The Power Behind the Pixels: Ensuring EMC in High-Density Automotive Lighting

Software-defined vehicles are revolutionizing the automotive industry, bringing substantial
advantages to automotive digital lighting systems. Advanced LED and OLED lighting systems,
including adaptive headlights, dynamic indicators, and ADAS integration, are now essential to
the safety and functionality of next-generation vehicles.
OLEDs provide thin profiles and uniform light diffusion, while LEDs are known for their
brightness and efficiency, reshaping the visual dynamics of modern vehicles. However, with
modern E/E architectures becoming increasingly complex, systems are significantly more
susceptible to electromagnetic interference (EMI) which is a fundamental concern in
electromagnetic compatibility (EMC).
EMI is a complex phenomenon where unwanted electrical noise disrupts and may compromise
the normal functioning of electronic devices, which can potentially threaten the sophisticated
electronic systems essential to modern vehicles. For example, in automotive exterior lighting
applications, long cables connecting the battery to digital LED modules or OLED panels can
act as unintentional antennas, capturing EMI from the surrounding environment.
This interference can cause fluctuations in control signals resulting in visible light flickering,
erratic dimming functions, and corruption of the intricate communication protocols managing
the lighting data. Continuous exposure to EMI is very dangerous because it can even stress
electronic components, reducing their lifespan and leading to premature failure.