Matrix headlamps – principle of work, advantages and disadvantages
In recent years, automotive optics have become much more advanced. Headlights are no longer just a bulb with a reflector, but a high-tech device capable of performing many functions. In addition, they increasingly use bright LEDs.
One of the varieties is matrix headlights, the most advanced product of the automobile industry nowadays. For the first time they were used by Audi, and its development remains the most advanced in this area.
Thanks to this technology, it is much more comfortable to drive at night, and the safety rises to a new level.
Matrix headlights and their features
The main feature of the matrix headlight is the use of LEDs. It has absolutely no xenon or halogen lamps. LEDs are used for main and dipped beam, as well as for turn signals. They can be located in different ways by different manufacturers, the shape of the body is also different, but the principle is the same, and the matrix headlights can not be confused with conventional – they have an original design, and the division of the matrix is clearly visible.
A feature of this design is also its increased functionality. The lighting is controlled by the lighting, the on-board computer is also involved in this process. All kinds of sensors are used – steering wheel, rain, light, navigation system, and even a video camera.
Based on the data obtained, the control unit itself decides how best to illuminate the road. For example, when turning, more light is directed to the direction of the turn, and when it detects a person walking ahead, it is illuminated more strongly and becomes more visible. The video camera detects oncoming cars by their headlights and adjusts the lighting so that it does not hit the eyes of drivers, but the other areas are still brightly lit.
If the on-board navigation system is used, then the data about the terrain – relief, track or settlement, and more – are also taken into account.
In the matrix headlights there are no turning elements. In them, groups of LEDs are optimally positioned in advance. The level of light in an area in front of the vehicle changes by changing the brightness of a particular LED group. This allows, for example, to brightly illuminate the road without blinding the driver of an oncoming car.
How does the matrix headlight
The design of the headlamp of this type consists of separate modules – high beam, low beam, turn indicators, parking lights. All this is arranged in a single unit, the form of which depends on the design of the car and design solutions.
Each module uses a group of LEDs. For example, in the high beam section there could be 25 pieces, grouped by 5 pieces. Each group has its own reflector and radiator for cooling.
The low beam module also consists of LED blocks and is usually located above the high beam module. Block of turns and lights are located at the bottom. The headlamp has a transparent diffuser in front.
The headlight housing contains the control unit electronics and a fan with a duct to cool the LEDs.
The latest Audi models use matrix-laser headlights. In this design, the light source is a laser. Its beam, passing through a special lens coated with a special fluorescent composition, acquires white light and becomes safe for the eyes. But the power of such headlights is many times greater than xenon and even LED headlights. Its range is up to 600 meters against 300 meters for LED headlights and 100 meters for regular headlights.
The matrix-laser headlight not only perfectly illuminates the road. Just like a conventional matrix headlight, it can selectively create shadow zones, for example, for oncoming cars. In addition, it can adjust the beam pattern. For example, when driving on the highway at high speed, the beam becomes narrower, the light is concentrated in a narrower beam, shines farther and brighter. When driving slowly, such as through a populated area, the beam widens, capturing more of the surrounding area.
Variety of lighting functions in matrix optics
The complex construction of headlights allows them to perform many functions. Matrix headlights, both LED and laser, provide:
- High beam, which may not be switched if other vehicles are moving toward them. Shadow zones are created for them, and drivers are not blinded. Such a zone is also created for the vehicle in front. The rest of the space is illuminated with the same brightness, and visibility is not reduced.
- Near-beam lighting of the usual kind, where the side sectors and the curb are illuminated more strongly, and the beam of light is lowered down.
- Adaptive lighting, which adjusts depending on the maneuver. For example, when turning, additional side LEDs are activated to improve lateral visibility. In addition, the beam of light in the latest models can turn in a smooth curve of the road, highlighting the dangerous areas.
- All-weather lighting, which changes its intensity based on data from various sensors. Driving in rain, fog, blizzard, becomes much safer and more comfortable.
- Illumination of pedestrians and signs is based on data from a video camera. Headlights signal with a threefold brightness change, warning people and animals who are at a dangerous distance from the car.
- The dynamic turn indicator is much better at showing the direction of maneuver than the conventional one. “Running lights” of 30 LEDs are visible from afar, attract attention and more informative.
As you can see, matrix headlights are much more convenient to use than conventional ones. They relieve the driver from manual switching of high and low beam, ensure better visibility in all conditions and do not inconvenience the surrounding people.
Advantages and disadvantages of matrix optics
A big plus of the new type of headlights is convenience, intelligent control, increased safety in the dark or in bad weather conditions. The LEDs arranged by matrixes provide brighter light in the right direction. All of this, of course, appeals to drivers.
But matrix headlights have one big disadvantage – cost. They can cost thousands and tens of thousands of dollars apiece. If it is just a matter of accidental knocking, you will have to buy a very expensive part, and you will have to order it from the manufacturer. In addition, if even one LED fails, you will have to replace the entire headlight. Although the manufacturer gives 10 years of warranty, but it may happen.
Despite this, the functionality of the matrix headlights is so superior to conventional headlamps that more and more automakers are introducing this technology in their cars. Over time, it is possible that the price of them will be significantly reduced.
Matrix headlamps – principle of work, advantages and disadvantages
In recent years, automotive optics has become much more advanced. Headlights are no longer just a lamp with a reflector, but a high-tech device capable of performing many functions. In addition, they increasingly use bright LEDs.
One of the varieties is matrix headlights, the most advanced product of the automobile industry nowadays. For the first time they were used by Audi, and its development remains the most advanced in this area.
Thanks to this technology, it is much more comfortable to drive at night, and the safety rises to a new level.
Matrix headlights and their features
The main feature of the matrix headlight is the use of LEDs. It has absolutely no xenon or halogen lamps. LEDs are used for main and dipped beam, as well as for turn signals. They can be located in different ways by different manufacturers, the shape of the body is also different, but the principle is the same, and the matrix headlights can not be confused with conventional – they have an original design, and the division of the matrix is clearly visible.
A feature of this design is also its increased functionality. The lighting is controlled by the lighting, the on-board computer is also involved in this process. All kinds of sensors are used – steering wheel, rain, light, navigation system, and even a video camera.
Based on the data obtained, the control unit itself decides how best to illuminate the road. For example, when turning, more light is directed to the direction of the turn, and when it detects a person walking ahead, it is illuminated more strongly and becomes more visible. The video camera detects oncoming cars by their headlights and adjusts the lighting so that it does not hit the eyes of drivers, but the other areas are still brightly lit.
If the on-board navigation system is used, then the data about the terrain – relief, track or settlement, and more – are also taken into account.
The matrix headlights have no turning elements. In them, groups of LEDs are optimally positioned in advance. The level of light in an area in front of the vehicle changes by changing the brightness of a particular LED group. This allows, for example, to brightly illuminate the road without blinding the driver of an oncoming car.
Capabilities and design
In addition to the design of the optical system itself, an important role for the work of adaptive lighting control system design. In case of matrix optics the most important sensor of the system is LiDAR – rangefinder of optical range which allows the control system to get information about all light sources and objects in the area of head optics illumination. It also uses data from the navigation system, vehicle speed, rain and light sensors and data from the night vision assistant, if the vehicle has one. Based on these data, the control unit can use one of the many operating modes.
High beam for highway driving is activated based on data from the navigation system. In this case, the Matrix Beam system activates a narrow beam with maximum illumination range, best suited for nighttime driving at high speeds.
Middle beam with a classic asymmetrical light beam shape uses 15 individual LEDs in each headlight and is switched on in populated areas. It can be used separately from the adaptive lighting. Long-range lighting is implemented by a separate set of LEDs and can be switched off to implement touristic or all-weather mode.
Tourist mode is used when driving in countries with left-hand traffic for cars designed for right-hand traffic. It allows you to reduce the asymmetry of the light beam when the dipped beam mode is on. The mode is activated either automatically by the navigation system or manually via the menu of the multimedia system.
The design of the main optical system of the headlight can be seen in the figure, but in addition to the design also includes a turn signal module (of course, with LEDs), cooling module, and with a removable fan, and internal wiring.
Static side lighting is designed to facilitate maneuvering and safe passage through intersections. A special section of the headlight illuminates a wide area in the front-side of the car. It switches on automatically at low speed and when the turn signal light is on and when the steering wheel angle is more than 50 degrees and the speed is less than 60 km/h. When passing intersections light mode for intersections, which is activated by the navigation system and the speed of less than 60 km / h.
All-weather lighting is used in fog and snow conditions. In this case the dipped beam output is reduced and static lighting of the side zones is switched on. The mode is activated manually, with a button on the dashboard, while the high beam assistant is deactivated.
Dynamic adaptive lighting works at speeds above 60 km/h outside built-up areas. A matrix of 25 high beam LEDs is used, creating 25 independent segments. The system ensures that the direction of the light beam changes depending on the terrain, does not dazzle oncoming and passing traffic, reduces brightness in the areas where sources with a high reflection factor are located – road signs and all other adaptive functions.
Marking pedestrian illumination is triggered outside built-up areas and at speeds above 60 km/h, with night vision assistant. Sections of the high beam headlights in the direction of the pedestrian flash to attract the driver’s attention and the pedestrian silhouette is illuminated in red in the instrument panel display.
In addition to the LiDAR sensor in the work of the system involved control unit corrector headlights and comfort unit on-board network. And the correctors themselves do not have adaptive optics for two reasons. On cars with matrix LED-optics air suspension is installed and the optics has a high margin of adaptivity even in the dipped beam mode due to the separation of zones. So the control unit in the strict sense of the word is not a level correction unit, just located and connected in the same way as the correction unit on cars without this system. In addition to the external units, three control units are used in the headlight itself.
How does the matrix headlight
The design of the headlamp of this type consists of separate modules – high beam, low beam, turn indicators, parking lights. All this is arranged in a single unit, the form of which depends on the design of the car and design solutions.
Each module uses a group of LEDs. For example, in the high beam section there could be 25 pieces, grouped by 5 pieces. Each group has its own reflector and radiator for cooling.
The low beam module also consists of LED blocks and is usually located above the high beam module. Block of turns and lights are located at the bottom. The headlamp has a transparent diffuser in front.
The headlight housing contains the control unit electronics and a fan with a duct to cool the LEDs.
The latest Audi models use matrix-laser headlights. In this design, the light source is a laser. Its beam, passing through a special lens coated with a special fluorescent composition, acquires white light and becomes safe for the eyes. But the power of such headlights is many times greater than xenon and even LED headlights. Its range is up to 600 meters against 300 meters for LED headlights and 100 meters for regular headlights.
The matrix-laser headlight not only perfectly illuminates the road. Just like a conventional matrix headlight, it can selectively create shadow zones, for example, for oncoming cars. In addition, it can adjust the beam pattern. For example, when driving on the highway at high speed, the beam becomes narrower, the light is concentrated in a narrower beam, shines farther and brighter. When driving slowly, such as through a populated area, the beam widens, capturing more of the surrounding area.
Variety of lighting functions in matrix optics
The complex construction of headlights allows them to perform many functions. Matrix headlights, both LED and laser, provide:
- High beam, which may not be switched if other vehicles are moving toward them. Shadow zones are created for them, and drivers are not blinded. Such a zone is also created for the vehicle in front. The rest of the space is illuminated with the same brightness, and visibility is not reduced.
- Near-beam lighting of the usual kind, where the side sectors and the curb are illuminated more strongly, and the beam of light is lowered down.
- Adaptive lighting, which adjusts depending on the maneuver. For example, when turning, additional side LEDs are activated to improve lateral visibility. In addition, the beam of light in the latest models can turn in a smooth curve of the road, highlighting the dangerous areas.
- All-weather lighting, which changes its intensity based on data from various sensors. Driving in rain, fog, blizzard, becomes much safer and more comfortable.
- Illumination of pedestrians and signs is based on data from a video camera. Headlights signal with a threefold brightness change, warning people and animals who are at a dangerous distance from the car.
- The dynamic turn indicator is much better at showing the direction of maneuver than the conventional one. “Running lights” of 30 LEDs are visible from afar, attract attention and more informative.
⇡#Car News
Last year we dedicated the whole issue to Shanghai Motor Show. However, not all manufacturers had time to present their novelties in the opening days of the event – for example, crossover SEM DX7 was shown a little later, so it was not included in the review of the motor show. We would not have noticed the loss of a fighter if not for the original appearance of the car.
Often Chinese cars look secondary to say the least. Quite often the producers from Celestial Empire unashamedly copy famous models of world brands, though we should admit that over the last decade the visual part of local cars has made a qualitative leap. SEM DX7 also looks good, but it does not imitate anyone. However, this is not the merit of the Chinese, but of the Italians: the parkcar is painted in the famous atelier Pininfarina.
The Chinese automotive industry has a paradoxical situation with the design of passenger cars. It is obvious to everyone that local manufacturers do not always manage to create a neat appearance of cars by their own efforts. Sometimes the Chinese turn to European designers for help, but it happens quite rarely. At the same time, in Italy and some other developed countries, world-known design studios with centuries-old history are on the verge of bankruptcy. Of course, they also sometimes make rather bizarre machines, but it is still better than faceless copying. The Chinese giants have money to buy Western manufacturers, but are unwilling to buy out famous studios for next to nothing. For example, Pininfarina atelier has not been showing the best financial indicators for a long time. Fortunately, soon the Italians will be saved from financial ruin: Indian company Mahindra & Mahindra is about to buy the studio.
In general, the design of the SEM DX7 meets modern trends. On the sides of the crossover there are waves with pronounced relief. Similar expressive elements are contained, for example, in the appearance of the Nissan Murano. Some similarity with the Japanese car can be found in the design of the rear roof pillar. However, the SEM DX7 will be much more compact: the total length of the body will be 4,537 mm with a wheelbase of 2,700 mm. Exact technical parameters have not been published yet, but the car is expected to be equipped with a turbocharged 1.5-liter and 2-liter gasoline engines.
SEM has been cooperating with Mitsubishi for a long time. The joint venture in China assembles a number of Japanese models. This suggests that the SEM DX7 uses the platform of last generation Mitsubishi Outlander crossover.
Advantages and disadvantages of matrix optics
A big plus of the new type of headlights is convenience, intelligent control, increased safety in the dark or in bad weather conditions. The LEDs arranged by matrixes provide brighter light in the right direction. All of this, of course, appeals to drivers.
But matrix headlights have one big disadvantage – cost. They can cost thousands and tens of thousands of dollars apiece. If it is just a matter of accidental knocking, you will have to buy a very expensive part, and you will have to order it from the manufacturer. In addition, if even one LED fails, you will have to replace the entire headlight. Although the manufacturer gives 10 years of warranty, but it may happen.
Despite this, the functionality of the matrix headlights is so superior to conventional headlamps that more and more automakers are introducing this technology in their cars. Over time, it is possible that the price of them will be significantly reduced.
