Patent ID: 8164269

Claim:
A discharge lamp lighting device, comprising: storage means which stores a data table that represents an output power characteristic curve in which one supplied power for supplying constant power is set with respect to a rating voltage range of a discharge lamp, and represents a plurality of output power characteristic curves in which a plurality of supplied powers are set with respect to a voltage in a low voltage range lower than the rating voltage range; minimum voltage detecting means for detecting a minimum voltage after the discharge lamp shifts to an arc discharge or a minimum voltage equivalent value as a voltage during a predetermined period including the minimum voltage in an event of supplying the power to the discharge lamp based on any initially set output power characteristic curve among the plurality of output power characteristic curves after the discharge lamp is started; and control means for resetting an output power characteristic curve for supplying larger supplied power to the discharge lamp among the plurality of output power characteristic curves as the minimum voltage or the minimum voltage equivalent value, which is detected by the minimum voltage detecting means, is larger in a predetermined minimum voltage range detected by the minimum voltage detecting means, and controlling the power to be supplied to the discharge lamp in accordance with the reset output power characteristic curve.