BMW to introduce laser headlights

Wretched · 08-09-2011, 08:01 AM

Quote:

BMW develops laser light for the car.

Following the introduction of the full LED headlight, laser light is the next logical step in the development of vehicle headlight technology. BMW is planning this step, thus further expanding its lead in innovative light technology.

Munich. As a globally successful carmaker within the premium segment, the BMW Group attaches the utmost importance to advanced technology in all sectors of automotive manufacturing. Exclusive innovations and technological leaps secure BMW's lead amongst the competition. In the field of exterior vehicle lights, BMW also leads the way for example with full LED headlamps for the BMW 6 Series and with new developments such as the "Anti-dazzle High- Beam Assistant", as well as with "Dynamic Light Spot". The term "Dynamic Light Spot" stands for a marker light system that automatically illuminates pedestrians in good time, thereby guiding the driver's attention.

After LED technology, laser light is the next logical step in car light development. BMW engineers are currently already working on the introduction of laser light as a further pioneering technology for series production within a few years. Laser light could then facilitate entirely new light functions for even more safety and comfort and at the same time contribute significantly through its higher degree of efficiency towards a saving in energy and fuel respectively.

Laser light produces virtually parallel light beams.

By definition, laser lighting is radically different from sunlight, and also from the various types of artificial lighting in common use today. For a start, laser lighting is monochromatic, which means that the light waves all have the same length. And it is also what is known as a "coherent" light source, which means that its waves have a constant phase difference. As a result, laser lighting can produce a near-parallel beam with an intensity a thousand times greater than that of conventional LEDs. In vehicle headlights, these characteristics can be used to implement entirely new functions. Also, the high inherent efficiency of laser lighting means that laser headlights have less than half the energy consumption of LED headlights. Simply put, laser headlights save fuel.

The intensity of laser light poses no possible risks to humans, animals or wildlife when used in car lighting. Amongst other things, this is because the light is not emitted directly, but is first converted into a form that is suitable for use in road traffic. The resulting light is very bright and white. It is also very pleasant to the eye and has a very low energy consumption.

Laser diodes are already in use today in the consumer sector.

Completely safe laser lighting technology is already in use in a variety of consumer products, though in many cases this is a product feature that goes unnoticed by the customer. That won't be the case when this technology is used in cars, however, as planned by BMW. Here the whole point is that the advantages should be noticeable and visible. A further feature of laser technology, which has important implications, is the size of the individual diodes. With a length of just ten microns (µm), laser diodes are one hundred times smaller even than the small, square-shaped cells used in conventional LED lighting, which have a side length of one millimetre. This opens up all sorts of new possibilities when integrating the light source into the vehicle. The BMW engineers have no plans to radically reduce the size of the headlights however, although that would be theoretically possible. Instead, the thinking is that the headlights would retain their conventional surface area dimensions and so continue to play an important role in the styling of a BMW, while the size advantages could be used to reduce the depth of the headlight unit, and so open up new possibilities for headlight positioning and body styling.

A further advantage of laser lighting technology, and one which the BMW engineers intend to use to full effect, is its high inherent efficiency. A single statistic will make this clear: whereas LED lighting generates only around 100 lumens (a photometric unit of light output) per watt, laser lighting generates approximately 170 lumens. With statistics like this, it is not surprising that BMW is also planning to take advantage of laser lighting technology to increase the efficiency of the overall vehicle. And appropriately enough it is in a concept vehicle from the new BMW i sub-brand, the BMW i8 Concept, that laser lighting will get its first airing. After all, BMW i stands for a new premium concept that is strongly oriented towards sustainability.

Laser lighting: high efficiency and safety.

Safety is a key consideration in the development of laser lighting for use in passenger cars. For BMW, the complete eye safety of this technology for all road users and its complete reliability in day-to-day use have top priority. Importantly, therefore, before the light from the tiny laser diodes is emitted onto the road, the originally bluish laser light beam is first of all converted by means of a fluorescent phosphor material inside the headlight into a pure white light which is very bright and pleasant to the eye. As a result, in future it will be possible to use laser light to implement all the familiar – including more recent – BMW lighting functions such as Adaptive Headlights, the "Dynamic Light Spot" spotlighting system and the "Anti-Dazzle High-Beam Assist". It will also be possible to use BMW laser lighting to implement completely new functions, which will have only minimal power consumption.

http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/06/b...lly-over-leds/

jcxr · 08-09-2011, 09:38 AM

Isnt it illegal to import Lasers? How would you go importing a replacement headlight? Far to many hoops to jump through.

SteveJH · 08-09-2011, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jcxr

Isnt it illegal to import Lasers? How would you go importing a replacement headlight? Far to many hoops to jump through.

Its not a focused beam.

And it isnt illegal to import lasers, they are used in Industry for cutting steel etc quite a lot I believe.

bobthebilda · 08-09-2011, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jcxr

Isnt it illegal to import Lasers? How would you go importing a replacement headlight? Far to many hoops to jump through.

Just doing a quick count around the house, two computers, 3 dvd players, 1 play station, 1 wii, 1 stereo. The majority of them come with a little sticker attached, saying dont look directly into the laser. Anything that reads a disc, will most likely have a laser.

Franco Cozzo · 08-09-2011, 11:08 AM

They haven't even started using halogen projectors and HID projectors all across the board in most manufactors cars yet. Maybe in 50 years time we'll see these in the top of the range Falcon as a $3000 option.....

Jim Goose · 08-09-2011, 11:49 AM

Still waiting for my sharks with lazer beams...

Streets · 08-09-2011, 11:52 AM

I can already picture every jagoff with a standard Commodore/Falcon XT bunging an aftermarket set of these into their headlights and then failing to adjust them properly to point down at the road instead of into other peoples' eyes

Already happens with HID/halogens

|Nate · 08-09-2011, 03:26 PM

Yes, I could imagine badly aligned laser headlights....

-Driving along, minding my own business.
-Car with after-market laser headlights comes around the corner
-Lasered in the eye
"I'M BLIND, WHAT'S HAPPENING ?!?!?!"
-Crash into the closest tree.

Falc'man · 08-09-2011, 04:52 PM

Meh. Ford had Laser headlights in '81.

Franco Cozzo · 08-09-2011, 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Streets

I can already picture every jagoff with a standard Commodore/Falcon XT bunging an aftermarket set of these into their headlights and then failing to adjust them properly to point down at the road instead of into other peoples' eyes

Already happens with HID/halogens

Wouldn't be bad with HIDs as long as people did them properly, getting properly designed reflectors for HIDs or retrofitting HID projectors, rather than getting a cheap-*** plug and play HID kit, putting them in reflectors designed for halogen lights and blinding everyone on the road with their glary-*** pieces of crap.

**DJM83** · 08-09-2011, 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by |Nate

Yes, I could imagine badly aligned laser headlights....

-Driving along, minding my own business.
-Car with after-market laser headlights comes around the corner
-Lasered in the eye
"I'M BLIND, WHAT'S HAPPENING ?!?!?!"
-Crash into the closest tree.

I doubt they would be like your average laser.

fordfreak1 · 08-09-2011, 07:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Falc'man

Meh. Ford had Laser headlights in '81.

how so?

obviously they are not going to have lasers as the actual headlight, there will be some sort of filter, projection bulb etc etc in front of this. how stupid do you think they are to use the actual raw laser beam.

plus i dont see this happening for a loooooooong time yet. car makers all play with stupid ideas for their concepts.

just wait until leds become standard first.

Franco Cozzo · 08-09-2011, 08:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Falc'man

Meh. Ford had Laser headlights in '81.

HOOLEY DOOLEY! Ye olde' sarcasm detector is off the chain.

I'm thinking quick pun at the introduction of the "Ford Laser" model, having headlights, hence laser headlights

drew`SEVNT5 · 08-09-2011, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big Damo

They haven't even started using halogen projectors and HID projectors all across the board in most manufactors cars yet. Maybe in 50 years time we'll see these in the top of the range Falcon as a $3000 option.....

Falcon in 50 years time? You are optimistic!

fordfreak1 · 08-09-2011, 09:39 PM

wow we are all comedians now

atec77 · 08-09-2011, 10:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fordfreak1

how so?

obviously they are not going to have lasers as the actual headlight, there will be some sort of filter, projection bulb etc etc in front of this. how stupid do you think they are to use the actual raw laser beam.

plus i dont see this happening for a loooooooong time yet. car makers all play with stupid ideas for their concepts.

just wait until leds become standard first.

Er
whoosh

THE CADBURY KID · 08-09-2011, 10:42 PM

Cant wait to get blinded by a set of beemer lazers,bad enough with every fool having hids that arent adjusted correctly

A lady i know paid around 150 grand for a beemer and it locked itself with her kid in the car,windows arent cheap either.bit off topic but still...

cowboy · 09-09-2011, 06:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Falc'man

Meh. Ford had Laser headlights in '81.

ha ha, gold!

Wretched · 09-09-2011, 07:13 AM

*sigh* ignorance.

sudszy · 09-09-2011, 07:40 AM

Wow, another product guaranteed to save fuel, how much? Is it just a line to pitch to gullible environmentally concerned folks?

Sure if its great light they provide and make motoring safer, push that, but the fuel savings....

If replacing normal h4 halogens and use them for an hour a day every day, a massive 3 liters worth of petrol a year. Compared to led headlights potential savings ~1 litre a year(going on the rubbery figures supplied).

**DJM83** · 09-09-2011, 09:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sudszy

Wow, another product guaranteed to save fuel, how much? Is it just a line to pitch to gullible environmentally concerned folks?

Sure if its great light they provide and make motoring safer, push that, but the fuel savings....

If replacing normal h4 halogens and use them for an hour a day every day, a massive 3 liters worth of petrol a year. Compared to led headlights potential savings ~1 litre a year(going on the rubbery figures supplied).

Yeah I'm sure the moot point is to save fuel

:

2011G6E · 09-09-2011, 09:29 AM

Hmm..."the next logical step"...?

Honestly...just how far ahead do you need to see? Really. The other interesting thing when fitting much brighter lights is what i call the "low beam travel distance on the highway".
Guys I know out here have fitted HID spotties and high beam headlight kits. Yes, they illuminate waaaaaay up the road in front of you...to be honest, probably much further than you really need to see.
The trick is, when a car approaches in the distance, you have to drop your headlights to low beam much earlier than you would have with "normal" high beams or spotlights. A car will approach with bright annoying lights, and you'll flash your headlights at him to drop them. Then it seems to be simply ages before you actually meet the car.
All that time you've both been driving along on low beam, so any benefit of the enormously powerful high beams you've fitted are, basically, useless if there is any other traffic.

dave351cid · 09-09-2011, 07:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Falc'man

Meh. Ford had Laser headlights in '81.

well done mate, got some thinking

THE CADBURY KID · 09-09-2011, 07:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dave351cid

well done mate, got some thinking

Read my mind after reading the title,i thought why the frig would they want laser headlights haha im right onto it.
i heard the shark with laser eyes but id rather a dog that shoots bees from its mouth,much more doable

Falcman0o7 · 10-09-2011, 02:28 PM

Awesome! I will be cutting commodores in half when i fit aftermarket laser headlights to my falcon!

XRGhia · 10-09-2011, 02:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Falc'man

Meh. Ford had Laser headlights in '81.

I wonder how long it will take for other's to figure that one out....!

Phyber · 10-09-2011, 09:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Falcman0o7

Awesome! I will be cutting commodores in half when i fit aftermarket laser headlights to my falcon!

LOL

Also loved the Laser headlights joke