January 17, 2015 – Having already supplied its first models with Laserlight to customers, BMW is now presenting further laser functions for vehicles of the future at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2015 in Las Vegas. It is unveiling ways in which Laserlight – extensively integrated with assistance systems and vehicle sensors – can be used to implement new intelligent lighting functions for enhanced safety and comfort
The BMW M4 Concept Iconic Lights model features a new interpretation of the typical BMW twin round headlights. On the move, the laser technology can be identified by the fine blue strips inside the lights. Meanwhile, the rear light clusters of the BMW M4 Concept Iconic Lights model are based on OLEDs (organic light-emitting diodes), which produce light from wafer-thin layers of organic material.
A special optical system converts the “coherent” monochromatic blue laser light into a bright white light, similar to natural daylight and pleasant to the eye. Despite consuming 30 percent less energy, the parallel light beam is ten times more intense than that produced by halogen, xenon or LED light sources. BMW Laserlight also has a beam range of up to 600 metres, over twice that of conventional headlights, increasing safety in the dark. The camera-based BMW Selective Beam system prevents oncoming or preceding vehicles being dazzled.
Integration with the navigation system allows the proactive Adaptive Headlight control system to illuminate corners even before the steering wheel is turned. With the Night Vision system’s Dynamic Light Spot function, people and animals can be detected from a distance of up to 100 metres in pitch-dark conditions by infrared camera, and “spotlighted” by the laser-based Dynamic Light Spot.
Organic light-emitting diodes – OLEDs – are innovative, efficient, sustainable light sources that form the basis for the BMW Organic Light system. OLEDs have low power consumption which further reduce vehicle emissions. Another sustainable feature of this technology is that no expensive rare earth metals are required in the production process. Unlike ordinary LEDs, OLEDs produce light uniformly over their entire surface.
In the past, rigorous legal requirements regulating the brightness of vehicle lighting have limited the number of lighting functions that were possible to implement with OLED technology. On the BMW M4 Concept Iconic Lights model, BMW Organic Light is used in the tail lights and rear direction indicators, making it possible to create different rear lighting effects in different driving modes.
The BMW M4 Concept Iconic Lights model presents a new interpretation of the twin circular headlight theme. The headlights feature laser technology which is attractively highlighted by fine blue LED strips when the vehicle is on the move. Thanks to the new laser technology it was also possible to give the headlights a flat and sharply sculpted design.
BMW first presented a rear light cluster with OLED elements on the BMW Vision Future Luxury concept model, which made its world debut in Beijing in April 2014. BMW M4 Concept Iconic Lights displays its own version of this design. Its M-style OLED rear light cluster marks a new evolution of the BMW L-shaped lighting design which, making it possible to create a new, more three-dimensional and at the same time very sharply defined appearance.