PARIS, Sept. 22 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The next-generation Ford Focus,
showcased at the Paris Motor Show for the European market beginning this week,
is the world's first vehicle to offer customers a halogen Advanced Front
Lighting System (AFS). Developed by Visteon Corporation (NYSE: VC), the AFS
system is an important optional feature that helps improve driver visibility
at night.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20001201/DEF008LOGO )
Statistics show that around 40 percent of severe car accidents occur
during the night. Adaptive lighting, or the ability for headlamps to bend
light into corners, can help improve visibility. According to independent
tests conducted by the influential German technical institute TUV, adaptive
lighting contributes to improved road safety.
In contrast to conventional static halogen headlamps, Visteon's halogen
AFS headlamps are designed to adjust light distribution according to vehicle
speed and direction. The low beam swivels dynamically and can significantly
improve illumination in curves and while turning at intersections in the city.
The tests performed by TUV showed the adaptive halogen lamps provided
drivers with improved lighting, particularly when tackling narrow bends or
when vision was impaired. AFS also enhanced drivers' vision of objects at the
edges of bends or corners. The tests illustrated that the halogen AFS
technology allowed drivers to recognize more than 70 percent of objects,
compared with 46 percent when driving vehicles with conventional headlamps.
Visteon worked closely with Ford to develop a cost-effective halogen AFS
application for the next-generation Focus.
"We are delighted to have been able to work with Ford and to offer an
affordable Adaptive Lighting System for this important new model," said Dieter
Schaper, director, exteriors product line team for Visteon. "We believe that
Focus drivers who specify AFS will be able to see better and feel considerably
more comfortable during night driving."
Main features of Visteon's AFS technology are:
* Advanced software developed by Visteon uses inputs from steering wheel
and vehicle speed sensors to precisely tailor the lighting pattern according
to speed and road configuration
* Light beam pattern illuminates road boundaries at low and high speed
* Asymmetrical movement of headlights ensures maximum forward
illumination for the driver, as well as projecting a light beam in corners
* A control module houses the control strategy for the adaptive front
lighting system
* The control module also controls headlamp leveling
* The vehicle sensor detects changes in speed, direction or other
manufacturer-specified driving conditions
* Visteon's AFS system is based on an in-house-developed algorithm that
controls the headlights' actuation
* A central 16-bit processor receives data from the steering wheel
sensor, speed sensor and axle sensor to precisely direct the headlight beams
in real-time
* An integrated damping program smoothes out any imprecise steering
inputs
Visteon Corporation is a leading full-service supplier that delivers
consumer-driven technology solutions to automotive manufacturers worldwide and
through multiple channels within the global automotive aftermarket. Visteon
has about 72,000 employees and a global delivery system of more than 200
technical, manufacturing, sales and service facilities located in 25
countries.
SOURCE Visteon Corporation
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Related links:
http://www.visteon.com
Photo Notes:
NewsCom:
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20001201/DEF008LOGO
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
CONTACT:
Media Inquiries: Dolores Muniz, +49 2273 595
2828, dmuniz@visteon.com , or Jim Fisher, +1-313-755-0635,
jfishe89@visteon.com , both of Visteon Corporation
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