A partially coated lamp capsule (212) for a projection headlamp (12) has filament (224) in capsule envelope (220) having light-transmissive coating (60) extending from capsule upper region (225) towards filament distal end (227) to an axial location in a region defined between about 0.098 inch (2.5 mm) above filament distal end (227) and about 0.098 inch below filament distal end (227), the capsule envelope (220) being uncoated on an undistorted portion of capsule envelope (220) below filament proximal end (229). Lamp capsule (212) is useful in projection headlamp (12) having a reflector (28) whose central heel (37) forms the hot spot and casts light through projector lens (30) to generate low and/or high beam patterns. Present lamp capsules (212) give increased photometric intensity over conventional lamps in low beam at critical driver's lane (0.6D, 1.3R) and (0.86D, V) test points, and in high beam at the critical (H,V) test point.

A partially coated lamp capsule (212) for a projection headlamp (12) has filament (224) in capsule envelope (220) having light-transmissive coating (60) extending from capsule upper region (225) towards filament distal end (227) to an axial location in a region defined between about 0.098 inch (2.5 mm) above filament distal end (227) and about 0.098 inch below filament distal end (227), the capsule envelope (220) being uncoated on an undistorted portion of capsule envelope (220) below filament proximal end (229). Lamp capsule (212) is useful in projection headlamp (12) having a reflector (28) whose central heel (37) forms the hot spot and casts light through projector lens (30) to generate low and/or high beam patterns. Present lamp capsules (212) give increased photometric intensity over conventional lamps in low beam at critical driver's lane (0.6D, 1.3R) and (0.86D, V) test points, and in high beam at the critical (H,V) test point.

A headlamp reflector 12, which accepts a conventional lamp capsule 10 having a sealing gasket 64, has a neck 2 defining a bore 40 and socket 50 to receive and retain lamp capsule 10 with capsule latching structure 52. Reflector neck 2 has a gasket seating surface 47 adjacent to which one or more recessed channels 43 are formed which define air passageways 70 that communicate between inner reflector cavity 19 and neck entrance region 46, allowing air passage past gasket 64 with capsule 10 retained in socket 50, while still allowing gasket 64 to position capsule 10 in reflector bore 40. Gasket seating surface 47 may be located displaced axially from capsule latching structure 52. Embodiments of reflector 12 accommodate a variety of popular, commercially available replaceable lamp capsules 10.

A headlamp reflector 12, which accepts a conventional lamp capsule 10 having a sealing gasket 64, has a neck 2 defining a bore 40 and socket 50 to receive and retain lamp capsule 10 with capsule latching structure 52. Reflector neck 2 has a gasket seating surface 47 adjacent to which one or more recessed channels 43 are formed which define air passageways 70 that communicate between inner reflector cavity 19 and neck entrance region 46, allowing air passage past gasket 64 with capsule 10 retained in socket 50, while still allowing gasket 64 to position capsule 10 in reflector bore 40. Gasket seating surface 47 may be located displaced axially from capsule latching structure 52. Embodiments of reflector 12 accommodate a variety of popular, commercially available replaceable lamp capsules 10.