The active cornering headlamp system: Mercedes technology offers significantly improved safety on country roads and motorways

• Headlamps swivel in response to the steering angle
• Bi-xenon technology for low and main-beam
• Up to 25 metres extra visibility when driving through corners at night
• Greater driver focus on the course of the road

Stuttgart, Nov 07, 2002 - The active cornering headlamp system jointly developed by Mercedes-Benz and Hella is based on the bi-xenon headlamps in the Mercedes-Benz E-Class. At the heart of the system is a microcomputer integrated into the electronic data net-work of the Saloon, which is continuously supplied with real-time information from the steering-angle and speed sensors. Each bi-xenon module is equipped with its own electronics unit and an electric motor, which swivels the lamp horizontally.

The active cornering headlamp system operates in both low and main-beam mode and constantly adjusts itself in response to the speed of the car. In other words, whilst the headlamps react quickly to changes in the steering wheel angle when the vehicle is moving rapidly, the swivel mechanism reduces its functioning speed accordingly if the vehicle is moving more slowly. The result is that the light is distributed as the driver requires.

In darkness, the human eye focuses out of instinct on the brightest point, and the active cornering headlamp system thus allows the driver’s eyes to accurately follow the course of the bend and focus more effectively on the road. Conven-tional headlamps, on the other hand, also illuminate the edge of the road and the area next to it relatively strongly, effectively diverting the driver’s vision.

The newly developed active cornering headlamp system improves illumination of the road ahead by as much as 90 percent. Whereas conventional low-beam headlamps are able to provide illumination for a distance of some 30 metres when entering a curve with a radius of 190 metres, the new headlamp extends this range to some 55 metres.

In developing this innovative technology, Mercedes-Benz deliberately chose an active system rather than a static light which could be operated when cornering, since the former also enhances safety significantly on country roads and in extended curves.

Bi-xenon projection-beam headlamps provide unbeatable road illumination

From spring 2003, the Mercedes-Benz E-Class will be available with the bi-xenon active cornering headlamp system – the most powerful headlamp technology cur-rently on the market. It is based on a bi-xenon projection system with a lens unit measuring 70 millimetres in diameter. The rejection of the conventional reflector system in the development of the E-Class was based on rather more than just stylistic indulgence. True, the projection system takes up less space than stan-dard reflectors, opening up greater possibilities for the designer. However, the decisive factor for Mercedes-Benz was the visible step forward it presented in terms of effectiveness – and therefore driving safety.

Bi-xenon technology means that only one lamp is required for both low and main beam. On main beam, the whole light beam is utilised. When the driver switches to low beam, a shutter is inserted between the lamp and the lens system, blocking out part of the beam. The H7 spotlamps in the inner "eyes" of the E-Class’ striking "twin-headlamp" front end illuminate as well when the bi-xenon head-lamps are switched to main beam.

Active cornering headlamp system and bi-xenon technology only available in conjunction with dynamic headlamp range adjustment

Dynamic headlamp range adjustment automatically adjusts the angle of the headlamps in response to changes in the angle of the car body to the road. In this way, it counteracts the effect of short pitching movements which may occur un-der braking or acceleration, and prevents dazzling of on-coming traffic. Dynamic headlamp range adjustment is a standard feature of the bi-xenon equipment package for the E-Class and its benefits can now of course also be enjoyed in conjunction with the new active cornering headlamp system

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