LEDs could send bulbs the way of film

22 January 2004: The end could be near for the electric light bulb in the auto industry, in much the same way as digital cameras are already spelling the end of film.

Electronic semiconductors called light emitting diodes have been in use for rear light systems on cars since the early 1990s. Now companies in the sector say LEDs may start replacing bulbs for low-beam headlights as early as 2006.

LEDs are smaller and use much less power than bulbs. They have a long life and provide pure color. Lighting specialists such as Valeo, Hella and Visteon are investing heavily in LED technology.

The current installation rate for LEDs on rear light clusters is around 10 percent, but is widely expected to grow rapidly. Within five years at least one function with LEDs will likely be on at least 50 percent of the vehicles.

LEDs light up about 250 milliseconds quicker than bulbs. That doesn't sound like much, but at 100kph, it's about 7 meters in distance - perhaps the difference between stopping safely and crashing.

Stylistically, LEDs also open a brand new look in headlamps for future vehicle generations. LEDs are a true electronic component, rather than electronically controlled electrics. This means that they can be integrated into the vehicle's electronic architecture, giving lighting systems a degree of intelligence for adaptive lighting systems.

Possible applications include automatic fog lighting, which activates when the car detects foggy conditions, and brake force display, which illuminates a brighter and bigger area when the brake pedal is pushed hard.

©2004 irishcar.com