History of Ornamental Vehicle Lighting

External lighting on vehicles for ornamental purposes is not entirely a recent phenomenon. As early as the 1950s, certain vehicles featured illuminated translucent glass and plastic panels, either to provide a look of elegance--especially on limousines and other luxury automobiles. Another early use of external vehicular lighting was in emergency vehicles such as police cars, ambulances and fire trucks. In the era of muscle cars and hot rods, customized external lighting was sometimes prominent, usually using incandescent light bulbs. While neon lighting was invented very early on, it was not easily adaptable because of the voltage requirements. In the 1990s, the technology to adapt current types and voltage shifting became less expensive, more portable and more reliable, neon lighting came into use in vehicles. It became popular type of lighting for customized cars (especially customized Japanese cars), trucks (especially customized American trucks), and customized semi/tractor-trailers. However, the electrical systems in automobiles run at 12 volts, and because efficient use of energy is key to fuel economy and integral to avoiding electrical system overloads, the use of the light emitting diode(LED) is ideal. A limousine (or limo) is a long luxury car, traditionally black in color. ... The Pontiac GTO started the muscle car trend. ... T-Bucket hot rod Hot rods are older, often historical, cars. ... An incandescent light bulb and its glowing filament. ... Lighting neon lamp, two 220/230 Volt and 110 V neon lamps and a screwdriver with neon lamp inside A neon lamp is a gas discharge lamp containing neon gas at low pressure. ... This article may be too technical for most readers to understand. ... The volt is the SI derived unit for electric potential and voltage (derived from the ampere and watt). ... Various light-emitting diodes (5 mm reds, 3 mm greens and yellows) A light-emitting diode (LED) is a semiconductor device that emits incoherent monochromatic light when electrically biased in the forward direction. ...

Use of Light Emitting Diodes

Digital vehicle lighting depends on light emitting diodes. The first practical visible-spectrum LED was developed in 1962 by University of Illinois physicist Nick Holonyak, Jr. They are notably energy efficient, and can produce brilliant light using low voltage direct current. LEDs have modernly been used to produce LED panel televisions and monitors, as well as traffic lights that produce less light pollution. As with many inventions that have useful purposes, LED technology has increasingly shifted to ornamental uses as well. Their application to use in vehicles was a natural extension of this, as automobiles in Western culture are desired in part for their appearance as much as their usefulness as transportation devices. Leonardo da Vincis Vitruvian Man, for many a symbol of the changes of the Western culture during the Renaissance Western culture refers to the culture that has developed in the Western world. ...

Digital Lighting Capabilities

One can, given the right controller apparatus and LED system, dynamically change the color and intensity of the lighting. The most recent innovations also allow for cycling and alternating colors and intensities in patterns. Some controllers can also make the light intensity and coloring responsive to music being played in the vehicle.

External links

• http://faqlight.carpassion.info/headlamp-faq.htm