Article Abstracts | September 2006
The complete article appears in the September 2006 issue of Photonics Spectra. If you do not have a copy of this issue,
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Advances in LED Automotive Forward-Lighting
Providing Catalysts for Change
White-light devices are improving, but challenges remain.
by Mitch Sayers, Visteon Corp.
Given the styling flexibility, unique brand-image possibilities and the increased performance levels that they offer, LEDs may represent the most significant advancement in automotive lighting sources since the advent of the high-intensity discharge arc source.
Today, LEDs can be seen on luxury vehicles under nearly every brand name as well as on several high-volume vehicles. For example, LED-based daytime running lights are used on some Audi models; the Mercury Montego has LED stoplights and the Cadillac DTS uses LED backup lights. Other applications include center high-mount stoplights, rear combination lights, front turn signals, side markers and specialized interior lighting. Now the automotive lighting community eagerly awaits the availability of LEDs that produce enough output at a low enough cost to be used in such forward-lighting applications as head-and fog lights (Figure 1)...
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