Adapted from the paper Windshield holographic film HUDs transform EV cost, safety and delight! written and presented at VDI 2024 by Jonathan Waldern

The Future of Automotive Displays: AR and Panoramic HUDs

For decades, automotive consoles designs have remained similar, with gauges and dials to show information or control critical functions. Having to look down and away from the windshield draws the eye and attention away from the road; situations on the road can change in a split second, so the less “head down…

With the recent unveiling of Facebook becoming Meta, advances in AR/VR technology seem to be on the horizon. As Meta takes the fore in the development of AR/VR technology, and other tech giants not far behind, we can expect the way we view content—not only the amount but the way that information is shown to us—will change forever.

For one thing, immersion will be the name of the game as, presumably, full dive VR is the ultimate objective. Near-to-eye (NTE) technology means the screens are less intrusive to the…

Vehicle manufacturers are constantly seeking ways to reduce costs and the environmental impact of their cars, trucks, and SUVs from early stages of product development through manufacturing, and considerable attention is given to parts and components that contribute to a greener, cleaner vehicle. While most consumers recognize eco-friendly vehicles as those that use alternative fuels, hybrids, and electric cars,  there are lesser-known steps manufacturers take to reduce a vehicle’s carbon footprint, one of which is the use of surface relief diffusers on taillights and day…

By Anthony Silvestris                                                                                                                                                                                  

Most of Luminit’s light shaping materials are considered spatially uniform optics where a single micro-structure is repeated over the entire surface of a large sheet. A spatially uniform optic has full coverage of a single diffuser such as a…

If you’ve never heard the term sol-gel, you’re not alone, but in the world of materials science, sol-gel is a rock star. An abbreviation for Solution Gel, sol-gel is a well-documented method for creating solid materials from small molecules. By following the sol-gel processing method, scientists can add micro particles or molecules to a solution (sol), and those tiny particles eventually bond to form a gel. Sol-gel is instrumental here at Luminit because it allows us to create specialized optics, such as our high temperature glass diffusers…

Since launching our BSDF and DLL scatter models for OpticStudio and Optis back in 2016, many engineers and lighting designers have taken advantage of these time-saving file downloads. We designed this proprietary optical model so customers could visualize the output distribution of a Light Shaping Diffuser and choose the right angle. Although the files continue to be utilized effectively, we receive a number of questions from users who are unclear…

Luminit has been granted a patent for an optic that takes a collimated light source and converts it to a wide 180 degree fan of illumination. Flat optics like our Lighting Shaping Diffusers use refraction to increase the beam angle of a collimated light source; this typically is limited to about 100 degrees. The 180 degree Illuminator, however, takes a different approach with a combination of cylindrical and conical sections. Here’s how it works. 

After a collimated light source (i.e., VCSEL, laser, LED) enters the…

By Anthony Silvestris

More and more light designers are striving for Human Centric Lighting (HCL) with a goal to produce natural daylight effects in indoor spaces. One way to achieve this is with tunable white light LED fixtures. The benefits of using such fixtures are well documented and range from improved overall health and increased productivity in classrooms and offices. Lighting manufacturers produce tunable white LED bulbs and…

There are not many lighting scenarios veteran designer Read Hunker hasn’t seen. The owner and founder of Colorado-based Light Notes has been “painting” with light for over 25 years and his portfolio includes mystical spiritual gardens, custom wine cellars, and enhancing light-sensitive works of art and native artifacts. Like most skilled lighting designers, Hunker relies on experience to create the most dramatic scenes; however, he has picked up a few tricks of the trade along the way, including using Luminit’s Direction Turning…

By Edward Udarbe

Luminit’s Light Shaping Solutions are known as potent problem solvers when light designers, engineers, and OEMs need to get more out of less and increase the value of a single downlight design. For example, a can ceiling downlight may have a native beam of 20° FWHM.  When an 80° Light Shaping Diffuser is integrated into the fixture, the same downlight will flood a whole area with soft, uniform light. Likewise, the same can light with a…

By  Richard Cordero

Liquid Crystal Displays (LCDs) have dominated the display market with their long service life, power efficiency, and low market price and are commonly used in flat-panel computer monitors, TVs, notebook computers, mobile phones, navigation systems, and many other video display consoles. In the LCD display stack, a custom light diffuser plays an important role in the backlight unit, which consists of a stack of multiple optical films that deliver the source light (LEDs) towards the LCD panel.

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by Suleyman Turgut

Automotive lighting has seen some interesting shifts in recent years, particularly with taillight designs, and manufacturers continue to compete to see who can design the most eye-pleasing and sophisticated taillight assemblies. The race is on so let’s explore who’s leading the pack. 

Daytime Running Light and Tail Lamp

BMW is undeniably the first brand out of the gate in 2001 with the introduction of the Halo “angel eyes”…

Many lighting manufacturers recognize the key role tertiary optics such as Light Shaping Diffusers® play in creating more Human Centric Lighting (HCL) conditions, or lighting that considers the emotional and biological needs of humans. Batwing diffusers are an example of tertiary optics that, when incorporated in the design phase, can dramatically increase the light distribution and eliminate distracting central hotspots common to linear light fixtures.

by Edward Udarbe

Luminit’s considerable library of circular, elliptical, and extreme elliptical beam angles accomplish different goals for different customers.  Our elliptical angles, also called asymmetrical, are popular with lighting customers because these LED diffusers direct a light source in one direction or axis more than the other so that the light goes exactly where it’s needed. For example, add our 60° x 10° elliptical diffuser to an LED spotlight and the output goes from circular to oval. In addition to reshaping the beam, the diffuser…

Once labeled as “hype” only a few years ago, Augmented Reality glasses and vehicle Head-up Displays (HUDs) are beginning to penetrate the mainstream, and countless opportunities lie ahead. Luminit has been on the forefront of this promising technology since 2004, beginning with an SBIR grant to develop a Head-mounted Display (HMD) for the US Army using Holographic Optical Element (HOE) technology. Since then, Luminit has been awarded multiple patents related to design and manufacturing of HOEs, and our technologies are making it possible to deliver compact and efficient…

The road to market acceptance of smart glasses has been a bumpy one, but augmented reality smart glasses are evolving. Companies like North (formally Thalmic Labs) are delivering slick and stylish smart glasses that do amazing things. Called Focals by North (recently acquired by Google), these smart glasses are virtually indistinguishable from regular eyeglasses but let users check text messages, emails, or call up directions.  

Putting the “Wear” in Wearables

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By Anthony Silvestris

It’s a good time to be in optics but an even better time to be in microoptics. Growth areas such as LiDAR, Time of Flight and 3D sensing are supported by advanced optical components including surface relief flat optics that provide customized intensity profiles and beam shapes. Luminit has made significant advances in this area with Light Shaping MicroOptics (LSMs), an in-house direct-beam laser writing platform.  Using greyscale laser…

Look at any recent model car, SUV or truck and you’ll notice a lot has changed in the world of automotive lighting. LED taillights are gaining momentum, and many taillight designers are wisely choosing to diffuse hotspots to create a homogenized LED taillight signature that is almost pleasant to be stuck behind in traffic. However, automotive optics is experiencing a renaissance beyond exterior lights. Windshield head up displays, LiDAR, time of flight, facial recognition and other driver assistance technologies are growth areas in the automotive market, and…

If you’ve never heard the term sol-gel, you’re not alone, but in the world of materials science, sol-gel is a rock star. An abbreviation for Solution Gel, sol-gel is a well-documented method for creating solid materials from small molecules. By following the sol-gel processing method, scientists can add microparticles or molecules to a solution (sol), and those tiny particles eventually bond to form a gel. Sol-gel is instrumental here at Luminit because it allows us to create specialized optics, such as our…

When Apple “buys” people listen, and just about everyone in the field of holography paid attention to the tech giant’s recent purchase of Colorado-based Akonia Holographics. The market is responding to what Luminit holographers and scientists have known for years—Augmented Reality (AR), be it used for AR smart glasses or head-up displays, is a paradigm shift. We know this because Luminit mass produces holograms for a…

Although tertiary optics or LED light diffusers have virtually endless applications, beam shaping remains one of the most popular applications in lighting design, particularly with LEDs. Controlling the shape, size, and distribution of light is the cornerstone of Luminit technologies, and we’re taking LED beam shaping to new heights with our patented Light Shaping Diffusers. 

What Does A Light Shaping Diffuser Do?…