DVN Editor in Chief Hector Fratty, after interviewing Ichikoh CEO Ali Ordoobadi, met with that company’s Olivier Barthomeuf, Kazataka Shirakawa, and Shoichi Minokawa. Two innovations were presented and discussed:
Two innovations were presented.
2016 Toyota Prius: Perfect Light Guide Homogeneity
Toyota unveiled their newest Prius model at the IAA in Frankfurt last September. While the front lighting is done by Koito, the rear lamps are from Ichikoh. Volume is 30,000 cars per month. The innovation concerns the perfectly homogeneous illumination of a very long light guide for the tail lamp (rear position light) function. The rear lamp is made in 2 parts; the upper part has half of the LED rear position light guide, the incandescent turn signal, and the reversing lamp. The lower part has the other half of the LED rear position light guide, and the LED stop and rear fog lamps. These use Ichikoh’s standard LED socket to achieve compact packaging.