Leading the way in lighting technology: The new Audi Matrix LED headlights

New technology set to reach the market later this year Individually controlled LEDs for high-precision lighting Audi has been leading the way for many years with an array of innovations

Audi is now building on its lead in the domain of lighting technology with a world first: The Audi Matrix LED headlights will make their debut on the new A8, which is appearing on the market at the end of 2013. Audi, the technology leader in this field, is thus opening a new chapter in automotive lighting technology.
AudiMatrixLEDtechnologysplitsuptheLEDhighbeamheadlightsintonumerousindividual,smalldiodes workinginconjunctionwithlensesorreflectorsconnectedinseries.Managedbyaresponsivecontrolunit, theyareactivatedanddeactivatedordimmedindividuallyaccordingtothesituation.Thismeansthey alwayssupplyhighprecisionilluminationandachievethemaximumpossiblelightyieldwithoutneedinga pivotingmechanism. InthenewAudiA8,eachheadlightcomprises25highbeamlightemittingdiodes,arrangedingroupsoffive perreflector.Whenthelightswitchissettoautomaticandthehighbeamheadlightsareon,thesystemis activatedfrom30km/h(18.64mph)onhighwaysandfrom60km/h(37.28mph)oncitystreets.TheAudi MatrixLEDheadlightsproduceaqualityoflightwithaspecialcrystallinesheen.Byday,too,theyhavea veryattractiveanddistinctivelook,whichisreinforcedbythenewappearanceofthedaytimerunninglights. AssoonthecameraintheA8detectsoncomingvehicles,theAudiMatrixLEDheadlightsdiptherelevant sectionsofthehighbeamheadlights.Thesystemoperateswithsuchprecisionthatitblanksoutlightthat wouldshinedirectlyontooncomingandprecedingvehicles,butcontinuestocastthehighbeamswithfull poweronallotherzonesbetweenandbesidethem.Thecloseranapproachingvehiclegets,themoreLEDs aredeactivatedordimmed.Whenthereisnomoreoncomingtraffic,thehighbeamheadlightsthenresume fullpower,includingthesectionsthathadpreviouslybeenoff.Thelightthatthedriverseesisalwaysbright, homogeneousandmuchmoreeffectivethanthatproducedbycompetitorsmechanicaldippingsystems. MatrixLEDtechnologyoffersfascinatingpotentialinmanydifferentrespects,intermsofthenumberof individualLEDs,theirarrangement,andthesizeanddesignoftheheadlights.Oneofitssafetyfunctionsin theAudiA8involvesprovidingwhatareknownasmarkerlights:Theseteamupwiththeoptionalnightvision assistanttomarkdetectedpedestrians.Whenitdetectsapersoninthecriticalrangeinfrontofthecar, individualLEDsflashatthemrapidlythreetimesinsuccession,pickingoutthepedestrianclearlyfromtheir surroundingsandalertingboththepedestrianandthedriver. ThelightemittingdiodesoftheAudiMatrixLEDheadlightsalsoperformthecorneringlightfunctionthey

displacetheemphasisofthebeaminthedirectionofthebend.Bycallingonpredictiveroutedatasupplied bytheMMInavigationplus,theydososhortlybeforethesteeringneedstobeturned.Anotherfunctionin thenewAudiA8istheturnsignalwithdynamicdisplay:TheLEDsintheturnsignalsflashinblocksat150 millisecondintervalsinthedirectionthatthedriverintendstoturn. Audileadsthewayinautomotivelightingtechnologyandthebrandhasrepeatedlymastermindedcrucial advancesovertheyears.Herearejustthemainworldleadinginnovations:

1994:secondgenerationxenonheadlightsintheAudiA8 2003:adaptivelightintheAudiA8 2004:LEDdaytimerunninglightsintheAudiA8W12 2008:fullLEDheadlightsintheAudiR8 2010:connectivitybetweentheheadlightsandnavigationdataintheAudiA8 2011:homogeneousLEDrearlightsdesignintheAudiA6 2012:turnsignalwithdynamicdisplayintheAudiR8 2013:fullLEDheadlightsforthecompactclass 2013:EUvalidatesLEDtechnologyfromAudiasanecoinnovation,thefirstmanufacturertobecertified forthistechnology

ThepluspointsofAudiinnovationsincludenotjustbetterlight,butalsomoresafety,highefficiencyand attractivedesign.AwiderangeofcustomerscanreapthebenefitstheLEDheadlights,forexample,are availablefromthecompactA3carlineupward.AlsotheLeManssportscarsofAuditheAudiR18etron hasjustretainedthetitleatthe24HoursofLeManshavebeenfittedwithLEDheadlightsforanumberof yearsonthestraight,theyilluminatetheracetrackoveradistanceofaboutonekilometer(0.62miles). Audiintendstoextenditsleadstepbystep.Theautomotivelightingofthefuturewillrespondwitheven greaterprecisiontothesurroundingsandinteractwithitindiverseways.Itwillhaveallelectroniccontrol andbeevenmoreattractivethankstonewdynamicfunctions.