Autoblog

LG attempting to ban BMW and Audi sales in South Korea over patent dispute

Zach Bowman — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 13:30:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Government/Legal, Technology, Audi, BMW, South Korea

LG Group has taken up legal arms against both BMW and Audi over a patent dispute. The technology company is reportedly aiming to have the sale of vehicles from both German automakers banned in South Korea over an LED patent dispute. According to Korea Times, LG Group is claiming that Osram, the manufacturer of LEDs favored by both automakers, is infringing on LG patents. Oddly enough, LG was once behind the patent game and had to pay Osram to use the company's LED technology in LG products. Now LG has combined its relevant patents with those of a host of smaller companies, allowing it to skip paying Osram and sue the company for infringement.

Twisted.

Is there any chance of a court outright agreeing to ban such a large section of products from two companies that largely had nothing to do with the dispute? That seems unlikely, but Osram and LG Group may have to sit down and have a nice, lengthy chat with checkbooks in hand sometime in the near future.

LG attempting to ban BMW and Audi sales in South Korea over patent dispute originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 30 Sep 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lit Up: GM RenCen wants more LED signs

Zach Bowman — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 09:30:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., GM

General Motors is looking to deck the Renaissance Center in more LED lighting, according to a report from The Detroit Free Press. The manufacturer has already installed one ring of the colored lights at the top of its tower and has petitioned the City of Detroit to allow the building to be fitted with vertical LED strips along the exterior elevator of the main tower. GM also wants the city to relax its signage regulations to allow it to scroll messages across the sign at the top of the center tower.

GM says that the changes will remain very professional and won't make the RenCen look like a casino, as some locals have fretted. Part of that fear is based in the fact that the LED decorations are far brighter than traditional signage illumination, which makes the additions stand out against the Detroit skyline. But that may change soon. The owners of neighboring structures are currently looking into LEDs for their own use. So far, Detroit hasn't implied whether or not the city will agree to the GM requests.

Lit Up: GM RenCen wants more LED signs originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 27 Sep 2011 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Skoda reveals facelifted Octavia RS and Scout

Michael Harley — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 08:01:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Wagon, Europe

2009 Skoda Octavia - Click above for our high-res image gallery

After officially unveiling the Octavia facelift at the Paris Motor Show last fall, the Czech automaker Skoda is revealing its freshened Octavia RS and Octavia Scout models, part of the second-generation Octavia line-up. First introduced in 2004, the Octavia is based on Volkswagen's A5 platform (shared with the Golf/Jetta Mk5). The 2009 model is available in both sedan and wagon (Scout) body styles.

Compared to last year's model, the facelifted Octavia features a redesigned front end with new headlamps (available with an adaptive xenon light system for the first time), new bumpers, and integrated LED daytime driving lights. Sporting new taillamps, the rear bumper has been redesigned as well. The refreshed Octavia rides on new 18-inch alloy wheels and is offered with several new metallic paint colors. According to Skoda, more than 82,000 Octavia RS and Scout models have been sold since 2000. Full press release after the jump.

Gallery: 2009 Skoda Octavia

Continue reading Skoda reveals facelifted Octavia RS and Scout

Skoda reveals facelifted Octavia RS and Scout originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 22 Apr 2009 08:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Can LEDs really save gas?

Frank Filipponio — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 15:31:00 EST

Filed under: Technology, Ford

We just came across this piece in The Detroit Free Press that talks about automotive light technology. It's a fairly lengthy but interesting look at how lights are developed and tested. It might seem like a rather mundane subject, but when you consider how important headlights and other lights are to motoring and motor safety, it makes for a good read. But for those who don't have the time right now, and let's face it, that's why most of you get your news from us in the first place, it tells of Ford's new light lab that allows the company to replicate just about any lighting condition on earth. From bright sunlight to pitch black, they use 5,000 watts of bulbs to duplicate any lighting conditions a driver might encounter. Then they put their own automotive lighting to the test to see how effective it is.

Besides the obvious visual performance of the lights, the automaker is also testing the efficiency of the elements. Seriously, they are looking at how new lights like LEDs can impact fuel economy and overall vehicle performance. As much as 5% of fuel consumption goes into powering a car's lights according to Mahendra Dassanayake, one of the senior staff technology specialists at the Dearborn facility. More efficient lighting equals more effcicient cars and trucks. The rest of the article goes on to show how GM and Chrysler as well as others are recognizing the benefits of LEDs and how their benefits are far-reaching. We encourage you to click over and read the whole article. While we've talked about "smart" headlights and innovative brake lights recently, we really have never thought about how these lights effect economy.

[Source: Detroit Free Press]

Can LEDs really save gas? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 23 Aug 2007 15:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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