Modern Engineering in Automobile Lights
Like any other, the technology behind automobile lighting continues to change rapidly, improving functionality, safety, and control. Projector headlights made their first appearance as the main headlamps on vehicles in the 1980s, and since then the system has gained in popularity. Basically, this involves a filament located at the focus of an ellipsoidal reflector with a condenser lens at the front of the light. At the image plane, between the reflector and the lens, is a shade that creates a cut-off for the low beam. In some cases, the shade may be capable of pivoting out of the light path, utilizing the full power of the lamp to project the high beam and putting the shade in place to create the low beam. This is known as BiXenon or BiHalogen optics, depending upon the light source. Another relatively new means of lighting an automobile is the LED. LED tail lights are especially popular these days, for reasons spanning from safety and durability to appearance. LEDs are many, many times brighter than their OEM counterparts and can essentially double or even triple the range of any typical factory light. Without the incorporation of flimsy filaments, these little lights are also extremely long-lasting and also energy efficient.