New Applications Using White LED for Frontlighting 2005-01-0862
In the field of exterior lighting within the automobile, the light emitting diode (LED) is becoming more and more significant. While benchmarking the existing products of different LED suppliers it becomes clear that especially in the area of frontlighting applications, it only makes sense to use high-power LEDs. Taking the different concepts of connecting technologies for thermal management, driver electronics required to efficiently handle the necessary power and the influence of luminous flux vs. luminance of these new light sources into consideration (to name only some aspects of this complex matter) this article will sketch the present state-of-the-art and give an outlook into the future.
LED development is currently in a critical phase which is focussing on the area of frontlighting alongside the signal lamp range which has been gaining a foothold for some years already. Via the signal functions side marker light, position light and daytime running light, first applications have been already successfully realised in different headlamps.
Only a few years ago, the use of high-power LEDs in headlamps was inconceivable. - Today not only the technical pre-conditions are given for this technology, it also has the system advantages which make it predestined for this particular function. This means that the greatest obstacles for its introduction are primarily only the question of its economic feasibility in addition to achievement of approval.
Without doubt these obstacles can be overcome. When the continually increasing efficiency of LEDs and the simultaneous reduction in costs for the emitters are considered, it must be assumed that this technology will be used on a larger scale in the foreseeable future.
An important task for the future remains the development of LEDs, suitable for automotive applications for the meaningful realisation of main lighting functions while at the same time cutting costs.
