AFS ECU		Swivel Motor		Structure of the AFS(Fig.1)

In the area of active safety, DENSO developed the world's first intelligent adaptive front lighting system (AFS) with Toyota Motor Corporation and Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd., for the Toyota Harrier, launched in February 2003. The AFS redirects low-beam headlamp units individually in a horizontal direction in accordance with steering angle and vehicle speed. As a result, this system can improve visibility during nighttime cornering, ensuring safer driving.

DENSO developed an AFS electronic control unit (ECU) and swivel ECU for the system (shown in Fig. 1). As a vehicle turns a corner, the AFS ECU calculates the swivel angle using steering angle and vehicle speed information. Then the swivel ECU controls a swivel motor to focus the low-beam headlamp units in the direction of the turn to illuminate the road ahead at a wider angle. The AFS ECU also calculates vehicle incline using the vehicle height and controls a leveling motor based on the incline to keep the headlamp axis vertically.

Toyota Celsior, launched in August 2003, also has the AFS. DENSO is supplying the swivel motor and the leveling motor, as well as the AFS ECU for the system.

DENSO has channeled its resources into the driving control and safety area since the early 1970s, developing a raft of groundbreaking products, such as anti-lock braking systems and electronic power steering systems. Proprietary DENSO expertise and technologies from those systems are applied to the AFS ECU and the swivel ECU.

Applying technologies in this way results in DENSO strength in the area of automotive safety.