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Utilization of new technologies, such as LEDs, light guides, and electro-luminesence (EL), in courtesy lighting offers promising opportunities in styling, packaging, and functionality. Although these lamps are not as strictly regulated as other automotive lighting, considerable investigation is required to meet the desired styling and performance. In this paper we present the results of a study on running board lighting. This investigation was used to guide development of external courtesy lighting, where direct light, reflected light, contrast, and directionality are all design considerations.

Many LEDs are typically required to source sufficient light for automotive exterior applications. Maintaining even illumination requires the drive current to be well controlled for all the LEDs in an array. This can be challenging in the voltage driven automotive environment when dual level operation is desired, such as for combined stop and tail function. A current source in the form of an LED Driver Module (LDM) can be employed to drive the LED array. However, a passive resistor network may be capable of driving the LED array with a reduction in both cost and complexity when compared to an LDM solution. The advantages and disadvantages of various passive resistor network configurations for dual level operation will be examined.

Currently, there is still no standardized method to measure LED flux in automotive lighting. Usually, LED manufacturers provide a lumen range (or bin) for a given type of LED. However, with the increased usage of high-flux LEDs, the need for an absolute lumen value is becoming important for optical design of automotive lamps. The knowledge of an LED lumen value is necessary for more precise lamp designs. Three different types of measurements for LED flux were compared. These three measurement methods are: 1). 2π flux integrating sphere; 2). 4π flux integrating sphere; and 3). Goniometer. In this paper, we will discuss the results from these three methods, and conclude with recommendations on the preferred methods and parameters critical for accurate LED flux measurements.

This paper is a brief review of technology and styling trends of automotive lighting in North America. It also provides some background on the evolution and development of Automotive lighting in North America. The impact of recent styling trends on deployment of new lighting technologies is explained. This report also seeks to review the cause of some of the major difficulties in implementing new technologies such as HID (High Intensity Discharge). Factors influencing the future market penetration of emerging technologies such as LED (Light Emitting Diode), AFS (Adaptive Front Lighting System) are identified. The paper concludes with future forecast for these new technologies for the coming decade.

The studies for headlamp optical design using current available and future projected white LEDs have been conducted. With desires of high performance and compact packaging sizes for both high and low beam headlamps, using LED light sources is a great challenge for the headlamp design optical engineers for light collecting efficiency, beam pattern compression and optical accuracy. Although total lumen flux produced by the LEDs may be comparable to the exiting light sources, e.g., incandescent bulbs, the optical and mechanical characteristics of LEDs may limit the headlamp applications. The paper identifies the etendue concerns and limitations for automotive headlamps when using LED light sources. It provides a guideline for considerations of using LEDs for automotive headlamp applications.

Automotive lamps are essentially the optical transform devices. A light intensity angular distribution from a given light source (filament, HID arc, LED, etc.) is transformed to a desired new light intensity angular distribution namely beam pattern by means of an optical system such as a reflector or lens optics, or a projector module system. There are fundamentally five types of optical transformations occurring in a headlamp optical design: A). Light intensity angular distribution transforms from a light source to a beam pattern that is another fashion of angular distribution via a reflector-optics device. This transform device, sometimes, is referred to as the free-form reflector design; B). Light intensity angular distribution from a light source is transformed to a spatial distribution on a focal plane of an ellipsoidal (or similar) reflector; C).

Currently, high flux white LEDs are being studied extensively for forward lighting applications. Because of their light output levels that are reaching new highs at an impressive rate, these devices can also be considered for signal lighting applications by means of color filtering. In this paper, we will present results from studies of high efficiency collectors with these types of LEDs for use in Front Turn Signal Lamp (FTSL) and Daytime Running Lamp (DRL) applications. Comparison of package size vs. collection efficiency for various configurations will be discussed. We will also review LED color temperature vs. amber color filters, and its effect on system optical efficiency.