Feature · 3 min read
Matrix LED Headlights Explained
Uses individual LED segments to light the road ahead while avoiding dazzling other drivers.
What are Matrix LED Headlights?
Matrix LED headlights are made up of lots of small, individually-controlled LED segments instead of one big bulb. That means the car can keep most of the road brightly lit on full beam while precisely 'switching off' just the part of the beam that would shine into another driver's eyes.
How do they work?
A forward-facing camera spots oncoming and preceding vehicles. The headlight control unit then dims or turns off only the LED segments aimed at those vehicles, leaving the rest of the beam at full power. As the other car moves through your view, the 'dark patch' moves with it in real time.
What does it feel like?
On a dark country road you can leave main beam on permanently. When another car appears in the distance, you'll see a soft shadow form around them while the verges, signs and road ahead stay bright. You no longer have to flip between dipped and main beam.
Benefits
- ✓Much more of the road stays lit at night
- ✓No dazzling other drivers
- ✓Less driver fatigue on rural roads
- ✓Pedestrians and animals are easier to spot in time
Limitations
Heavy rain, snow or a dirty windscreen camera can stop the system working accurately, so it falls back to ordinary dipped beam. In some countries the most advanced 'pixel' modes are restricted by lighting regulations.
Common problems
- ✓Camera obscured by dirt, ice or stickers
- ✓Warning message that adaptive main beam is unavailable
- ✓Failed LED segment causing an MOT advisory
- ✓System slow to react in fast-changing traffic