Lighting technology at the highest level: HELLA and Porsche launch world's first SSL | HD matrix headlamp

Date: Tuesday 18 July 2023

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HELLA, the automotive supplier operating under the FORVIA umbrella brand, and the luxury car manufacturer Porsche, have, in close cooperation with other partners, launched the world's first high-resolution headlamp, based on matrix LED technology. With more than 32,000 individually controllable pixels per headlamp, it raises automotive lighting technology to a new level. The digital headlamp system SSL | HD is now available for the first time in the new Porsche Cayenne, as optional extra equipment.

"Together with Porsche and our other partners, we have realised top-class lighting technology for the new Cayenne," says Yves Andres, Managing Director Lighting at HELLA.

"With our digital headlamp system SSL | HD, we create the best visibility for the end user in every traffic situation. In this way, we actively increase safety in road traffic and further enhance driving comfort."

HELLA's SSL | HD technology, which received the prestigious CES 2023 Innovation Award at the end of last year, is a further evolutionary development and significant miniaturisation of matrix LED systems. Compared to conventional headlamps, the space required for the light module has been reduced by up to 75 percent. In the new Porsche Cayenne, two high-resolution LED chips, not even the size of a fingernail, generate more than 32,000 pixels per headlamp. The pixels are controlled by one electronic control unit for each headlamp, which HELLA also developed as a system supplier. In this context, so-called GMSL interfaces are used for the first time due to the high data volumes. In order to control two light sources per headlamp with one control unit, HELLA has also developed new algorithms that allow the light distribution to be calculated in real time.

On this basis, the high-resolution headlamp system realises not only further improvements to already established functions such as adaptive, glare-free high beam, but also the most sophisticated new lighting functionalities. For example, on the motorway or at narrow construction sites, the optimal lane can be projected dynamically onto the road to provide the driver with additional support in safe vehicle guidance.

The headlamps for the Porsche Cayenne are developed and produced at the company’s headquarters in Lippstadt (Germany). Series production of the SSL | HD module takes place on almost fully automated production lines.

"Never before have we put headlamps with such high demands on functionality, precision and reliability into series production. What applies to the headlamp module itself therefore also applies to its production technology: we are taking automotive lighting technology to the next level," added Andres.

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