ISLE - Integrated Communicating Solid-state Light Engine for use in Automotive Forward Lighting and Information Exchange between Vehicles and Infrastructure
Overview
Background & policy context:
The state of the art in lighting is an electric bulb. But these bulbs cannot be modulated, so they are of no use for communication. White LEDs do exist and could serve both purposes.
A standard incandescent bulb achieves 20 lumens per watt (lm/W) while automotive xenon lamp technology provides 90 lm/W. The solid-state technology currently achieves up to 40 lm/W in laboratory quantities and about 20 lm/W in series production. New records are established every three months. The theoretical limit of 200 lm/W means that the solid-state source achieves greater efficiency than the best existing light source. More efficient lighting systems would mean an enhanced brightness on the road while reducing fossil fuel emissions through lower power consumption.
Objectives:
This project aims to develop a new manufacturing technology to produce a new generation of headlamps for vehicles, which is the base for a future car-to-car or of car-to-infrastructure communication system.
The point is to define the ability of an LED system to provide communication modes for other vehicles or traffic safety devices - measured by the new ability to communicate during different driving conditions.
This is achieved by:
- validating the chip-on-board LED array with a primary optic moulded over the LED array, measured by an automotive qualification schedule;
- researching the best methods for converting multiple blue chip array into white chip array, measured by meeting colour temperature and rendering requirements;
- defining the best colour temperature and rendering for automotive driving;
- creating the most efficient optical system while understanding system trade-offs, measured by optical simulations and photometric measurements;
- defining the best method to electrically drive an LED system and integrate electronics in a vehicle format with respect to the modulation of the LED-array for communication;
- developing over-moulding technology for chip-on-board modules to produce a complete lamp within one injection-moulding shot;
- creating a system integration for the ISLE project in an automotive environment, measured by cost studies and automotive qualification schedule.
Methodology:
In the first phase, the consortium concentrates on finding convertible concepts, which meet both the individual excellence of each partner and the overall project goal. The central elements are:
- the LED architecture with respect to the requirements of the beam pattern forming optical elements;
- finding a suitable possibility to perform communication without any losses in light;
- definition of the required components;
- efforts in making LED headlamps legal.
The work is organised, the interfaces defined, and the best suitable concepts are selected and implemented accordingly. Starting from the first results optimisation loops will begin.
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