LED Brake Tail Lights
Over the past several years, automotive LED lighting applications have grown in popularity. Applications range from LED brake tail lights to various types of aftermarket universal LED tail lights. The trucking industry discovered that LED turn signals and LED brake tail lights are more visible in traffic and can significantly lower maintenance costs. Many large trucks are equipped with rear and side LED indications. Public transportation is currently utilizing an LED brake light with an incorporated strobe function on public busses. When the bus driver applies the brakes, the rear LED brake lights activate a rapid strobe routine. This safety function warns other drivers that the bus has decelerated or stopped. Car manufactures have also begun incorporating LED tail lights into rear tail light fixtures. Various other automotive related industries have discovered the advantages offered by modern LED technology. For example, many towing, hauling, and construction vehicles are being equipped with orange LED strobe lights and other similar custom LED lighting designs.
Universal LED Tail Lights
As the LED industry continues to grow, LED technology will appear more frequently in automotive related applications. Many people do not even realize how often LEDs appear in the automotive world today. One way to identify an LED light is to look for "instantaneous turn on". This common LED characteristic becomes apparent in LED turn signal and in universal LED tail lights. The turn signal or tail light appears to turn on instantaneously, unlike traditional lights bulbs that appear to slowly fade on and fade off. This characteristic becomes very apparent while driving directly behind two vehicles, when one is equipped with LED tail lights or turn signals, and the other is not. Instantaneous-turn-on is especially noticeable in LED turn signal applications. Although the turn signal flash rate remains constant, on and off times increase due to this phenomenon. As a result, the turn signal appears to have a crisp, clean appearance.
LED Automotive Headlights
In the near future, automotive manufacturers will begin to apply LED technology not only in tail lights, but in the headlights as well. By the year 2008, we may begin to see cars equipped with LED automotive headlights. However, aftermarket LED headlights will probably not exist any time soon due to basic compatibility restrictions. The LED headlight will not utilize a traditional reflector, further complicating aftermarket installations. Any form of an aftermarket LED automotive headlights would need to completely replace the original headlight housing. The first LED headlight will operate much differently from a standard automotive headlight. Traditional headlights rely on the interior reflective surface to redirect light produced by the headlamp bulb. The operation of LED headlights is somewhat comparable to a laser. Since LEDs can project light in a very specific direction, the reflective housing is no longer required. However, an external optic lens may help to focus light generated by the LEDs, into a narrower beam. Heat generated by the light emitting diodes will dissipate directly into a large heat sink. The first automotive LED headlights will most likely incorporate LEDs with a fairly high color temperature around 6000 Kelvin. As technology advances, it is likely that other white LED technology will find its way into automotive headlight applications. The LED automotive headlights will offer a lifespan far beyond that of the vehicle itself. Therefore, the LED headlight will require no maintenance, and will feature a permanently sealed housing. Although the necessary technology and resources are available today, the cost to build an automotive LED headlight is simply not feasible for most consumers. This will soon change as the industry grows and cost efficiently increases.
LED Turn Signals
The Chameleon LED tail light will go into production by mid 2007. The all-in-one LED turn signal features triple function circuitry including marker lights, brake lights, and turn signals. Three separate power inputs correspond with each tail light function. The outermost LED light rings provides turn signal capabilities while the innermost LED rings function as marker and brake indicators. The overall layout and functionality is very similar to our existing 2.5-inch LED tail light cluster. However, a series of breakaway rings offers amazing flexibility to complement truly custom applications. Custom car enthusiasts looking to integrate an LED tail light cluster into an existing project can tailor the tail light's outer diameter to complement their specific application. The tail light's outer diameter range starts at 1 inch, extending out to 6 inches. Intermediate size increments of approximately 0.25 inch enable numerous custom diameters ranging between 1 and 6 inches. Available colors include red, yellow, and orange. These colors apply to all functions including marker light, brake light, and turn signals. Lunar Accents Design Corporation is currently accepting customer inquiries for custom LED tail light applications similar to the Chameleon LED tail light scheduled for production in 2007. Engineering fees and minimum order requirements apply.