A stroboscopic device includes a flash discharge tube, a first element for performing switching operation of flash discharge tube, a second element for performing ON control of the first element by an ON operation, and performing OFF control of the first element by an OFF operation, a third element for performing the OFF control of the first element by an ON operation, and performing the ON control of the first element by an OFF operation, and a first circuit for holding the ON operation of the third element for a predetermined period. The first circuit includes a fourth element for holding the ON control of the third element by the ON operation, and a second circuit capable of setting an operation period of an ON operation of the fourth element. This makes it possible to prevent false operation of the first element due to noise with a simple circuit configuration.

A ballast transformer and system using the ballast transformer to couple power to a plasma load. The ballast transformer has a magnetic core, a first primary winding on a primary side of the magnetic core, a secondary winding on a secondary side of the magnetic core, and a second primary winding connected in series with the first primary winding and wound in proximity to the secondary winding on the secondary side of the magnetic core. The first primary winding is connectable to the AC power source, and the secondary winding is connectable to the plasma load via a coaxial cable.

A ballast transformer and system using the ballast transformer to couple power to a plasma load. The ballast transformer has a magnetic core, a first primary winding on a primary side of the magnetic core, a secondary winding on a secondary side of the magnetic core, and a second primary winding connected in series with the first primary winding and wound in proximity to the secondary winding on the secondary side of the magnetic core. The first primary winding is connectable to the AC power source, and the secondary winding is connectable to the plasma load via a coaxial cable.

A ballast transformer and system using the ballast transformer to couple power to a plasma load. The ballast transformer has a magnetic core, a first primary winding on a primary side of the magnetic core, a secondary winding on a secondary side of the magnetic core, and a second primary winding connected in series with the first primary winding and wound in proximity to the secondary winding on the secondary side of the magnetic core. The first primary winding is connectable to the AC power source, and the secondary winding is connectable to the plasma load via a coaxial cable.

A ballast transformer and system using the ballast transformer to couple power to a plasma load. The ballast transformer has a magnetic core, a first primary winding on a primary side of the magnetic core, a secondary winding on a secondary side of the magnetic core, and a second primary winding connected in series with the first primary winding and wound in proximity to the secondary winding on the secondary side of the magnetic core. The first primary winding is connectable to the AC power source, and the secondary winding is connectable to the plasma load via a coaxial cable.

A ballast transformer and system using the ballast transformer to couple power to a plasma load. The ballast transformer has a magnetic core, a first primary winding on a primary side of the magnetic core, a secondary winding on a secondary side of the magnetic core, and a second primary winding connected in series with the first primary winding and wound in proximity to the secondary winding on the secondary side of the magnetic core. The first primary winding is connectable to the AC power source, and the secondary winding is connectable to the plasma load via a coaxial cable.

A ballast transformer and system using the ballast transformer to couple power to a plasma load. The ballast transformer has a magnetic core, a first primary winding on a primary side of the magnetic core, a secondary winding on a secondary side of the magnetic core, and a second primary winding connected in series with the first primary winding and wound in proximity to the secondary winding on the secondary side of the magnetic core. The first primary winding is connectable to the AC power source, and the secondary winding is connectable to the plasma load via a coaxial cable.

A ballast transformer and system using the ballast transformer to couple power to a plasma load. The ballast transformer has a magnetic core, a first primary winding on a primary side of the magnetic core, a secondary winding on a secondary side of the magnetic core, and a second primary winding connected in series with the first primary winding and wound in proximity to the secondary winding on the secondary side of the magnetic core. The first primary winding is connectable to the AC power source, and the secondary winding is connectable to the plasma load via a coaxial cable.

A discharge lamp includes a discharge tube containing electrodes, and base sections. The base sections have terminals for connecting to external power lines, and internal power lines for connecting the terminals to the electrodes within the discharge tube. Information generation devices that generates information to be output to outside are provided within the base sections. Superimposition circuits that superpose the information, generated by the information generation devices, on the internal power lines within the base sections are also provided within the base sections. The information generation devices include sensors and generate information based on output of the sensors. A receiving circuit extracts and receives the information, superposed on the internal power lines, from the external power lines connected to the internal power lines. Thus, information generated on the discharge lamp side can be transmitted to outside with a simple construction.

An open-loop resonate converter includes: a transformer having a first winding on a primary side of the open-loop resonate converter and a second winding on a secondary side of the open-loop resonate converter; a resonant tank coupled to the first winding of the transformer and configured, at a first fixed frequency, to provide a constant LED current over a voltage range at the secondary side without feedback from the secondary side; and a circuit configured to modulate switching of the resonant tank between the first fixed frequency and a second fixed frequency higher than the first fixed frequency based on a dimming control signal input to the circuit, such that the resonant tank is switched at the first fixed frequency for longer durations when the dimming control signal indicates less dimming and for shorter durations when the dimming control signal indicates more dimming.