New LED-on-Foil Technology from ams OSRAM Creates Unprecedented Effects in Automotive Lighting

Using ALIYOS technology, car makers will be able to express brand personality through exterior and interior lighting in previously unattainable ways, as well as to introduce completely new three- dimensional lighting and animation effects for displaying dynamic individual messages and information signals to drivers and other road users.

Gerald Broneske, Vice President Global Product Marketing OS Automotive at ams OSRAM, said: ‘With the release of its ALIYOS technology, ams OSRAM is taking another major step towards strengthening its position as one of the most innovative suppliers of lighting technology in the automotive industry. The introduction of advanced LED-on-foil technology marks a new revolution in the way that LEDs are applied in automotive lighting, giving customers exciting new opportunities todifferentiate vehicle brands.’

Transparent, flexible, thin LED lighting

The ALIYOS technology enables ams OSRAM to apply mini-LEDs on a thin, flexible and transparent substrate. Connected by almost invisible metal traces, the mini-LEDs can be arranged with a large degree of freedom to form individually addressable segments of any shape. They can be positioned to perform standard lighting functions such as a stop light or turn indicator, but with unique, custom shapes and animation effects. The mini-LEDs can also be used to display symbols, words, images or abstract patterns for decoration, information, or warning.

Transparency, an outstanding feature of ALIYOS technology, in combination with mini-LEDs, means that light can appear out of nowhere. In addition, multiple foil assemblies can be placed one behind the other to create dramatic new 3D lighting and animation effects.

ams OSRAM is now working with the world’s leading automotive Tier One suppliers and OEMs to explore the new possibilities in automotive interior and exterior lighting. One demonstration design exploits the transparency of the ALIYOS foil substrate to produce new 3D effects in rear lights: a transparent array of three ALIYOS LED foils mounted one behind the other creates a sense of depth.

Tech Image for ALIYOS. Image: ams OSRAM.

Another design shows that ALIYOS LED-on-foil technology can be applied to curved body panels, and is invisible when turned off, creating the effect of ‘Light out of nowhere’.

Thanks to the unique transparency, thinness and flexibility of ALIYOS technology, thousands of other new design possibilities are now open to car manufacturers. Legal requirements, for example UN Regulation No. 148 for the brightness of rear light and stop lights as well as turn indicators, can be met through the application of ALIYOS technology.

Industrialization of the technology has begun. The aim is to enable the first cars to be equipped with ALIYOS technology by the end of 2025, and to have achieved qualification for compliance with automotive quality and safety standards by this time.

Learn more about ALIYOS and find more details about Light-on-foil technology.

Note: ALIYOS is a Trade Mark of ams OSRAM.