Lighting System Looks Around Corners

Lighting technology company Valeo has announced details of its first production contracts to supply intelligent headlight systems that significantly improve the illumination of road curves by directional control of vehicle headlamp beams.
The intelligent lighting system, presented at the 59th IAA International Motor Show in Frankfurt, forms an integral part of Valeo’s “Seeing and Being Seen” Domain which addresses the single consumer need for enhanced all round visibility both from within and from outside the vehicle.
The innovative new system, called “Bending Light” automatically turns light into road bends to optimize forward nighttime visibility of road curves; a significant contribution to safety, comfort and convenience by reducing driver stress and fatigue often associated with difficult nighttime driving conditions.
The contracts were recently signed with two major European vehicle manufacturers and the lighting system will be specified on two future vehicle models to be launched in two and three years time. Valeo anticipates that the total value of both contracts will be valued at over 50 million euro over the production life of the models.
Commenting on the commercial success of Valeo’s new technology, Thierry Morin, chairman of Valeo’s management board, said, “This contract win underlines the priority Valeo places on customer focused R&D and contributes to our goal of being recognized as the world leader in vehicle lighting technology. I applaud the expertise and creativity of the many engineers and technicians who have worked to turn an exciting market-driven concept into a new system with great market potential.”
The headlight system consists of either a bi-Xenon projector or reflector headlamp motorized to rotate by up to 20 degrees from the normal position or an additional projector or reflector or a combination of the two in order to deliver an increased quantity of light into an on-coming road bend. The actuation of the motorized lighting unit within each headlamp assembly is controlled electronically. Optimum performance is achieved by Valeo’s own control algorithm, which takes into account signals from a steering wheel sensor, a wheel speed sensor, and optionally a satellite navigation system (e.g. GPS). The system will be compatible with forthcoming vehicle lighting regulations such as “Fast Track” and “RXX”, expected in 2003 and 2005 respectively.