Future LED Headlamps - Opportunities to improve Light Performance

Dr. Rainer Neumann , Visteon Innovation & Technology GmbH , Germany

Keywords:        LED Headlamps, Light Performance, Corona effect

Introduction

First LED headlamps have been launched for production in automotive vehicles.

The major driving factor to introduce LED light sources at this time for the main headlamp functions is the styling and design flexibility. Additionally, the special white- bluish light colour is well appreciated by the human eye.

Nevertheless, the light performance given by the 70mm Bi-Xenon projector unit of today is still the benchmark for driving at night. As the LED’s will develop in terms of low power consumption, long life time, luminance and luminous output there will be opportunities in the future to contribute with LED’s also in terms of improved light performance, the main target for a safe driving at night.

The paper analyzes the strategy how to use the advantages of LED’s versus the standard Xenon light. The concept of the final light distribution will be developed and the way, how to achieve a best in class performance will be described. The forecast will confirm, that the LED light sources for front lighting devices will be able to create new standards in light performance by using additionally new styling and signature attributes for differentiation.