Patent ID: 8183796

Claim:
A drive apparatus that drives a discharge lamp, the discharge lamp including first and second electrodes configured to generate arc discharge to emit light, the drive apparatus comprising: a lighting circuit that supplies alternating current to the first and second electrodes; a current control unit that regulates the lighting circuit to control the alternating current; a deformation detection unit that detects deformation of the surface shape of the first or the second electrode; a current modulation unit that modulates the alternating current controlled by the current control unit when the deformation detection unit detects the deformation of the surface shape of the first or the second electrode; and a modulation enhancement unit that increases a modulation ratio at which the current modulation unit modulates the alternating current when the deformation detection unit further detects the deformation of the surface shape of the first or the second electrode while modulating the alternating current by the current modulation unit.