4 January 2017

Osram showcases smart LED- and laser-based automotive lighting technologies at CES

Lighting manufacturer Osram of Munich, Germany is unveiling its latest automotive applications at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES 2017) in booth #6338 (North Hall) at the Las Vegas Convention Center (5-8 January).

"Osram's car lighting technologies are designed to offer drivers smart and stylish design options, but most importantly to significantly enhance road safety," says Olaf Berlien, CEO of Osram Licht AG. "Laser-based car lighting is much brighter and enables a doubled high-beam range," he adds. "The improved down-road visibility and clarity for the drivers increases safety for all on the road." The fatality rate of night-time travel is up to four times that of day-time travel.

"We also will provide the virtual eyes for autonomous driving cars," says Osram's chief technology officer Stefan Kampmann. "A modern car comprises about 200 light sources. Some of them are using invisible light – for example, in systems for smart surroundings analysis and for proximity detection as well as for driver monitoring." Visitors to Osram's CES booth can take part in a virtual reality (VR) tour for them to experience various automotive light sources, ranging from ambience lighting to extra-bright and far-reaching headlights.

As the latest automotive technology using invisible light, LiDAR (light detection and ranging) plays a key role in advanced driver-assistance systems, which are increasingly enabling semi-autonomous to fully autonomous driving capabilities. LiDAR systems generate laser pulses that hit objects and reflect light back onto a detector. The time of travel of the laser beam establishes the distance to the object. Osram's multi-channel laser light source enables vehicles to generate an accurate, three-dimensional image of their surroundings and use this information to initiate the appropriate driving maneuvers. Accurate evaluation of the vehicle's surroundings is crucial for safe autonomous driving, notes Osram.

Headlights using laser technology are the next stage in automotive lighting, states Osram. Due to the high luminance of the laser (about five times higher than the best of other light sources currently available), these headlights double the best high beam range previously available, from 300 to 600m (2000ft). Osram's energy-efficient laser lighting (which includes some of the smallest technology components available, it is claimed) found its way into serial car production with the BMW i8, the BMW 7 series and the Audi R8 und R8 LMX as boosters added to the high beam, providing better visibility for the driver and thus greater road safety.

In addition to laser technology, advanced pixel headlights represent the future of automotive lighting, says Osram. Together with partners, the firm has developed a tiny LED matrix chip with more than 1000 individually controllable pixels. A headlight comprising several such LED chips allows permanent driving with glare-free full beam. An onboard camera recognizes oncoming vehicle and pedestrian traffic, automatically dimming the high-resolution LED chips to ensure that the head areas of oncoming drivers, pedestrians and cyclists are spared from the light beam. This provides the driver with the best possible light at night, with no adverse effects for other traffic users. Osram expects to bring this technology to the commercial market by 2020.

From 5 January, a 2D and 3D interactive booth tour video will be available online for those unable to visit Osram's booth at CES.

Tags: Osram Oslon LED headlights

Visit: www.osram.com/CES