Having already announced the introduction of full LED headlights in its new 6-Series range, BMW is moving onto the next wave of advanced lighting technology for cars: lasers.
BMW engineers are currently working on the introduction of laser light in car headlights, with the aim to improve safety as well as efficiency.Laser lighting is radically different from sunlight, and also from the various types of artificial lighting in common use today.
BMW are ready to steal ahead of their rivals with the next incarnation of light technology. Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are the best known light technology we find on the front fascia of the world's top automobiles at the moment. They were pioneered for the U.S. Market by Lexus on the LS 600h before being more widely used by the Audi range starting with the R8 sportscar. But like many new technologies, they only have a limited lifespan before the next generation arrives.
For a start, laser lighting is monochromatic, which means the light waves all have the same length. It's also a “coherent” light source, which means that its waves have a constant phase difference. As a result, laser lighting can produce a near-parallel beam with intensity a thousand times greater than that of conventional LEDs.
Also, the high efficiency of laser lighting means that laser headlights have less than half the energy consumption of LED headlights, in the end helping to save fuel. Whereas LED lighting generates only around 100 lumens (a photometric unit of light output) per watt, laser lighting generates approximately 170 lumens.
The size of the individual laser diodes, which are just 10 microns in length, are also one hundredth the size of the one-millimeter-long, square-shaped cells used in LED lighting. BMW says this opens up all sorts of new design possibilities for integrating the light source into the vehicle. Although it's theoretically possible to radically reduce the size of the headlights, BMW says it has no plans to do so. Rather, the laser headlights would retain the conventional headlight surface area dimensions, with the reduced depth opening up new possibilities in the positioning of the headlights and the body styling of vehicles.
Additionally, laser lighting diodes are very small. With a length of just ten microns (µm), laser diodes are one hundred times smaller than the square-shaped cells used in conventional LED lighting, which have a side length of one millimeter. This opens up all sorts of new possibilities when design cars.
And there’s no risk to humans, animals or wildlife when used in car lighting. This is mostly due to the light not being emitted directly, but initially converted into a form that is suitable for use in road traffic. The resulting light is very bright and white.
BMW says the laser lighting technology would be compatible with its current range of lighting technologies, such as Adaptive Headlights, the "Dynamic Lighting Spot" spotlighting system and the "Anti-Dazzle High-Beam Assist." Although it doesn't elaborate, BMW says the laser lighting would also enable the implementation of completely new functions, which will have minimal power consumption.
BMW adds that laser light technology is the next logical step after LED as it is more efficient. Laser lighting can produce a near-parallel beam with intensity a thousand times greater than that of conventional LEDs. The laser diodes are one hundred times smaller even than the small, square-shaped cells used in conventional LED lighting, which have a side length of one millimeter. This opens up all sorts of new possibilities and even entirely new functions when integrating the light source into a car. The high inherent efficiency of lasers means laser headlights will use less than half the energy consumption of LED headlights, hence saving fuel. Or, giving an electric car greater range.
BMW is secretly working with suppliers that BMW's optical systems designer Hanafi Abdul refused to identify. BMW's laser technology starts with 3 laser diodes which generate a laser beam that is 10 microns wide. An intense white light is generated by emitting the laser to yellow phosphorus found inside the lens which then bounces off reflectors onto the road.
Laser lights have huge advantages over LEDs, they use less than half the energy and the light intensity is a thousand times higher. Additionally, a laser diode is one hundred times smaller than an LED diode.
Laser lights were first exhibited on the BMW i8 Concept that debuted at the Frankfurt Motor Show a couple of months a go. Audi also displayed a similar technology in Frankfurt. The A2 Concept featured rear fog lights that use diodes to generate laser beams which project images of red triangles onto the road as a warning in bad weather conditions such fog or rain. Therefore if the Bavarian automaker does not press ahead with development, their German rivals could beat them to the punch.
The technology is expected to debut in production form on the upcoming 2014 BMW i8, although it has already been previewed on the i8 Concept we saw recently. Note, laser lighting is already used in a variety of consumer products, namely CD and DVD players, however, in most cases it goes unnoticed by the user.
Thank You.
BMW engineers are currently working on the introduction of laser light in car headlights, with the aim to improve safety as well as efficiency.Laser lighting is radically different from sunlight, and also from the various types of artificial lighting in common use today.
BMW are ready to steal ahead of their rivals with the next incarnation of light technology. Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are the best known light technology we find on the front fascia of the world's top automobiles at the moment. They were pioneered for the U.S. Market by Lexus on the LS 600h before being more widely used by the Audi range starting with the R8 sportscar. But like many new technologies, they only have a limited lifespan before the next generation arrives.
For a start, laser lighting is monochromatic, which means the light waves all have the same length. It's also a “coherent” light source, which means that its waves have a constant phase difference. As a result, laser lighting can produce a near-parallel beam with intensity a thousand times greater than that of conventional LEDs.
Also, the high efficiency of laser lighting means that laser headlights have less than half the energy consumption of LED headlights, in the end helping to save fuel. Whereas LED lighting generates only around 100 lumens (a photometric unit of light output) per watt, laser lighting generates approximately 170 lumens.
The size of the individual laser diodes, which are just 10 microns in length, are also one hundredth the size of the one-millimeter-long, square-shaped cells used in LED lighting. BMW says this opens up all sorts of new design possibilities for integrating the light source into the vehicle. Although it's theoretically possible to radically reduce the size of the headlights, BMW says it has no plans to do so. Rather, the laser headlights would retain the conventional headlight surface area dimensions, with the reduced depth opening up new possibilities in the positioning of the headlights and the body styling of vehicles.
Additionally, laser lighting diodes are very small. With a length of just ten microns (µm), laser diodes are one hundred times smaller than the square-shaped cells used in conventional LED lighting, which have a side length of one millimeter. This opens up all sorts of new possibilities when design cars.
And there’s no risk to humans, animals or wildlife when used in car lighting. This is mostly due to the light not being emitted directly, but initially converted into a form that is suitable for use in road traffic. The resulting light is very bright and white.
BMW says the laser lighting technology would be compatible with its current range of lighting technologies, such as Adaptive Headlights, the "Dynamic Lighting Spot" spotlighting system and the "Anti-Dazzle High-Beam Assist." Although it doesn't elaborate, BMW says the laser lighting would also enable the implementation of completely new functions, which will have minimal power consumption.
BMW adds that laser light technology is the next logical step after LED as it is more efficient. Laser lighting can produce a near-parallel beam with intensity a thousand times greater than that of conventional LEDs. The laser diodes are one hundred times smaller even than the small, square-shaped cells used in conventional LED lighting, which have a side length of one millimeter. This opens up all sorts of new possibilities and even entirely new functions when integrating the light source into a car. The high inherent efficiency of lasers means laser headlights will use less than half the energy consumption of LED headlights, hence saving fuel. Or, giving an electric car greater range.
BMW is secretly working with suppliers that BMW's optical systems designer Hanafi Abdul refused to identify. BMW's laser technology starts with 3 laser diodes which generate a laser beam that is 10 microns wide. An intense white light is generated by emitting the laser to yellow phosphorus found inside the lens which then bounces off reflectors onto the road.
Laser lights have huge advantages over LEDs, they use less than half the energy and the light intensity is a thousand times higher. Additionally, a laser diode is one hundred times smaller than an LED diode.
Laser lights were first exhibited on the BMW i8 Concept that debuted at the Frankfurt Motor Show a couple of months a go. Audi also displayed a similar technology in Frankfurt. The A2 Concept featured rear fog lights that use diodes to generate laser beams which project images of red triangles onto the road as a warning in bad weather conditions such fog or rain. Therefore if the Bavarian automaker does not press ahead with development, their German rivals could beat them to the punch.
The technology is expected to debut in production form on the upcoming 2014 BMW i8, although it has already been previewed on the i8 Concept we saw recently. Note, laser lighting is already used in a variety of consumer products, namely CD and DVD players, however, in most cases it goes unnoticed by the user.
Thank You.
