History of KOITO

To reduce the headlamp width and to slant the outer lens to improve vehicle's aerodynamic properties, KOITO developed a projector headlamp, which is a new type of lamp that distributes light with a combination of a composite elliptical reflector and a convex lens. This product started to be used in the Toyota Sera in March 1990.

A request from Toyota Motor Corporation led to the development of 4-lamp headlamps for racing use. In June 1992, these lamps were adopted by Toyota Motor Corporation's TS020 and 92C-V in the 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance car race.

In response to further lamp design needs, KOITO designed and manufactured a freeform surface reflector necessary for transparent lenses (light distribution is controlled by steps provided on the reflector). This was achieved thanks to high design precision, and the headlamp started to be used in the Mitsubishi Eterna November in 1992.

With a light source that utilizes arc discharge between electrodes, discharge headlamps (GDHL) were excellent in increasing light intensity, and has long life and high energy efficiency. As the next-generation lamp contributes to improve vehicle fuel efficiency, KOITO succeeded in developing discharge headlamps as well as a control circuit called ballast, and were installed in the Nissan Terrano and the Toyota Mark II in 1996.

Discharge headlamps use halogen bulbs for high beams, which have been an issue due to their large size and color mixing. By making the shades that form the light distribution movable, KOITO succeeded for the first time in Japan in developing and mass-producing high/low switchable discharge headlamps with a single bulb.

Since the use of LEDs in signal lamps was effective in terms of energy saving, space saving, and long life, KOITO worked on this development and succeeded in its practical application using the pressure-wired wiring method. In 2001, LEDs were adopted for use in Nissan's "Skyline" in the Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.

KOITO developed the world's first Adaptive Front Lighting System (AFS), which automatically swivels the direction of illumination from left to right with electronical control. AFS was adopted for Toyota Motor Corporation's Harrier in February 2003.

KOITO realized in-house production of discharge valves (D-valves) and began mass production with production efficiency matching the demand. KOITO became the only automotive lighting manufacturer to produce both bulbs and ballasts.

Discharge bulbs used to contain trace amounts of mercury. To eliminate this environmentally hazardous substance, KOITO developed and successfully commercialized the world's first mercury-free discharge bulb, as well as a dedicated ballast. They started to be used in the Toyota Porte in July 2004.

KOITO has developed LED headlamp using white LEDs as a low-beam light sources, which offers improved visibility with higher luminous flux, longer life, and lower power consumption compared to GDHL and halogen headlamps. In May 2007, they were installed in the Lexus LS 600h, as the worldʼs first LED headlamp in the market.

KOITO developed the Adaptive Driving Beam (ADB), which is a variable high-beam headlamp system that automatically controls photometric patterns according to the position of oncoming vehicles or vehicles in front. ADB started to be adopted in the Lexus LS in October 2012.

KOITO has started producing and selling the worldʼs first LED Compact-Bi-function, capable of switching high beam and low beam with a single LED and achieved lower power consumption and weight compared to conventional lamp units. In November 2014,
it was installed in the Toyota Prius α.