At electronica 2016 Inova Semiconductors launched the innovative ISELED technology, a groundbreaking approach for interior automotive lighting. At the same time the ISELED Alliance was announced. The alliance aims to coordinate between its members and build an ecosystem for the ISELED technology whose core is a “digital” RGB-LED, with a tiny controller inside the LED package. This innovative approach reduces costs, simplifies control, and expands the functionality of LED lighting in the automobile significantly.

(Image: ISELED)

Through the cooperation between semiconductor suppliers, LED producers, Tier 1 and Tier 2 firms, the initial ISELED products have been launched. Inova Semiconductors and other alliance members including Magna/OLSA, Melexis, Osram Opto Semiconductors and Microchip Technology have updated the progress of the technology and presented their new solutions to further enhance the ISELED ecosystem at electronica 2018.

Two years after the presentation of the concept idea and the ISELED Alliance the digital LEDs originally produced by Dominant Opto are now also available from Osram Opto Semiconductors - both meeting all performance targets. A constantly growing ecosystem opens new applications far beyond interior lighting on the horizon. New target applications include dome lights, intelligent sensors or actuators. First silicon will be available in 1st quarter 2019 - downward compatible with today's products.

As developments continue toward autonomous driving light will become an integral part of the passenger cell, taking on functional and design-specific tasks. Previously static light, will be replaced by dynamic solutions with countless design options for car manufacturer. To address these needs Osram has integrated the ISELED controller chip from Inova Semiconductors together with 3 (RGB) LEDs in their new Osire E4633i product.

(Osire E4633i ; Image: Osram/ISELED)

Intelligent direct backlight is another new trend for automotive display. It offers advantages in efficiency and appearance compared to edge solutions. The innovative ISELED technology combined with high performance display control will enable dynamic backlight applications. The display content can be sent over the APIX (Automotive Pixel Link) communication link to enable local real-time calculation of dynamic backlighting from the video stream. The control of adjacent (functional) LED strips can be handled over the same communication link. At a result the fusion of display and lighting control can be implemented in one head unit and one communication link.

(ImageL ISELED)

The ISELED ecosystem meanwhile is very complete and continuously growing inclusive communication down to single LED. Combining smart LEDs and optics know-how allows having resource-optimized system solutions. Magna/OLSA created the term “democratization of digital light” for high performance and cost-efficient solutions with reduced resources. ISELED support this approach, as it can be integrated into optical designs like building blocks and there is no need to care about LED calibration to design light scenarios. Magna/OLSA has built two prototypes to demonstrate adequate performance with reduced resources. A realized sensor node based on eight LEDs with “democratization” optics provides gesture detection and manages three different light status (ambient, critical and not critical).