Car headlights play a very important role in ensuring safety when driving. This is made possible by their design, which makes them perform their functions perfectly. So let's find out what construction of a car headlight and what functions the individual elements perform. We warmly encourage you to read on.
Housing
The most intrinsic element when it comes to a car headlight is its housing. Its role is also to fix the component to the vehicle body, as well as to protection against external agents. The enclosure also houses the other components, which is why it is so important that it is airtight.
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Regulating device
The headlights must be positioned in such a way that they do not dazzle other drivers on the road. These can include automatic elements, which work by means of sensors that constantly monitor the position of the car's body and adjust their position on this basis.
Light bulbs
Bulbs are, of course, essential for a car's headlight to function properly. Several types are used, and the most popular ones are:
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- Halogen bulbs - the oldest solution, but also the cheapest. However, they have quite a few disadvantages, including a shorter lifespan, as well as fading more quickly,
- Xenon bulbs - work by producing a bright and white light and a chemical reaction between the xenon gas and the electrodes. Compared to halogen car bulbs, they emit significantly more light, allowing for better visibility on the road. They can also use them for a long timeespecially when compared to halogen bulbs,
- LED bulbs - currently dominant and standard in modern cars. They guarantee a long service life and also consume little energy. The disadvantage, however, is their higher price.
- Laser bulbs - this is the latest technology when it comes to car headlights. They give a bright light and also provide a long operating time, up to 100,000 hours. They additionally work at lower temperatures, which protects against failure.
Reflectors (mirrors)
The structure of a car headlight is the reflectors, also known as mirrors. The most important of these are called paraboloidal. They are made of drawn steel plate subjected to a grinding and painting process, with a final application of a layer of aluminium. They are a standard, very common solution for cars.
The second variant is multi-paraboloid reflectors. These are designed using computer software to, among other things, direct the light beam more precisely and improve its range.
The last option, on the other hand, is the so-called projector. In this case, the reflector is shaped rotating ellipse with two foci. The light source, on the other hand, is positioned at one of the foci to pass through the other foci after reflection. This results in a diffused light beam.
Glazing
When describing the construction of a car headlight, one cannot, of course, forget the glass. Currently, diffuse or smooth glazing is used in vehicles. The former consist of numerous lenses and prisms and are made either of glass or plastic. Smooth glazing, on the other hand, is most often made of plastic, which is primarily characterised by its lightness, scratch resistance and clarity.