Patent attributes
An output of a rectifying circuit (6), which rectifies commercial AC power, is supplied to an inverter (12) through a power factor correction circuit (8). The output of the inverter (12) is voltage-transformed in a transformer (16), rectified in a rectifying circuit (18) and is applied to a xenon lamp (2). A secondary winding (22s) of a transformer (22) of an igniter (20) is connected between the rectifying circuit (18) and the xenon lamp (2) in order to generate an arc in the xenon lamp (2). A pulse generator provides a pulse for a short time period to a primary winding (22p) of the transformer (22). An auxiliary power supply (26) supplies arc-sustaining current prepared based on the commercial AC power to the junction of the rectifying circuit (18) and the secondary winding (22s) of the transformer (22).