Illuminating Trends: Shining New Light in Automotive Design

Luminit’s Light Shaping Diffuser films offer a bright new future for the automotive industry.

By Mary Ann Giorgio

The automotive industry is no stranger to renaissance. Car manufacturers are always on the bleeding-edge of technology in this fiercely competitive market and every year the bar is set higher.  Some interesting trends rolling down the road include new approaches to interior and exterior lighting led by Luminit’s Automotive Division and the company’s patented Light Shaping Diffuser® technology.

Luminit’s Light Shaping Diffusers are surface microstructures that when applied to a lighting surface do astonishing things— diffraction and striations disappear, hot spots and multiple shadows diminish, glare is controlled, and the beam-shaping possibilities are virtually endless. However, one of the most remarkable features of Light Shaping Diffusers is the ability to conceal and control the output of an LED light source, a fact that is not going unnoticed by car manufacturers.

Changing How We See LED Lights

Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) continue to replace traditional light bulbs in automotive taillights, break lights, interior lights and more recently headlights. Luminit engineers recognized the impact Light Shaping Diffusers could have on automotive LED lighting and developed specialty

 films that can be applied to a lighting surface, such as a taillight. For example, you’ve likely seen a car with LED taillights where the individual LEDs are quite visible. When Luminit’s Light Shaping Diffuser film is applied to that taillight, what you see, or more likely what you don’t see, is quite different

When Luminit’s Light Shaping Diffusers technology is applied to a taillight, the LED light source disappears, resulting in a far more appealing and dramatic effect.

Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) continue to replace traditional light bulbs in automotive taillights, break lights, interior lights and more recently headlights. Luminit engineers recognized the impact Light Shaping Diffusers could have on automotive LED lighting and developed specialty films that can be applied to a lighting surface, such as a taillight. For example, you’ve likely seen a car with LED taillights where the individual LEDs are quite visible. When Luminit’s Light Shaping Diffuser film is applied to that taillight, what you see, or more likely what you don’t see, is quite different.

Creating Unique Patterns with LED

In addition to the dramatic effects of uniformity, Luminit has created specialty Light Shaping Diffuser films that take interior lighting a whole new level of fun. The diffuser microstructure of these films manipulate the light output of the LED to create brilliant and random patterns.  The technology can be used on dashboards, door panels, interior ceilings, trim lights, or almost anywhere LED lights are used in the vehicle.  

When Luminit’s Light Shaping Diffusers technology is applied to a taillight, the LED light source disappears, resulting in a far more appealing and dramatic effect.

Holographic Imaging Films

Another Luminit technology that may wind up in your next vehicle is Holographic Imaging Films (HOE). Based on Luminit’s Substrate-Guided Wave based Holographic technology (SGWH), these films combine a holographic image area, acrylic guide and an LED light source to create what appears to be a magical transference of light. Transparent in the off state, the LED light source travels to the holographic image area unseen by the naked eye. Uses include interior lighting and trim, manufacturer logos, and Center High Mounted Stop Lamps.

Examples of Luminit’s Holographic Imaging film in vehicles include Center High Mounted Stop Lamps and car manufacturer logos where the image seems to appear from nowhere.

Lighting a New Path

Standing out from an endless amount of car makes and models is no easy tasks for automotive engineers and designers. However, new developments in exterior and interior lighting such as Luminit’s Light Shaping Diffuser films and injection molded diffusers give car manufactures an inexpensive option that will no doubt grab the attention of an increasingly fickle car-buying crowd. As Luminit Light Shaping Diffuser Film gain global-wide acceptance, don’t be surprised if your next car outshines all the others on the road.

For more information, contact Luminit at sales@luminitco.com