Interior lighting & sensing
From ambient lighting to incabin sensing, our optical technologies create comfort, safety and seamless user interaction.
Interior lighting and sensing for expressive, intelligent vehicle experiences
Interior lighting and sensing define how drivers and passengers experience the inside of a modern vehicle. From atmospheric ambient lighting and purpose-built functional illumination to high-quality display backlighting and immersive interior projection, lighting has become a central design and user interface and interaction element. Emerging smart surface concepts further extend the possibilities of seamless, integrated interior lighting.
Complementing these visual experiences, advanced sensing technologies such as ambient light sensing and incabin sensing ensure optimal brightness adaptation, comfort, and safety. They support features ranging from automatic display-brightness control and glare reduction to presence detection and occupant monitoring.
ams OSRAM enables this evolution with compact, high-efficiency LEDs, precise optical sensors, and innovative lighting technologies tailored for expressive, functional, and intelligent automotive interiors.
Ambient lighting
High-efficiency LEDs designed for uniform interior illumination that enhances comfort, personalization and vehicle ambience.
Functional illumination
Precision LED solutions designed for focused, task-oriented lighting that improves visibility and usability inside the vehicle.
Display backlighting
High-brightness LED backlighting enable clear, uniform display illumination across instrument clusters, infotainment and HMI interfaces.
Projection
Advanced projection LEDs and optics designed for crisp, high-contrast interior symbols, animations and information displays.
Smart surface
Thin, flexible LED and sensing technologies designed for seamless, illuminated surfaces that integrate light and interaction into interior trim parts.
Ambient light sensing
Automotive-grade ambient light sensors designed for accurate luminance detection to optimize display brightness and interior lighting levels.
In-cabin sensing
Infrared emitters and image sensors designed for reliable presence, occupancy and driver-monitoring functions inside the vehicle cabin.
Dynamic Ambient Lighting Color
Color dynamic ambient lighting is enabled by our Open System Protocol (OSP) light bus. Thanks to the integrated OSP driver of our intelligent RGB-LEDs, large-scale color-accurate dynamic lighting experiences can be orchestrated without the need for local microprocessors. Our stand-alone OSP LED drivers allow connecting standard LEDs, like different package types of RGB LEDs, single-color, or white LEDs to OSP. Longer distances within the vehicle can be bridged using CAN transceivers to transmit OSP data over CAN physical layer-compliant wiring. In addition, OSP and our stand-alone LED drivers integrate I²C devices into the light bus network, enabling distributed sensor and actuator architectures, e.g. for smart surfaces, light, position, or temperature sensing.
Smart Surfaces, Distributed Human-Machine-Interfaces and Sensing
In addition to controlling hundreds of intelligent RGB LEDs, our OSP light bus also enables the integration of various sensors and actuators, based on the industry standard I²C interface, thanks to our stand-alone OSP LED drivers with I²C bridge functionality. Similar to dynamic ambient lighting, CAN physical layer connections can be used to transport OSP data over longer distances in the vehicle with a high degree of robustness. For localized Smart Surface applications powered by a separate microcontroller, like center consoles or other panels, ams OSRAM provides a large selection of functional lighting devices, as well as ambient light and proximity sensors, position sensors, touch sensors, and emitters for display backlighting.
Human-Machine-Interfaces
In contrast to distributed HMI applications using the OSP light bus, localized HMI and Smart Surface applications are powered by a dedicated microcontroller. ams OSRAM provides a variety of light emitters and sensors for these applications. White or color LEDs can be used for decorative or functional lighting, e.g. for buttons or dials. Special white LEDs are available for display backlighting. For touch, proximity, ambient light and position sensing, we offer a large portfolio of automotive-qualified parts.
In-Cabin Sensing
In-cabin sensing is becoming increasingly important in today’s vehicles for safety, but also comfort functions. In-cabin sensing supports autonomous driving functions by ensuring the attention of the driver while the vehicle is in a driving assistance or autonomous driving mode. Additional functions enabled by in-cabin sensing include e.g. driver drowsiness monitoring or child-left-behind detection.