LEDs, Lasers and now OLEDs in Car World

During CES we commented Audi proposal for Laser light in Audi Quattro prototype. Now BMW presented its solution for a sort of revolution in the shape of car lights using OLED. As reported by Engadget, “the extra-thin, uniformly lit strips promise tail lights (and some interior lights) that are both easy to see without reflectors and use just a fraction of the power of existing systems”.
The goal is to have, at least for complementing LEDs and Lasers –there are still some problems in brightness-, in a timeframe of three years.

Use of organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs) was already shown by Audi in 2012 with the so called “Audi OLED Swarm” claiming that with OLED use it is possible reacting to the approaching driver, following his movements and highlight the main contours of the vehicle or the door handle. When the driver has entered the car, restrained OLED lighting will become active inside.

One of the major  lighting companies, OSRAM, says that OLED offers completely new possibilities in lamp and luminaire design. As panel radiators they are suitable for use as signal light, taillight or even in the car interior lighting. The result: homogeneous light surfaces in all shapes and many colors, durable and energy efficient

Apple iOS in the Car Peeps on the Net, the Automotive War Games are Starting

The Tech Companies interest  in the Car World is well known and, as we saw, we can find Nokia with Here, Qualcomm with Snapdragon Automotive Solutions, BlackBerry with its Automotive QNX solution, Nvidia with its Automotive Solutions and last but not least Google-Android founding the Open Automotive Alliance.

What about Apple? Is not new on this side, and in 2013 June the Cupertino Company during the opening keynote of the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) announced the iOS in the Car (iOSitC).

The development of such solution is made on iOS 7.x as explained by Apple itself claiming that “iOS in the Car seamlessly integrates your iOS device — and the iOS experience — with your in-dash system. If your vehicle is equipped with iOS in the Car, you can connect your iPhone 5 or later and interact with it using the car’s built-in display and controls or Siri Eyes Free. Now you can easily and safely make phone calls, access your music, send and receive messages, get directions, and more. It’s all designed to let iPhone focus on what you need, so you can focus on the road.” with some screenshot for some features as:

• Navigation with Maps.
• Receiving and sending messages
• Traffic conditions and ETA (Enclosed Traffic Area)
• Siri interaction.
• ITunes.

iOSitC car integration as from Apple site

Apart what above and some rumors claiming that the iOSitC is imminent no much more until now was shown, but… yesterday the developer Steven Troughton-Smith (https://twitter.com/stroughtonsmith) added on his twitter account some additional screenshots as below:

Really, it is not so much respect what already present in the Apple site, but could be considered as a confirmation that the project is near to release to the customers. Until now, the Car companies interested to Apple include:

• Acura
• Audi
• Chevrolet
• Chrysler
• Ferrari
• Honda
• Holden
• Hyundai
• Infiniti
• Jaguar
• Kia
• Land Rover
• Mercedes-Benz
• Nissan
• Opel (Vauxhall)
• Volvo
• BMW
• Ford
• Toyota

The bold ones in the list above are quoted that they are planning to include the functionality from 2014 onwards as highlighted by Apple’s senior vice president (SVP) of Internet Software and Services, Eddy Cue, At the 2013 WWDC keynote. Other as BMW initially not interested changed its position because interested in some way in introducing the standard and the the other interested to Apple proposals.

Honda already announced a deeper integration with iOS in the Car “Honda Evolves In-Car Connectivity with New Display Audio Touch-Screen Interface and Next Generation HondaLink™ Technology” highlighting that

• Advanced connected-car technology debuts in 2014 Honda Civic, followed by 2015 Fit
• Display Audio touchscreen brings smartphone-like functionality inside the vehicle
• Next gen HondaLink™ makes integrated navigation more affordable and intuitive with smartphone-powered navigation app
• 2014 Civic with Display Audio first Honda model with factory installed Siri™ Eyes Free mode from Apple

So, after the leaked screenshots shown above and the interest of Car Companies, we could expect in a very near future news from Apple about its iOSitC solution.

Anyway my personal opinion is that the decision by the Car Companies about their preferred solution probably is not yet done, or they think to use different solution among their Car portfolio.
I say this because if you see the companies that joined OAA (Open Automotive Alliance) driven by Google/Android are Audi, GM, Honda, Hyundai, that directly or through some related brands are also interested in iOSitC and also QNX automotive solution see Audi (again), Acura, BMW, Chrysler, Daewoo, GM, Hyundai, Land Rover, Porsche, Saab, Renault Samsung.

My two cents worth that while solution as the one from QNX (or similars) will see a standalone automotive infotainment solution in high end proposals, the one from Apple because requiring in some way iPhone, it will be an add-on cheaper than the first, making the funny situation that the Apple solution will be a sort of low-end feature.

BTW the games in automotive are just at their begin and in the next months we’ll see big things.

IOS in the Car at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference

Light Emitting Diodes? No, Audi now pushes the Laserlight Technology

As announced some days ago, Audi is massively present at CES showing among others stuff its solution for lighting, using laser diodes. This is shown as an evolution respect to the  LED technology very used in Audi.

Audi LED solution

From Audi USA we understand that using dual headlights, Audi combines matrix LED and laser light technologies. Two low-profile trapezoidal elements are visible within the headlights – the outer one generates the low beam light using matrix LEDs and an aperture mask, while the inner element produces laser light for high-beam functionality.

Audi doesn’t explain which kind of laser diodes are used but says that such powerful laser diodes are significantly smaller than LED diodes; they are only a few microns in diameter. Illuminating the road for a distance of nearly 500 meters (1,640 ft), the laser high-beam light has approximately twice the lighting range and three times the luminosity of LED high beam lights.

Even if Audi isn’t the only one automobile manufacturer that is studying such solution (also BMW presented about two months ago something similar), the presentation at CES open the Audi laser solution to a wider audience than what offered by the traditional Car Shows.

So a step beyond LEDs and two respect to Xenon the Laser lights will make a clearest light on the roads.

Audi Laserlight