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Electronic Head Lamp Glare Management System for Automobile Applications

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 International Journal of Research in Advent Technology, Vol.2, No.5, May 2014
E-ISSN: 2321-9637

Electronic Head Lamp Glare Management System

for Automobile Applications
*Sushil Kumar Choudhary 1, Rajiv Suman2, Sonali3, Honey Banga4
1,
Department of Industrial & Production Engineering,
2, 3, 4
Department of Mechanical Engineering
College of Technology,
G.B.Pant University of Agriculture & Technology Pantnagar-263145, INDIA
* E-mail of the corresponding author: ([email protected])

Abstract- Headlamp glare is an issue that has grown in terms of public awareness over the past decade.
High beam of headlight of an on-coming car has blinding effect and decreases visibility during night
driving dangerously. The drivers of most vehicles use high, bright beam while driving at night. This causes
a discomfort to the person traveling from the opposite direction. He experiences a sudden glare for a short
period of time. This is caused due to the high intense headlight beam from the other vehicle coming
towards him from the opposite direction. We are expected to dim the headlight to avoid this glare. This
glare causes a temporary blindness to a person resulting in road accidents during the night. This model
concept eliminates the requirement of manual switch by the driver which is not done at all time. This
concept very useful in the automobile field applications, which provides safety of driver during night
driving. The construction, working, advantages & future scope of the system is discussed detail in this
paper.

Keywords: Headlight, automatic, dimmer, control, high beam, low beam, Kelvin (K).

1. INTRODUCTION driver. During pitch black conditions where there

are no other sources of light, high beam is used to.
1.1 System Introduction On all other cases, low beam is preferred. But in a
two-way traffic, there are vehicles plying on both
Driving an automobile is primarily a visual task. By sides of the road. So when the bright light from the
one estimate, as much as 90% of the information headlight of a vehicle coming from the opposite
that drivers gather is received visually (Alexander, direction falls on a person, it glares him for a
G. and Lunenfeld, H. 1990), and whatever the certain amount of time. This causes disorientation
actual percentage may be, the importance of the to that driver. This discomfort will result in
visual system to driving can not be doubted (Sivak, involuntary closing of the driver’s eyes
1996). However, in order for the visual system to momentarily. This fraction of distraction is the
detect, attend to, and recognize information, there prime cause of many road accidents. The prototype
must be adequate lighting. Drivers require enough that is has been designed, reduces this problem by
lighting at night to see a variety of objects on the actually dimming down the bright headlight of our
highway, including traffic control devices, lane vehicle to low beam automatically when it senses a
lines, vehicles, pedestrians, animals, and other vehicle at close proximity approaching from the
potentially hazardous objects. However, too much other direction. The entire working of the dimmer is
light or improper lighting can result in glare, which a simple electronic circuitry arrangement which
can be a major problem both in terms of the ability senses and switches the headlight according to the
to see and visual comfort. conditions required. Headlamp glare is an issue that
The requirement of headlight is very common has grown in terms of public awareness over the
during night travel. The same headlight which past decade. Developments in light source
assists the driver for better vision during night technologies and optical design have resulted in
travel is also responsible for many accidents that headlamp systems with higher efficiency (and thus
are being caused. The driver has the control of the the ability to produce higher luminance). High
headlight which can be switched from high beam beam of headlight of an on-coming car has blinding
(bright) to low beam (dim). The headlight has to be effect and decreases visibility dangerously. Glare
adjusted according to the light requirement by the occurs when visual field brightness is greater than

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the luminance to which the eyes are adapted. It can the fraction of roads with fixed overhead lighting
be caused by direct and indirect light sources. increases significantly each year, this form of
Discomfort glare causes discomfort, annoyance, lighting is expensive and can not be relied upon as
fatigue, and pain. Disability glare produces a the only means of providing for night visibility.
reduction in the visibility distance of low contrast Head lighting, form its inception, has involved a
objects. The elderly, people with light-colored eyes, compromise between providing sufficient lighting
and those suffering from cataracts are especially for drivers to see (with adequate preview time), and
sensitive to disability glare. Glare at night can be avoiding excessive light that might produce glare.
mitigated by design changes in roadways, These two goals have been translated into standards
automobiles, and vehicle lighting systems. in the from of minimum requirements to provide
Countermeasures work in four ways, by: visibility and maximum limitations to control glare.
1) Reducing the intensity of the glare source; Progressive improvements in head lighting and new
2) Reducing the illumination reaching the driver’s technologies have increased night visibility and
eyes; reduced the impact of glare, but any changes should
3) Increasing the glare angle; and be carefully considered before implementation.
4) Indirectly minimizing the effects of glare. Changes in headlamp designs that affect light
intensity, beam pattern and aiming have
1.1.1 Headlight significantly improved night vision on the highway.
Along with improvements in headlight systems,
Headlights should project sufficient light far glare resistant interior surfaces, glare reducing
in advance of the vehicle so that steering and mirrors, and changes to the highway environment
braking can be taken in time, while not causing have either directly reduced glare or indirectly
excessive glare to oncoming drivers. While driving, reduced the effect of glare on drivers.
it is necessary to illuminate the rod ahead of the
automobile so as to reveal objects ahead from a safe 1.2. Basic terms
distance but improper lighting arrangements of the The remainder of the introduction provides
vehicles on road cause difficulty in driving at night. definitions of some basic terms used in the study of
Bad driving habits and infrequent use of beam lighting and vision. The key terms to be defined
shifting/signals further enhances this problem and are:
often remains the main reason for road accidents at • Brightness
night. With the auto boom, which had brought a
large number of vehicles on to Indian rods? The • Point light source
accident rate has also risen alarmingly. “In about
three lakh road accidents that occur every year, • Luminous intensity
more than 70,000 persons are killed and 2.5 lakh
injured. It is therefore, of paramount importance to • Luminance
drivers and other rod users of fine-tune their road
sense” Driving an automobile is primarily a visual • Illuminance
task. By one estimate, as much as 90% of the
information that drivers gather is received visually • Reflectance
(Alexander, G. and Lunenfeld, H. 1990), and
whatever the actual percentage may be, the • Glare
importance of the visual system to driving can not
be doubted (Sivak,1996). However, in order for the 1.2.1 Brightness
visual system to detect, attend to, and recognize
Brightness is the attribute of visual
information, there must be adequate lighting.
sensation according to which an area appears to
Drivers require enough lighting at night to see a
emit more or less light. Brightness is a relative term
variety of objects on the highway, including traffic
which describes the appearance of to an observer.
control devices.
An object of any brightness will appear brighter is
the ambient light levels are lower. Brightness can
1.1.2 Methods of lighting
range from very bright (brilliant) to very dim
(dark). In popular usage, the term “brightness”
There are only two practical methods of
implies higher light intensities, whereas “dimness”
lighting the highway system at night: fixed
implies lower intensities
overhead lighting and vehicle head lighting. While

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.
1.2.2 Point light source Glare can be defined generally as a bright,
steady, dazzling light or brilliant reflection that
Point light source is a light source that occurs when the luminous intensity or luminance
subtends an extremely small angle at the observer’s within the visual field is greater than that to which
eye so that its attributes are not affected by its size, the eyes are accustomed; glare can cause
only by its luminous intensity. An example of a discomfort, annoyance, or loss in visual
point light source is a star. performance and visibility. Direct glare is caused
1.2.3 Luminous intensity by light sources in the field of view whereas
reflected glare is caused by bright reflections from
Luminous intensity is the light- producing polished or glossy surfaces that are reflected toward
power of a source, measured as the luminous flux an individual (for example, a chrome nameplate on
per unit solid angle in a given direction. It is simply a leading vehicle). The entire visual field
a measure of the strength of the visible light given contributes to the glare level, and event a
off by a point source of light in a specific direction, completely uniform field, such as that in a
and usually expressed in terms of candelas (cd), photometric sphere, will produce some glare.
where one cd equals one lumen/steradian.
1.3. Concept of headlamp dipping
1.2.4 Luminance To see far enough ahead, the beam pattern of
the headlight must have a high intensity directed
Luminance is the amount of luminous flux just below the horizontal. To prevent glare to
reflected or transmitted by a surface into a solid oncoming drivers. There needs to be a very low
angle per unit of area perpendicular to given intensity n the direction just above the horizontal.
direction. More simply, it is a physical measure of “Headlight serves not only to light the road ahead
the amount of light reflected or emitted from a but also to illuminate pedestrians, cyclists and rod
surface and roughly corresponds to the subjective signs mounted on the side of the road as well as
impression of “brightness”. Luminance does not overhead signs, indicating a need for a wide beam
vary with distance. It may be computed by dividing spread”. All these requirements for safe and
the luminous intensity by the source area, or by comfortable driving make the design of an optimum
multiplying iluminance and reflectance. The most beam pattern a compromise, which should well
common units of measurement for luminance are balance. Optimum design has been based on two
candelas per square meter (cd/m2), foot- lamberts types of beam pattern:
(fL), and mill lamberts (mL). • Low Beam (Meeting beam)
1.2.5 Illuminance • High beam (driving beam)
The low beam is used where there is road
The illuminance or light level is the amount of light lighting and on unlit roads when there are on-
energy reaching a given point on a defined surface coming drivers. A high beam is much more intense
area, namely the luminous flux (i.e. lumens) per and is projected further down the road and can be
square meter. Illuminance is invisible! It is light used only on rural roads and highways when there
passing through space and not seen unless you look is no oncoming traffic. Double filament bulb or
at the source (e.g. a light bulb) or a surface it bifocal bulbs are most extensively used and
reflects off. In other words we can only see universally accepted to meet above requirement of
"luminance”. driving and meeting beams. These bulbs have two
filaments in which one filament is positioned in
1.2.6 Reflectance relation to the reflector to give the main forward
beam, while the other filament gives the dipped
Reflectance is a measure of the reflected beam the driver controls this system; either by a
incident light (illuninance) that is actually reflected foot operated switch or by a switch mounted on the
away from a surface. For many surfaces reflectance steering column. The present practice is to operate
will depend on the angle of viewing and the angle the dipswitch manually. The auto Dipping Device
from which it is illuminated, as well as the senses the opposite vehicles brith headlights and
properties of the surface (including diffuseness or automatically makes our vehicles bright lights dip,
retro reflectivity of the surface). but for a few seconds only; afterwards the device
will make our lights to start flickering. This
1.2.7 Glare

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function will be repeated to all the vehicles coming in the opposite direction
.

Fig.1a. Glare due to HID Head Lamp

Fig.1b. Glare due to HID Head Lamp

1.4. Problems associated with manual hours, economic issues and social factors influences
dipping the mindset of the driver. “Another major cause in
There are many reasons due to which ‘ego problem’, which makes each one wait till the
manual dipping is not being done satisfactorily. other person initiates dipping, which may not
One of the major reasons includes sheer physical happen”.
strain involved in operation of the dipper switch
hundreds of times every night. “The total for a 1.5. Dipping practices in India
single night will be 1000 if we consider 8 hours of
traveling and one encounter every one-minute and There has been a study carried out by
could exceed this number if one travels on roads “Road Research institute, New Delhi”, which
with dense traffic.” The other reason includes a reveals the poor state of dipping affairs on the
general tendency of paying more attention to Indian roads. The observations and
steering control at the cost of dipping during a recommendations of the study group on road safety
critical vehicle meeting situation especially in the are as follows:
case of heavy loaded vehicles.
Physiological and psychological state of a 1.5.1 Night driving
driver also affects the dipping practices. Working

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“A frequent cause of accidents at night is

the glare caused by oncoming vehicles which 1.5.2 Driving at night with main beam of
momentarily blinds the driver’s vision. It takes headlight on
three to eight seconds for a person with good “This is one of the common failings of our
eyesight to recover from the glare and during this drivers in night driving, specially on dark or badly
time the vehicle will have covered a long distance lit roads in our cities and towns. Driving courtesy
in utter darkness and it will be sheer luck if it imposes a special responsibility on the driver, that
escapes an accident. A glare recovery test should be the oncoming driver is not handicapped by the
carried out to gauge the applicant’s ability in this dazzle of headlights.
direction, followed by tests pertaining the color and
night blindness”.

Fig.2 Headlamp at high beam intensity

To avoid this, it is imperative that as the vehicles a high intensity directed just below the horizontal.
approach from opposite direction, the main beams To prevent glare to on-coming drivers, there needs
should be switched OFF and the dipped beams used to be a very low intensity in the direction just above
instead, so that the two vehicles can pass each other the horizontal and to the right. The small difference
safely. Contrary to the above requirement, many of in angular direction between the high intensity of
our heavy vehicle drivers are given to the practice the low-beam pattern down the road and the low
of blinding oncoming vehicles drivers by using intensity in the glare direction works only for well-
both the main and dipped beams of their headlights aimed headlights on straight, flat roads. All these
simultaneously, to gain on advantage over the requirements for safe and comfortable driving make
oncoming driver”. the design of an optimum beam pattern a finely-
balanced compromise, which has not yet been
1.6 Optometry achieved with any great success.”
Optometry Is Most Necessary Parameter
Which must be studied before developing headlight 1.7 New light sources for automobiles
system optometry is the science which evaluates the
sensitivity of eyes towards any light pattern and the New lamp technologies have significantly
problems associated with it. It also facilitates the improved visibility on the road at night. The new
design parameters through its empirical and lamp technology includes xenon lamps, optic fiber
theoretical results. A study conducted by a Technology and LEDs. The new mechatronics will
university in Germany presented the following allow the headlight beam pattern to change to suit
document whose abstract is: “To see far enough the road environment. Increasingly, xenon high
ahead, the beam pattern of the headlight must have intensity discharge (HID) lamps are being used in

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cars for headlights and for distributed lighting when presented with a glare source during
systems. They have many advantages: they have nighttime driving conditions. This is a phenomenon
two to three items the light flux for half the that has been appreciated since at least the 1930s,
electrical energy of ordinary lamps, five times when it was reported that “discomfort glare was
longer lifetime, and low heat emission allowing for caused more by “blue than by “yellow” light”. “The
more compact headlight design.” Distributed light effect of spectrum on discomfort glare for nearly
systems (DLS) are fibreoptic systems with a light monochromatic, highly saturated colors has shown
source of high luminous efficiency (usually a xenon that yellow sources are perceived as less glaring
high intensity discharge source) and a high (from a visual comfort perspective than green or
efficiency coupling optical system so that a high blue sources)”. For nominally white light sources,
proportion of the light (for example, 57%) is such as halogen and HID headlamps, a series of
transferred into the opticfibre system this gives a studies conducted in laboratory and simulated field
fibre optic headlight providing 1000 lm from a 60 settings has confirmed that typical HID headlamps,
W xenon HID lamp.” viewed in an oncoming situation, result in greater
discomfort than typical halogen headlamps.
1.8 Glare However, the differences in discomfort glare
between HID and halogen headlamps are much
“Glare is the uncomfortable brightness of a light greater that would be explained by the differences
shining into eyes, leaving a person unable to see in their scotopic light output. “Halogen headlamps
much of anything else (extreme examples are the need to provide an illuminance at the eye that is
setting sun and oncoming auto headlights)”. 25%-50% higher than that from typical HID
“Glare is the contrast lowering effect of stray light headlamps in order to be rated equally glaring, but
in a visual scene. Glare forms a veil of luminance, as mentioned above they differ only by 5%-10% in
which reduces the contrast and thus the visibility of terms of scotopic output”.
a target is decreased. We cannot see intensity
differences efficiently in the presence of a high 1.8.2Disability glare
background of light intensity”.
Glare can be divided into two types: Disability glare is created by a light so bright that
1. Discomfort glare its intensity results in a measurable reduction in a
2. Disability glare driver’s ability to perform visual tasks. The
“Discomfort Glare refers to the sensation one reduction in visual performance is a direct result of
experience when the overall illumination is too the effects of stray light within the eye, which in
bright e.g. on a snowfield under bright sun”. turn are dependent on the age of the driver.
Disability Glare refers to reduced visibility of a Transient adaptation refers to a temporary reduction
target due to the presence of a light source in basic visual functions, such as contrast
elsewhere in the field. It occurs when light from sensitivity and form perception, which occurs when
glare source is scattered by the ocular media. This the luminances from objects in the visual field
scattered light forms a veil of luminance, which change rapidly (Adrian 1991 a). The degree of
reduces the ocular media. This scattered light forms reduction in function is dependent on the change in
a veil of luminance, which reduces the contrast, and luminance to which the eye must adapt.
thus visibility of the target” All the above indicate
the importance of dipping of headlights in a country 2. EXPERIMENTAL SETUP
like India, so as to avoid the problem of glare which
impairs the visibility which is vital for safe driving The Device
in a meeting situation during the night. This leads
to the conclusion that an auto Dipping Device can The headlamp glare management device is a safety
go a long way towards safety enhancement. accessory, which automatically shifts the headlights
Reading or identification of detail, only photonics position according to the existing lighted
sensitivity applies because there are no rods in the atmosphere. The essential objective of the device is
central parts of the retina” to promote nighttime road safety by minimizing
glare. The device is intelligent enough to
1.8.1 Discomfort glare understand lit and dark roads and operates the
headlamps accordingly. Headlamp glare
Spectrum does play an important role in the management system can be fitted in any type of
perceptions of visual discomfort that are experience vehicle. This device has been successfully tested on

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actual road conditions. The system automatically Salient features of the Device
avoids glaring form the opposite vehicles thus
provides clearer and safer drive at night. Salient features of the device are given below:

Fig.3 Experimental setup for electronic headlamp glare management device.

Double mode on/off function

The size of the device is about 1 inch cube and can
First mode-allows the driver to operate dim/dip be fitted in any type of vehicle within half an hour
action mechanically and manually as usual. Second only. Device can be installed any where near
mode-enable the system to operate fully automatic steering as per convenience so that “ON-OFF”
and hence the driver can almost forget about the switch on auto dipper box can be used easily.
dim/dip action thus ensuring safe and pleasant Sensor Eye is mounted near wiser position near the
travel. Auto Dipper keeps the head light in “High” top edge of windscreen (inside the car) such that it
beam if there is no vehicle from opposite direction. receives the light of the approaching vehicle in
While crossing, first momentary dip is given by the proper position. Sensor eye can also the fitted in
vehicle fitted with the auto dipper automatically to headlamps itself. Sensor position can be adjusted
“Low” beam and continues in the “Low” beam till slightly by bending the sensor support. The device
the two vehicles cross each other. gets activated only when headlights are in “on”
position. The performance of the device is directly
Range tuner proportional to the intensity of light which falls on
the sensor. If intensity that falls is high the response
The driver can select the tuner according to his will be fast. For truck & buses, sensor eye can be
convenience to activate the dim/dip action in terms placed on lower side of wind shield inside close to
of distance between the approaching vehicles. the right hand of driver and for car and jeep etc. the
Presently the range of the device is 5 m to 50 m. device can be operated with the exiting 12 volts
however depending upon the conditions the range battery of the vehicle.
can be further increased upto about 500 m and can
also be made variable. Main component of device
Description of the device

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Following are the main component of device: spurred by the great disparity between daytime and
1. Headlamps nighttime traffic fatalities: the US National
2. Sensor (ORP 12) Highway Traffic Safety Administration states that
3. Switch nearly half of all traffic-related fatalities occur in
4. Battery (12V) the dark, despite only 25% of traffic traveling
5. Relay during darkness.
6. rectifier circuit
7. I.C. (integrated circuit) 2.4.2 Sensor
8. Capacitors & resistor
9. Diodes Sensor is a device which is us to sense the different
10. Wires & clips type of action like light, temperature, air, motion
Two circuits are use to proper working of the etc. the sensor sense the condition by own natural
device that is: property like voltage resistance etc. for example is
we have to sense light then we use a resistance.
2.4.1 Headlamps After sensing it sends the information or signal in
the form of voltage or temperature. In this
A headlamp is a lamp attached to the front of a experiential device we used LDR (light dependent
vehicle to light the road ahead. Headlight is a resistor) sensor description of this sensor given
synonym for headlamp. Headlamp performance has below:
steadily improved throughout the automobile age,

2.4.2.1 Working of LDR sensor turn on a light at certain light level. An

example of this could be a street light.
An LDR is a component that has a resistance that • Camera shutter control: LDRs can be used
changes with the light intensity that falls upon it. to control the shutter speed on a camera.
They have a resistance that falls with an increase in The LDR would be used the measure the
the light intensity falling upon the device. light intensity and the set the camera
Applications of LDR Sensor: There are many shutter speed to the appropriate level. The
applications for Light Dependent Resistors. These resistance of an LDR may typically have
include. the following resistances. Daylight = 5000
ohms, Dark = 2000000 Ohms
• Lighting switch: The most obvious
application for an LDR is to automatically

Fig.4 LDR Sensor

2.4.3 Battery

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A supply of 12 volts is required for the circuit. It is 2.4.4 Relay circuit

taken from the vehicle’s battery box. This is
preferred for two reasons. First, it is a constant DC Relay circuit is main part of the model which is use
supply and second, there is no need for introducing to automatic change from high beam to low beam
a separate electrical supply source. of head lamp. This circuit is governed by an IC
(555 timer) and relay.

Fig. 5 Relay circuit

reverse connection of the in put. In this project we
2.4.5 Rectifier circuit use “full wave bridge rectifier”. In which 5 diode
and one capacitor are used,
Rectifier circuit is use to safety purpose of the
device mainly IC of the relay circuit it avid the

Fig.6.Rectifier circuit

2.4.6 Working with IC 555 and this popularity means it is also very cheap to
purchase, typically costing around 30 p. version of
The 555 integrated circuit (IC) is an easy to use the 555 are available for low current applications or
timer that has many applications in Meccano use in extreme temperatures. A ‘dual’ version
modeling. It is widely used in electronic circuits

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called the 556 is also available which includes two “astable” means “never stable”- the output of the
independent 555 IC in one package. circuit never stays stable in any of the two states.
Output States: The 555 relies on both analogue and The Monostable Circuit: produces one pulse of a
digital electronic techniques to perform its set length in response to a trigger input such as a
functions, but if we consider its output only, it can push button. The output of the circuit stays in the
be thought of as a digital device. The output of the low state until there is a trigger input, hence the
555 can be in one two states at any time, which name “monostable” meaning “one stable”.
means it is a digital output. The first state is the The bistable Circuit toggles between the states.
‘low’ state, which is the voltage 0V at the ‘-‘ Triggering one input sets the output to the low
(black) connection of your power supply, the state, while triggering another input sets the output
second state is the ‘high’ state, which is the voltage to the high state. The name “bistable” means “two
Vs at the ‘+’ (red) connection of your power stable states”.
supply. Vs is sometimes referred to by other names, There are many ways to construct astable,
and you will see that I frequently use the Monostable, and bistable circuits, but using a 555
following names for them in may articles: IC is one of the easiest.
Low: is also known as ‘space’, or ‘logic 0’. If a The pins of the 555: First, we need to know what
digital device is said to be ‘on’, its output is that 555 looks like. It has eight connections (called
normally Vs. pins) to its plastic case, arranged as four on one side
555 CIRUITS and four on the other, as shown in the pin-out
In electronics in Mecca no, three of the most diagram of figure 1. From this diagram, you can see
common 555 circuits will be introduced. Their that pin 1 is the pin on the bottom left when the IC
names give you a clue as to their functions: is held horizontal with the writing the correct way
The astable circuit produces a continuous train of up. The little notch in one side also helps to
pulses at any frequency you require. The name indentify pin 1, as does the small white don next to
this pin.

Fig.7 Pin out diagram IC 555

The eight pins carry out the following functions: 4. Reset, which is used to end the timing
operation
1. Ground, which acts as a safety measure as 5. Control voltage, an optional pin used for
with electrical plugs controlling the timer from outside the main
2. Trigger, which passes on voltage to start circuit set-up
the timing operations, Pin 2 is called the 6. Threshold, which determines how long the
Trigger input as it is this input that sets the timer should output voltage in each on/off
output to the high state. cycle – in other words, how long the
3. Output, which carries voltage to the device timing interval should be
using the timer, Pin 3 is the digital output 7. Discharge, connected to a capacitor which
of the 555. it can be connected directly to also influences the timing interval
the inputs of other digital ICs, or it can 8. V+, which is the voltage input, Pin 8 is
control other devices with the help of a where you connect the positive power
few extra components. supply (Vs) to the 555. This can be any
voltage between 3V and 15V DC, but is

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commonly 5V DC when working with • Silicon-controlled rectifier (SCR): The

digital ICs. Pin 1 is the 0V connection to SCR is types of switch used to control AC
the power supply. or DC currents and are commonly used in
light dimmers.
2.4.7 Capacitors • Rectifier: This basic diode transforms AC
current to provide DC current only. The
Capacitors Store electrical energy by separating DC current does not alternate and is only
positive and negative charges. They store electrons positive or negative. Diodes can be
by attracting them to a positive voltage. When the referred to as rectifiers because they
voltage is reduced or removed the electrons move perform this rectifying function, a thyristor
off as well. When the capacitor removes or adds is a type of rectifier
electrons to the circuit it can work to smooth out • Bridge rectifier: This component is made
voltage fluctuations. The capacitor acts as a delay up of four diodes and rectifies AC to DC
and can be combined with resistors. If you increase with great efficiency.
the resistance it increases the delay in time. A
resistor and capacitor connected together can often All diodes will have a positive (anode) and a
be referred to as an RC circuit. Any circuit I view negative terminal (cathode) and the cathode
that has a potential divider and features a capacitor can commonly be identified by a red or black
will have something to do with time. Power supply stripe near one of the leads. The stripe will
that convert AC current to DC current often use correspond with the line in the schematic
capacitors to keep the voltage at a certain symbol for the diode. When following a
level. When a capacitor is connected in series with schematic diagram to build a circuit the diode
a signal source, such as a microphone, it can block must be orientated to the line facing the
the DC current but pass the AC current. Most kind specified way. If a diode is placed in the
of amplifiers would use this function. Capacitors circuit in the wrong direction it will not work
can be used to make filters that reject AC signals and it can damage components.
above and below a desired frequency, by adjusting
the value of the capacitor it can be possible to 2.4.9 Resistors
change the cut-off frequencies of the filter. The
capacitor itself is actually quite a simple device. Resistors limit the amount of current that reaches a
component such as an LED.In some circuits
2.4.8 Diodes different voltages need to be supplied to different
parts of a circuit which can be done with resistors.
Diodes are two terminal devices that exhibit low If two resistors are joined it forms a voltage divider,
resistance to current flow in one direction and high if the two resistors are of equal value the voltage in
resistance to current flow in the other. The between the two resistors is half that of the rest of
direction in which the current flow is often referred the circuit. A resistor can control the
to as the forward direction whilst in the negligible voltage/current going into a component, so for
current flows is known as the reverse direction. instance placing a resistor at the input of a transistor
When the diode is conducting a small voltage is controls how much the transistor amplifies a signal.
dropped across it and this is known as the forward A resistor can protect the input of sensitive
voltage drop. The diode is one of the simplest components. If a resistor is placed at the input of a
forms of semiconductor and it is used to control the sensitive component the resistor limits the amount
flow of electrons. A variety of applications use of current traveling to it protecting it from damage.
diodes and they are classed in different subtypes. A 470 resistor is usually a sufficient one to protect
LED’s. A fixed resistor supplies a specific
• Zener diodes: Zener diodes limit voltage resistance depending on its value. This is
to a pre-determined amount. A zener determined by a colour coding system that starts at
diode can be used to build a voltage the edge of the resistor and is combined of 4, 5, or
regulator into a circuit sometimes 6 bands of different colours to give the
• Light emitting diodes, LED‘s: All resistor its value.
semiconductors emit infrared light when
they conduct current. LEDs make this 2.5 Working Of The Device
light visible.

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Sensing the opposite vehicles bright head lights 2.6 Circuit Description
automatically makes our vehicles bright lights DIP
–but for few seconds only. Immediately after the The entire circuit of automatic dipper
crossing of the opposite vehicles the light will come consist LDR followed by timer IC NE555
to bright position automatically. This function will (IC1) and few other components, where
be repeated to all the vehicles coming in the LDR is used as sensor. LDR sense the
opposite direction. Dipping will result in smooth light and change its internal resistance
and happy driving pleasure for drivers and according light fall on it, which is further
negligible risk of accidents. mounted in PVC pipe of 4 cm length
Those vehicles fitted with device are almost out of positioned on the grill of car or in front
the risk of accidents, because by giving signal our such that the light fall on the LDR only
vehicle area and road gap will be cleared to the when vehicles is approaching and is
opposite vehicles fitted with device are almost out distance of 3M to 9M. When light fall on it
of the risk of accidents, the opposite vehicles for the resistance decrease and makes output
clear road negations. of IC1 low which energized the relay. The
In the present system the driver required to control relay operates and voltage across the head
the steering with his one hand and the other hand is lamps is reduced. When the distance
required to operate the DIM/DIPPER switch to between two approaching vehicles is more
make the head to totally eliminated by providing than 9 meter or less than 3 meter the
the vehicle with our device which will give the circuit is not operated. The operating and
driver a very happy and pleasant experience of non operating distance of the circuit can be
driving and total safety to the vehicles and to the varied by proper positioning of the PVC
traveling passengers. pipe and by adjusting the variable resistor
VR1.

Fig.8 Circuit diagram

composed of a sensor, and electronic control unit,
2.7 Block Diagram Of The Device switch and a battery of 12V. The sensor of the
device sensor the light of the oncoming vehicle and
The block diagram of the headlamp glare the electronic unit dips the headlamp of the device
management device is shown below. The device is fitted vehicle.

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Fig. 9 Schematic Diagram of Electronic head lamp glare management System

Tests & Reliability: The device developed was

fitted in a model and was tested for long distance The following table indicates the response of
travel at night. The device was found to work the device. The device was fitted with headlamp of
satisfactorily. Large number of the tests has been Bajaj Chetak scooter and was tested against many
conducted on the device to study it’s on –road vehicles on actual road conditions. Dipping
behavior. Tests were carried out taking different distance (m) indicates the distance between the two
speeds of vehicles as relative speeds between two vehicles when the headlamp beam dips. Sensitivity
vehicles are of prime importance. range of the vehicle can be modified as per the
requirements.
2.8 Response of The Device
Table 1Response of the device

Vehicle Dipping distance (m) Headlamp type

Chevrolet TAVERA 30.0 Xenon bulb. 12v, 100/90w

Toyota Qualis 30.0 Xenon bulb, 12v, 100/90w
Maruti Alto 20.0 Halogen bulb, 12v, 60/55w
Maruti 800 15.0 Halogen bulb, 12v, 50/45w
Hero Honda CBZ 12.0 Halogen bulb, 12v, 35/35w
Hero Honda splendor 9.0 Halogen bulb, 12v, 35/35w
Bajaj Chetak 7.0 Simple bulb, 12v, 35/35w

3. RESULTS Those vehicles fitted with device are almost out of

the risk of accidents, because by giving signal our
Sensing the opposite vehicles bright head lights vehicles for clear road negations.
automatically our vehicles bright lights DIP- but for In the present system the driver required to control
few seconds only. Immediately after the crossing of the steering with his one hand and the other hand is
the opposite vehicles the lights will come to bright required to operate the DIM/DIPPER switch to
position automatically, this function will be make the head to totally eliminated by providing
repeated to all the vehicles coming in the opposite the vehicle with our device which will give the
direction. Dipping will result in smooth and happy driver a very happy and pleasant experience of
driving pleasure for drivers and negligible risk of driving and total safety to the vehicles and to the
accidents. traveling passengers.

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vehicles the driver’s eye height is also low, close to

4. DISCUSSIONS the height of the headlights. For best visibility of
retro reflective objects, headlights on heavy trucks
The device developed was fitted in model need to be high – closer to the height of the driver’s
and was tested for long distance travel at night. The eyes-to maintain brightness equivalent to that
device was found to work satisfactorily. Large obtained by cars. The magnitude of the loss in
number of the test has been conducted on the visibility from reduced headlamp height and the
device to study its on-road behavior. Tests were consequences for traffic safety have not been well
carried out taking different speeds of vehicles as researched. Lowering headlamp height to below 40
relative speeds between two vehicles are of prime inches will reduce the glare experienced by the
importance. drivers of leading vehicles from their side and rear-
This report will be of interest to headlamp view mirrors. The greatest reduction in glare will be
designers, automobile manufactures and achieved if headlamps are aimed properly and low-
consumers, third-party headlamp manufactures, reflectance, preferably automatic, dimming mirrors
human factors Engineers, and people involved in are used inside and outside the leading vehicle.
headlamp and road way specifications. As While it would be desirable to place a headlamp
mentioned in the methods, the aiming protocol used height restriction on all vehicles, the prevalence of
for this study resulted in a deviation in the SUVs and small trucks suggest that the greatest
maximum intensity location from where it typically advantages would be achieved with this class of
is for same headlamp types. vehicles.
The question of whether low-volume roads
with low accident rates should be illuminated to 5. CONCLUSIONS
minimize to effects of glare is not easily answered.
Drivers certainly are more comfortable driving on Headlamp glare is an issue that has grown in terms
illuminated roads, and this benefit alone might of public awareness over the past decade. High
justify lighting more roads. However, this should be beam of headlight of an on-coming car has blinding
a local decision, made with an understanding of effect and decreases visibility dangerously. With
local resources and priorities. Therefore, it is the auto boom, the ability to see and visual comfort
unlikely that all roads with glare problems will ever lighting can result in glare, which can be a major
be illuminated, and until this happens, another problem both in terms in accident rate has also risen
solution to the problems introduced by glare must alarmingly. However too much light or improper
be found properly aimed and cleaned, they should lighting can result in glare, which can be a major
be able to deliver improved visibility without problem both in terms of the ability to see and
excessive glare on roads without curvature; visual comfort.
however, if these lamps become dirty, are Glare occurs when visual field brightness is greater
misaimed, or are encountered on vertical or than the luminance to which the eyes are adapted.
horizontal curves, the amount of glare can exceed Glare is caused by both direct and indirect light
levels considered tolerable. The most significant sources. Discomfort glare produces loss in visual
disadvantage to lowering the photometric beam discomfort, annoyance, and fatigue. Disability glare
pattern or moving it more toward the right edge of produces loss in visual performance which is
the road is generally reduced sight distance and generally defined as a reduction in the visibility
reduced visibility of left-mounted and overhead distance of low contrast objects. The elderly, people
guide signs. Maintaining a minimum headlamp size with light-colored eyes and those suffering from
would constrain the flexibility that designers would cataracts are especially sensitive to disability glare.
like to have to appeal to consumer test. Any Glare at night can be mitigated by prudent design of
physical restriction on the headlamp may restrict the roadway, the automobile, and vehicle lighting
future capability to control the headlamp beam systems.
pattern. This restriction could be particularly The extent to which glare is a problem for night
important for adaptive headlight. driving is not easily quantified. In the absence of
The reduction in glare from lowering official statistics or scientific data, evidence of a
headlight height or aiming higher-mounted glare problem is based almost entirely upon
headlamps downward must be considered in subjective reports, most of which are anecdotal
conjunction with the drop in visibility of distant without data from well-designed experiments, we
objects will be reduced. Lower headlight positions can only qualitatively assess the deleterious effects
are not a problem in passenger cars because in these of glare, and the economic and safety consequences

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are left unknown. While there is little doubt that the Two of the potential countermeasures discussed in
number of drivers complaining about glare is this report are being studies in large ongoing
increasing, the age of the driving population is also research programs adaptive headlamp technology is
increasing. Without good data there is no way of being developed and strategies for its
knowing whether the drivers having problems with implementation are being devised with the support
glare are those with the most exposure to glare of several European countries and manufacturing
situations (such as high volume two-lane roads), or firm. Of UVA headlamps is underway. Both
whether they are older drivers that have visual adaptive head lighting and UVA headlamps are
problems even in the absence of glare, if drivers more likely to benefit visibility that to offer any
have basic problems with night vision, solving their comprehensive solution to headlight glare. “In
problems with glare may increase their risk by future the concept of this project will be used in
giving them a false sense of security and auto vehicles and no doubt it will be of great se and
encouraging them to drive more at night. universally adopted”.
In terms of glare, the discomfort glare, the SPD.
Factors such as light source size, driver age, visual REFERENCES
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problem will gradually find their way into
commercial products.

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