A method for operating a discharge lamp by modulating a current signal is presented. The discharge lamp is operated with at least two different frequencies. At first a probability distribution function for a first number of first frequency periods and a second number of second frequency periods is defined. Next, the first number of first frequency periods and the second number of second frequency periods are determined depending on the probability distribution function by at least one random number. The current signal is modulated by applying the first number of first frequency periods and the second number of second frequency periods to the current signal for operating the discharge lamp.

The invention describes a method for operating a discharge lamp by adapting a current signal. A distribution function is defined for gathering several time span values that define several different time spans. The several time span values are determined depending on the distribution function by one or more random numbers. The current signal is commutated at every instant of time according to an expiry of each of the several time spans. A light apparatus is provided with a control unit to perform any method.

A projection device for projecting at least one image onto a projection surface is provided. According to the present disclosure, a control device of the projection device is designed, on the basis of an evaluation of at least one measured value of a measuring device of the projection device determined during a drive of a discharge lamp of the projection device with a current waveform to be checked, to check the current waveform in respect of its suitability for minimizing an electrode burn-back of a first electrode and a second electrode, and in the case of a positive check result, to retain the checked current waveform, and in the case of a negative check result, depending on a checked commutation vector characterizing the checked current waveform, to create, by means of a specifiable algorithm, a modified commutation vector that characterizes a modified current waveform.

A discharge lamp driving device includes a discharge lamp driving unit configured to supply a driving current to a discharge lamp, and a control unit configured to control the discharge lamp driving unit. The discharge lamp driving device is configured to provide a first hybrid period and a second hybrid period each alternately including a first AC period in which an AC current is supplied and a first DC period in which a DC current with a first polarity is supplied. The control unit, in the first hybrid period, is configured to change a ratio of length of the first DC period to length of the first AC period to be increased, and in the second hybrid period, is configured to change a ratio of the length of the first AC period to the length of the first DC period to be increased.

Various embodiments provide a projection arrangement. The projection arrangement may include a discharge lamp; and a ballast for the discharge lamp. The ballast is designed to provide, during operation of the projection arrangement, a lamp current in the form of alternating current and having an average frequency and a preset waveform, which has a preset commutation scheme, to the discharge lamp. The preset commutation scheme is preset by a preset time sequence of commutations of the lamp current. The ballast is designed to provide the lamp current in such a way that the preset commutation scheme of the lamp current is deviated from repeatedly with at least one preset intervening time period by at least one DC phase with a preset time duration.

According to the present disclosure, a method for operating a discharge lamp of a projection arrangement is provided. The method includes storing the first commutation scheme in the ballast, such that the first commutation scheme fulfils a specification with respect to a first criterion, wherein the first criterion represents an electrode burnback; storing of the second commutation scheme in the ballast, such that the second commutation scheme fulfils a specification with respect to a second criterion; and operation of the discharge lamp with the alternation of the first and the second commutation schemes; characterized in that, a periodic brightness fluctuation in the discharge lamp is employed as the second criterion.

A discharge lamp lighting device includes: a storage unit that stores information; a lamp drive unit that supplies drive power to the discharge lamp; a voltage detection unit that detects the lamp voltage of the discharge lamp; and a control unit that, on the basis of the voltage detection value supplied from the voltage detection unit, stores in the storage unit error log information that indicates the operating state of the discharge lamp when change of the lamp voltage indicates a predetermined voltage characteristic.

A discharge lamp drive device includes a discharge lamp driver adapted to supply a drive current to a discharge lamp having a first electrode and a second electrode, a control section adapted to control the discharge lamp driver, and a storage section adapted to store a plurality of drive patterns of the drive current. Each of the plurality of drive patterns has a plurality of drive parameters. The control section executes at least three of the drive patterns in a case in which drive power to be supplied to the discharge lamp is in a predetermined power band, and in a case in which an inter-electrode voltage of the discharge lamp is a predetermined voltage value. Any two of the at least three drive patterns are different from each other in a value of at least one of the plurality of drive parameters.

A discharge lamp drive device includes a discharge lamp driver adapted to supply a drive current to a discharge lamp having a first electrode and a second electrode, a control section adapted to control the discharge lamp driver, and a storage section adapted to store a plurality of drive patterns of the drive current. The control section is adapted to select one drive pattern of the plurality of drive patterns based on machine learning, and execute the selected drive pattern.

A discharge lamp drive device includes a discharge lamp driver adapted to supply a drive current to a discharge lamp having a first electrode and a second electrode, a control section adapted to control the discharge lamp driver, and a storage section adapted to store a plurality of drive patterns of the drive current. The control section is configured to select one drive pattern of the plurality of drive patterns based on machine learning, and execute the selected drive pattern. In a case in which a predetermined condition is fulfilled, the control section executes a predetermined drive pattern of the plurality of drive patterns without selecting and executing the drive pattern based on the machine learning.