DRIVING CIRCUIT OF A LAMP AND METHOD FOR OPERATING THE DRIVING CIRCUIT OF THE LAMP

A driving circuit and a method for operating the driving circuit is provided for a lamp, the lamp includes a lighting unit, and a first and a second pair of connection pins for coupling the driving circuit to a power supply unit. The driving circuit includes a pre-heating detection circuit and a protection circuit. The pre-heating detection circuit is coupled to the first pair of connection pins and configured to detect a voltage between the first pair of connection pins and output a reference voltage. The protection circuit includes a switching circuit connected in series with the lighting unit, the protection circuit is configured to compare the reference voltage with an input voltage of the lamp and turn on the switching circuit to light the lighting unit when the input voltage of the lamp is greater than the reference voltage.