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NEWS
Organic Light Emitting Diodes
The next step in the LED frontier, where the “luminous intensity is almost constant across the entire radiant angle”. A lot to take in, but it does make sense…BMW Motorrad has unveiled a prototype of an Organic Light Emitting Diodes (OLED) system on its K 1600 GT tourer.
The machine is not the major focus, but instead the technology, which is an evolution of the now common LED setup, which is already being used for main headlights, daytime running lights and tail lights.
Now, with the development of OLEDs, it has possible to create a thin-layered component from organic semiconductor material, which promises a range of benefits.
For a start, LEDs operate with a semiconductor crystal embedded in a conical recess that acts as a reflector. The luminous intensity achieved in this way is not constant across the entire angle of radiation, however. This means that the light from an LED lamp always seems less bright to the human eye the more it is seen from the side. This is why current LED lamp units in always have optical aids like highly developed reflectors aimed at reducing this effect and achieving a relatively homogeneous luminous intensity with the greatest possible radiant angle and viewing angle, thus ensuring the “strength” of the light to the human eye.
On the other hand, OLEDs permit a lamp unit to be created whose luminous intensity is almost constant across the entire radiant angle, coming very close in physical terms to the theoretical characteristics of a so-called ideal Lambert radiator. This makes it possible to dispense with complex optical aids such as reflectors, for example, and together with the thin-layered, slim-line design of the OLEDs, whose backing material can be used directly as an electrical conductor, opens up entirely new design options for the development of light units for BMW motorcycles.
At present, the luminous density of the OLEDs is still insufficient and more development work is needed. While this is adequate at present for a rear light, lighting elements like the brake light or indicator need reinforcing. This is achieved through the use of additional conventional LEDs – in other words, a hybrid arrangement.
BMW Motorrad says that such “hybrid solutions” should make their way onto its motorcycles within the next two or three years, but it will take a few more years yet to develop brake lights, indicators or even headlights that use OLED technology alone.
And will they be more aesthetically pleasing? Take a look at the attached image.
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Written byBikesales Staff
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