A cold cathode gas discharge lamp unit and control circuit for controlling
the light emission of the cold cathode gas discharge lamp. A lamp unit
includes a dc power source and a control circuit for converting into a
high frequency drive signal across the lamp wherein each cycle of the
drive signal includes an ignition period with a signal level sufficient to
initiate gas conduction, a sustaining period with a signal level
sufficient to sustain gas conduction, and an off period with a signal
level below the sustaining level.
