Audi 2009 Annual Report Download - page 32

“
Trademark: LED
headlights underscore
the character of the
new A8.
An intelligent, active exterior lighting system plays an
An intelligent, active exterior lighting system plays an
important part in the prevention of accidents which
occur at dusk and after dark.”
Dr. Wolfgang Huhn, Head of Light and Visibility at AUDI AG
Photos: AUDI AG
LEDs help to increase visibility to oth-
er drivers. LED brake lights facilitate
a faster response. “Here, too, we are
talking about the seemingly insignifi-
cant difference of a few fractions of a
second. But at high speeds, that can
mean a difference of several meters
in stopping distance,” adds Huhn.
Their small size also makes LEDs par-
ticularly well suited for use in adap-
tive front lighting systems such as
the dynamic headlight range adjust-
ment or cornering lights because they
also enable complex lighting func-
tions in the tightest of spaces.
The Audi brand taps into the poten-
tial of the new, increasingly powerful
LEDs to turn its vision of intelligent
light into reality. Currently in devel-
opment is the “MatrixBeam” virtually
no-glare high beam, whose cone of
light is produced by a multiplicity of
LEDs. When the system’s onboard
camera detects an oncoming auto-
mobile, those modules that could
blind the driver of the other car are
dimmed automatically.
André Georgi also appreciates the
new freedoms when developing a dis-
tinctive lighting design. “Just like
every person’s eyes are unique, so too
are the headlights an unmistakable
characteristic feature of a car,” says
the Audi designer. “A glance in the
mirror at night should be enough to
tell you: That’s an Audi coming!”
The special color of the light mod-
eled on the spectrum of the sun and
the shape of the daytime running
lights, which emphasize the contours
of the headlights with individual
light-emitting diodes – just as eye-
liner does for the human eye – make
an unforgettable impression.
“And each Audi model features the
lighting design that best suits it,”
adds Georgi. The daytime running
lights of the R8, for instance, were
inspired by the horns of a bull as a
symbol of the dominant character of
the model. The LED strips of the A3
model series, on the other hand, sym-
bolize determination and elegance.
LEDs also set accents and ensure an
outstanding lighting environment at
the driver’s “workstation.” “When en-
tering the vehicle, you are first wel-
comed by warm, bright light from the
interior of the vehicle,” says Stephan
Berlitz, Head of Innovations/Lighting
Electronics at Audi, when asked to ex-
plain the optionally available interior
lighting concept of the new A8. The
color and distribution of the light can
be adjusted to taste using the vehi-
cle’s multimedia interface.
“In the end, our job is hardly differ-
ent from that of a lighting planner
in architecture. Everything revolves
around the person, whose needs for
functional and at the same time ap-
pealing and stimulating light must
be met,” adds Berlitz. With the LED,
architects and carmakers are now
banking on the same technology as
the light source of the future. It’s no
wonder, since no other form of light-
ing appeals equally to the head and
the emotions, and makes something
so practical seem so sensually luxu-
rious.
29
LIGHTING THE WAY
How Audi sets standards with LED
technology – a glance at the lighting
laboratory:
www.audi.com/ar2009/ledwww.audi.com/ar2009/led