averaged voltage at the first node.

9. A method of powering a cold cathode fluorescent light (CCFL) circuit, the method including:

determining a frequency provided to power the CCFL circuit based on a duty cycle of a driving waveform to the CCFL circuit,

wherein the duty cycle is approximately 50%,

wherein determining the frequency includes:

sensing a voltage of the driving waveform at a first node;

generating a first DC signal that is functionally related to a time-averaged voltage at the first node;

sensing a voltage at a second node that is proportional to a CCFL current; and

generating a second DC signal that is proportional to a time-averaged voltage at the second nodes wherein the first DC signal and the second DC signal are used in determining the frequency.

10. The method of claim 9 , further including clamping the second DC signal.

11. The method of claim 10 , further including clamping the first DC signal.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein clamping the first DC signal includes selecting one of a plurality of current sources.

13. The method of claim 12 , further including generating an interrupt signal that controls the driving waveform.

14. A method for controlling a voltage increase on a line in a CCFL circuit, the method including:

limiting the voltage increase to a first predetermined amount based on a first current source and a capacitor; and

selectively resetting a capacitance of the capacitor to zero at the beginning of every dimming cycle of the CCFL circuit, thereby providing a soft start on the line.

15. A method for controlling a voltage increase on a line, the method including:

limiting the voltage increase to a first predetermined amount based on a first current source and a capacitor;

selectively resetting a capacitance of the capacitor to zero to provide a soft start on the line; and

switching to a second current source, thereby limiting the voltage increase to a second predetermined amount based on the second current source and the capacitor.

16. A method for providing a drive signal to a CCFL circuit, the method comprising:

generating a first pulsed signal for pulling the drive signal up to a first predetermined value during a first transition of an input signal to the driver;

using a first current source to maintain the first predetermined value during a first state of the input signal;

generating a second pulse for pulling the drive signal down to a second predetermined value during a second transition of the input signal; and

using a second current source circuit to maintain the second predetermined value during a second state of the input signal.

17. The method of claim 16 , further including limiting the second predetermined value by using a device with diode characteristics.