Patent ID: 7388337

Claim:
A fluorescent lamp lighting apparatus comprising: a high-frequency lighting circuit energizing a fluorescent lamp; a dimming control circuit which controls the high-frequency lighting circuit to dim the fluorescent lamp; and a control portion including: an initial illuminance correction control circuit which controls the dimming control circuit to set an initial illuminance correction control lighting mode, a switching means for changing the initial illuminance correction control lighting mode to an external control dimming mode, when a predetermined external dimming signal is detected, and a cumulative lighting time measuring means for accumulating a lighting time of the fluorescent lamp, the control portion gradually dimming so as to achieve a dimming level of a switched mode when switching the initial illuminance correction control lighting mode to the external control dimming mode, and controlling so as to achieve a dimming level corresponding to a cumulative lighting time of the fluorescent lamp during the initial illuminance correction control lighting mode.