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High efficiency distributed lighting systems for automotive vehicles are now possible with the development of high brightness Xenon Metal Halide light sources and the advent of new low loss, low cost light pipes. In principle, all of the lighting functions in a vehicle can now be accomplished with one or two such sources in combination with the appropriate distribution harness and delivery optics. However, to achieve practical ‘whole vehicle’ systems, the solution to a number of problems must still be demonstrated. A fundamental problem has been uniformly feeding small cross-sectional area distribution harnesses with light in a low loss and reproducible manner. This paper describes nearly lossless devices that provide the required uniform light delivery.

When delivered task illumination efficacy with fiber optic lighting systems first approached 10 lumens-per-watt (LPW) in the early 90’s, fiber approaches became the system of choice for many specialty lighting applications. Present state of the art delivered illumination efficacy is now approaching 40 LPW. At this efficacy, applications, which are typically implemented using halogen, are now possible with fiber optics. As we approach the 21st Century, the delivered efficacy of fiber systems is expected to cross current conventional discharge efficacy. When that happens, fiber optics will have come, in less than a generation, from a novel way of lighting toys to a mainstream lighting technology. This paper reviews some of these changes and indicates our view of the direction of future advances.