Abstract: A lighting circuit for a vehicular discharge lamp has a DC voltage booster circuit, a control circuit, and a voltage drop detector. The booster circuit boosts an input voltage from a DC voltage input terminal to provide an output voltage to be applied to the discharge lamp. The control circuit functions for varying the output voltage of the DC booster circuit to effect lighting control including constant power control of the discharge lamp. The voltage drop detector detects a DC input voltage applied to the booster circuit. In response to a signal received from the voltage drop detector in accordance with a drop of the DC input voltage, the control circuit performs voltage boosting control to set power supplied to the dicharge lamp lower than the rated power. It is therefore possible to suppress an increase in current consumption and a consequent increase in generated heat when the DC input voltage drops.

Abstract: A lighting circuit for a metallic halide lamp for vehicular headlight applications is disclosed. Included are a pair of input terminals between which a battery is connected for feeding the lamp via a normally open relay switch which is closed upon energization of an associated relay coil. The relay coil is connected in series with an operator actuated lamp switch and a protection switch, so that both lamp switch and protection switch must be closed to energize the relay coil and hence to close the relay switch. The protection switch is automatically opened to deenergize the relay coil when the battery develops overvoltage or when the lamp will not glow upon closure of the lamp switch. In an alternate embodiment, the protection switch is also opened in response to the development of overcurrent or overvoltage by a d.c. voltage booster circuit included in the lighting circuit.