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Leading automakers reduce costs and increase energy efficiency with Q-Prime
Technology Category
- Sensors - Optical Sensors
Applicable Industries
- Automotive
Applicable Functions
- Product Research & Development
- Discrete Manufacturing
Services
- Hardware Design & Engineering Services
The Challenge
In the automotive industry, style and energy efficiency are paramount. Automakers are increasingly using energy-efficient LED lighting in designs, from taillights to instrument panels. As more products become “smart”, the underlying technologies need to adapt to new shapes and offer powerful functionality in ever-smaller packages. The challenge was to optimize LED solutions for customers in the automotive industry by making the flexible circuit technology lighter, simplifying the design, and reducing costs.
About The Customer
The customer in this case study is the automotive industry at large. The industry is characterized by a focus on style and energy efficiency, with an increasing trend towards the use of LED lighting in vehicle designs. This includes applications in taillights and instrument panels. The industry is also marked by the growing prevalence of 'smart' products, necessitating underlying technologies that can adapt to new shapes and offer powerful functionality in increasingly compact packages. The goal for the industry is to optimize LED solutions by making the flexible circuit technology lighter, simplifying the design, and reducing costs.
The Solution
The solution involved the development of a more cost-effective LED lighting solution with a simplified design that could dissipate heat more efficiently and better suit the desired vehicle design. The material science and interconnect product development teams at Sheldahl, a Flex company, pushed the boundaries of electrical, thermal, and mechanical requirements for LEDs. The result was Q-Prime, a circuit with a proprietary thermally conductive adhesive and a thin composite structure. This LED lighting solution is flexible for processing, yet has sufficient rigidity to hold shape when bent.
Operational Impact
Quantitative Benefit
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