AUTOMOTIVE FRONT LIGHTING SYSTEM WITH ADAPTIVE ARC SHAPING

摘要

A lighting system and method for automotive front lighting are described. A high pressure gas discharge lamp (12) generates light from an electric arc discharge (52) between two electrodes (16). A reflector (18) directs the light from the lamp (12). A movable shield (24) is movable between two positions. In a first position, a portion of the directed light (20) is shielded to obtain a bright/dark cutoff in a first cutoff position. In a second position of the shield (24), the directed light is not shielded, or the bright/dark cutoff is in a second cutoff position. Arc shaping means (42) are used to change the position of the arc (52) between the electrodes (16). The system operates in a first and a second operating mode with the movable shield in different positions and different positions of the arc (52) between the electrodes (16), so that the reflected light (20) is directed in different directions.