Denso's new ballast.Denso Corp., Koito Manufacturing Co., Toyota, and Royal Philips Electronics have developed the first mercury-free high intensity discharge headlamp system. Koito and Philips paired up to develop the discharge lamp discharge lamp n. A lamp that generates light by means of an internal electrical discharge between electrodes in a gas. Noun 1. , otherwise known as "the bulb," which uses a mercury substitute and a modified tube design that the companies say lasts as long and puts out as much light as a current mercury lamp. Denso and Koito produced a new ballast bal·last n. 1. Heavy material that is placed in the hold of a ship or the gondola of a balloon to enhance stability. 2. a. Coarse gravel or crushed rock laid to form a bed for roads or railroads. b. for the headlamp (shown here) that increases initial operating wattage wattage the output or consumption of an electric device expressed in watts. and operating current, while reducing volume by half and weight by 25% compared to conventional units. (Denso says it was able to accomplish this by switching the frequency of the DC-DC DC-DC Direct Current to Direct Current (power conversion) converter in the ballast and enhancing its heat resistance.) The new HID system is currently being installed on the Japan-only Toyota Porte The Toyota Porte is a mini MPV produced by Japanese automaker Toyota. It is sold only in Japan, and was introduced in July 2004. It is either a four or five-seater based on the Toyota Vitz subcompact car. , but the hope is these more environmentally sound headlamps will eventually expand HID use worldwide, making the telltale blue HID beam a little bit greener. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] |
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