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Driving LEDs for Automotive Lighting Solutions Automotive lighting is undergoing a fundamental change as interior and exterior lighting solutions shift from conventional bulbs to light-emitting diodes (LEDs). LEDs present unique challenges in automotive applications, but they also promise unique advantages and possibilities. Although driving LEDs requires more complicated electronics and more electrical components, LEDs provide better light, with more display controls, less power, less heat loss, smaller size, and longer life. Overcoming the challenges presented by more widespread LED use to realize their benefits more fully is vital for the future of automotive lighting. Electronics in automotive LEDs and electronics face harsh conditions and demanding requirements. tempeRAtuRe, Humidity, And ContAminAtion Vehicles are expected to operate in virtually every extreme environmental condition imaginable. Likewise, from bitter sub-freezing colds to blistering desert heat, automotive electronics must operate at almost any time in any condition. Additionally, they are expected to perform under any humidity level, even when exposed to extreme debris contamination. SHoCk And vibRAtion Automotive electronics are also exposed to severe levels of shock and vibration. Vehicles move, engines run, and everything vibrates. Every pothole or speed bump creates shocks throughout the chassis of an automobile, including the electronics that are expected to continue operating uninterrupted. limited poWeR As more electronics of all types are loaded into automobiles, the power they consume becomes a concern. The electrical power systems in vehicles have come a long way from simply being expected to help start the engine. The now must power advanced computer systems on wheels, a myriad of sensors and transducers, and high-powered lighting both inside and outside the vehicle. long liFe expeCtAtion Automotive components are expected to have very long lifetimes. Life expectancies of 10 years, 15 years, or even more are increasingly common. 2