At the DVN Tokyo workshop, Salomon Berner, DVN, chairman of Round table 2 about materials and components, gathered around him representatives from material and components suppliers, light source suppliers, Tier 1 suppliers and car makers. The Panelists were Jens Fisher from Docter Optics, and Takahiro Ohata & Kazuki Shimizu from Sabic Innovative plastics.
Here is an extract from discussions held at this round Panelists:
Docter Optics is the international market leader in the production of projection lenses for automotive headlights. Docter Optics has earned an industry-wide reputation for pioneering the development of unique processes for the production of optical components. The core competency of Docter Optics lies in the production of such components in large volumes with exceptional precision and economy.
Sabic Innovative Plastics is a well known supplier of innovative PC components for lenses, lamp reflectors, housings and bezels with best in class reputation and records. The Sabic family of amorphous thermoplastic polyetherimide (PEI) resins offers outstanding elevated thermal resistance, high strength and stiffness, and broad chemical resistance.
Considering the future of LED head and tail lamps, the set manufacturers present at the round table were first asked their opinion about the comparative pros and cons of glass and plastic lenses. The conclusion of the discussion which followed was that if plastic lenses are favored for their light weight and lower prices, glass lenses offer higher chromatic behavior and stability. The choice can only be made case by case, depending the application and car segment considered.
Participants then questioned the extended life-time guaranty often claimed by LED set suppliers. If the life time of the light source itself can theoretically extend up to the vehicle life time, there are plenty of negative feedbacks concerning the reliability of LED systems. Only to name a few: interface soldering, digital drivers, cover glass erosion, mechanical components. Each of these failures need long term cooperation work between specialty material suppliers, light source suppliers, ECU suppliers and set makers if the extended guaranty is to be really met.
Who is going to take responsibility for getting the job done? Let’s bet that that car makers will finally require set manufacturers to address the problem and that only durable long term cooperation between all players can bring satisfactory answers to such a huge challenge.
