APPARATUS FOR DRIVING A GAS DISCHARGE LAMP

A driver (10) for driving a gas discharge lamp (L) comprises a current generator (1; 2) for generating a lamp current with a main lamp current component and, for arc-straightening purposes, a ripple current component. A controller (3) controls the current generator such as to set the ripple frequency (fR) and ripple amplitude (M). A memory (5) contains data defining a set point (SP) for the ripple frequency and ripple amplitude. A measuring device (4) provides at least one measuring signal indicative of arc curvature and arc stability. The controller is capable of operating in a ripple optimization mode in which the controller makes small adjustments to the ripple frequency and ripple amplitude to find improved arc-straightening, and, if such improvement is found, controls the current generator on the basis of the adjusted set point or otherwise resumes operation on the basis of the original set point (SP) in the memory (5).