Integration of dynamic beam pattern functionalities in a Vario- LED headlamp system

Dr. Michael Kleinkes; Franz-Josef Kalze

Hella KGaA Hueck & Co., Lippstadt, Germany

Keywords:Adaptive Frontlighting System, Adaptive Beam Pattern, Lighting systems, Headlamp beam pattern, Projector technology, Reflector technology, Vario-Xenon, Vario-LED, AFS projector module, Dynamic Bend Lighting, Beam Pattern Performance, Adaptive Driving Beam, ADB

Abstract

In the last years dynamic lighting functionalities like Dynamic Bend Lighting, AFS Systems including Adaptive Beam Pattern and Glare Free High Beam have been introduced in innovative headlamp systems. Due to the enormous lighting performance in luminous flux and luminance the HID bulb has been the preferred light source for this applications.

Starting in 2008 the first headlamps with LED light sources launched the market with completely new design features and total different optical concepts.

The first applications have been based only on low beam and high beam functionality.

In 2009 with the Audi A8 the first AFS LED headlamp realised AFS functionalities by switching on and of different optical  components.

In a next step of development the target is to achieve total flexible lighting functionality with high performance light output generated by a singular optical system with high potential in standardisation similar to nowadays Vario-Xenon applications but now using the LED as light source. The nomenclation changes from Vario-Xenon to Vario-LED.

In this paper we will describe the steps in development of a Vario-LED system and will make a direct comparison to the lighting performance and system functionality of the Vario-Xenon system.