Requirements for the next Generation LED for Signalling- and DRL Functions

摘要

As LEDs are now established in various automotive exterior applications, including full LED headlamps, focus must now be turned to optimizing these products and applications. For signalling- and DRL functionality, we foresee two potential areas for optimizing the LED. 1) Although ceramic based LEDs today can be soldered relatively well, doubts sometimes remain on the second level board reliability. Resulting, an optimized LED should take the solder joint reliability into account, ideally it is based on a non-ceramic substrate to fit a broad variety of printed circuit boards. 2) Nearly all signalling- and DRL functions utilize more or less complex optics or lightguide systems. 120° emission may be a feasible compromise to fit various optical systems, however, in terms of efficiency it may not be optimal for any of the target applications. Thus, we propose alternative emission patterns both for secondary lenses and lightguides as well as for reflector systems. Considering these proposals, the design of optically more efficient signalling and DRL functionality and most reliable solder connections can be realized.