Numerous vehicle sensors measuring speed, yaw rate, steering angle and rain – plus the high beam assistant’s camera – collect information on road profile and visibility conditions and feed it to the control electronics. The system’s software then decides which lighting function is appropriate for the prevailing driving situation and sends a corresponding command to a control motor, which rotates the headlamp cylinder to the requested contour in a split second
The new generation AFL, jointly developed with Hella, is based on powerful bi-xenon headlamps. In conventional gas-discharge headlamps, the low beam light/dark boundary is formed with the help of a bulb shield. New sophisticated AFL technology features a free-form cylinder instead, which has several exactly calculated contours on its surface for various light beam patterns. The cylinder rotation alters the course of the light rays, changing the headlamp beam.
Overview of 9 lighting functions:
- At speeds under 50 km/h, the Town Light provides a wider beam
- The Pedestrian Area Light is for zones where the driver must exercise extreme caution. It is activated at speeds between five and 30 km/h
- The Country Road Light provides a brighter and more wide-ranging beam to the sides of the road. It is activated between 50 and 100 km/h.
- The Highway Light creates a cone of light that illuminates the road ahead. The Highway Light activates automatically above 100 km/h
- The Adverse Weather Light is activated during rain or snow when the rain sensor recognizes rain or the windshield wipers are switched on.
- The Static Cornering Light illuminates an area to the right or left up to an angle of 90°. It is activated below 40 km/h either by a large steering angle or by the turn indicators.
- The Dynamic Curve ensures improved illumination in curves. Curve Light’s bi-xenon headlamps shine at up to 15° right and left of the vehicle .
- The High Beam Light provides maximum headlamp beam output and range.
- The ninth function is the High Beam Light Assistant which automatically activates the High Beam Light.