Topic: Automotive Lighting

[Snowman]

Hard to keep up with all the recent advancements in headlight technology, even the government is having challenges.

http://www.extremetech.com/extreme/148601-the-feds-dont-know-what-to-make-of-audis-new-headlamps

[Angry Chicken]

Hard to keep up with all the recent advancements in headlight technology, even the government is having challenges.

http://www.extremetech.com/extreme/148601-the-feds-dont-know-what-to-make-of-audis-new-headlamps

Not surprising, though I'd like to suggest an amendment to your statement.  How about "as always, the government is having challenges."  Of course we're talking NHTSA here, an organ of the US DOT, but those are the same bozos that we've unfortunately been in lockstep with as far as our own antiquated lighting regulations are concerned.  The article said it right, it's hard for the government to attract the biggest lights in the engineering field.  LOL!

[rrocket]

The next big thing is "light pipes".  They will soon be in EVERYTHING!  Logos, door handles, cup holders, dash surrounds, headlights, taillights..even as a design feature in the curves of a bodypanel.  Essentially it's a bit like a fiber optic.  Except it's plain old acrylic with a myriad of facets in it.  The facets reflect the light the distance of the light pipe so the brightness stays constant.  All of this from a few tenths of a watt.

[Blue01]

Well I am one driver that would like to see an improvement in vehicle lighting.  There are too many of those new headlights, HID?, that really are blinding.
It's a toss-up between after market and Chrysler as to who does the best job at blinding you.  Next up would be some of the high-end Asian cars.
The best?  Probably the high-end European.  But even they are blinding at times when approaching at an angle.

I don't hesitate to flash on coming drivers if their lights bother me, even knowing their low beams are on.
There's a late model Jetta that I meet at times in the morning commute.  He's got the worst of the aftermarkets Ive had the mispleasure of meeting and he gets my highbeams often.  No doubt he's getting ticked off, but so am I, and others behind me.
So there''s my rant on headlights.

[rrocket]

Well I am one driver that would like to see an improvement in vehicle lighting.  There are too many of those new headlights, HID?, that really are blinding.
It's a toss-up between after market and Chrysler as to who does the best job at blinding you.  Next up would be some of the high-end Asian cars.
The best?  Probably the high-end European.  But even they are blinding at times when approaching at an angle.

I don't hesitate to flash on coming drivers if their lights bother me, even knowing their low beams are on.
There's a late model Jetta that I meet at times in the morning commute.  He's got the worst of the aftermarkets Ive had the mispleasure of meeting and he gets my highbeams often.  No doubt he's getting ticked off, but so am I, and others behind me.
So there''s my rant on headlights.

Actually, the Asian and Euro cars have auto-levelling, so they shouldn't blind you.

[micha]

Well I am one driver that would like to see an improvement in vehicle lighting.  There are too many of those new headlights, HID?, that really are blinding.
It's a toss-up between after market and Chrysler as to who does the best job at blinding you.  Next up would be some of the high-end Asian cars.
The best?  Probably the high-end European.  But even they are blinding at times when approaching at an angle.

I don't hesitate to flash on coming drivers if their lights bother me, even knowing their low beams are on.
There's a late model Jetta that I meet at times in the morning commute.  He's got the worst of the aftermarkets Ive had the mispleasure of meeting and he gets my highbeams often.  No doubt he's getting ticked off, but so am I, and others behind me.
So there''s my rant on headlights.

Much worse than luxury cars with HIDs are lifted trucks with aftermarkets. Usually the lights are not adjusted down (to account for the lift) and are right in your face and sometimes their lowbeams are brighter than many HID highbeams. They also tend to have aftermarket fogs which are very blinding. I have gotten used to most of them, but some are just brutal. They really should get tickets in the $500+ range for that IMO.

[aquadorhj]

light pipe is cool, that's something i can get on board with.

multiple LEDs, though, i can't...  i can just see, few years down the road, hundreds of Audi's with one or more of these LEDs out, and there's no way to change one bulb..

and LED headlight on A7, while looks super cool, isn't any brighter, is more complicated, uses as much electricity... i don't see the point.

Now, BMW's laser lighting, that's something i want to see.   (also, night vision).

oh and yeah, ticket alllllllllll those a-holes with aftermarket people blinders.

[tpl]

Fortunately Canada accepts the ECE lighting standards.  But on euro cars sold here it is not clear that the manufacturers do.   Or possibly the focus groups that they employ are just plain strange. Euro cars that arrive here with red rear indicators for example.

The plague of HID bulbs being fitted into reflector assemblies will be difficult to stop without incenting the traffic police to stop all vehicles like that and take their plates away and there is no chance of that.