Osram Presents Innovative SMARTRIX Modules

The new SMARTRIX modules with innovative silicone lenses enable vehicle lighting systems to be extremely small and compact. Matrix light not only enhances road safety but allows headlight designers greater freedom due to their smaller dimensions. This technology is hence gaining widespread acceptance. To meet the demands of the automotive industry for more and more compact smart headlights, Osram has taken this technology a step further with the development of innovative SMARTRIX modules.

The name SMARTRIX was coined from the words “smart” and “matrix”. and will comprise innovative long-life silicone lenses Hans-Joachim Schwabe, CEO Specialty Lighting at Osram explained that Osram has been able to make the SMARTRIX modules even smaller and more durable by using new materials for the lens systems so that the company’s customers have even more freedom in designing their headlights.

Matrix headlights are ideal for use in conditions when the light is poor like at night and during poor weather conditions. They ensure the road is illuminated with a high level of precision and maximum output of light without overcoming oncoming drivers. Many individually controllable LEDs are combined into a matrix (array) with common optics. It is possible to control the individual LEDs “pixel by pixel”, so that motorists can illuminate or mask out specific areas of the road.

Smaller modules mean new headlight designs

In the past few years, standard plastic lenses were used for matrix systems. But these can no longer cope with the requirement to be placed closer and closer to the light source. This prompted Osram to look for a new material for the lenses and led to the development of the SMARTRIX modules. These modules are equipped with lenses made of silicone as silicone appears to be the best alternative to plastic. The silicone lenses when compared to conventional glass lenses offer high resistance to radiation and heat, long life and also cost less than glass lenses. Another advantage they offer is that they can be attached directly to the LEDs, thus making the product a lot smaller. Using silicone lenses gives greater leeway to headlight designers who can now more easily follow the trend for narrow low-profile headlights.

The first-generation SMARTRIX modules from Osram will appear on the roads in the fall of 2017. Osram has already started working on the next generation of the Smartrix modules which will and will comprise innovative long-life silicone lenses and will offer automakers multi-line matrix functionality in one module, thus allowing them to make the headlights even more compact.