Bringing Innovative Lighting Concepts to Market

The introduction of LED lighting into the automotive arena has led to a raft of innovative new designs. The flexibility of LED’s compared to traditional incandescent lights means that OEM’s can use lighting for a range of new and different applications, which would previously not have been possible. Manufacturers have been quick to latch onto the new possibilities, and have moved beyond using lighting merely for functional reasons. There has been a proliferation of new designs which use ambient lighting to create an ‘atmosphere’ inside the vehicle, to provide a feeling of luxury and to reinforce brand identity. In 2013 we reported on some of the innovations that were being developed for the automotive market, including RGB/LIN technology to produce multiple-colour LED lighting, OLED surface lighting, and systems which use lighting to improve the driving experience. One year on, it is an ideal time to look at the progression of these technologies and the new developments in the last twelve months, which are heading to the automotive market in the near future.HELLALast time we looked into HELLA’s RGB/LIN technology, which was developed to provide a wider spectrum of colour for interiors, and the last twelve months have seen a number of OEM’s using the lighting manufacturer’s concepts in their vehicles.Land Rover have used HELLA’s LED technology in the luxury Range Rover and Range Rover Sports SUV, to provide ten different interior lighting options ranging from ‘spark blue’ to ‘racing red’. LED light lines are integrated into the vehicle’s doors and centre console, with white LED modules in the rear footwells.HELLA’s dimmable ambient lighting is also used in the VW Golf, which features light strips in the doors in white, blue or red, depending on the model. More recently, both BMW and Mercedes have used HELLA’s lighting innovations in new models this year, for both internal and external lights. The BMW X5 (pictured above) uses ambient light to create a luxurious feel to the vehicle, with three colour options (white, orange and blue). There are nine different pre-set lighting designs which enable drivers to change the illumination scenario to suit the mood. Horizontal lighting circles the interior of the car, and further light sources are positioned in the footwells, in the storage compartments, in the door pockets, and around the door handles. The lighting is created with HELLA’s RGB LED lights.Mercedes have also used HELLA’s technology in the new V class, released this year. The car features a complex roof control unit, available in beige, black and porcelain, which is surrounded by a line of light in the shape of a horseshoe.In addition to the interior lighting for BMW and Mercedes, HELLA also provides external lighting for both vehicles, with innovative LED headlights, rear lights, and reverse lights. The company won 2014’s Automotive News PACE award for its LED-Matrix Beam technology, which automatically adjusts the headlights according to traffic conditions, to provide ‘glare-free high-beam’ when oncoming traffic is present.VALEOOne innovation that Automotive Supplier Valeo showcased this year is their ‘Eye Control System’, which detects the direction of the driver’s gaze to activate certain controls. The system crosses over into HMI, and Valeo has demonstrated the potential for use with HUD technology, whereby a driver can control infotainment functions simply by glancing at the relevant ‘button’ on the display. The system can also be integrated into an interior lighting system, by illuminating certain areas of the vehicle depending on the driver’s eye movement. Ambient lighting may illuminate around the centre console when the driver looks in that direction, to make it quicker and easier to locate controls and functions. Valeo showed off the technology at the CES show earlier this year with its own heads-up display, which projects dashboard controls onto the windscreen. The systems together enable a driver to operate controls within the vehicle without taking their eyes off the road at any time. Valeo is developing gaze detection as part of its portfolio of intuitive driving solutions, and it has the potential to be adapted for a variety of applications.The eye-tracking camera will allow the system to monitor driver behaviour, attentiveness, and eye and eyelid movement, to detect fatigue or situations where a driver is not paying attention to the road. In turn, the system can be adapted to sound warnings as necessary, or in terms of lighting, could draw the driver’s attention to a certain area by illuminating it, or flash warning lights in a particular part of the interior.The development of these technologies concurrently with LED and OLED lighting provides the opportunity to use lighting for new functional purposes, and several OEM’s are already moving in that direction.OSRAMAt this time last year another lighting supplier, OSRAM, was working on OLED (Organic LED) surface lighting, and had developed an OLED solution which had been laboratory-tested to withstand the high temperatures in automotive applications. The company continues to develop the technology, and is beginning to prepare it for introduction into the automotive market.This year the company released the OLED Reading Light, as a limited edition accessory, which is the first automotive application of the technology. The reading light produces light at 3,300 Kelvin, without shadows or glare, and features a touch function for continuous dimming of the brightness of the OLED panel. The light can be powered via USB or a cigarette lighter. OLED lighting offers a variety of new design possibilities as it allows for the production of light surfaces in practically any shape, and offers wide-area illumination. This will give designers the opportunity to light up entire panels or sections within the vehicle interior, and could offer much more flexibility than LED lighting. OSRAM is set to begin introducing the technology over the next few years, in a range of applications, including exterior lights.FEDERA-MOGULLast year Federal-Mogul introduced new LED lighting technologies, including an innovative light pipe design which provided larger areas of illumination with fewer light sources through better distribution of light; and concealed ambient lighting elements beneath a metallic-looking surface. This year the supplier has introduced a new concept which enables interior lighting to be controlled by gestures.The touch-free LED interior lamp can be controlled simply by the wave of the hand, and is designed to enhance driver safety, while eliminating the design constraints of mechanical switches. The light features a capacitive sensor which is able to detect movement of the hand, even when wearing gloves, while a programmable controller avoids unwanted actuation from other movement in the vehicle.The company has also developed its ‘NovaLens’ technology, a specially-designed lamp lens which can reduce the profile of LED lighting modules by up to 60%. The lens allows modules to be manufactured at just 12mm in thickness, and softens LED lighting to achieve the desired lighting effect with fewer LED’s.Both technologies are ready for market, and according to OSRAM, are under consideration with a number of OEM’s. FORDThe 2013 Ford Fusion was the first mass-produced car to use only LED lighting in its interior, and the manufacturer continues to support the development of LED technology. In October 2014, Ford announced that it had teamed up with NextEnergy to launch an automotive lighting challenge to accelerate the development of LED technology.The challenge invites suppliers to develop advanced new automotive lighting products, and compete for up to $40,000 in prizes. Some of the challenges that Ford and NextEnergy have asked suppliers to tackle include:• Featherweight challenge; to develop products which produce the greatest amount of light, with the lowest weight.• Design for manufacturing challenge; to conceive ways to make existing lighting technology cost-effective and suitable for high-volume production.• Daylight LED’s; to create interior ceiling LED’s which emulate daylight.• Structural lighting; to integrate LED’s and OLED’s into interior and exterior structural components such as doors and seats.• Lifecycle challenge; to encourage the design of recyclable lighting technology, including biodegradable lighting.The introduction of LED lighting into the automotive market has opened up a new world of design, and as the technology develops OEM’s are finding new and innovative ways to integrate lighting for functional and aesthetic purposes. Reinforcing brand identity and creating a luxurious feel to the vehicle through ambient lighting has been the initial focus, but we are also seeing lighting increasingly being used for functional purposes, to illuminate controls or specific areas of the interior. As the technology develops, and OLED lighting becomes available for automotive applications, we can expect to see many more exciting innovations in the years to come. Audi Last year Audi introduced a range of new lighting technology for the A8, which contributed to both ambience and functionality, such as a system which focusses the interior lighting towards a door when opened, to invite the driver or passenger into the vehicle. At this year’s CES show, Audi introduced several new ideas and concepts in interior lighting, which retain a focus on functionality. The futuristic ‘Solunar’ concept (above) was displayed at the CES, and provides a glimpse into how Audi sees the future of lighting. It uses light throughout the cabin, even in the floor, and adapts to the driving style. The interior becomes brighter when driving slowly in an urban environment, and gets darker when driving at speed on freeways. Audi say that the concept has the ability to take on interface functions for the driver, such as providing a turn arrow on the carpet for navigation purposes. Another idea that the concept demonstrates is the notion of linking the interior and exterior lighting. The light line of the door trims has been extended down the bonnet into the running lights, to create the link from interior to exterior.Audi also showed the 2015 TT Sport interior, and released details of a variety of ideas that are planned for its new lighting concepts. Small LED’s could illuminate the steering wheel; green in colour when piloted driving is active, and red in colour to call for increased attentiveness from the driver. Red lights in the door panel could warn against opening the door when a cyclist is about to pass, or against changing lane when it is unsafe. The long arc of light under the windscreen may also be used for functional purposes, to warn of crossing traffic or pedestrians.The manufacturer also confirmed its intention to link interior and exterior light. In future models lights on the driver’s door and door handle will illuminate when the owner approaches the car. Upon entering the vehicle, the lights will ‘follow’ the driver into the cabin, illuminating important areas such as the steering wheel and instrument cluster. As lighting technology develops, Audi suggests it will become an integral part of the HMI system, interacting with the surroundings and communicating with the driver. Summary The introduction of LED lighting into the automotive market has opened up a new world of design, and as the technology develops OEM’s are finding new and innovative ways to integrate lighting for functional and aesthetic purposes. Reinforcing brand identity and creating a luxurious feel to the vehicle through ambient lighting has been the initial focus, but we are also seeing lighting increasingly being used for functional purposes, to illuminate controls or specific areas of the interior. As the technology develops, and OLED lighting becomes available for automotive applications, we can expect to see many more exciting innovations in the years to come.

Bringing Innovative Lighting Concepts to Market

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