This report summarises the proceedings of the 2020 DVN Munich Workshop. It is not a substitute for having attended the event, but it conveys the main points of each lecture and describes the highlights of the expo booths. The main block of events comprised a grand keynote address, 20 lectures, and a panel session on regulations. The most important points developed by all the speakers:
From premium-brand automakers:
• OLED creates a new business model with segmented system and animation.
• Function-on-demand is rapidly developing.
• Laser contributes to full high beam and also to glare-free high beam systems.
• V2V connectivity could prevent many of the half-million crashes and could save over 1,000 lives a year in the US alone, and rear lighting will help to communicate by displaying messages to other road users about acceleration, deceleration, constant speed, and hazards ahead.
• If digital light is to follow the megatrends of automotive industry, it has to increase safety, be sustainable, and be easy to use.
From generalist automakers:
• Need for global regulatory harmonisation including the USA to cost-reduce developments,
• Need more standardisation for electronics & optics for lower deployment cost
• Need for more efficient ADB technology to compete with other high-customer-want features
• Areas of attention:
– Brand differentiation
– Optimisation of functionalities
– Transversal modules
– High definition symbols
From generalist automakers, cont’d:
• Need for strategy toward new dynamic advanced LED lighting systems with:
– High value for end-customer
– Breakthrough engineering & architecture to reduce cost
– Software of supplier integrated in existing embedded ECU
From interior lighting companies:
• Prevalence of premium interior lighting is growing very fast
• Great potential for microprocessor-controlled IseLEDs
• Interior lighting tends to an optimised functional lighting, to more lighting support of colour and trim, night versus day design, and light projections
• Uniform and dynamic illuminated surfaces everywhere in the interior
• To avoid motion sickness, maximise optical flow and front & side view of outside
• Trend toward messaging: segmented taillights for dynamic light signals with simple symbols, or displays with addressable pixels for symbols, text, and pictures
From set makers:
• The new generation of ADB modules deliver nice features for safety and comfort
• Need to simplify & standardise to reduce cost for their democratisation
• Slogans like “Smaller, Safer, Smarter, Sustainable, Style” reflect priorities of lighting
• Growing importance of signal lighting for style and communication (more digitalised)
• Integration of sensors in the four corners or in a front grille brings great interest from lighting set makers: better style, smaller packaging
• 4 kilopixel module is obvious choice for mass-market HD lights: big jump in safety performance
• Great attractivity of lighting displays particularly in China
• Interesting ADB technology using a mechanical principle, similar to a 10-kilopixel LED array with lower cost than other HD solutions, at least for awhile
• 3D lit image tail lamp is an interesting technology offering new styling with affordable cost
From light source suppliers:
• Osram say mainstream LED headlamps with reasonable performance can be had with about 15 watts, without heat sinks
• Lumileds’ concepts for LED democratisation
• Fraunhofer’s idea in competition with holography for signalling and interior lighting applications, and for “touch screens in free space”
• Dominant’s concept for variable-colour, stable LED lighting at reduced cost especially for interior applications
From tier-2 suppliers:
• Features driven by ADAS and AVs drive fast transformation for exterior and interior lighting
• Mentor Graphics’ new simulation tools for accurate thermal simulation of LED-based products
• NXP’s process supports functional safety requirements
• New devices give reliable protection from condensation in real-world conditions
From tier-2 suppliers, cont’d:
• For headlamps, Covestro have optimised performance, cost and weight while maintaining excellent interaction of material and processing technology.
From regulators:
• There is wide agreement that lighting innovation speed is not matched by regulatory approval speed; we need to find solutions.
• The global lighting community must come together to identify priorities for regulatory change and alignment. The community has to present one responsible voice to the global regulators.
Where authorised by the speakers and their companies, links are provided to the lecture slides. Links are also provided to event photos and a short video presenting the event.