Patent ID: 8072148

Claim:
A fluorescent-lamp-driving device comprising: a driving control circuit that receives direct current power voltage from a direct current power supply, receives a lamp control signal for performing drive control on fluorescent lamps, and converts the direct current power voltage to alternating current power voltage having a predetermined frequency for an alternating current power supply; and a transformer containing a winding at a primary side thereof and windings for driving a heater and for maintaining discharge at a secondary side thereof, the winding at the primary side being connected with the alternating current power supply of the driving control circuit, and the windings for driving the heater and for maintaining discharge at the secondary side being connected with heaters of the fluorescent lamps at a high electric potential side thereof, wherein the alternating current power voltage is supplied to the heaters, which are connected with the transformer, of the high electric potential side of the fluorescent lamps; and wherein the driving control circuit increases the frequency of the alternating current power supply to a frequency thereof in which a voltage of the fluorescent lamps is equal to a discharge start voltage of the fluorescent lamps or less based on the lamp control signal at a period of starting-up time of the fluorescent lamps, thereby limiting an output voltage at the secondary side of the transformer below the output voltage thereof at a period of steady operation time of the fluorescent lamps.