Abstract: A high pressure discharge lamp is disclosed. The high pressure discharge lamp includes: a discharge tube which is filled with gas; a first electrode having a first end, the first electrode being provided in the discharge tube; and a second electrode having a second end which is positioned away from the first end by a certain distance, the second electrode being provided in the discharge tube. In the high pressure discharge lamp, arc discharge is induced by a voltage applied between the first end of the first electrode and the second end of the second electrode. The high pressure discharge lamp further includes a convection regulating member which is electrically insulating and provided in the discharge tube. The convection regulating member suppresses the deformation of the arc discharge caused by the convection of the gas in the discharge tube.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an inverter driven lamp arrangement. The arrangement provides for the sensing of both lamp voltage and current. The arrangement also provides for a large current during times of low voltage and a small current during times of high voltage. The sensing of lamp current is done by a current detector that is connected to a resonance circuit whose output is applied in signal form to a lamp start control circuit. The resonant circuit is a series connected resonant circuit composed of a choke coil and a first capacitor. This series connected arrangement is further connected in series with a second non-resonant capacitor. Also the arrangement includes circuitry to gradually reduce the frequency of the inverter just after the lamp starts.

Abstract: In a discharge-lamp lighting apparatus for lighting a discharge lamp such as a metal halide lamp, there is provided a lighting control circuit which controls its output in a starting time of the discharge lamp in response to at least a length of the last off-time and an on-time after the start of discharging; and a power supplied to the discharge lamp is controlled in accordance with this output of the lighting control circuit.

Abstract: When a discharge lamp is started, high voltage pulses which superpose the voltage due to LC resonance of a resonance circuit are supplied to the discharge lamp, and breakdown occurs in the discharge lamp. The pulse energy needed for the high voltage pulses is small and the output power of the resonance circuit can be decreased. After the breakdown, the energy needed for the transfer from glow discharge to arc discharge is supplied by the resonance, and the high voltage pulses used to supply the starting energy are allowed to be stopped. Thus, the starting and restriking of a discharge lamp is sure, and the starting circuit for a discharge lamp can be made more compact.