LEDs are beginning to make inroads into the car and truck headlight markets as well as daytime running lights, tail lights and flasher signals, according to Continental.
The company develops control electronics systems to help integrate LEDs into existing products and claims its new light control unit is paving the way to better vision and improved safety in the automotive sector.
Continental's light control device centrally governs all light functions in a vehicle, offering special lights for driving on motorways and country roads, a smooth transition from low beams to high and enhanced vision at intersections.
"The advantages that light emitting diodes have over conventional headlights are in the area of service life," commented Dr. Tran Quoc Khanh, head of lighting engineering at the Technical University of Darmstadt.
"Whereas halogen bulbs have a life expectancy of about 1,000 hours and xenon-filled bulbs around 2,000 hours, LEDs are good for up to 10,000 hours."
Continental last year launched its advanced lighting lab to develop systems for customers who wish to incorporate LEDs into existing applications.