Digital vehicle lighting

External lighting on vehicles for ornamental purposes is not entirely a recent phenomenon. As early as the 1950s, certain vehicles featured illuminated translucent glass and plastic panels, Either to provide a look of elegance--especially on limousines and other luxury automobiles. Another early use of external vehicular lighting was emergency vehicle equipment for police cars, ambulances and fire trucks such as the light bar and strobe lights. In the era of muscle cars and hot rods, customized external lighting was sometimes prominent, usually using incandescent light bulbs. While neon lighting was invented very early on, it was not easily adaptable because of the voltage requirements. In the 1990s, the technology to adapt current types and voltage shifting became less expensive, more portable and more reliable, neon lighting came into use in vehicles. It became popular type of lighting for customized cars (especially customized Japanese cars), trucks (especially customized American trucks), and customized semi/tractor-trailers. However, the electrical systems in automobiles run at 12 volts, and because efficient use of energy is key to fuel economy and integral to avoiding electrical system overloads, the use of the light-emitting diode(LED) is ideal.

Use of light-emitting diodes (LED)

Digital vehicle lighting depends on light-emitting diodes. The first practical visible-spectrum LED was developed in 1962 by University of Illinois physicist Nick Holonyak, Jr. They are notably energy efficient, and can produce brilliant light using low voltage direct current. LEDs have modernly been used to produce LED panel televisions and monitors, as well as traffic lights that produce less light pollution. As with many inventions that have useful purposes, LED technology has increasingly shifted to ornamental uses as well. Their application to use in vehicles was a NATURAL extension of this, as automobiles in Western culture are desired in part for their appearance as much as their usefulness as transportation devices.

Digital lighting capabilities

One can, given the right controller apparatus and LED system, dynamically change the color and intensity of the lighting. The most recent innovations also allow for cycling and alternating colors and intensities in patterns. Some controllers can also make the light intensity and coloring responsive to music being played in the vehicle.

See also

  • Automotive lighting
  • Digital vehicle