Audi Develops New Digital OLED Technology for Customizable Rear Lights

Audi has made a highly significant advance in the field of automotive lighting. The company is set to showcase the next generation of OLED lighting technology at the 13th International Symposium on Automotive Lighting (ISAL 2019). Audi has developed new digital OLED technology that facilitates customizable lighting designs and allows motorists to communicate with other vehicles and infrastructure using exterior lighting. The event is scheduled to begin on September 23, 2019 in Darmstadt, Germany.

At the symposium, which is billed as the biggest and most important conference for automotive lighting technology, guest speakers from Audi will present digital OLED technology and the latest advances they have made in lighting.

Audi commenced series production of its OLED (organic light emitting diode) technology in 2016 for the rear lights of the Audi TT RS. LEDs made of semiconductor crystals are point light sources while OLEDs are flat light sources. OLED lighting technology offers a new level of homogeneity, and dimming is continuously variable. These lights offer the advantages of not casting any shadows, and eliminate the need for any reflectors, light guides or similar optical components. Hence, the OLED units are very efficient and lightweight. Another advantage OLEDs offer is the scope they offer for dividing them into small segments that can be energized to different levels of brightness, thus giving leeway for customization. OLED lights can also produce animation effects in Audi models, like for scenarios when leaving home and coming home and leaving home scenarios.

ISAL will be used as a platform for unveiling the next development stage called digital OLED technology. Previous Audi models have featured up to four freely designed complex light segments that made up a a specific design. The new technology of digital OLED, now makes customizable lighting design a feasible option for the rear lights.

This can be achieved by dividing the OLED light sources into a larger number of individually energized segments, which can be over 50. These segments can be activated as needed and with the option to adjust their brightness continuously.

Audi designers and developers can thus use these segments which have the same hardware to produce a wide variety of lighting designs. The technology’s benefits include perfect contrast, high homogeneity and minimal spacing between segments. The system efficiency is high with a flat light inside a lighting element having a thickness of just one millimeter (0.04 in). Digital OLED thus serves as the perfect vehicle for customizable lighting design.

In addition to facilitating a wide range of lighting designs, digital OLED can serve as a display element in the rear lights for car-to-x communication. Predefined symbols can be displayed to inform other road users about local hazards like black ice or impending traffic jams.