I bought a 2010 Mazda 3 with this type of headlights. What is it exactly that makes
them different? They just seem bright is all
them different? They just seem bright is all
Bi-Xenon Adaptive
- Thread starter bobbob
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Bi-xenon means there is a single capsule ("bulb") used for low AND high-beams.
If you have someone activate the brights while you look at the headlamp assembly, you'll see something quickly move to re-aim the low-beams. Sometimes you can hear a quick relay engaging.
A lot of European cars have bi-xenons. Very effective and in some ways simpler than the typical low/hi setup.
If you have someone activate the brights while you look at the headlamp assembly, you'll see something quickly move to re-aim the low-beams. Sometimes you can hear a quick relay engaging.
A lot of European cars have bi-xenons. Very effective and in some ways simpler than the typical low/hi setup.
Adaptive headlights change their angle to light up a curve in the road better.
Originally Posted By: dparm
If you have someone activate the brights while you look at the headlamp assembly, you'll see something quickly move to re-aim the low-beams. Sometimes you can hear a quick relay engaging.
In most (modern) cases, the bulb itself isn't re-aimed or moved, but a shutter that blocks upward light is removed and the area above the low beam cut-off is exposed to the light source. I understand that some systems in the past may have actually moved the bulb within the housing to effect a similar change.
If you have someone activate the brights while you look at the headlamp assembly, you'll see something quickly move to re-aim the low-beams. Sometimes you can hear a quick relay engaging.
In most (modern) cases, the bulb itself isn't re-aimed or moved, but a shutter that blocks upward light is removed and the area above the low beam cut-off is exposed to the light source. I understand that some systems in the past may have actually moved the bulb within the housing to effect a similar change.
Originally Posted By: Hokiefyd
Originally Posted By: dparm
If you have someone activate the brights while you look at the headlamp assembly, you'll see something quickly move to re-aim the low-beams. Sometimes you can hear a quick relay engaging.
In most (modern) cases, the bulb itself isn't re-aimed or moved, but a shutter that blocks upward light is removed and the area above the low beam cut-off is exposed to the light source. I understand that some systems in the past may have actually moved the bulb within the housing to effect a similar change.
You are correct, it's typically a shutter. I didn't want to over-complicate the response. If you watch it for yourself it's pretty obvious to see how it works.
Originally Posted By: dparm
If you have someone activate the brights while you look at the headlamp assembly, you'll see something quickly move to re-aim the low-beams. Sometimes you can hear a quick relay engaging.
In most (modern) cases, the bulb itself isn't re-aimed or moved, but a shutter that blocks upward light is removed and the area above the low beam cut-off is exposed to the light source. I understand that some systems in the past may have actually moved the bulb within the housing to effect a similar change.
You are correct, it's typically a shutter. I didn't want to over-complicate the response. If you watch it for yourself it's pretty obvious to see how it works.
Originally Posted By: chevrofreak
Adaptive headlights change their angle to light up a curve in the road better.
True adaptive front lighting does a lot more than just aim the lights in corners.
Here is just one example of the functions, from Hella:
"……...Town light, which is activated at speeds below 55 km/h, features a horizontal cut-off line to minimize glare for other people on the road. Wide light distribution also makes it easier to detect pedestrians at the side of the road.
Country road light is also activated between speeds of 55 and 100 km/h and is similar to conventional low beam light distribution. The VarioX module generates an asymmetrical light distribution pattern to minimize glare for oncoming drivers. The cut-off line is raised so that the left edge of the road is better illuminated, providing greater coverage.
Motorway light is activated at speeds above 100 km/h. The light distribution range is designed for wide curve radii at high speeds.
The high beam of the AFS works like a conventional high beam, but does not require the driver to take action to avoid exposing oncoming drivers to excessive glare.
The Adaptive Frontlighting System also has a dynamic bend lighting function. Depending on the steering angle, the headlamps also swivel by up to 15° and allow optimized illumination of the bend.
Adverse weather light creates a wider dispersion of the light to improve visibility in rain, fog or snow. This feature also reduces long-range illumination to minimize reflective glare affecting the driver’s own vehicle…………."
Adaptive headlights change their angle to light up a curve in the road better.
True adaptive front lighting does a lot more than just aim the lights in corners.
Here is just one example of the functions, from Hella:
"……...Town light, which is activated at speeds below 55 km/h, features a horizontal cut-off line to minimize glare for other people on the road. Wide light distribution also makes it easier to detect pedestrians at the side of the road.
Country road light is also activated between speeds of 55 and 100 km/h and is similar to conventional low beam light distribution. The VarioX module generates an asymmetrical light distribution pattern to minimize glare for oncoming drivers. The cut-off line is raised so that the left edge of the road is better illuminated, providing greater coverage.
Motorway light is activated at speeds above 100 km/h. The light distribution range is designed for wide curve radii at high speeds.
The high beam of the AFS works like a conventional high beam, but does not require the driver to take action to avoid exposing oncoming drivers to excessive glare.
The Adaptive Frontlighting System also has a dynamic bend lighting function. Depending on the steering angle, the headlamps also swivel by up to 15° and allow optimized illumination of the bend.
Adverse weather light creates a wider dispersion of the light to improve visibility in rain, fog or snow. This feature also reduces long-range illumination to minimize reflective glare affecting the driver’s own vehicle…………."
Originally Posted By: SubLGT
Originally Posted By: chevrofreak
Adaptive headlights change their angle to light up a curve in the road better.
True adaptive front lighting does a lot more than just aim the lights in corners.
Here is just one example of the functions, from Hella:
"……...Town light, which is activated at speeds below 55 km/h, features a horizontal cut-off line to minimize glare for other people on the road. Wide light distribution also makes it easier to detect pedestrians at the side of the road.
Country road light is also activated between speeds of 55 and 100 km/h and is similar to conventional low beam light distribution. The VarioX module generates an asymmetrical light distribution pattern to minimize glare for oncoming drivers. The cut-off line is raised so that the left edge of the road is better illuminated, providing greater coverage.
Motorway light is activated at speeds above 100 km/h. The light distribution range is designed for wide curve radii at high speeds.
The high beam of the AFS works like a conventional high beam, but does not require the driver to take action to avoid exposing oncoming drivers to excessive glare.
The Adaptive Frontlighting System also has a dynamic bend lighting function. Depending on the steering angle, the headlamps also swivel by up to 15° and allow optimized illumination of the bend.
Adverse weather light creates a wider dispersion of the light to improve visibility in rain, fog or snow. This feature also reduces long-range illumination to minimize reflective glare affecting the driver’s own vehicle…………."
the newer, more advanced "Smart Lighting" units will vary the beam pattern.
the older versions of the adaptive lighting does the turning of the low beam projector.
In the aftermarket world, Hella offered their "DynaBeam" to certain applications.
Originally Posted By: chevrofreak
Adaptive headlights change their angle to light up a curve in the road better.
True adaptive front lighting does a lot more than just aim the lights in corners.
Here is just one example of the functions, from Hella:
"……...Town light, which is activated at speeds below 55 km/h, features a horizontal cut-off line to minimize glare for other people on the road. Wide light distribution also makes it easier to detect pedestrians at the side of the road.
Country road light is also activated between speeds of 55 and 100 km/h and is similar to conventional low beam light distribution. The VarioX module generates an asymmetrical light distribution pattern to minimize glare for oncoming drivers. The cut-off line is raised so that the left edge of the road is better illuminated, providing greater coverage.
Motorway light is activated at speeds above 100 km/h. The light distribution range is designed for wide curve radii at high speeds.
The high beam of the AFS works like a conventional high beam, but does not require the driver to take action to avoid exposing oncoming drivers to excessive glare.
The Adaptive Frontlighting System also has a dynamic bend lighting function. Depending on the steering angle, the headlamps also swivel by up to 15° and allow optimized illumination of the bend.
Adverse weather light creates a wider dispersion of the light to improve visibility in rain, fog or snow. This feature also reduces long-range illumination to minimize reflective glare affecting the driver’s own vehicle…………."
the newer, more advanced "Smart Lighting" units will vary the beam pattern.
the older versions of the adaptive lighting does the turning of the low beam projector.
In the aftermarket world, Hella offered their "DynaBeam" to certain applications.
Here is a link to Automotive Lighting's well done page showing the various functions of AFS (Adaptive Frontlighting Systems), also called ADB (Adaptive Driving Beam).
http://www.al-lighting.com/lighting/headlamps/afs/
http://www.al-lighting.com/lighting/headlamps/afs/
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