The new Ostar Headlamp LED from Osram Opto Semiconductors has a number of features that improve the accuracy of the light pattern. They emit clearly defined light with high efficiency without the need for further external shutters. The LED can be equipped with between one and five chips. Instead of the usual silicone encapsulation, a glass cover bonded to the frame protects the chips, and also prevents scatter losses.

A high-precision shutter integrated in the glass provides a clearly defined beam pattern on the road without losing light, as was the case previously with mechanical shutters. Compared with conventional solutions the mounting depth is also significantly reduced. And the glass cover itself makes the LED more robust. With a color temperature of 6000 K, the light color is very close to that of natural daylight. This makes driving safer because drivers do not get tired so quickly. What’s more, oncoming drivers are not dazzled because headlight manufacturers can design the bright/dark transition areas with great precision. Different lighting scenarios can be created, such as high beam, low beam and cornering beam, by combining different chip configurations on which lenses can be mounted.

Depending on the number of chips arranged in series the OSTAR Headlamp LED produces between 125 lm at 700 mA and 1000 lm at 1 A. With a power rating of 12 W, as in the previous version, the enhanced brightness results from improvements in the chips themselves, as well as in the converter and the package. Thermal resistance for the five-chip version is around 3 K/W.

Peter Knittl, Head of Automotive Marketing LED at OSRAM Opto Semiconductors, said development work is continuing of course, they expect there to be a continual reduction in thermal resistance to a much lower level than at present. Knittl is also convinced that over the next few years there will be further drastic increases in brightness.