Patent ID: 7469940
Filing Date: 2008-12-30
Classification: H05B

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for lighting a discharge lamp, comprising: a DC power supply that generates a predetermined DC voltage in response to an AC power source from an external voltage receiver; a DC power supply controller that controls an operation of a switching element of said DC power supply; an inverter having a plurality of switching elements that changes said predetermined DC voltage to an AC voltage sufficient to light a discharge lamp; an inverter controller that controls an operation of said plurality of switching elements of said inverter; an external outputter that supplies said AC voltage from said inverter to said discharge lamp; an auxiliary power supply that generates an operating voltage to power said DC power supply controller and said inverter controller based upon the power source from an external voltage receiver, said auxiliary power supply being configured to generate the operating voltage to power said inverter controller even if said AC power source is supplied to said external outputter; and a protector that operates to inhibit the operation of said plurality of switching elements of said inverter in response to a comparison of a monitor voltage obtained from said discharge lamp lighting apparatus with a reference voltage.