Novel LED application helps emergency services

Mitsumi has been involved in the development of a revolutionary new LED lighting system for emergency vehicles.

With the increasing use of power LEDs in many lighting applications, UK electronics manufacturer Mitsumi has been involved in the development of a revolutionary new LED lighting system which provides the optimum solution for thermal performance, yielding increase life expectancy and improved luminous densities for power LEDs.

Developed with Nav-Comm, a specialist in emergency vehicle electronic systems, the new generation of high power, surface mount LEDs are brighter, last longer and use less power than traditional halogen and strobe lighting currently used in beacons on emergency vehicles such as police, fire and ambulances.

As the new lighting units have a physically lower profile they cause less drag on the emergency vehicle at top speed making it more fuel efficient.

The units are designed not to interfere with other vehicle onboard equipment, such as life saving machines in ambulances and satellite navigation equipment.

The new technology is expected to resolve the issue of thermal power dissipation which has previously prevented designers moving forward with high intensity LED devices.

LEDs offer significant energy savings over conventional halogen lamp sources, particularly when a lamp is filtered to produce coloured light.

In this application the energy consumption of an LED solution can be as little as 10% of an equivalent halogen lamp product.

The latest white LEDs offer luminous efficiencies that are typically 45 lumen/W which is two to three times that of a halogen lamp in conjunction with 50,000 hours life expectancy.

The system was developed in partnership with Merseyside Police's Liverpool North Equipment Office and emergency vehicle electronic systems specialist Nav-Comm.

The new product has been in development for over two years and is now ready for mass production at Mitsumi with major interest being shown by emergency vehicle users across the UK and Europe.

James Sheldon, Technical Director of Nav-Comm, said: "We approached Mitsumi with a broad technical, outline requirement whose team were able to turn this into a reliable, volume product within a very short period of time".

"Thanks to their help we are set to change the appearance and performance of emergency vehicles across the country".

The units are also designed noise free allowing them to run in conjunction with other safety critical onboard systems including life saving machines, satellite navigation systems and communications equipment.

Mitsumi Sales Manager Phil Nelson said: "We were invited to tender for the design and volume manufacture of an integrated, modular light source suitable to manage thermal heat dissipation from the LEDs and withstand vibration and harsh environmental conditions".

"Because we have an experienced in-house design team we were able to design a cost effective, technically advanced solution suitable for high volume, automated manufacture in our facility".

Nelson added: "We see this as an exciting and innovative project with Nav-Comm and a partnership that has the potential to make us world leaders in emergency vehicle lighting".

"In addition to the emergency vehicle market, we continue to find new applications where LED light technology is of huge benefit over conventional filament bulb technology".

Because of the low power consumption, the new style lights are also ideally suited for electric vehicles and the new generation of hybrid cars which run on a combined petrol and electric engine.

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