Course detail

Optics and Electronics in the Automotive Industry

FSI-HOEAcad. year: 2025/2026

The course is a practical continuation of the compulsory course Optoelectronics. The course extends the knowledge of the optical part of the headlights of automobiles and includes the process from the legislative background of the design of headlights to practical examples of optical surfaces simulations. The students will deal with technical solutions of unusually thick-walled moulded optical lenses from plastic materials. Another section is devoted to the LED technologies used in headlights. Some practical proposals for the application of power LED chips and their application in assemblies consisting of three directions (reflective, project and matrix systems) are included. The electronics part is connected with practical demonstrations of samples, management and control systems, and discusses the possibilities of laser LED applications. That includes a look at the technology of assembly lines for LED systems and optical systems, their characteristics and risks associated with serial production, and it covers also the production costs of the assemblies and facilities.

Language of instruction

Czech

Number of ECTS credits

2

Mode of study

Not applicable.

Entry knowledge

Physics: basic knowledge of optics (the ray optics, interference and diffraction of light, principle of laser and wave propagations in optical materials) and of semiconductor physics (energy bands, p-n junction).

Rules for evaluation and completion of the course

Completion of the course: graded credit
Student requirements: attendance + seminar work elaborated individually or in a team (according to the number of registered students)
All of exercise lesson are obligatory. The student’s own work and knowledge is assessed in practicals. According to the studied topic some lessons will be practicals - carried out in the lab, and some will be focused on the theory - calculations carried out in the classroom in a seminar form. Absence from seminars should be substituted for by attending a seminar with another study group or individually by the agreement with the teacher. Lessons may be occasionally inspected by the head of the department.

Aims

Broadening the knowledge of optics and electronics in the practical application for the power LED headlight systems used in cars. A technical specification of the product approval process is included, according to the industrial property laws. The light sources and functioning of various types of optical systems and the latest trends in automotive headlights are described. In the practical part, students are trained in the optical simulations and how to evaluate the results of the simulation. Student will become familiar with the latest trends in the exterior automotive lighting. The optical part will be followed by the electronics use, such as the modern LED technologies. The modern trends in the industry field and visions are highlighted. Student gets an overview of the principles and characteristics of LEDs, means of their power, temperature parameters and ratios for LED modules as well as advanced lighting control systems in the car. The student will be familiar with the problems of producing LED modules also representing the complex group of LED chips and optical units.

 

Students are trained in a practical knowledge of the automobile headlights, their functioning, optical simulations of heat flux, homologation, industrial property, electronic systems associated with power LED light source, and they will be able to solve practically the related production technology, involving the manipulation and assemblies of optical components and LED sources.

Study aids

E-learning

Prerequisites and corequisites

Not applicable.

Basic literature

AFIMO. Seriál LED osvětlení [online]. [vid. 2015-08-03]. Dostupné z: http://www.afimocz.cz/serial-led-osvetleni-1-dil-technologie-led
Automotive Lighting. [online]. [vid. 2015-08-03]. Dostupné z: http://www.al-lighting.com
HELLA. [online]. [vid. 2015-08-03]. Dostupné z: http://www.hella.com
Lumileds. Automotive Application Briefs. [online]. [vid. 2015-08-03]. Dostupné z: http://www.lumileds.com/support/documentation/automotive-application-briefs
Luxeon Star LEDs. How do I determine what size of heat sink I need [online]. [vid. 2015-08-03]. Dostupné z: http://support.luxeonstar.com/customer/portal/articles/179490-how-do-i-determine-what-size-of-heat-sink-i-need-includes-heat-sink-calculator-
MechaTronix. How to calculate your LED heat sink [online]. [vid. 2015-08-03]. Dostupné z: http://www.mechatronix-asia.com/LED_heat_sink_calculation_simulation_thermal_design.html
MechaTronix. LED Cooling [online]. [vid. 2015-08-03]. Dostupné z: https://www.youtube.com/user/mechatronixledcooler
Melexis. Fact page; LED, Power supply/ LED drivers [online]. [vid. 2015-08-03]. Dostupné z: http://www.melexis.com/Assets/Fact-page-LED-Power-supply-LED-drivers-5297.aspx
OSRAM. LED Information Base [online]. [vid. 2015-08-03]. Dostupné z: https://apps.osram-os.com
SEOUL SEMICONDUCTOR. LED Technology. [online]. [vid. 2015-08-03]. Dostupné z: http://www.seoulsemicon.com/en/html/technical/ledtech01.asp

Recommended reading

AFIMO. Seriál LED osvětlení [online]. [vid. 2015-08-03]. Dostupné z: http://www.afimocz.cz/serial-led-osvetleni-1-dil-technologie-led
Automotive Lighting. [online]. [vid. 2015-08-03]. Dostupné z: http://www.al-lighting.com
HELLA. [online]. [vid. 2015-08-03]. Dostupné z: http://www.hella.com
Lumileds. Automotive Application Briefs. [online]. [vid. 2015-08-03]. Dostupné z: http://www.lumileds.com/support/documentation/automotive-application-briefs
Luxeon Star LEDs. How do I determine what size of heat sink I need [online]. [vid. 2015-08-03]. Dostupné z: http://support.luxeonstar.com/customer/portal/articles/179490-how-do-i-determine-what-size-of-heat-sink-i-need-includes-heat-sink-calculator-
MechaTronix. How to calculate your LED heat sink [online]. [vid. 2015-08-03]. Dostupné z: http://www.mechatronix-asia.com/LED_heat_sink_calculation_simulation_thermal_design.html
MechaTronix. LED Cooling [online]. [vid. 2015-08-03]. Dostupné z: https://www.youtube.com/user/mechatronixledcooler
Melexis. Fact page; LED, Power supply/ LED drivers [online]. [vid. 2015-08-03]. Dostupné z: http://www.melexis.com/Assets/Fact-page-LED-Power-supply-LED-drivers-5297.aspx
OSRAM. LED Information Base [online]. [vid. 2015-08-03]. Dostupné z: https://apps.osram-os.com
SEOUL SEMICONDUCTOR. LED Technology. [online]. [vid. 2015-08-03]. Dostupné z: http://www.seoulsemicon.com/en/html/technical/ledtech01.asp

Classification of course in study plans

  • Programme N-STG-P Master's

    specialization MTS , 2 year of study, winter semester, compulsory

Type of course unit

 

Lecture

26 hod., optionally

Teacher / Lecturer

Syllabus

1. The optical systems and automotive lighting functions. Market distribution in terms of technical requirements and according to the process approvals, process in general.
2. Outline of homologation according to ECE. Photometry for homologation according to ECE, light sources and photometric quantities. CIE standards and GTB
3. Optical computer simulations and modern trends in exterior automotive lighting
4. Industrial property (protected patterns, patents)
5. Industrial property in business practice
6. Industrial Engineering - Digital factory (simulation)
7. Tolerance analysis (simulation)
8. Time schedule of individual planned work tasks MTM Time analysis, standardization
9. Financial studies, calculations, Life-Cycle Costing (LCC)
10. MUDA, MURI, MURA, process optimization and efficiency improvements
11. Fundamentals of electronics in the field of LEDs, LED modules and front headlight technology
12. Gluing and LED positioning
13. Adaptive full LED headlight

Exercise

26 hod., compulsory

Teacher / Lecturer

Syllabus

1. The optical systems and automotive lighting functions. Market distribution in terms of technical requirements and according to the process approvals, process in general.
2. Outline of homologation according to ECE. Photometry for homologation according to ECE, light sources and photometric quantities. CIE standards and GTB
3. Optical computer simulations and modern trends in exterior automotive lighting
4. Industrial property (protected patterns, patents)
5. Industrial property in business practice
6. Industrial Engineering - Digital factory (simulation)
7. Tolerance analysis (simulation)
8. Time schedule of individual planned work tasks MTM Time analysis, standardization
9. Financial studies, calculations, Life-Cycle Costing (LCC)
10. MUDA, MURI, MURA, process optimization and efficiency improvements
11. Fundamentals of electronics in the field of LEDs, LED modules and front headlight technology
12. Gluing and LED positioning
13. Adaptive full LED headlight