Discharge lamp driving device, projector, and discharge lamp driving method

A discharge lamp driving device comprising:

• a discharge lamp driving unit configured to supply drive power to a discharge lamp;
• and
• a control unit configured to control the discharge lamp driving unit;
• wherein the control unit is configured to provide a launching period from a start of lighting of the discharge lamp to a predetermined time and a stationary lighting period provided after the launching period, the stationary lighting period in which a first drive power is supplied to the discharge lamp,
• the launching period include a first launching period in which the drive power supplied to the discharge lamp increases toward a second drive power larger than the first drive power and a second launching period in which the second drive power is supplied to the discharge lamp,
• a drive frequency of drive current supplied to the discharge lamp in the second launching period is lower than a drive frequency of the drive current supplied to the discharge lamp in the first launching period, and the drive current supplied in the second launching period intermittently includes a second waveform pattern having a higher load provided to electrodes of the discharge lamp than a load in a first waveform pattern that is a basic waveform pattern of the drive current supplied to the discharge lamp in the launching period.

A discharge lamp driving method for supplying a drive power to a discharge lamp and driving the discharge lamp, the method comprising:

• supplying the discharge lamp with the drive power including a launching period from a start of lighting of the discharge lamp to a predetermined time and a stationary lighting period provided after the launching period, the stationary lighting period in which a first drive power is supplied to the discharge lamp;
• and
• performing a mode in which a drive power lower than a rated power of the discharge lamp is supplied to the discharge lamp in the stationary lighting period,
• wherein the launching period include a first launching period in which the drive power supplied to the discharge lamp increases toward a second drive power larger than the first drive power and a second launching period in which the second drive power is supplied to the discharge lamp,
• a drive frequency of drive current supplied to the discharge lamp in the second launching period is lower than a drive frequency of the drive current supplied to the discharge lamp in the first launching period, and
• the first drive power is the drive power in the mode.