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A driver's night view assistance system has been put into practical use. The night view assistance system helps drivers to see farther down the road than low beam headlamps by illuminating the road scene with an infrared projector. We have developed an infrared projector by using a projector type headlamp. Infrared is produced by shielding visible light at a multiple-layer film of Silicon (Si) and Silicon Dioxide (SiO2) which is deposited alternately on a condenser lens surface. The principle of the multiple-layer film and the infrared projector's structure are reported in this paper.

In recent years, traffic fatalities in Japan have consistently numbered in excess of 10,000, making them a serious social issue. Among these deaths resulting from traffic accidents, fatal accidents occurring at night outnumber daytime fatalities by three to one; when conditions are rainy, this figure increases to ten to one. These facts point to the importance of the role of automobile forward lighting systems. In order to provide enhanced nighttime safety measures, we have been working since 1990 on the development of a headlamp system that can control and adjust the headlamp beam in response to driving conditions. In this report, we will outline the general features, functions and lighting performance of forward lighting systems, focusing on this newly developed headlamp system.

While driving his motor vehicle, the driver constantly looks at the lane marking to help with his or her coursing. The conspicuity of lane markings depends greatly on its retroreflection and that of the surrounding road surface area. In this study, we measured in a darkroom the retroreflection performances of two types of pavement surfaces and also two types of lane marking, all of which are types currently in practical use. The following conclusions were reached as a result: 1. The reflection characteristics of lane marking Compared to conventional type lane marking, high-luminance type lane marking exhibits a reflection characteristic that is approximately 3 and 5 times greater under dry and wet road conditions, respectively. 2. The reflection characteristics of road surfaces From the initial time of paving, the luminance factor of a dense asphalt road surface rises roughly 5-to 6-folds with the passage of time. Thus, the whiteness of road surfaces increases with time.