If you drive on a highway with no lighting or on a poorly lit road in the city, then Audi can become indispensable assistant for security. It is quite possible that new technology can be ideal solution to illuminate the road in complete darkness.
YouTube has posted a new animated video that explains how Matrix LED headlight technology works. At first, the new headlights will be available on cars as an option. But anyone who will buy new car Audi should consider this option, as the new LED headlights are not just some fancy new junk technology, but quite useful option which enhances vehicle safety.
First of all, matrix headlights will appear. As an option on other vehicles, the cost of new LED headlight will be 2,140 Euro (price in Germany).
Recall that for several years the Audi company as front lighting uses LEDs (including for low and high beams). Indeed, new technologies last years were not better than xenon headlights in terms of lighting quality. And now, Audi says that new LED technology has an advantage over xenon headlights due to new technologies that do not dazzle oncoming drivers and do not interfere with vehicles in front.
The innovative system allows you to improve night visibility on the road by changing the headlights and adjusting the brightness. Matrix headlights are currently available on the following vehicles: TT, A7 and A8. IN soon new LED optics will be available.
The evolution of automotive lighting has taken a giant leap forward with the advent of matrix headlights. To date, this is the most progressive and high-tech version of automotive optics. What are the advantages of matrix LED headlights and what is the principle of their work?
In the field of lighting technology, the leading position belongs to Audi. The latest development of the company are matrix headlights, thanks to which driving comfort and the level of traffic safety rise to a qualitatively new level.
Starting in 2013, matrix headlights ( Matrix LED headights) are installed on Audi's flagship model A8. Opel develops Matrix Beam (a pilot project for matrix headlights).
Matrix headlights from Audi combine a control unit, an air duct with a fan, a design frame, a side light module, daytime lights and turn signal, and, of course, the low beam headlight module and the headlight high beam module.
The principle of operation of matrix headlights
The headlight high beam module consists of twenty-five LEDs, which are combined in groups of five, forming a matrix. Each group has its own metal radiator for cooling and its own reflector. Thanks to the matrix, about a billion different combinations of light distribution are realized from LEDs.
As for the headlight low beam module, it is located above the high beam module. It also consists of LEDs, which are divided into several groups. At the very bottom of the headlight is the module for the direction indicator, side lights and daytime running lights. running lights. Includes a module of thirty serial LEDs.
The design frame emphasizes the location of the lighting modules. In addition, an electronic control unit is located in the matrix headlight. In order to forced cooling LEDs, headlights are armed with an air duct with a fan.
All structural elements such headlights are in a plastic case, which is the basis for the placement of elements and protection from external influences. A transparent diffuser covers the case from the front.
Matrix headlights equipped electronic system control, which traditionally includes a control unit, input devices and actuators. Input devices include a GPS navigation system, a video camera and a number of sensors. The navigation system provides the driver with information about the road relief (ascents, descents, turns), and the video camera provides information about other vehicles on the road.
In the "interests" of the headlights works a large number of sensors from other vehicle systems, such as steering wheel angle sensor, ground clearance, speed sensor, rain sensor and light sensor. Information coming from input devices is processed electronic unit control, which, depending on the situation on the road, activates certain LEDs or deactivates them.
Swivel mechanisms in matrix headlights are not used in the same way as they are used in xenon headlights. All working functions of the matrix headlights are carried out only with the help of static LEDs and electronics.
Advantages of matrix headlights
Matrix headlights implement a number of progressive functions:
- Pedestrian detection and illumination;
- Recognition of cars, as well as changing the light beam;
- Dynamic direction indicators;
- Adaptive headlights.
While the car is moving along the road in the dark, the video camera detects passing and oncoming cars by their illumination. Immediately upon detecting a car, the control system turns on the LEDs that direct light to the detected car. The rest of the road is fully illuminated. It should be noted that the closer the detected car, the stronger the LEDs turn on. However, blinding of the driver of the vehicle traveling towards the opposite direction is completely excluded. At the same time, matrix headlights can detect up to eight cars.
In addition to cars, matrix headlights can detect animals and pedestrians in the dark, both those that are on the road and those that are close to it. It is for this purpose that the matrix headlights are connected to a night vision system.
Upon detecting a pedestrian or an animal, the headlights high beam triple signal, warning both the driver and the pedestrian.
By using navigation system implements adaptive headlights. Based on data from the navigation system, the turn is illuminated even before the driver turns the steering wheel. Adaptive lighting provides better visibility and consequently improves road safety.
A dynamic turn signal is a controlled (in the direction of the turn) movement of the lights. To implement this function, thirty LEDs are switched on in sequence at a frequency of one hundred and fifty milliseconds. And, according to the manufacturer, thanks to the dynamic direction indicator, the information content of the vehicle lighting system is significantly increased.
Matrix headlights are one of the design options for LED headlights (not in vain Audi company, one of the first to implement this solution, calls it Matrix LED). The light sources are still the same, but the important difference is how the work of these sources is organized.
In descriptions matrix optics the emphasis is often placed on the number of LEDs - for example, 24 diodes work in each of the Mercedes Multibeam headlights, and in an improved version that will be presented to the public along with the new generation of the E-class, there will already be 28 of them. However, in the "ordinary" LED headlights, the number light sources can easily be several dozen. For example, on a relatively affordable Audi A3, nine "LED chips" are responsible for the dipped beam, and high beam- ten LEDs. When talking about matrix headlights, you need to pay attention not so much to quantity as to quality.
"Simple" LED optics reproduces the structure known to us from our grandfather's Zhiguli: as before, there are separate blocks of position lights, high and low beams - just outdated bulbs have given way to diodes. The transition is no longer about a simple choice between near and far, but about creating a dynamic light pattern that constantly adjusts to the traffic situation. In the Matrix LED headlight, the usual division by type of light exists - but you can turn on, dim or turn off not only a separate block of diodes (of which there are five in each pair), but also each individual LED. As a result, electronics has many options for near and far. There is a lighting scenario for almost all occasions - after all, the number of available combinations is approaching one billion!
Matrix headlights have recently begun to appear even on relatively affordable models - one of these recently became the Audi A4 family.
It is easy to guess that in order to realize all the possibilities of matrix headlights, firstly, complex control electronics are needed, and secondly, a system of devices that read information about road conditions- sensors, video cameras and even a navigation system that will warn you about approaching a turn and tell you about its configuration. So, this newfangled optics is an expensive thing. And if in the price list in the corresponding column there is a relatively humane amount, then, if necessary, at your own expense, you can quickly change the headlight broken in an accident, it may not be so, maybe the antediluvian halogens are bad ... No wonder newfangled optics one of the first came to our heading with the telling title "Counted - shed a tear." Can you guess how much it will cost to replace a pair of headlights? Correct answer .
P.S. Over the past year and a half, we have already answered 48 simple questions(their full list) - and we don't want to stop. You can still leave your questions in the comments - and we will continue to look for answers.
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It is currently difficult to keep track of the development of technologies in the segment of the automotive lighting market even for experts, not to mention ordinary average motorists. Yesterday, xenon, for example, was considered the coolest, but then the auto world started talking about LED headlights and, suddenly, sharply automotive companies switch to matrix headlights. Before an oncoming car blinds you laser optics let's try to figure something out.
What are matrix headlights
In general, this is one of the types of headlight design with diode filling. By the way, the well-known company Audi was one of the first to introduce this decision into their models, calling it - Matrix LED. The light sources remain the same, but an important difference is the organization of the work of these sources.
When reading the characteristics of matrix headlights, the manufacturer often focuses on the number of LEDs involved. For example, each Mercedes Multibeam headlight contains 24 working diodes, and the upgraded version, which has found use on the new Generation E-Class, already has 28 diodes. Although it must be said that in conventional LED optics, the number of such diodes can reach several tens. Take comparatively available model Audi A3 - nine "LED chips" are responsible for the dipped beam here, and the high beam is on the conscience of ten LEDs. If we take into account matrix headlights, then we need to pay attention not so much to the number of diodes, but to their quality.
Matrix headlight device
Take the "simple" LED optics - it reproduces the design that drivers know from the "Zhiguli" left over from their grandfathers. The headlight, as before, consists of separate blocks: low beam, high beam, parking lights- only the outdated light bulbs were replaced by modern LEDs. Moreover, if you switch from low beam to high beam, then we are not talking about the usual choice, but about creating a dynamic light image that constantly adjusts to road conditions (situation).
The division into near / far, which is familiar to the driver, can be found in the Matrix LED matrix headlight, but we add that you can turn off, turn on and mute here as a separate block of LEDs (by the way, each pair contains five pieces), and each LED separately. Therefore, it turns out that the electronics has many options for setting the high and low beams. An individual light option can be selected for absolutely all occasions, since the number of available is approaching a billion!
Price - lack of matrix headlights
Recently, matrix headlights are increasingly appearing in equipment relatively available cars and, such an example can be called a whole family.
To realize all the possibilities of matrix headlights, it is necessary to have: firstly, complex control electronics, and secondly, a complex of devices that read information about road conditions(video cameras, sensors) and even a navigation system that will warn the computer if the car is approaching a turn, as well as "tell" about the configuration of the latter. Therefore, such a newfangled thing as matrix headlights is quite expensive.
And if you see in the price list opposite the desired product (matrix headlight) it costs relatively democratic price, then for sure, if necessary, replace at your own expense a headlight broken during an accident, it will quickly come to your mind that antediluvian halogens are not so bad ...
In conclusion, we add that in the near future we will tell you how much it can cost the driver to replace a couple of matrix headlights. As before, you can ask your questions, and we will always answer them.
Matrix LED technology in Audi vehicles latest generation if it didn’t revolutionize road lighting standards (after all, the main competitors also have cool solutions), then it has reached the very, very edge of progress. The car, equipped with LED headlights with matrix modules, is able to recognize cars on the road by itself, masterfully juggling a light beam.
Let's see how the manufacturer himself describes his development:
Audi Matrix LED technology consists in the fact that the main beam emitted by LEDs is divided into several separate segments. Separate LEDs, working simultaneously with lenses or reflectors, provide illumination invariably High Quality without the need for a rotary mechanism - instead, the LEDs are individually turned on, off or dimmed.
From an Audi press release
LED Audi headlights Matrix LED receive the necessary information from the camera, navigation system or other sensors. When the camera recognizes others vehicles, the main beam, divided into several zones, is blocked in certain subzones. Even in difficult situations, headlights can illuminate areas between several vehicles. The high beam actually guides the driver down the road.
From an Audi press release
Audi LED headlights emit light at a temperature of 5500 Kelvin, which is almost daylight. This helps your eyes at night to perceive the environment with more contrast and relieve them of stress.
From an Audi press release
It's hard to disagree - the future is definitely behind LED headlights, which are more durable and more economical than halogen and gas-discharge (xenon) counterparts. Moreover, AvtoVesti has already tested several Audi cars with matrix headlights and personally convinced of their effectiveness. The illumination of the road is uniform, the light is bright, and oncoming drivers seem to be protected by an invisible hand, covering the desired section of the headlight. If earlier similar systems they just turned off the high beam or opened the curtain, now it’s really intelligent system light control.
On the new Audi A6, the surcharge for LED optics Matrix LED is not sky-high 128 thousand rubles. Judge for yourself - even the optional "music" Bang & Olufsen here will pull as much as 340 thousand. And add expensive leather trim - and already half a million on top.
Minimum price
Maximum price
But it is not without reason that our new permanent column is called "Counted, wept." Even though the optics are usually not changed for no reason, and the service life of LEDs is about 20 years, we now and then see burnt out headlights and lanterns on new cars. And no one canceled the possibility of getting into an accident. And if so, AvtoVesti decided to ask the official representative of the brand Audi cost replacing such high-tech headlights ...
After analyzing the obtained numbers, you can completely do without chopping onions - here anyone will cry with cow's tears. Only one led headlight with a matrix module, it will pull 254,175 rubles, and two - this is already 508,350 rubles. The work of replacing both headlights in the official service will cost 9,600 rubles, total - 517,950 rubles!
Spare parts
Replacement work
The numbers are especially impressive when you take into account the cost of the "regular" bi-xenon head optics that are present in the base equipping Audi A6, and the effectiveness of which, by the way, no one complains about. One headlight for a gas discharge lamp costs only 63,135 rubles apiece - four times cheaper than LED ones!
However, it is too early to completely lose hope of the LED future. First, LEDs are indeed exceptionally reliable. Therefore, the chance of them breaking is very low. Secondly, at first the headlights are protected by a guarantee, and then by the Kulanz program, which just covers the cost of defective parts. Thirdly, according to our calculations, the prices for modern light sources fall by 2 times every 4 years, so by 2018 brand new headlights will no longer be suitable for the object of study in our studies. Let's count laser!
P.S. If you think that there is nothing so terribly expensive in your car, then you simply have not read our new research, stay tuned. We promise new tears every week. :)
