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Audi Adds Selectable Light Patterns to OLED Taillights
Audi is now offering an OLED tail-light option on its Q5 luxury SUV that allow motorists a choice of different light patterns, or what Audi calls “signatures.” The feature, which was demonstrated at last years, OLED Summit is not simply cosmetic. It has practical applications; sensors on the rear of a stationary Q5 will detect when an approaching vehicle gets too close, and will set the OLED lights to sudden full brightness. Audi is also considering warning symbols for conditions such as slippery roads or traffic jams. OLEDWorks is supplying the OLEDs. Audi calls the tail-light technology “digital OLED,” Audi’s “digital” denotes a digitally-controlled unit which houses three distinct panels each with six sub-panels. The system exploits the 18 segments to deliver different programmable looks, making use of OLED’s ability to dim and to offer high contrasts of light and dark. “The tail lights turn into a kind of display on the outer shell, which will provide us with ample opportunities and prospects in terms of design, personalization, communication, and safety,” said Audi OLED technology project manager Werner Thomas.
Figure 1: Audi Taillights w/Light Patterns
Audi is now offering an OLED tail-light option on its Q5 luxury SUV that allow motorists a choice of different light patterns, or what Audi calls “signatures.” The feature, which was demonstrated at last years, OLED Summit is not simply cosmetic. It has practical applications; sensors on the rear of a stationary Q5 will detect when an approaching vehicle gets too close, and will set the OLED lights to sudden full brightness. Audi is also considering warning symbols for conditions such as slippery roads or traffic jams. OLEDWorks is supplying the OLEDs. Audi calls the tail-light technology “digital OLED,” Audi’s “digital” denotes a digitally-controlled unit which houses three distinct panels each with six sub-panels. The system exploits the 18 segments to deliver different programmable looks, making use of OLED’s ability to dim and to offer high contrasts of light and dark. “The tail lights turn into a kind of display on the outer shell, which will provide us with ample opportunities and prospects in terms of design, personalization, communication, and safety,” said Audi OLED technology project manager Werner Thomas.
Figure 1: Audi Taillights w/Light Patterns
The OLEDs are 1 mm thick and require no reflectors or optics. Audi said conventional LED solutions require depths of 20‒30 mm. Audi has been offering OLED tail lights on some models since 2016. At one point, Germany’s Osram was providing the OLEDs, but Osram has exited the OLED business. OLEDWorks entered into an agreement with Audi in the spring of 2019 to develop OLED technology.