The LX1691 includes the Microsemi proven and patented strike method that allows significant efficiency gains while guaranteeing strong striking power at all operating temperatures. Our method sweeps strike frequency smoothly up to the unloaded resonant frequency of the lamp and high voltage transformer. This, coupled with the LX1691's active high output voltage regulation, produces just enough strike voltage without generating unpredictable high voltage spikes that cause arcing and component failures. Competitive devices that simply switch to a higher frequency for striking do not have this "real time" control over output voltage, and require much more attention to transformer design.