"In its in-car lighting solution, a tiny controller is built into the LED package along with the red, green, and blue (RGB) LED and uses a daisy-chain. This makes it theoretically possible to create an LED strip containing 4,096 LEDs," said Frost & Sullivan Industry Analyst Kamalesh Mohanarangam. "Inova expects that a string of up to 30 LEDs will meet customers' requirements, but the next generation of ambient lighting systems will have RGB LEDs, and the same LEDs will be used to produce different colors."

Inova's APIX3 (Image: Inova Semiconductor)

The smart LED driver from Inova boasts sophisticated calibration features that ensure that every LED will render the same color and brightness over the full temperature range. Additionally, a bidirectional communication system allows the OEMs to address each LED separately and analyze the diagnostic data of individual LEDs.

By partnering with other value chain participants, Inova has managed to leverage the strengths of these individual partners. For instance, for creating a new-age, in-vehicle LED lighting system:

• Inova provides the chips

• NXP delivers the microcontroller and software for the ambient lighting solution

• Dominant Opto Technologies builds RGB LEDs with Inova's controllers

• TE Connectivity acts as the system integrator

• LucieLabs, an Internet of Things start-up from France, provides the application software that will allow users to create unique lighting effects for the car simply over a smartphone

"Going forward, the luxury segment cars are expected to feature up to 300 LEDs in ambient lighting and the system must be equipped with diagnostic functionalities to ensure compliance with safety requirements," noted Kamalesh Mohanarangam. "Also, the three RGB LEDs of the module will form a 'pixel,' which, at 24-bit resolution, can be set to more than 16 million colors. With Inova's high-speed communication protocol, the lighting effect can be processed in true video speed, thus creating a new level of lighting displays in cars."

Each year, Frost & Sullivan presents this award to the company that has demonstrated excellence in implementing strategies that proactively create value for its customers with a focus on improving the return on the investment that customers make in its services or products. The award recognizes the company's inordinate focus on augmenting the value that its customers receive, beyond simply good customer service, leading to improved customer retention and ultimately customer base expansion.

Frost & Sullivan Best Practices awards recognize companies in a variety of regional and global markets for demonstrating outstanding achievement and superior performance in areas such as leadership, technological innovation, customer service and strategic product development. Industry analysts compare market participants and measure performance through in-depth interviews, analysis and extensive secondary research to identify best practices in the industry.