Optical Characterization of Automotive Interior Materials by BSDF

Future cars with (semi-) autonomous driving enable more use of in-vehicle displays and interior lighting with special visual effects. This deals as well with interior materials, which are illuminated or backlighted by RGB LEDs. Targeting premium visual ergonomics for advanced interior lighting requires additional know how of today’s and future interior materials. These evaluations require optical measurement methods with challenges. The presented work will examine different interior vehicle materials like leather, cotton-like plastics, and wood. All these materials reflect the light differently due to their material characteristics. In additional all materials have different surface structures which will impact the surface light scattering and thus the visual perception. Therefore, it is necessary to characterize the optical properties of these interior materials with appropriate measurement methods. We measure successfully reflectivity as BSDF (BRDF) using a goniophotometer and different light sources. Thus such fundamental optical examination allow special visual effects for future vehicles, since the BSDF data can be used in optical software for a “pleasant” light design.