FLA: High-beam assistant

The function high-beam assistant can be activated only when the light switch is in position A. The switch position A stands for automatic driving light control.

The function high-beam assistant assists the driver in operating the high-beam headlights. The high-beam assistant (FLA) automatically switches the high-beam headlight on and off depending on the traffic situation. On the basis of other input values, the footwell module (FRM) or the Body Domain Controller (BDC) decides whether the high-beam headlight should be switched on or switched off.

The high-beam assistant (FLA) relies on an image sensor to recognise preceding and oncoming vehicles as well as built-up areas with continuous street lighting. The image sensor is a special camera for detecting light sources. The image sensor can detect other light sources within a range of about 1000 m. The light cone of the high-beam headlights has a range of about 400 m. This ensures that the image sensor detects oncoming vehicles before their drivers can be dazzled by the light cone of the high-beam headlights. When the image sensor detects an oncoming vehicle, the high-beam assistant (FLA) transmits a recommendation to the footwell module (FRM) or the Body Domain Controller (BDC) to switch off.

The High-Beam Assistant (FLA) is integrated in the inside mirror on a printed circuit board. The image sensor is installed in the mirror base.

Fig 1: Identifying Interior Mirror And Image Sensor

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.