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The designLED patent portfolio supports a wide range of optical device applications for ambient and functional lighting, display back-lighting and human-machine interfaces.
Our technology is
uniquely suited to the automotive market, offering extreme space-efficiency,
improved power performance and lower cost.
Our technology platform is all about manipulating light using our unique optical systems.
We create very thin and dynamically illuminated surfaces with high levels of homogeneity for backlighting or custom applications.
We deliver
OLED-like appearance, with the reliability of standard LEDs, and with none of
the limitations, such as high cost and complexity.
Our LEDs are embedded inside thin and mechanically
flexible, transparent materials, and use optical features on the surface or
inside to manipulate the angular or special distribution of light to achieve
high homogeneity and colour performance.
We have an extensive background in developing award-winning light-guide device structures for high luminance use cases within a very thin, optically efficient system.
This supports performance exterior lighting use cases, such as rear lighting, tailgates, and front grille, but also the next-generation requirements of LCD BLUs, such as spatial/colour dimming and curved profiles.
These features are developed by the precise design and engineering of the optics, thermal management and LED and material selection.
One of the key features of the technology is that it is completely material agnostic meaning that solutions can be tailored to specific use case requirements.
The technology enables illuminated smart surfaces; combining dynamic RGB illumination with decorative surface materials and sensors to enhance user interaction and engagement.
The platform also supports integration with complementary technologies like HMI, haptic, OLED and LCD displays which can meet
the needs of the future automotive cockpit and cabin.
The team is currently working on projects with global customers to develop the next generation of smart surfaces combining our light guide technology with:
With the capability to integrate uniformly lit capacitive switches and other sensors within the light guide structure, our vision is to help realise interactive smart surfaces that can leverage the Internet of Things (IOT) to enhance the driver and passenger experience:
Smart surfaces utilise sensors and smart LEDs to communicate useful information to drivers and passengers, whether that’s dynamic lighting to warn of a cyclist near a passenger door or visually indicating cabin temperature to make a journey more comfortable.
All smart surfaces and sensors are interfaced with
the on-board vehicle intelligence to monitor and determine the timing and
ability of this ecosystem to react, according to automotive industry safety
standards.
Our light guides become an important part of the
vehicle ecosystem, to ensure they function efficiently (and safely) the LEDs
need to know when and how to react it is safe to react.
We frequently work with industry partners to ensure
our technology is compatible with the latest automotive LED driving technology
and the latest smart LED technology.
In fact we’re very proud to be helping drive
adoption of industry standards for automotive lighting through our role within
the ISELED Alliance.
Future-focussed and anticipating upcoming industry needs, our innovation team are pushing boundaries to overcome technical challenges and meet the needs of the market.
Our innovation roadmap addresses opportunities
in advanced performance and manufacturability and we have a long-established
history of leading UK projects funded by Innovate
UK and Scottish
Enterprise, and participation in European collaborative projects.