LED headlights have surged in popularity due to their superior brightness, energy efficiency, and longevity compared to traditional halogen bulbs. The main technology behind LED headlight bulbs includes high-intensity light source, advanced heat management systems, and precision optical systems that ensure optimal light output and beam patterns. These advancements make LED headlights a top choice for drivers seeking enhanced visibility and safety on the road.
However, achieving both high brightness and high light efficacy has been a significant challenge in LED headlight bulb. High brightness often leads to increased heat, which can reduce the brightness and lifespan of the bulbs. Additionally, many vehicles face decoding issues where the LED headlights trigger radio interference or flickering due to magnetic field interference.
In this blog, we’ll unveil NAOEVO’s latest linear technology for LED headlight bulbs. After reading this blog, you will know how NAOEVO linear LED headlight bulbs solve these challenges!
What is Linear Power Supply ?
A linear LED power supply is an LED driver that convert unregulated DC voltage to a regulated DC voltage using a linear regulator. When the input voltage is close to the total LED (Vf) voltage, the efficiency of the linear driver can reach over 98%.
Besides, linear LED driver has less electronic components compared to traditional Switched-Mode Power Supply. This leads to lower magnetic interference with the car’s radio and reduce voltage loss, thereby improving decoding compatibility and enhancing lighting efficiency.
By reducing the number of electronic components within the driver, linear LED headlight bulbs can integrate essential functionalities directly into the bulb itself. This minimizes the need for an external Canbus driver, which contribute to easy installation.
However, linear drive has certain restrictions and requirements on its input voltage (Automobile supply voltage). If the input voltage exceeds its tolerance range, the driver IC will adjust itself for protection, thereby reducing the brightness of the LED headlight bulbs or even stopping them from working.
If the input voltage is too low, it will cause voltage instability, resulting in frequent flickering of the light.
Therefore, the working voltage range of linear drive is narrow, and the linear LED headlights used for 12V cars cannot be loaded into 24V trucks.
What is Traditional Switched-Mode Power Supply?
A switched-mode power supply (SMPS) designed for LED headlight bulb application is an LED driver that uses a switching regulator to convert the rectified DC power into a predetermined magnitude of DC power. SMPS LED drivers provide an efficient and technically mature solution to LED headlight bulb current control.
Due to the stability of its electronic component, traditional SMPS can ensure that the product’s power is not affected by changes in input voltage, allowing for products that operate over a wide voltage range of 9V-100V.
However, compared to linear drivers, traditional SMPS uses more components, such as diodes, MOSFETs, resistors, and inductors. When powered on, these components generate a magnetic field, which can cause some electromagnetic interference with car radios.
Linear VS. Switching Power Supply: What Are The Differences?
|
Parameters |
Switching Power Supply |
Linear Power Supply |
|
Main Components |
MOSFETs, Capacitors, Inductors, Resistors, Fuse, Diode, Control IC, etc |
Driver IC, Resistors, etc |
|
Working Principle |
It controls both the voltage and frequency of the current supplied to the LED. |
It works by controlling the voltage supplied to the LED. |
|
Efficiency |
Medium (80%-85%) |
High (Up to 98%) |
|
Input Voltage Range |
Wide input voltage range (9V-100V) |
Narrow input voltage range (12V car lights can’t be used on 24V trucks.) |
|
Manufacturing Difficulty |
Complex to manufacture due to more components and precise design |
Easier to manufacture with simpler design |
|
Product Volume |
Larger, high-power products need external drive boxes due to excess components. |
Smaller, driver integrated with the lamp body. |
|
Application |
Applied to high-power LED headlights |
Applied to low and medium power LED headlights |
|
Decoding Adaptability |
Low |
High |
|
Pros |
Stable performance Mature technology Supports 9V-100V wide working voltage |
Simple circuits, fewer quality issues No radio interference Good decoding compatibility High driver efficiency |
|
Cons |
Complex circuits, bulky size High-power needs external driver Decoding issues and radio interference |
Narrow operating voltage range Low automotive supply voltage causes light flickering |
Where Linear LED Driver Wins?
Linear LED drivers offer a number of advantages over other lighting solutions. Their most significant advantage is their ability to solve the decoding issue for vehicles.
A linear power supply is resistant to noise and electromagnetic interference and also does not cause RF interference with other devices. They also have a faster response as compared to switching power supply. Hence, when linear LED headlight bulbs are installed in your car, their will be no radio interference.
Linear drive uses one or more ICs to distribute voltage, with fewer types of electronic components, so the power efficiency are very high. Looking at future trends, linear LED headlights can achieve low power consumption with high luminous efficiency, making them more cost-effective products.
Additionally, linear LED drivers can be easily integrated into LED headlight bulb, allowing for an easy installation and cost-effective upgrade to car LED headlight.
Furthermore, a linear power supply has simple construction and design making them less complex as compared to a switching power supply. The simple design makes it easier to operate and maintain. The relatively simpler construction also prevents chances of failure making them more reliable.
The combination of these features make linear LED drivers an excellent choice when it comes to energy efficient LED headlight bulb. They provide all the benefits of traditional lighting systems, while reducing energy consumption and providing long-term savings in operational costs. The long lifespan and low maintenance requirements of linear LED drivers ensure that they will continue to be a popular option for
Why Linear LED Headlight Will Have A Bright Future?
Competition in the LED headlight bulb market is becoming increasingly fierce. In order to seize market share, more and more manufacturers are sacrificing product performance in pursuit of high brightness and blindly pursuing vicious low-price competition, which is extremely detrimental to the long-term healthy development of the entire industry.
Whereas the linear LED headlight bulbs combines the benefits of both less power consumption and high light efficacy, which is a good combination of high brightness and high performance.
This is mainly due to the inherent advantages of linear drive: high efficacy, low cost, ease of assembly, high stability, integrated functionality, and power cost advantages.
Because of this, linear LED drivers are ideal for auto LED headlight bulb than other types of drivers on the market while also having a longer lifespan and producing less heat output. These features make them perfect for cars, trucks, motorcycles, and other vehicles that require reliable lighting.
How NAOEVO Tackles Linear LED Headlight Challenges?
Although linear drive technology has been around for some time, most manufacturers have applied linear technology to low-end LED headlight bulb, and few manufacturers have seen its advantages and addressed the challenges faced by linear LED headlamp.
However, NAOEVO sees the future prospects of linear products and has decided to pioneer a new path of its own: “Replacing high-power LED headlights with high light efficacy LED headlights.” Let’s see the main challenges of linear LED headlight bulbs and how NAOEVO handles these problems.
Challenge 1: Narrow Operating Voltage
Linear power supplies currently are unable to accept a universal input voltage (Such as 12V to 24V) because linear drivers can only achieve an efficiency of over 98% when the input voltage is close to the total voltage of the LEDs. If the input voltage is too high, it may cause the LED headlights to gradually dim or even stop working.
Solution: Vehicle Specific Fit
LED headlight bulbs must be designed separately for use in 12V passenger cars and 24V trucks. NAOEVO uses a 12V LED light source for passenger cars and a 24V light source for trucks.
Challenge 2: Car Light Flickering Problem
As we mention above, linear drivers can only achieve an efficiency of over 98% when the input voltage is close to the total voltage of the LEDs.
However, if the input voltage is lower than the total voltage of LED, this will easily lead to the flickering of car headlight bulb. This is what we call input voltage fluctuations that may cause flickering.
Solution: Reduce the voltage of lamp beads and the pressure drop of drive IC
While most car headlight’s input voltage is ranging from 12V to 14V, to achieve higher linear drive efficiency. NAOEVO decide to reduce the voltage of lamp beads to below 12V and reduce the pressure drop of drive IC to below 0.6V.
This allows the linear drive to operate within a very comfortable voltage range, thus maximizing efficiency, improving the light efficiency and ensuring the stability of LED headlights.
Top 3 Linear LED Headlight Bulbs You Can Buy!
NAOEVO X50 is one of the most popular linear LED headlight bulb from NAOEVO. Feature 8 pieces 45MIL flip chip, X50 LED headlight bulbs are able to deliver an impressive 90W 10,000LM per set. With the latest flip chip technology, these bulbs provide reliable and efficient illumination for optimal nighttime driving.
To ensure an extended lifespan, X50 LED headlight bulbs are equipped with a premium aviation-grade aluminum body, a ultra-thin 1.5mm copper plate, and a powerful 8500RPM high-speed cooling fan. This cooling system dissipates heat, ensuring stable operation and an impressive long lifespan.
Thanks to its mini design, the X50 LED precisely mimic the factory halogen bulbs. This ensure the best light beam pattern, there’s a well-defined cutoff line on low beam, and uniform and concentrated light on high beam. With no dark area or shadow areas, and no blinding or glare for oncoming drivers while driving, which greatly enhances safety.
X50 LED headlight bulb uses the latest linear decoding technology. Which means that they will fit for 99% vehicle’s computer without error or flicker. Enjoy a easy stable performance of X50 LED headlight bulb.
SPECIFICATION
POWER: | 45W/Bulb |
LUMEN: | 5000LM/Bulb |
INPUT VOLTAGE: | DC9-16V |
OPERATING VOLTAGE: | 13.5V |
WORKING CURRENT: | 3.4A |
WARRANTY: | 1 Year |
Looking for LED bulbs to upgrade your OEM halogen headlights? Most LED headlight bulbs on the market come with a bulky external Canbus driver, making installation difficult for some narrow headlight assemblies.
The good news is, NAOEVO has developed the V03 series, a brand new LED headlight bulb with all-in-one design to perfectly fit for your vehicles.
The V03 LED headlight bulbs, equipped with 8 high-quality 45MIL custom flip chips, deliver an impressive output of 70W and 8400LM per pair, making them 300% brighter than stock halogen bulbs. With a linear power supply drive, these LED bulbs offer higher light efficacy compared to others with the same output, providing customers with brighter light and higher lux at a lower cost.
V03 LED headlight bulbs are designed with a compact mini size. What set V03 LED headlight bulb apart from others is its 12-degree tilt at the bottom. This design of V03 LED headlight bulb adds flexibility to its installation, leaving enough space for heat dissipation.
The built-in linear driver of V03 LED headlight bulbs means that they do not generate electromagnetic interference with the car radio. V03 LED headlight bulb is further optimized for sensitive models, giving them a superior level of compatibility.
SPECIFICATION
POWER: | 35W/Bulb |
LUMEN: | 4200LM/Bulb |
INPUT VOLTAGE: | DC9-16V |
OPERATING VOLTAGE: | 13.5V |
WORKING CURRENT: | 2.59A |
WARRANTY: | 1 Year |
The S3Max LED headlight bulb is an upgraded version of the S3 series, offering significant improvements in brightness and compatibility.
Featuring 8 pieces of 55mil patented flip chips, the S3Max delivers an impressive output of 90W and 10,000LM per set, compared to the S3’s 60W and 7200LM per set. This increased brightness provides drivers with better visibility at night.
The S3Max uses a 1:1 halogen beam and an ultra-thin 1.5MM copper plate to ensure full illumination without any black spots, preventing glare for oncoming traffic and enhancing safety in various driving conditions.
With an 8000RPM high-speed fan and a design made of aviation aluminum material, the S3Max also includes an IP68 waterproof function, allowing it to perform well in any bad weather, including snowstorms and severe fog.
Thanks to its linear drive, the S3Max LED headlight bulb is compatible with 98% of vehicles, with no error warnings or radio interference.
SPECIFICATION
POWER: | 45W/Bulb |
LUMEN: | 5000LM/Bulb |
INPUT VOLTAGE: | DC9-16V |
OPERATING VOLTAGE: | 13.5V |
WORKING CURRENT: | 3.4A |
WARRANTY: | 2 Years |
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, linear LED drivers are an important part of the automotive lighting industry. They offer a cost-effective, efficient solution for powering LED lighting, and can be used in many different automotive applications.
Linear LED headlight bulbs will have a good development prospect in the future. As one of the first group of manufacturers to develop linear drive LED headlight bulb, NAOEVO will continue to improve the user experience of linear products and provide customers with high-quality and low-cost products. Contact us to learn more about the linear LED headlight bulb!
