LED headlamps: the spiny path to a legal headlamp

Since two decades, LEDs are used as light sources in the automobile industry. However, up to now, their usage was restricted to low lumen applications like dashboard lighting and exterior signal lighting. With the advent of very high brightness LEDs, now the time is ready to tackle also the most demanding application, the front forward lighting. Schefenacker actively works on the realisation of an LED headlamp. From this research work, several optical concepts for the realization of LED front forward lighting and their impact on the light source and on the lighting performance are presented. The advantages and challenges coming with the realisation of an LED headlamp are discussed. An outlook on future developments of LED forward lighting is given, e.g. possibilities with AFS or car to car communication. A short discussion of the legal situation with LED headlamps is added, including an outlook of the expected dates for legalization.