Lighting has achieved a real technological leap: from halogen headlights to xenon headlights, and then to automotive LED technology, this evolution took less than 20 years. These landmark new technologies provide customers with great added value. In addition to the continuous improvement of visibility, through paying equal attention to communication and aesthetics, Audi Lighting constantly defines the appearance of Audi models in each era, and at the same time, it has been increasing daily usability.
With the development and reform of lamps, lighting efficiency and energy efficiency have been improved. Now, digitalization has brought another innovation power through brand-new design potential: car lights are becoming intelligent. Cars interact with their surroundings through light signals. 20 10 has become popular all over the world to install cameras on windshields to monitor other road users. As early as 2003, when? Audi A8 realizes adaptive headlights by starting dynamic headlight range control. Two years later, Audi introduced the dynamic turn signal, which further consolidated its superb technology and innovative vanguard role through Audi R8. The dynamic steering signal enables the driver to detect the change of the indicating direction with the corner of his eye, and the safety has been significantly improved, which is still the case now. 20 17, driving an Audi R8? With the appearance of LMX, Audi displayed LED headlights and laser auxiliary lights with high-definition matrix technology on the Audi A8 limousine, which is the first time among the global production models. Now, Audi, a high-quality and high-end automobile manufacturer, is digitizing its matrix LED headlights and increasing its diversity. Since the beginning of this year, the digital organic light-emitting diode taillights used in the new Audi Q5 have opened the door of communication between cars and multiple devices, enabling people to choose a new taillight design when configuring vehicles for the first time.
In addition to intelligent lighting roads, Audi also gives its models distinctive personality characteristics with distinctive signals and dynamic lighting scenes. Even at this critical moment, Audi has provided customers with optional configuration of vehicle-based lighting signals to further distinguish them. Dynamic turn signals or impressive scenes with entrance and exit functions make headlights arouse people's emotional ringtones. In the future, lighting technology will make driving safer, highlight the personality of each model and promote more efficient external communication.
From incandescent lamp to digital high-tech application: Audi car lamp has a long history of development
Headlamp technology: illuminating the future
In 2004, Audi first used LED in the LED headlights of Audi A8 daytime running lights. Light emitting diode (led) is a semiconductor device that converts electric energy into light energy. Their working efficiency is extremely high: low energy consumption and high light output efficiency. In 2008, Audi R8 used LED headlights for the first time. Now, LED headlights are standard on all Audi models (except the entry-level Audi A 1). In 20 13, due to the use of LED technology, Audi became the first automobile manufacturer to obtain the EU eco-innovation certificate.
Light-emitting diode (LED) is still the basis of headlight technology, and the auxiliary system of high beam automatically turns on and off the high beam by detecting oncoming vehicles. 20 13, matrix LED headlights pave the way for the new application of Audi A8. The 25 independent LEDs of the high beam can be activated or extinguished independently, or even dimmed. From then until now, the lighting system has detected other road users with high accuracy through the camera, avoiding the glare of headlights caused by extinguishing independent light-emitting diodes, but still illuminating the road brightly. Based on navigation, it can cope with different driving situations and pre-allocate lights according to route data. As for the smart corner light, when the driver turns the steering wheel, the focus of the light will turn to the direction of the corner.
20 14 laser auxiliary lamp debuts in Audi R8? LMX, the range of headlights has doubled. In 20 17, Audi A8 integrated the latest concept: Audi laser auxiliary light became the feature of Audi organic light-emitting diode taillights and high-definition matrix LED front lighting, representing the competitive benchmark. Each headlamp incorporates a small independently controllable LED twice as much as 16 to form a multi-row matrix LED high beam. The system provides the highest precision curve lighting, urban lighting and expressway lighting, and avoids other road users by improving the accuracy, and supplements the high beam lighting. When the minimum speed is 70km/h(43.5? Mph), the laser is activated as a spotlight, illuminating a distance of about 600 meters (1970 feet) in front of the car.
In 20 19, the digital matrix LED headlights with DMD (digital micromirror device) technology made their debut in Audi's first pure electric vehicle, Audi e-tron. It marks that Audi has once again successfully achieved the world innovation in the field of low beam lighting and high beam lighting for production vehicles, because it is the first company to apply DMD technology, which originated from the video projector on the car. Its core is a small chip, which integrates 654.38+0.3 million micromirrors. The side length of each micromirror is only a few thousandths of a millimeter, and it can be tilted 5000 times per second. Based on the different positions, the light emitted by the high-performance led reaches the DMD chip through a specially calculated lens or a reflection cup with irregular structure, and from there reaches the road surface through a lens or absorber that can shield the light beam. At the same time, Audi has as many as three innovations to create higher customer value. In addition to the known more accurate and realizable functions, this technology can also lay a "light carpet" in front of the car when it is driving in expressway (such as expressway). This so-called "lane light" can illuminate the vehicle's own lane and spread dynamically when changing lanes, thus improving traffic safety. The second innovation: the positioning light helps the vehicle to keep the lane, especially in narrow sections, by marking the vehicle position as a belt boundary in its own lane. Third innovation: indicator light used with optional night vision assistance function. It can monitor pedestrians near the roadway and remind drivers through accurate light cones.
Taillight technology: signal function evolved into display screen
Similar to headlights, Audi's taillights have also undergone rapid evolution. 20 1 1 year, LED provides new visual unity for the taillights of Audi A6, and improves the efficiency of lighting technology, which also benefits other road users: the instant response of LED brake lights makes it 0.2 seconds faster than incandescent lamps, so drivers of vehicles behind can respond faster. So when the speed is 100? Km/h (62? At an hour), the distance that the vehicle behind can brake has been extended by nearly 6 meters (20 feet). In 20 12, Audi introduced the turn signal with dynamic indication function on the Audi R8. Audi worked closely with the examination and approval authorities, and this groundbreaking achievement has since become a standard configuration. Because of the movement of the turn signal, the driver behind the car can perceive the change of direction more clearly, especially at a long distance and at night.
20 16, Audi TT? RS organic light-emitting diode taillights have opened a new era. Light-emitting diodes use organic materials, and the light it emits is extremely uniform and accurate. Organic light emitting diode (OLED) light source is an ultra-thin surface light source, which does not need a reflective cup. This technology is efficient, lightweight and has a good visual effect. In 2020, Audi became the first automobile manufacturer to digitize taillights into display screens, which released the new potential of automobiles in terms of styling, personalization and safety. Because the number of segments of digital organic light-emitting diodes has increased to 18, automobile taillights can be diversified for the first time. Customers who buy Audi Q5 can choose from three kinds of optical signals. If these options are not considered, special motion signals can be set in "dynamic" mode under Audi's driving choice. In addition, the close-range display function also enhances traffic safety: when the Audi Q5 is stationary and another road user approaches a distance less than 2 meters (6.5 feet) from behind, all OLED road sections will be activated. As a result, the visible area is enlarged and the perceptibility is enhanced. Here, only one set of hardware is needed to realize five different visual lighting modes.
Sensory experience: design, signal lights and dynamic lighting scenes
On or off: In the simulation era, this is the lighting option for brake lights, low beam lights and high beam lights. Apart from the function of simply seeing and being seen, the other functions of the headlights hardly exist. Until the 1980s, the potential of car lamp modeling was still very limited. Smaller light sources pave the way for more and more personalized and unique designs. Halogen lamps make it possible to introduce headlamps with irregular structures. At the end of 1990s, the clear cover mirror and compact xenon lamp made Audi's headlights look like human pupils, and their appearance made more compact headlight modeling and component configuration a reality, which marked the emergence of a new business department, which provided choices and differentiated opportunities for the lighting field to show the excellent quality of the brand, which was consistent with technological progress.
The division and modularity of lighting areas make car design free in modeling and create new ideas in the design and vitality of car lights. Combined with digitalization, new functions are born one after another, such as lighting signal lamp, dynamic lighting scene and digitalization. As a typical feature of Audi, the lighting signal lamp is absolutely accurate and unified in design. They emphasize the width of the car by unique horizontal lines and highlighting the details of the car's appearance. In their interaction, these parts from the same assembly ensure that the vehicle can drive in a wider field of vision and park in a straight line on the road.
Modeling innovation and customer experience often bring super functions and high added value. In 2004, LED daytime running lights improved visibility and defined the appearance of Audi for the first time. Today, Audi A3 is the first model equipped with matrix LED headlights. Only one set of hardware is needed to equip daytime running lights with signals of specific models and lines.
Audi A7? The entrance and exit dynamic lighting scenes of Sportback and A8 create a new customer experience. This function is activated when unlocking and leaving the vehicle. Now, apply it to Audi? E-tron's DMD technology makes the digital matrix LED headlamp have five different popular versions in the extended dynamic lighting scene. They can be displayed as projections on the wall or on the ground. With its outstanding diversity and innovation, Audi will be the world's leading automotive lighting technology brands now and in the future, and will also become "Vorsprung? Deke. The brand spirit of Technik (breaking through technology and enlightening the future) is integrated into the design of car light signal and its dynamic setting.
Comprehensive function+forward thinking: safety, communication and interaction
Audi headlights represent the relationship between technology, design, safety and customer experience. Good connectivity also ensures intelligence and functionality. Car lights have become displays, and the one-dimensional signal and warning functions in the past will evolve into all-round communication with the outside world, and will continue to develop.
No matter at the front or rear of the car, the Audi S series is rich in diversity because it can freely choose the signal lights equipped with the same hardware. Looking forward to the future, we can imagine that through MMI, car owners will be able to switch between various signal lights or realize customized design. Through the myAudi application, Audi e-tron customers have the opportunity to book additional lighting functions at any time after purchasing an Audi car, which is quite flexible. Other models will follow.
Nowadays, the data matrix LED headlights enabled by DMD technology have provided specific lane guidance and positioning projection functions, making driving easier and avoiding accidents. This technology has a forward-looking prospect. When combined with other ideas, it can improve drivers' attention and enhance mutual understanding and respect among road users.
Since 2020, the close-range display function of Audi Q5 has also made taillight communication between many automotive applications a reality. Therefore, Audi pursues the people-centered road and paves the way for entering a new era with digital organic light-emitting diode taillights. Taillight is evolving into a display medium, which can be extended through various functions in the next evolution. In the medium term, digital organic light emitting diodes will have more than 60 parts, and each part can be independently controlled and activated. Looking forward to the future, in addition to the diversification and personalization of lighting design, digital organic light-emitting diodes will also be able to warn other road users about local dangers, such as road slippage and traffic congestion.
Looking ahead, Audi is committed to developing flexible digital organic light-emitting diodes. Instead of a thin and hard supporting material with a thickness of about 0.7 mm (0.03 inch), a flexible substrate such as thin glass, plastic film or metal foil can be used, which can be bent in one or more directions. This new possibility brings greater modeling freedom to taillight design. The key feature of this technology is to keep the existing two-dimensional OLED display light. Light-emitting diodes will be able to emit three-dimensional light for the first time. Flexible digital organic light-emitting diodes completely integrate the "display area" to both sides of the vehicle, thus obviously expanding the available area of lighting design again and increasing the communication range with the surrounding environment.
This article comes from car home, the author of the car manufacturer, and does not represent car home's position.