Perhaps you may not know, the first born of the car is not illuminated, that is, no headlights, it is the first candle of light, as automotive lighting. But this can only provide a field of view of a few meters, the car was born so early, driving in the dark is a very risky behavior. By 1910, the first battery-powered car headlights come out, of course, than the irradiation field of vision candle light some longer. Later headlights of the car and after a lot of development, a large lantern vehicles become more intelligent. In this article, we have to Mercedes-Benz, for example, to see how is the evolution of headlights.
In 1934, Mercedes-Benz on its 500K (W29) models use a new lighting system, this system the reflector is characterized by a combination of the main beam and auxiliary beams.
To this end, two dual filament bulbs of different beam angles and strength composition.
In 1971, Mercedes-Benz SL (R107) for the first time introduced the H4 bulb, it is the world’s first use of halogen headlight light source technology, halogen headlights still in use, its low cost, good lighting effects, as well as rugged and durable features, is still widely used.
In 1995, having a dynamic range control function of the xenon headlights are employed Benz E (W120), Xenon light emission amount of the lamp is a halogen lamp 3 times longer life, less power consumption, and the resulting light is similar to sunlight, reducing the fatigue driving at night, but also to reduce the glare of the surrounding pedestrian.
In 1999, bi-xenon technology to Benz CL (C215) in the same reflecting system, only a pieces of xenon bulb, by switching the mechanical shutter to satisfy two kinds of low and high beam illumination. When the illumination beam, low beam illumination range to remain unchanged. That is, bi-xenon headlights, with a light source, through a mechanical shutter mechanism, to achieveTwo sets of a single light source lighting effects.
In 2003, Mercedes-Benz E-Class (W211) using enhanced active bi-xenon headlights.
In 2006, Benz E-class (W211) after facelift with intelligent lighting system (ILS) which is an active headlamp system, having a variable light distribution function, can automatically adapt to the weather , lighting and driving conditions.
In 2010, the Mercedes-Benz CLS (C219) using a first dynamic LED headlamps. And bi-xenon headlamps, as it has intelligent lighting system, and has five lighting functions tailored for common driving or weather conditions, including rural mode, road mode, expanded form, active illumination and cornering lighting. LED technology with adaptive high beam assist function, night driving safety to a whole new level.
2013: When the electric lighting in Release 100, S-Class (W222) became the first without bulb models. This is only the first LED lighting as a standard car. Taillight multi-level functions are first introduced to the world. During the wait for the signal, rear brake lights and turn lights dim, to ensure the safety of other road users.
2014: CLS (W218) launched the first multi-beam LED headlamps. In terms of the number of pixels, the same as display, LED display has become. The more pixels, the higher the resolution, the more detailed the image. A large number of pixels can also improve the display effect. Each headlamp 24 has a high-performance LED. Four per vehicle control apparatus may calculate 100 times per second, to achieve the desired illumination mode. Despite the huge capacity, but the precision of the high-beam module still extremely accurate. Each of 24 high-performance LED chips is smaller than a grain of rice.
2015: Mercedes – Benz F015 concept car shows autonomous vehicles with the surrounding environment of visual communication headlights future. The purpose is to allow other users to identify each other on the road while driving. Communications matrix display comprising two longitudinal external devices which consists of a three-dimensional bar LED modules and a large LED bar composition. F015 LED lamp using elongate bring visualization and driving-related functions in the back of the display, such as a brake, and a current driving direction of the guide mode. When the vehicle is started, the communication of two LED blocks sequentially light up. F015 indicated by the color of the lamp current driving mode, the autopilot is blue, white manual.
2016: Class E (W213) using the first 84 pixels of the multi-beam LED headlamps. Each headlight by the 84 independently controlled, high-performance LED, instead of 24, they are so bright and precise, so that they provide an unprecedented level of precision control and distribution, without affecting other users on the road .
2016: Digital light show coming headlights. With full HD performance, combined with the continuous high beam ADAS, and other road users of communication possible. Each headlamp has more than one million micro-reflector, or each car there are more than 2 million chips. Whether the guide wire on the road, pedestrians or marking extending and extending street labels, make it easier to see the road in difficult driving situations.
2018: Mercedes all models (including compact Class A) have adopted a multi-beam headlamps with LED 18 individually controllable LED of high performance.
2018: The S-class Mercedes-Benz, 360 of the optical signal is introduced. It also prepared the way for the future autonomous vehicles, people learn to better use of lighting. Steady represent autopilot, whether the vehicle is traveling orstill. Slow flashing indicates braking, rapid blinking indicates that the vehicle is about to travel.
2019: On the 2019 Frankfurt Motor Show concept car Vision EQS, Mercedes-Benz shows the headlamp another innovation. Grid for precise signal level higher before digital. In the three-dimensional space of a total of 940 individual LED, the vehicle and its surrounding environment of the communication optical signal to provide a new depth. A key feature of the new digital Vision EQS headlights, are each provided with two headlight modules holographic lens. This creates almost limitless possibilities of display and shows the Mercedes-Benz lighting vision for the future. In addition, the lights will become a better tool to communicate with people, it will become a key element of safety, aesthetics and design.