Optoelectronics
The future of smart vehicle lighting design and the technology driving it
By Michael Bender, senior product line manager for Embedded Lighting, Melexis W
ith the ongoing transition from internal combustion engines to cleaner electric power, the automotive industry is arguably in the
toughest transformation it has faced during its 120-year history. While this development often dominates headlines, there is another seismic change moving throughout the sector that is sometimes overlooked…vehicles are getting significantly smarter.
The rise of intelligent automotive systems is not something that has happened overnight. Devices like satellite navigation, proactive driving assists and the automatic activation of headlights have all been providing a degree of vehicle intelligence for a while now, especially at the premium end of the market. The increased reliance on technology from consumers, and the continued effort towards safer roads, have only further fuelled this progress. But as ‘smart’ as these systems may be, they are very simple compared to the next generation, and one distinct aspect of a car that is seeing unparalleled change is the lighting. Solid state illumination, such as LEDs, has been at the forefront of vehicle lighting development since the mid-2000s, when early adopters began implementing the technology in high-end models. Since then, LEDs in traditional applications such as exterior and cabin lights have become more widespread, with economy models also reaping performance benefits.
A study conducted by TrendForce in 2022 concluded that the technology is now employed in over 60% of new passenger cars and 90% of new electric vehicles (EVs). And while most new vehicles now use LED lighting, only 3.2% use intelligent adaptive driving beam (ADB) headlights. This intriguing statistic highlights that, although LED headlight usage is increasing, most applications have been in the place of traditional filament bulbs, without further implementation of smart features. That said, the breadth of applications and the future landscape of vehicle illumination is changing rapidly, with new LED-based lighting solutions providing smarter safety and comfort features. These recent developments
52 September 2023
Just some of the possible applications for animated vehicle lighting
can create an important differentiator for manufacturers by allowing them to enhance the internal and external aesthetics of their cars. When compared to the complexity of designing a vehicle’s physical shape to make it more aesthetically appealing, the customization and eye-catching nature of LED solutions could present a far more efficient way of improving visual identity. The ability to transcend simple static lighting and introduce more complex dynamic systems is something that many leading vehicle brands are now investigating. RGB ambient LEDs are already becoming popular, enabling consumers to configure the lighting hue and intensity within the cabin to match their current preference. However, this represents just the start, with manufacturers taking advancing developments by implementing sophisticated animation into their latest car models.
Animated lighting
Despite dynamic vehicle lighting being relatively new, there are already many diverse applications both currently on the road, and in development. Typically, these implementations fulfill two clear goals – heighten safety through greater visibility or enhanced aesthetics and user customization.
Components in Electronics
With the foremost implementations, dynamic LEDs have already brought increased visibility to primary exterior lights. Systems such as sequential turn indicators, daytime running lights, adaptive headlights and dynamic brake lights can all utilize animation (or smart alteration of intensity) to provide greater vehicle visibility. For indicators, the difference between a simple flashing bulb or an animated sequential LED strip provides an obvious example of how dynamic illumination can increase the visibility of a car’s movement. But the demand for smart lighting goes beyond only increasing safety, with many implementations targeting aesthetics and driver-vehicle interaction.
In the hyper-competitive automotive industry, having a feature that makes your vehicle stand out could have a tremendous impact on its sales. This is especially true in crowded areas of the market where consumers have a vast choice of options. By using LEDs to provide not just ambient lighting, but also dynamic welcome animations and visual feedback from controls, you can elevate the cabin’s design above a competitor’s model. Current applications already include animated RGB cabin, dashboard and interior trim lights. While future implementations might include using dynamic dashboard
lighting to show incoming calls, traffic alerts or to provide an indication of adjustment to the cabin’s climate control. Through the utilization of vibrant LEDs for feedback, it is easier for the driver to remain focused on the road. In autonomous driving scenarios, internal warning lights can also deploy eye- catching animation to inform the driver that they need to retake control of the vehicle.
Understanding the demands of animated lighting technology Enhanced vehicle LED systems, along with the added demand for visual animation, will inevitably lead to increased electronics complexity. Combine this with the current developments in driving assists and infotainment, and it is clear to see how in- vehicle networks are under strain. The legacy controller area network (CAN) and local interconnect network (LIN) communication protocols which many cars still heavily rely on are unfortunately not going to meet the industry’s needs.
For LED lights representing RGB colours and featuring advanced animations, the number of diodes and frequency of the updates would be far too great for the legacy protocols to control effectively. Employing existing CAN networks would
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