Smart Headlights are coming . . .
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CL Community Team
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From: Canada
Smart Headlights are coming . . .
Smart lamps
Headlights which dip when they detect other cars will go on sale within two years. That's the claim from technicians at lamp maker Hella
09th April 2007
They have created 'smart' lights which can tell when vehicles - plus cyclists and pedestrians - are about to be lit by a full beam, and lower their angle so there is no chance of dazzling them.
The clever system uses a camera and sensor to continually scan up to 800 metres ahead of the car. When it detects a vehicle, it cuts the beam length by swivelling the lamp and reflector down*wards without reducing the level of brightness.
Inventors say the same system can be used to improve night-time visibility on hilly roads. The sensors will always detect where the tarmac is, and keep the beam pointed directly at it to ensure it doesn't rise and fall with the nose of the car.
Clusters of LEDs are also being tested in the new headlamps. These would allow the pattern of the beam to be adjusted automatically while driving to highlight important features - so the same lamp unit could illuminate a roadside sign while staying dipped on the tarmac ahead.
Headlights which dip when they detect other cars will go on sale within two years. That's the claim from technicians at lamp maker Hella
09th April 2007
They have created 'smart' lights which can tell when vehicles - plus cyclists and pedestrians - are about to be lit by a full beam, and lower their angle so there is no chance of dazzling them.
The clever system uses a camera and sensor to continually scan up to 800 metres ahead of the car. When it detects a vehicle, it cuts the beam length by swivelling the lamp and reflector down*wards without reducing the level of brightness.
Inventors say the same system can be used to improve night-time visibility on hilly roads. The sensors will always detect where the tarmac is, and keep the beam pointed directly at it to ensure it doesn't rise and fall with the nose of the car.
Clusters of LEDs are also being tested in the new headlamps. These would allow the pattern of the beam to be adjusted automatically while driving to highlight important features - so the same lamp unit could illuminate a roadside sign while staying dipped on the tarmac ahead.
You're correct. Lincoln was the first brand to use HID in their 1995 Mark VIII. A good three years ahead of lexus and in terms of technology, 3 years is a long time. However, the original ballasts and bulbs were bulkier and dare I say weirder 
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From: East Bumble F, NJ
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Didn't GM come up with this auto-dim for the high beams before? I think it was on Cadillacs. Can anyone confirm?
In any case what we need are low beams that can sense a hill like the last illustration so that cars coming up the hill don't get blinded for that second when an oncoming car comes over the crest of the hill.
In any case what we need are low beams that can sense a hill like the last illustration so that cars coming up the hill don't get blinded for that second when an oncoming car comes over the crest of the hill.
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From: What is G?
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I've been preaching for far too long now that LED headlights would be the advent of some really cool stuff - this being one of many things we will see. with LED clusters it's extremely inexpensive and reliable to create a setup that can basically project almost any beam pattern you'd like. Even going so far as to create a patter of light that would exceed the distance of that car, but split down the middle so as to not shine any light ON the car, but shine it around the car. Heck maybe even lights that will sense a split in the road and project some lighting down the alternate path by default to allow you to better see which direction you want to go.
Or the one I'd love to see - a system that could shine at least a little bit of light up as street signs when I'm driving slowly through a neighborhood - sometimes it's sooo hard to read those signs at night when I'm looking for a certain street.
Or the one I'd love to see - a system that could shine at least a little bit of light up as street signs when I'm driving slowly through a neighborhood - sometimes it's sooo hard to read those signs at night when I'm looking for a certain street.