Discharge lamp operating apparatus and self-ballasted electrodeless discharge lamp

A self-ballasted electrodeless discharge lamp comprising an electrodeless discharge lamp, a ballast for supplying power to the electrodeless discharge lamp, and a lamp base that are formed into one piece,

• the ballast comprising:
• a DC power circuit portion for outputting a DC voltage that is electrically connected to the lamp base;
• an inverter circuit including a switching element provided with a control terminal for converting an output from the DC power circuit portion to an AC voltage;
• a control terminal driving circuit for controlling the switching element provided with a control terminal to be on or off;
• and
• a resonant load circuit including the electrodeless discharge lamp, a first inductor and a first capacitor,
• wherein the control terminal driving circuit comprises:
• a drive winding mutually coupled to the first inductor;
• a first series connection of a second inductor and a second capacitor;
• a second series connection of voltage clamp elements and an impedance element;
• a second parallel connection of the second series connection and the second capacitor, and
• the control terminal driving circuit controls the switching element provided with a control terminal to be on or off by a voltage generated at the drive winding,
• wherein series connection of the clamp elements and the impedance element operably suppresses variations in the resonance frequency of the control terminal driving circuit.