Audi, Hella team on production matrix LED headlights for

new A8

High beam division between vehicles and pedestrian alert is possible for the new Audi A8's matrix LED system.
Uwe Pseler is a night rider in cars with technology that would not have seemed out of place in the
1980s TV sci-fi series Pontiac Firebird TransAm, KITT, driven by Knight Rider David Hasselhoff.
Pselers night-riding job, though, is as a key member of Audis Headlamp Development Project
Management team. Working with specialists from technology partner Hella, the team has brought
production matrix LED headlights to the latest version of the A8.
The system, called MatrixBeam, runs permanently on high beam with subtleties that include the
ability to dim down for multiple targets, providing long-range high beam illumination that can
straddle both an approaching vehicle and one traveling ahead, without dazzling the occupants of
either.
This is a totally new system, said Pseler. We have extensive LED experience [LEDs were used
by Audis R18 e-tron Le Man 24-hour race winner; its headlight range was around 800 m] and we
considered how we could switch them off individually to split light diffusion. We have achieved that
for the new A8.
Two years ago, the company showed SAE Magazines a concept version of the system. It was a
challenging program that demanded integration by lighting, software, and optical engineers and
specialists, with the added complexity of integrating the system within the styling confines of the
new-generation A8s headlamp dimensions.
It is not a large headlamp and it had to contain other functions, including moving light turn
indicators, he explained. We did a lot of driving at night to determine the perfect performance
that was essential to shut down high beam very quickly so that oncoming vehicles would not be
blinded, but not so quickly that the action would make the driver nervous.
Active real environment testing took about a year and many thousands of kilometers.
Each headlamp has 25 diodes divided into groups of five, each of which shares a common
reflector, allowing dimming to be varied. To operate MatrixBeam, the driver uses the headlight
systems auto function and selects high beam. Activation is from 30 km/h (19 mph) in an urban
environment and 60 km/h (37 mph) outside it. When entering a city, the combined 50 LEDs are
dimmed.
A multifunction camera (it can detect roadside warning signs) is placed behind the cars rearview
mirror. When other vehicles are detected, the LEDs are dimmed (or masked out as Audi puts it)
and then returned to high beam to provide a very bright, homogenous light. The company
describes this as a highly distinctive crystal-like glow.
The system can handle up to eight targets, including the presence of pedestrians, who get three
headlamp flashes (marking lights) to draw the drivers attention to their presence and warn the
pedestrian of the approach of the vehicle.
The dimming system can be overridden by the driver if required.
Unlike a conventional headlight system, MatrixBeam requires no mechanical parts and is an
ultralow energy technology.
The LED headlamps of the A8 also include cornering lights, adjusting the focal point of the light
using targeted brightening and dimming in the direction of the bend. When linked to Audis MMI
Navigation-plus technology, which provides predictive route data, the cornering lights activate
momentarily before the steering wheel is turned.
The turn indicators use blocks of LEDs to blink at 150-ms intervals instead of conventional flash
intervals.
Regarded by Audi as essentially a safety system, MatrixBeam is expected to gain wide
legal acceptance by European transport legislators, with other countries following.
Pseler says Audis lighting research continues with new programs: We are looking for the
perfect lightlike daylight. LED already provides quasi-daytime light. The next step? Even more
lightmuch morewith systems perhaps integrated with other vehicles using connect
technology.
Other Audi model range flagships are expected eventually to benefit from the latest A8
technologies, including the MatrixBeam system, particularly apposite for high-performance cars, of
which the company is producing ever more examples.