Headlamp#Advanced front-lighting system .28AFS.29

With Headlights car headlights are referred to that change lighting direction in direction of the curve when cornering. This should be increased driving safety in the dark through better field of view ( illumination ). The technique is mainly installed in passenger cars. The light curve is called English with AFS (advanced front -lighting system) or AFL ( Adaptive Forward Lighting ).

Historical development

A first curve light was already offered 1918 Cadillac Type 57. Also for the Cadillac V16 from 1930 it was offered. In Tatra was in 1935 in the Tatra 77 and later installed a light curve in the Tatra 87. Also, the Tucker Torpedo, which was only produced in a small series from 1948, had a third headlight in the center, the so-called " Cyclops ".

In September 1968, the light curve was first used standard in Europe by Citroën in the DS. Via a cable, which was connected to the steering, the high beam was directed.

The Citroën SM was produced 1970-1975 - unlike the Citroën DS with its cable fixing the inner light - at this point a hydraulic bend light, which enabled as a movement of the headlights to the transverse axis ( to compensate for immersion effects). Developed in collaboration with Cibié front lighting of the SM works with six headlights. The outer larger ones are combined classic headlights. Then follow towards the middle broad spread low beam for close range. Full sit inside on both sides of the plate that the steering not only succeeding, but in the angular degrees some anticipatory pivoting beam headlights. This is an ideal curve illumination is effected, which can detect the area of ​​the curve end through the anticipatory effect even.

In the 1960s, the legislature has prohibited for safety swiveling the dipped beam. The corresponding ECE regulations was not until 2002 were changed again.

Since that time several vehicle manufacturers offer light curve (usually only in conjunction with Xenon light ), so for example: Audi, BMW, Citroen, Mercedes -Benz, Opel, Seat and VW. To the three-dimensional movement of the light cone is emphasized often spoken of Adaptive Headlights. The manufacturer Peugeot, Ford, Skoda, Opel and Renault, Headlights now offer even with halogen headlamps, for example in the Peugeot 207, the Ford Focus, the Škoda Fabia, the Opel Corsa and Meriva and the Renault Clio.

Mitleuchtende fog lights

For some time, provide car manufacturer, usually as an option, an improved curve illumination by situational individually mitleuchtende fog lights on. This is often referred to as a cornering light to highlight a distinction to the along- wenke ligand headlights. It automatically turns off below 40 km / h and after actuation of the turn signal or at a certain minimum wheel rotation of the left and right fog lamps, which illuminates the close range on the ground better, such as: Audi, BMW, Mercedes -Benz, Opel, Peugeot, Skoda and VW. Some manufacturers put in the fog lights additionally a swiveling reflectors.

We distinguish static cornering lights and dynamic cornering light. A combination of both versions is allowed.

  • The static cornering light (also called cornering ) is realized by connecting a separate light function. The reflector is fixed and aligned so that it illuminates the required area ahead of the vehicle. While some car manufacturers realize (eg Daimler) this via the one-sided switching of front fog lamp, the function is represented (eg BMW) have their own spotlight with other manufacturers. Most of the light focus is 60-80 degrees ahead of the vehicle and makes it easier to turn with small radii of curvature, such as the turning into a driveway.
  • The dynamic cornering light is realized by a horizontal sweep of the complete low beam or only the Abblendlichtlinse around the focal point. The pivoting range is typically up to 15 degrees in each direction. This area is more suitable for curves that are traversed at speeds above 30 km / hr. On highways, the curve radii are usually so large that a swiveling the dipped beam does not seem necessary.

Not to be confused is called with the installed on some U.S. vehicles additional lateral headlights, Cornering Lamp in America the static cornering light. This switch solely upon actuation of the turn signal (blinker ) to and from. The U.S. statutory photometric requirements are not comparable with those by the ECE regulations.

With more and more vehicle types Headlights are available as standard or as an option. For retrofitting, it is so far only a few models available (eg for VW Golf V, Opel Astra H, Ford Focus I Hella ).

Operation

For both versions of the light curve, the speed, steering angle and yaw rate are the basic input variables that are charged in a special algorithm. This is done in a control unit of the vehicle electronics. The controller then outputs the necessary signals to the actuators.

  • In the static cornering lights in addition to the switch for the turn signal is used as input for the algorithm. As actuator serves an additional halogen bulb. In order to increase the comfort of this light function is happening on and off does not abruptly, but. By dimming the systems according to specific temporal parameters
  • In the dynamic cornering light are the actuators so-called stepper motors that pivot the low beam horizontally in the desired direction. Is given to not only the end position, ie, the tilt angle, but also the angular velocity, that is, how fast the ending position is to be achieved.

To realize the cornering light function in a vehicle, additional lighting equipment and control devices are necessary. The existing facilities for automatic headlight range control (sensors, algorithms, control motors ) can not be used because they can adjust the light distribution only vertically.

Regulatory

The dynamic cornering light when the vehicle is not allowed to respond to a steering radius lock to the left (applies to right-hand traffic, links traffic accordingly). The background to this is that a glare of oncoming traffic should be avoided.

The cornering light function may only be active at a speed below 50 km / h.

Others

Opel is working on a front light that is not displayed. It should have a front camera. Instead of moving parts, various LEDs are controlled and the dimming takes just 20 milliseconds and not like before 250 milliseconds. The VW Phaeton a new system from Valeo is used.

When LED system the illumination field in different areas can be different in order not to blind oncoming traffic, for example, and still achieve a large-area illumination of the residual field.

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