Melexis, a global microelectronics engineering company, announced a partnership with Geely Automobile Group to provide advanced daytime running lights (DRL) and RGB LED taillight solutions for its Link & Co. brand's first electric vehicle, the Z10 model. This collaboration marks a key step for Geely towards a new era of smart automotive lighting, and showcases Melexis' leading innovation in automotive lighting technology.
1. Technical details and innovation highlights
MLX81116 drive
As Melexis' core product, MLX81116 is an intelligent 12-channel RGB LED driver with an integrated high-performance microcontroller unit (MCU). The biggest highlight of this driver is the precise color mixing control and comprehensive diagnostic capabilities that achieve color consistency of 1% ΔUV. At the same time, it has a built-in temperature compensation function, which can solve the problem of light efficiency fluctuations of red, green and blue LEDs at different temperatures without additional components.
MeLiBu® communication technology
MeLiBu® is Melexis' tailor-made technology solution for high-end automotive lighting systems. Based on the convergence of the CAN-FD physical layer and UART communication, MeLiBu® provides efficient real-time communication support, enabling automotive lighting systems to dynamically control more than 250 RGB LED light points, ensuring visual coherence and delay-free real-time response. This technology also opens up new possibilities for the integration of Hyundai's E/E architecture.
Figure: Geely Z10 model chooses Melexis MLX81116 to realize the smart lighting solution
1. Industry impact and market outlook
Automotive lighting is transforming from functional to intelligent and visual experience. The design of advanced daytime running lights (DRL) and RGB taillights is not limited to lighting, but also an important vehicle for brand identity and safety performance. The innovative design of the Geely Z10 is a reflection of this trend. By introducing dynamic lighting effects, this model takes the driving experience to a whole new level.
The rise of LED dynamic lighting
LED technology is becoming the standard in high-end and mid-range vehicles, and RGB dynamic lighting is sought after for its balance of aesthetics and functionality. From custom colors to interactive lighting effects, these innovations create a deeper emotional bond between automakers and consumers.
"MeLiBu® technology is not only an efficient communication solution, it also provides important support for car manufacturers to achieve unique lighting effects," said Song Linhong, Marketing Manager at Melexis. The lighting system of the Z10 proves the feasibility of the technology and also demonstrates the great potential of smart car lighting.”
Competitive advantage from collaboration
This cooperation is undoubtedly an important strategy for Geely to establish a differentiated advantage in the electric vehicle market. The combination of RGB lighting and intelligent control not only enhances the exterior design of the vehicle, but also provides a strong endorsement of the brand's technical image.
Geely Automobile's technical team said: "RGB dynamic lighting represents the future of automotive lighting development, and we are excited to join hands with Melexis to provide consumers with a richer and smarter driving experience."
Technical data at a glance
Figure: The Geely Z10 uses MLX81116 technology to implement a series of functional applications
1. The enlightenment of core innovation to the industry
The cooperation between Geely and Melexis not only demonstrates the application potential of advanced lighting technology, but also provides a model for automakers to learn from in their intelligent transformation. The following points are particularly critical:
1. Enhance brand value: RGB dynamic lighting helps automotive brands stand out in the fierce market competition by enhancing the technological sense of the exterior design.
2. Enhance user experience: Dynamic lighting effects can convey driving status and enhance visual interaction, thereby improving driving safety.
3. Technology integration capability: The communication solution based on MeLiBu® provides a reference for the optimization of automotive E/E architecture, so that more lighting components can be seamlessly integrated in the future.
2. Prospects for the future
With the increasing demand for personalization and intelligence in the automotive market, technical solutions like MLX81116 and MeLiBu® will become more and more important.
Future trends include:
- High-resolution lighting: More refined LED pixel control provides more possibilities for the vehicle to interact with its surroundings, such as road projections, information prompts, and more.
- Modular design: The light assembly will be further integrated with sensors and cameras to provide additional support for autonomous driving assistance systems.
- Environmentally friendly and efficient: Low-energy, high-brightness LED technology will continue to meet the sustainability needs of the automotive industry.
The launch and successful demonstration of the Z10 model shows that smart lighting is not only an adjunct to automotive innovation, but also has the potential to become an important point of competition for future models. This breakthrough provides a new direction for the industry as a whole, as well as a valuable reference for other automakers.
3. Conclusion
The Geely Z10 features Melexis MLX81116 driver and MeLiBu® technology, bringing an important technological breakthrough to the industry. This collaboration not only enables the practical application of smart lighting, but also sets a new benchmark for automotive design. In the future, with the continuous development of technology, smart lighting will become a key force to promote the upgrading of the automotive industry, and the cooperation between Geely and Melexon will continue to inject new innovation vitality into the industry.
