Ford to offer customizable LED lighting?
If the Ford Mustang's MyColor instrument panel lighting amuses you, then the announcement of a licensing agreement between the automaker and Colour Kinetics should further expand the joy. The deal allows Ford to legally use "intelligent color-controlled systems" both in the interior and on the exterior of vehicles around the world.
Actually, the deal applies to every patent CK holds, so Ford can customize the lighting on any of its vehicles in a variety of ways. Because of the digital nature of LED lighting, color can be manipulated fairly easily. This would allow Ford to leave interior accent lighting in the hands of the consumer. It could even expand to novel exterior lighting and eventually even beyond automotive applications. When Ford introduced the MyColor lighting option on the Mustang in '05, it had been sued for allegedly failing to secure the rights to this technology. This new deal should clear the way for any future projects it wants to pursue.
Full release after the jump.
[Source: Colour Kinetics]
Press Release:
Color Kinetics Incorporated (NASDAQ: CLRK) today announced a global licensing agreement with Ford Global Technologies, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Ford Motor Company, that allows the dynamic personalization of automotive interiors and exteriors through intelligent LED lighting. Ford will have access to Color Kinetics' complete patent portfolio to incorporate color-controllable lighting in any of its branded or affiliate vehicles.
"Ford's license of Color Kinetics' patents marks a very exciting milestone - both for the accumulating strength of our licensing program and the penetration of LED technology into bigger, broader markets," said Bill Sims, President and CEO, Color Kinetics. We believe that the ability to personalize spaces, whether homes, workstations or even cars, has widespread market appeal, and the opportunity to put this advanced control in vehicle owners' hands is very exciting."
While single color LED sources have been applied in automotive lighting for a number of years, Ford was one of the first to capitalize on the digitally controllable nature of LEDs when it introduced the MyColor color-changing instrument panel in its Ford Mustangs. The global license will cover all sales of the Mustang MyColor instrument panel as well as other intelligent color-controllable systems that Ford may introduce in the future.
"The compact, durable nature and inherent intelligence of LEDs allow completely new uses of light, with customizable auto interiors being an excellent example," said Sims. "Color Kinetics envisioned such vertical applications years ago and developed an intellectual property portfolio that would allow us to reach ancillary markets beyond the core illumination space. This agreement epitomizes our cross-industry approach to driving adoption, and it points to what we believe is the eventual merger of illumination with intelligence."
Color Kinetics Incorporated (NASDAQ: CLRK) today announced a global licensing agreement with Ford Global Technologies, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Ford Motor Company, that allows the dynamic personalization of automotive interiors and exteriors through intelligent LED lighting. Ford will have access to Color Kinetics' complete patent portfolio to incorporate color-controllable lighting in any of its branded or affiliate vehicles.
"Ford's license of Color Kinetics' patents marks a very exciting milestone - both for the accumulating strength of our licensing program and the penetration of LED technology into bigger, broader markets," said Bill Sims, President and CEO, Color Kinetics. We believe that the ability to personalize spaces, whether homes, workstations or even cars, has widespread market appeal, and the opportunity to put this advanced control in vehicle owners' hands is very exciting."
While single color LED sources have been applied in automotive lighting for a number of years, Ford was one of the first to capitalize on the digitally controllable nature of LEDs when it introduced the MyColor color-changing instrument panel in its Ford Mustangs. The global license will cover all sales of the Mustang MyColor instrument panel as well as other intelligent color-controllable systems that Ford may introduce in the future.
"The compact, durable nature and inherent intelligence of LEDs allow completely new uses of light, with customizable auto interiors being an excellent example," said Sims. "Color Kinetics envisioned such vertical applications years ago and developed an intellectual property portfolio that would allow us to reach ancillary markets beyond the core illumination space. This agreement epitomizes our cross-industry approach to driving adoption, and it points to what we believe is the eventual merger of illumination with intelligence."
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Bryan 2:10PM (4/05/2007)
The MyColor feature is awesome. They should have made it an option in other vehicles. Now I hear they are discontinuing the option. I think that is plain stupid! As for the lighting scheme it can be cool, but I rather have the MyColor anyday!
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felipe 2:15PM (4/05/2007)
finally this is being done. people want and love
options...
stock is someone elses idea of what you should drive, MOD IT! and this is the perfect, easy way to personalize your car, from the showroom even.
nice move ford- do it in all models, and do it right.
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hope johnson 5:44PM (1/31/2008)
where can u purchase this
Mike Botros 2:51PM (4/05/2007)
Ford said they were going to include customizable ambient lighting for the 2008 Focus when it debuted at the Detroit Autoshow, and yesterday they said the Flex will have that, too. I hope this becomes available in all of the 2008 cars, because that's when my Zephyr lease will be up and I would love to have that in an MKZ if I get that.
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Scott 3:38PM (4/05/2007)
well I guess if you can't offer good cars, do the next best thing... Offer LED lighting bwhahaha.. Might as well offer customers free porn, would probably sell better than custom LED's
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Mike 3:44PM (4/05/2007)
#1: Discontinuing the option? I'm pretty sure they just licensed the technology. I don;t think they would spend all that money then stop offering it as an option...
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Nshvl Cat 3:47PM (4/05/2007)
Keep these innovative ideas coming Ford.
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Kurt 4:14AM (7/29/2007)
I just ordered a 2008 Mustang GT with this new Ambient Lighting option (it has the my color option too) I think it is sweet, but I did hear this is the last year for my color (too expensive is what I read) so maybe the Ambient Lighting is gona replace it... I am excited to get both! Not to mention even without these features, the Mustang still kicks a@@.
Oh yea, Scott (from a couple posts up) shut up and go buy a crappy Honda!