Non-glare high-beam assistant
The object recognition of the KAFAS camera and/or the inside mirror with high-beam assistant uses a motor to control a movable cover in the headlight. The high-beam headlight is thereby masked so that oncoming traffic or traffic driving ahead is not blinded. Your own high-beam headlight is thereby suppressed for the other vehicle. The greatest possible headlight illumination is thereby available to the driver with the non-glare high-beam assistant without blinding other road users. The non-glare high-beam assistant is a combination of the following light controls:
- Dynamic headlight beam throw adjustment
- Automatic driving lights control
- Variable light distribution
- Adaptive Headlights
When activated with the headlights on, the high-beam assistant automatically activates and switches off the high-beam headlights. The non-glare high-beam headlight assistant uses the KAFAS camera and/or high beam assistant camera to recognise the oncoming traffic and traffic driving ahead. The non-glare high-beam assistant ensures that the high-beam headlights are activated whenever traffic situations allow.
| Item | Explanation |
|---|---|
| 1 | Road reflections |
| 2 | Oncoming traffic headlights |
| 3 | Rear lights of traffic driving ahead. |
| 4 | Reflections of road markings |
| 5 | Reflections of traffic signs |
The light cones of the headlights were continuously adjusted by the servomotors of the headlight beam throw adjustment and also the servomotors of the adaptive headlight.
Recognized road users will be suppressed using a cover in the headlight. If required due to traffic conditions, the non-glare high-beam assistant will suppress on one side or both sides.
The non-glare high-beam assistant recognizes oncoming traffic from distances of 1000 m. Traffic driving ahead is recognized up to 400 m.
The high-beam headlights can always be switched on and off manually.
To activate the non-glare high-beam assistant:
- Turn light switch to switch position A (switch position for automatic driving lights control)
- Press the non-glare high-beam assistant button on the left steering column switch
- The indicator light (2) in the instrument cluster lights up.
| Item | Explanation |
|---|---|
| 1 | Indicator light for switched on high-beam headlight or partial high-beam headlight. |
| 2 | Indicator light for activated non-glare high-beam assistant |
The non-glare high-beam assistant responds to lights on approaching and preceding vehicles while also monitoring the surrounding area for adequate illumination.
Manual high-beam activation and dipping
- High-beam headlight on or headlight flasher on
- High-beam headlight off
To switch the non-glare high-beam assistant off, press the high-beam assistant button on the left steering column switch again. The graphic below shows the different light distributions for city, county road, freeway and full high-beam headlight.
| Item | Explanation |
|---|---|
| 1 | City light distribution |
| 2 | Light distribution for county road (oncoming traffic suppressed) |
| 3 | Country road light distribution |
| 4 | Light distribution for freeway (full high-beam headlight) |
An asymmetrical shorter headlight beam through was realized in the light distribution for city. A greater headlight beam throw is not necessary due to the street lighting.
In the light distribution for county road the light distribution targets good illumination of the road sides and high range. For this purpose, the light/dark boundary will be raised in the outer area. This illuminates traffic signs and obstacles clearly sooner and better. A limitation of the headlight beam throw in the center serves to prevent blinding oncoming traffic.
The light distribution for freeway approximately correspond with the light distribution for county road; however, the limitation in the center does not apply.
Combined light distributions are also available for the last mentioned light distributions. During the transition from light distribution for county road to light distribution for freeway, the characteristic properties of the correspondent light distributions vary. In addition, a speed-dependent raise of the light/dark boundary occurs for the light distribution for freeway to increase the range.
Conditions between a light distribution and the full high-beam headlight and low-beam headlight can be implemented with defined recesses in the cover.
Horizontal movement range of headlights
Both headlights can be moved vertically and also horizontally by a few degrees. The light cones thereby receive a new targeted alignment.
Preceding vehicle
To recognize a vehicle, the non-glare high-beam assistant monitors the immediate area (up to 400 m) in front of the vehicle. The non-glare high-beam assistant recognizes the rear lights of vehicles driving ahead. When recognizing road users driving ahead, the non-glare high-beam assistant will automatically adjust the high-beam headlight. The traffic driving ahead can thereby not be blinded.
The graphic below shows the light distribution from the "top" (1) and from the driver's perspective (2).
Oncoming vehicle
To recognize a vehicle, the non-glare high-beam assistant monitors the distant area (up to 1000 m) in front of the vehicle. The non-glare high-beam assistant recognizes the light of oncoming traffic. While recognizing oncoming road users, the system adjusts the high-beam headlight automatically so that they will not be blinded. Both headlights will be moved by a few degrees for this purpose: The light cones are aligned again.
The graphic below shows the light distribution from the "top" (1) and from the driver's perspective (2).
When oncoming traffic is recognized, a range will develop that is only scarcely illuminated by the high-beam headlight. Outside of this range, the optimized illumination of the road will be maintained (1). The non-glare alignment will adjust to the movement of the other road users as needed. When the oncoming vehicle passes an unfavorable angle, the high-beam headlight facing him will be deactivated (2). The high-beam headlight temporarily switches to the dimmed mode.
Locality
The high-beam headlight for both headlights will be switched off as soon as the surrounding area is light enough. For example, this is the case with closed localities.
Limits of the system
The non-glare high-beam assistant does replace the individual's responsibility to decide when the high-beam headlights are used. Thus the headlights must be dipped manually whenever conditions render it necessary to do so.
Operation of the non-glare high-beam assistant is restricted, or it may fail to operate entirely, under the following conditions:
- Unfavorable weather conditions, such as fog or heavy precipitation
- Road users with poor lighting
- Sharp curves, steep rises and dips
- Crossing traffic or partially hidden traffic on the opposite side of motorways
- Poorly lit towns and intense reflections from road signs
- Low driving speed
- Contamination or stickers on the windscreen in the area around the KAFAS camera
Field of view of KAFAS camera and from inside mirror with high-beam assistant
The field of view of the KAFAS camera and/or high-beam assistant camera is near the inside mirror. The area around the inside mirror must not be obstructed by air fresheners, etc.