06-22-2006, 07:12 AM
Lighting Customization In New Vehicles
Automotive Design & Production - June 19, 2006
When Ford debuted the My Color instrument panel system on the 2005 Mustang, doubters lined up saying customers would balk at paying extra for having the ability to switch the color of their gauges. It appears Ford may have been more forward thinking than the doubters as auto makers and suppliers begin to show keen interest, developing all kinds of customization solutions using electroluminescent and light emitting diode solutions for vehicle interiors, Intier Automotive Interiors (http://www.intier.com) is busy working on a number of solutions for OEMs to build brand awareness and accommodate customization via lighting solutions.
A recent survey of vehicle consumers resulted in nearly 93% of respondents saying they would be interested in a variety of lighting solutions to improve the interior appearance of their vehicles, while 50% of those said they were willing to pay as much as $200 for improved ambient lighting solutions. "Some of the specific preferred locations on the vehicle indicated were the door remote handle, IP and dash, the grab handles and console bins and storage areas," says Steve Polakowski, executive director of electronic and electrical engineering at lntier. "The quotes we have seen across the board from virtually every OEM have had a noticeable increase for integrated lighting requests."
The main obstacles remain cost and consumption, according to Polakowski. Since electroluminescent lighting systems require a power converter and use more electricity at an additional cost, automakers are showing some reluctance to incorporating the systems into future vehicles. "OEMs will have to modify their lighting circuits to support electroluminescent systems," Polakowski says. He expects automakers to show increased acceptance for LED lighting solutions, since they are less expensive, consume less energy and have longer lifecycles than electroluminescent or incandescent systems. GM's Saturn brand introduced LED-based ambient lighting as an option on its Vue Red Line SUV.
The system contains a yellow and purple colored LED underneath the seats that illuminates the footwell via a switch on the lower IP, replacing the heated seat switchgear. This solution cost CM a few dollars to implement, but is included as part of the $2,495-premium paid for the Red Line package. Chrysler's Dodge brand recently leapt into the electroluminescent ambient lighting game with lighted cupholders on the new Caliber small car. Other automakers are keen on following Dodge's lead, Powalkowski says, hinting that one automaker intends to use red and blue electroluminescent lights on their heated and cooled cupholder system to signify when the heated or cooled function is operational. "Where we are really seeing a lot of electroluminescent growth is the use for cupholders and pull-handle accent applications," he says.
Designers are also getting into the lighting game as electroluminescent systems are being incorporated into IPs, center consoles, seats and headliners to accentuate design features and develop interior themes. Scion's Fuse concept has taken the idea of using ambient lighting to the extreme as electroluminescent lights are built into the front and rear seat cushions, rear armrests and headliner.
"We're definitely seeing a bigger push to focus on highlighting craftsmanship and some of these technologies allow you to show off design features," Polakowski says. Intier has developed LED and electroluminescent solutions to display design cues on instrument panels, door panels and center consoles, along with the potential to illuminate console mounted gear-shifters and highlight various switchgear. Luxury OEMs are looking to utilize white LEDs for map light and gauge cluster lighting solutions to provide a more upscale cabin ambiance, but look for Asian OEMs to adopt more electroluminescent solutions, while domestic automakers are likely to stick with LED lighting solutions, geared mainly towards higher-priced and youth-oriented segments.-KMK
2006 Automotive Design & Production. via ProQuest Information and Learning Company; All Rights Reserved
Automotive Design & Production - June 19, 2006
When Ford debuted the My Color instrument panel system on the 2005 Mustang, doubters lined up saying customers would balk at paying extra for having the ability to switch the color of their gauges. It appears Ford may have been more forward thinking than the doubters as auto makers and suppliers begin to show keen interest, developing all kinds of customization solutions using electroluminescent and light emitting diode solutions for vehicle interiors, Intier Automotive Interiors (http://www.intier.com) is busy working on a number of solutions for OEMs to build brand awareness and accommodate customization via lighting solutions.
A recent survey of vehicle consumers resulted in nearly 93% of respondents saying they would be interested in a variety of lighting solutions to improve the interior appearance of their vehicles, while 50% of those said they were willing to pay as much as $200 for improved ambient lighting solutions. "Some of the specific preferred locations on the vehicle indicated were the door remote handle, IP and dash, the grab handles and console bins and storage areas," says Steve Polakowski, executive director of electronic and electrical engineering at lntier. "The quotes we have seen across the board from virtually every OEM have had a noticeable increase for integrated lighting requests."
The main obstacles remain cost and consumption, according to Polakowski. Since electroluminescent lighting systems require a power converter and use more electricity at an additional cost, automakers are showing some reluctance to incorporating the systems into future vehicles. "OEMs will have to modify their lighting circuits to support electroluminescent systems," Polakowski says. He expects automakers to show increased acceptance for LED lighting solutions, since they are less expensive, consume less energy and have longer lifecycles than electroluminescent or incandescent systems. GM's Saturn brand introduced LED-based ambient lighting as an option on its Vue Red Line SUV.
The system contains a yellow and purple colored LED underneath the seats that illuminates the footwell via a switch on the lower IP, replacing the heated seat switchgear. This solution cost CM a few dollars to implement, but is included as part of the $2,495-premium paid for the Red Line package. Chrysler's Dodge brand recently leapt into the electroluminescent ambient lighting game with lighted cupholders on the new Caliber small car. Other automakers are keen on following Dodge's lead, Powalkowski says, hinting that one automaker intends to use red and blue electroluminescent lights on their heated and cooled cupholder system to signify when the heated or cooled function is operational. "Where we are really seeing a lot of electroluminescent growth is the use for cupholders and pull-handle accent applications," he says.
Designers are also getting into the lighting game as electroluminescent systems are being incorporated into IPs, center consoles, seats and headliners to accentuate design features and develop interior themes. Scion's Fuse concept has taken the idea of using ambient lighting to the extreme as electroluminescent lights are built into the front and rear seat cushions, rear armrests and headliner.
"We're definitely seeing a bigger push to focus on highlighting craftsmanship and some of these technologies allow you to show off design features," Polakowski says. Intier has developed LED and electroluminescent solutions to display design cues on instrument panels, door panels and center consoles, along with the potential to illuminate console mounted gear-shifters and highlight various switchgear. Luxury OEMs are looking to utilize white LEDs for map light and gauge cluster lighting solutions to provide a more upscale cabin ambiance, but look for Asian OEMs to adopt more electroluminescent solutions, while domestic automakers are likely to stick with LED lighting solutions, geared mainly towards higher-priced and youth-oriented segments.-KMK
2006 Automotive Design & Production. via ProQuest Information and Learning Company; All Rights Reserved