Audi teasing new concept for Frankfurt

Audi will showcase the new Matrix OLED lighting technology on a new concept auto that will be unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September. Now Audi wants to combine them with their existing lighting technologies to create what it calls OLED Matrix. These are getting thin layers of organic semiconductor materials activated by low DC voltage, lighting them up. The colour is based on the molecular composition of the light source.

The difference between point light sources (such as LEDs) and OLEDs is that the former are made of semiconductor crystals, while the latter are flat light sources. Their light attains a new level of homogeneity, and its dimming is continuously variable. The lights cast no shadows, require no reflectors or light guides and are thus extremely efficient, very lightweight and require little to no cooling.

Current prototypes utilize glass layers to encase organic material, but production technology will use plastic sheets.

Audi is working hard to improve the light density of these OLEDs to generate turn signals and brake lights. Special highlights are “OLED lighting” with transparent, multi-colored OLEDs in the silhouette of the auto and “the swarm” with a three-dimensional OLED display.

More importantly, OLEDs can be divided into smaller segments that can be controlled at different brightness levels, colours and transparencies. The Matrix lights is said to make future Audi cars looking more stylish and it will also have high endurance characteristics.