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Hector Fratty
GTB 108th Session – Tokyo 26-30 October 2009
Despite concerns that travel budget restrictions would hinder the latest GTB meetings hosted by JSAE in Tokyo Japan, more than 40 experts from the GTB global membership participated in the many working group meetings that occupied the complete week.
The meetings opened with a review of the outcome of the recent October 2009 GRE session where GTB had submitted 16 proposals for consideration. Of these 14 were adopted and will be transmitted to WP29 for its March 2010 session. The two remaining proposals will be considered again at the next GRE session following incorporation of contributions from GRE experts.
The General Assembly continued to work upon the reorganisation of the GTB operating structure and the working procedures of the working groups and taskforces. This is being done to improve efficiency and value for the members and to ensure that GTB is in a position to continue to provide a comprehensive expert contribution to the work of GRE and WP29.
The GRE chairman, Marcin Gorzkowski, acknowledged the importance of the contribution of GTB during his report to the 148th WP29 session with his reference to the “advantageous cooperation between GRE and GTB,”
Among the work items discussed in Tokyo were:
– Proposals for new light sources including the standardisation of low wattage Gas Discharge Lamps
– Standardised replaceable LED light sources for signalling applications,
SOUTH KOREA: Mobis inks first BMW tail light supply deal
Hyundai Mobis has won US$90m in supply contracts from BMW. The company said it had been working with BMW buyers and quality control officers since March to close the deals.
Koito Put Headlamps on Diet
Koito say they’re now able to reduce the weight of their production headlamps by 30%. Starting with the new Toyota Crown lamp, Koito engineers have aggressively worked in four directions:
New LED Street Lights
Lighting Science Group have introduced a new range of LED street lights called “PROLIFIC”. The company say they give more effective illumination with lower energy consumption and operating cost over the life of the lamps.
Valeo Optimistic on Q3 Publication
Following the meeting of their Board of Directors today, Valeo presented their results for the 3rd quarter 2009.
• Positive net income of €4m, following 3 consecutive quarters of losses
Koito LED headlamps
Koito were the first to produce LED headlamp with the Lexus LS 600h, and the setmaker are continuing with new LED headlamp launches on the Toyota Prius, Lexus HS250h and Lexus RX450h.
Driving Vision News visited Koito and spent a day with management to better understand their strategy and their results. This week we present the range of LED headlamps and Koito’s targets for the future.
First go: LS600h headlamp launched in May 2007
Low beam
Low beam is produced by 3 projector optical modules, each equipped with a 4-emitter light source array. All three projectors move together for AFS functions. There’s also a reflector with one 4-emitter and one 2-emitter light source array, for a total of 18 emitters and 50w consumption per side of the vehicle.
High beam
High beam is produced by a projector system making 2 functions, visible high beam and IR light for night vision. An IR-pass filter is shifted into the beam path for situations in which visible-light high beam cannot be used, according to the same principles as the cutoff shield shift in a BiXenon or BiHalogen projector.
Second generation: Toyota Prius, Lexus RX450h and HS250h launched May 2009
The Toyota Prius and RX 450h headlamps are presented in the pictures below:
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i-MiEV LED Headlamp from Stanley
At the Tokyo Motor Show, Stanley presented their LED headlamp, just launched in June 2009 with a volume of 200 vehicles per month.
Tokyo : Nissan present the LEAF
Last week at Tokyo motor show, Nissan’s new Leaf was shown for the first time. The car will be built in Japan and in Smyrna, Tennessee, USA and will go on sale in late 2010. Nissan expect to sell about 150,000 Leaf electric cars