Cold cathode backlight for avionics applications with strobe expanded dimming range

The present invention relates to display backlighting systems. More particularly, the present invention relates to a cold cathode fluorescent lamp backlighting system providing an expanded dimming range. A method of backlighting a flat panel display over an expanded dimming range includes providing a backlight including multiple cold cathode fluorescent lamps positionable directly behind a diffuser. Each of multiple drive circuits is adapted to independently adjust arc current of at least one of the multiple cold cathode fluorescent lamps in order to change the luminance output of the at least one of the cold cathode fluorescent lamps. Control signals are provided to each of the multiple drive circuits to separately control luminance output of different cold cathode fluorescent lamps such that at the same instant the different cold cathode fluorescent lamps are driven to substantially different luminance intensities, thereby allowing a reduction of an overall minimum luminance provided by the backlight and expanding the dimmable range of the backlight. A backlight implementing the methods of the invention is also disclosed.