Lamp operation controller and controlling method of lamp operation

Abstract

In a lamp operation controller and a method thereof, for obtaining a stable light emission, simply and certainly, without necessity of detection of a parameter accompanying discharge, the lamp operation controller, for operating a discharge lamp having a pair of electrodes, which are disposed at both ends of a light emission tube to have a predetermined distance therebetween, converts electric power of an electric power sourcethrough an inverter, into alternating voltage and alternating current, changing the polarity thereof continuously and alternately, so as to produce operating current, and apply that across the pair of the electrodes of the discharge lamp, thereby letting the lamp to emit a light. A driver circuit provides a pulse at a trailing edge of the lamp current or the lamp voltage to be supplied when the discharge lamp emits the light, and also determine amplitude of the pulse, in accordance with fluctuation on the lamp voltage (VL) with respect to lighting time of the discharge lamp, which is measured in advance.