Patent ID: 8232746

Claim:
A high pressure discharge lamp lighting device comprising: a converter being configured to output a direct current voltage; an inverter being configured to convert the direct current voltage into a lighting voltage which is alternate current, and is configured to apply the lighting voltage to a high pressure discharge lamp through an output terminal; an igniter being configured to output a pulse voltage, said igniter being configured to superimpose the pulse voltage on the lighting voltage to apply a starting voltage to the high pressure discharge lamp, said igniter comprising a capacitor, a switching means, and a transformer, said capacitor being configured to be charged by a voltage source, said transformer comprising a primary winding and a secondary winding, said primary winding is connected across said capacitor, said primary winding being connected in series with said switching means, said secondary winding being connected across said inverter, said secondary winding being connected in series with the high pressure discharge lamp, a controller being configured to turn on and turn off the switching means, said controller being configured to turn on said switching means in order to discharge the capacitor, thereby flowing a discharge current to said primary winding in order to develop the pulse voltage in the secondary winding, said pulse voltage is caused by the discharge current which is applied to the primary winding, the pulse voltage is superimposed on the lighting voltage, a pulse voltage detection circuit being configured to detect the starting voltage which is applied to the high pressure discharge lamp, and outputs a detection signal indicative of a voltage level which corresponds to the starting voltage, wherein said high pressure discharge lamp lighting device further comprises a starting voltage regulation circuit being configured to regulate the voltage value of the starting voltage to a desired voltage value on the basis of the detection signal.