OPTIS launches virtual prototyping software for design of automotive LED headlamps

May 6, 2014
OPTIS, the leading software developer for the scientific simulation of light, human vision and physically correct visualization has launched the Virtual Prototyping Solution for Automotive Headlamp for delivering any LED headlamp systems at the first try out using virtual prototype.

The OPTIS Virtual Prototyping Solution for Automotive Headlamp allows designers to simulate, optimize, visualize, test & validate any LED headlamp systems in a global environment.

LED Headlamp systems are the most distinctive and recognizable element of a car exterior. As such, innovative new lighting designs are ever more important. Many new materials, optics and light sources in conjunctions of on-board control units are now being used. The integration and the design of these elements require conciliating style and compliance with safety, comfort and regulation standards. Today a lot of iteration between style and engineering department is time consuming and the necessity to validate designs with physical prototypes costs a lot.

The OPTIS Virtual Prototyping Solution for Automotive Headlamp enables to design innovative LED headlamp systems while checking its compliance with international standards.

Thanks to the OPTIS Virtual Prototyping Solution for Automotive Headlamp, designers perform in real time a first appraisal of lighting and illumination, including material properties and then they automatically design complex optical components (with no need to be an expert) in CAD/PLM environment in order to support the full design process from early conceptual phase up to serial production. It enables a greater number of lighting concepts and “what if” scenarios in a fraction of the time and shortens engineering development by increasing engineer productivity.

The simulation, the analysis and the optimization of the headlamp system photometric efficiency are based on a physical light ray tracing simulation so designers can rely on the results. A unique feature of this OPTIS solution is the capability to simulate human vision, enabling to visualize the product as it will be seen in its ultimate environment, both lit and unlit and in any given weather conditions, day and night.

Testing and validating headlamp systems into a virtual reality lab is possible through the OPTIS Virtual Drive Experience. Experiencing easily various scenarios in realistic conditions is now possible virtually. Different lighting, environments, traffic, pedestrians, weather adjustment, and road conditions with the possibility of custom environments, can be tested in changing Headlamp configuration instantly.

It reduces the needs of “real world” test and allows some tests impossible to make in the real world: for example the test of Adaptive Frontlighting Systems (AFS) and Adaptive Dipped Beam (ADB). It allows also headlamp designers to track the driver’s eyes to better understand his behavior in order to improve his safety and comfort. Even more headlamp designers live the visual experience of the end user. A perfect way to validate perceived quality for the car driver in different situation and improve the customer brand recognition.

This experience can be done at any time in the process: it’s transversal.

With the OPTIS Virtual Prototyping Solution for Automotive Headlamp designers move from an old process of successive tasks: design, Analyze, build and test to a process where upfront virtual engineering and experience lead Design.

Collaboratively headlamp designers and their team are able to visualize, review, communicate, detect issues, decide modifications, and finally validate headlamp systems, at any time in the process to deliver better product and gain time and money.

OPTIS is the world leading software editor for the scientific simulation of light and human vision within a Virtual Reality Environment. Its solutions allow designers, ergonomists and engineers to simulate and optimize lighting performance, product appearance as well as the visibility and legibility of information on Human Machine Interfaces, in a fully-immersive environment. Since integrating its solutions in SolidWorks in 2001, CATIA V5 in 2002, Pro/ENGINEER in 2008 and Siemens in 2008, OPTIS is still the only company to provide a light simulation solution fully based on a physical model inside a CAD/CAM software.

OPTIS has delivered more than 7000 licenses to 1800 customers in 38 countries worldwide. Users include most of the major automotive, aerospace, electronics, white goods and lighting manufacturers, as well as architects, universities, research laboratories and defence agencies. They use the OPTIS technology to design, simulate and visualize in a Virtual Reality environment, products as diverse as automotive lighting, mobile phone screens and keypads, dashboard and cockpit displays, LCDs, LEDs, luminaires, military detection systems and optics for industrial vision, defence and medical applications.

Contact:

OPTIS