It’s certainly difficult and awkward to think and talk about car lights while COVID-19 is killing people all over the world, economies are slumping, governments and societies are showing signs of strain, and most of us are stuck working at home.
But it is also really important to strive for normality and maintain readiness by continuing to work on our projects and think about our technologies. Most of us aren’t in a position to directly fight in the war effort beyond the personal level of maintaining distance and keeping our hands washed, but by keeping our minds actively engaged with our areas of expertise, we can be ready to get back at it quickly and efficiently when industry resumes.
With that in mind, today we present an in-depth report on the history and achievements of Cree, an American semiconductor company focused on silicon carbide and GaN technologies, who co-developed with Valeo the first complete ADB high definition LED array solution, called PictureBeam Monolithic. I recently drove a car equipped with this technology. Comparing to Koito’s BladeScan and various DMD and Matrix systems with 4 to 16 segments, there are big differences among these various systems but the main thing is that any of them is better than any low beam.
For this reason, my conviction is that there’s now a critical mass of ADB technology suitable and feasible for application in all segments, from premium cars with more than 50,000 µLEDs, DMD, or digital light, to low-range cars with 4-segment matrix beams and more besides. In our domain, ADB is the unique breakthrough which greatly increases safety and in a manner easily understood by car buyers and drivers.
30 metres’ more seeing distance with no additional glare: think how many crashes would be avoided, how many pedestrians’ lives could be saved if ADB were to become mandatory equipment, as it really should. Of course, there is still the regrettable problem that it’s not even allowed yet in the USA. Even so, ADB has to be better known and understood amongst the general public. Before there’s significant demand pulling ADB towards universality, the demand-pump must be primed by a push towards knowledge. Let us do it together!
Also this week there is a new chapter in our onrunning saga “The Wonderful Story of Lighting”, wherein Jean-Paul Ravier presents new technologies. Don’t miss it, and be sure all your colleagues see it!
We also present the results of Audi investigations about a new lighting function Road Projection of Turn Signals, all cyclists as me are face with.Very interesting for safety.
and two news showing that automotive lighting technologies could help health improvement.
Keep well and safe,