HIGH PRESSURE ELECTRIC DISCHARGE LAMP LIGHTING DEVICE AND HEADLIGHT DEVICE FOR AUTOMOBILE

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a high pressure electric discharge lamp lighting device in which upon lighting of the high pressure electric discharge lamp which does not essentially include mercury, an appropriate control is carried out for an intensive evaporation of a metal halide whereby a quantity of light is within an allowable range of change, and a headlight device for automobile using the high pressure electric discharge lamp lighting device. SOLUTION: This device comprises: a lighting means OC capable of urging the high pressure electric discharge lamp HPL which includes a rare gas and the metal halide and dose not essentially include the mercury; and a control means CC in which after a lamp power which is larger than twice of rated lamp power is supplied from the lighting means OC and the high pressure electric discharge lamp HPL is started, when at least the metal halide sealed in the high pressure electric discharge lamp HPL is rapidly evaporated, the lighting means OC is controlled to reduce the lamp power such that light output is not so large compared with the light output at a stable time and is not rapidly increased, and the lamp output is sequentially attenuated so as to be the rated lamp power.