Summary of Nichia and Infineon Micro-LED Matrix Solution for Adaptive Driving Beams
Nichia and Infineon are collaborating to develop a high-definition (HD) light engine featuring over 16,000 micro-LEDs for automotive front lighting. This technology offers 180 times the resolution of current solutions, enabling precise hazard warnings, road markings, and glare-free beams. By using individual micro-LED control and driver ICs, the system improves energy efficiency by illuminating only necessary areas and simplifies production through digital adaptation for different drive configurations.
Parts used in the HD Light Engine:
- Micro-LEDs
- Driver IC
Automotive lighting as an important safety and popular design feature in vehicles has evolved rapidly in the past years. Now, Nichia Corporation and Infineon Technologies AG (FSE: IFX / OTCQX: IFNNY) start a collaboration to add further momentum to this evolution. Together, they are developing a high-definition (HD) light engine with more than 16,000 micro-LEDs for front light applications. Unlike current HD solutions, the new device will provide high resolution light to the entire field of view of the driver.
Our new LED matrix light will offer a resolution about 180 times as high as that of comparable solutions on the road today,” said Kanji Bando, Head of the Advanced R&D Center at Nichia. “This will pave the way for new and improved safety features and enhance driving comfort.
For example, HD light can be used to warn the driver of hazards by highlighting people or objects on the roadside. It can project markings on the road – for example, in order to help the driver navigate through a construction site. And established features such as the glare-free high beam or bending lights run more precisely and smoothly.
The new HD light engine will employ micro-LED technology from Nichia and a new driver IC from Infineon.
Our chip will control and diagnose all 16,000 micro-LEDs individually,” said Andreas Doll, Vice President and General Manager of the Body Power Business Unit of Infineon’s Automotive Division. “In addition to the safety benefits, our new solution will also significantly increase energy efficiency because it allows us to turn on only those LEDs actually needed for a light pattern.
Current micro-mirrors solutions turn on all LEDs and deflect surplus light.
The new HD light can also contribute to reducing design and production complexity for car manufacturers. At the same time it increases the driver’s ease-of-use. Left-hand and right-hand drive configurations have different lighting requirements, for example. With the new HD light engine, the necessary adaptions could be programmed digitally in the factory or activated by the driver as a function on demand.
- How many micro-LEDs does the new HD light engine contain?
The device includes more than 16,000 micro-LEDs. - What is the resolution increase compared to current solutions?
The new LED matrix light offers a resolution about 180 times higher than comparable solutions on the road today. - Can this technology warn drivers of roadside hazards?
Yes, HD light can highlight people or objects on the roadside to warn the driver. - How does this solution improve energy efficiency?
It increases efficiency by allowing the system to turn on only those LEDs actually needed for a specific light pattern. - Does the new engine help with left-hand and right-hand drive configurations?
Yes, necessary adaptations can be programmed digitally in the factory or activated by the driver as a function on demand. - Who are the companies collaborating on this project?
Nichia Corporation and Infineon Technologies AG are developing the high-definition light engine together. - What role does the Infineon chip play in the system?
The chip controls and diagnoses all 16,000 micro-LEDs individually. - How does this differ from current micro-mirror solutions?
Current micro-mirror solutions turn on all LEDs and deflect surplus light, whereas the new engine only activates needed LEDs.
