Patent ID: 7365497

Claim:
A discharge lamp ignition device for starting and lighting a discharge lamp in a projector that projects and displays images using a dynamic color filter to replace the luminous flux produced by the discharge lamp with a color ordered luminous flux, comprising: a feeder circuit to supply power to the discharge lamp, a voltage detection means that detects the voltage of the discharge lamp and generates a lamp voltage detection signal, a current detection means that detects the current of the discharge lamp and generates a lamp current detection signal, a target lamp current signal generation circuit that acquires the lamp voltage detection signal and generates a target lamp current signal, and a feeder capacity control circuit that provides feedback control of the feeder circuit so as to minimize any disparity between the target lamp current signal and the lamp current detection signal, wherein, at least during steady operation of the discharge lamp, the target lamp current signal generation circuit is adapted to acquire multiple lamp voltage detection signals over a period of time that is at least as long as a color order cycle of the dynamic color filter and then generate the target lamp current signal on the basis of the multiple lamp voltage detection signals that were acquired.