Adaptive front lighting systems (AFS) redirect low-beam headlamp units individually
in a horizontal direction in accordance with steering angle and vehicle speed.
As a result, these systems can improve visibility during nighttime cornering,
ensuring safer driving.
At Tokyo Motor Show 2007, DENSO demonstrated its new AFS, currently under
development, which further improves visibility in a curve. The new AFS predicts
curves in the road ahead using road information from the car navigation system,
and redirects headlamps to illuminate the road, before the vehicle enters the
curve. This enhances visibility for the driver sooner. DENSO is working to improve
the accuracy of position information from the navigation system before commercializing
the new technology.
The world's first AFS was developed by DENSO together with Toyota Motor Corporation
and Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd., in 2003. For this system, DENSO developed
an AFS electronic control unit (ECU) and swivel ECU. In January 2006, DENSO launched
its new AFS ECU, which is approximately 70 percent smaller in volume compared
to the conventional AFS ECU. In addition to its smaller size, the new ECU can
provide more detailed light distribution control in accordance with road conditions
and vehicle speed, resulting in improved visibility.
DENSO is developing and supplying automobile safety systems and components
in two distinct areas: active safety for collision warning and avoidance, and
passive safety for damage minimization in the event of collision. In the pursuit
of a safer automotive society, DENSO continues to improve safety systems.