ZKW among the top 10 of all Austrian applications at the European Patent Office
The ZKW Group filed a total of 38 patents – out of a total of 2,146 applications from Austria – with the European Patent Office (EPO) in 2024. This puts the Wieselburg-based lighting systems specialist in eighth place among all Austrian patent applications at the EPO. At the same time, ZKW is the most innovative company in Lower Austria when it comes to patent applications. Among the inventions registered by ZKW are the latest lighting innovations for the automotive industry – such as a headlight with a coupled light guide. ZKW has filed a patent application for the replaceable headlamp cover lens as a sustainable solution. Another innovation deals with neural networks and AI to optimize the temperature and light management of LED modules. “The numerous patent applications underline the high innovative strength of the ZKW Group. Our intelligent lighting systems enable greater flexibility in vehicle design and more safety on the road,” says Wonyong Hwang, CEO of the ZKW Group.
Headlamps with coupled light guide
Since 2023, ZKW has been cooperating with plastics specialist and automotive supplier RESRG Automotive (formerly REHAU Automotive) to jointly advance the integration of modern lighting systems into vehicle fronts. As part of a current project, the joint development team has succeeded in transmitting the light from a headlamp to the front of the vehicle via a coupled light guide. “The integration of the control component into the headlamp housing and the mounting option provided for a fiber optic cable mean that the control unit no longer needs to be installed separately. This enables simple and cost-effective expansion of additional lighting functions around the headlamp housing,” explain ZKW developers Christoph Bierwipfl and Patrick Rappersberger (ZKW) and Johann Reichstein (RESRG Automotive).
Replaceable cover lens
With this innovation, the ZKW development team led by Markus Zeuner, Maximilian Gutmensch and Günay Güngör has succeeded in significantly increasing the repairability of headlamps and thus making a contribution to greater sustainability. The transparent cover lens of the headlamp can be attached and removed again using an innovative clamping element in order to replace components in the headlamp or the lens itself.
Optimizing the light distribution of LEDs with neural networks and AI
This invention uses the possibilities of neural networks and machine learning or artificial intelligence. LED modules are specifically controlled in order to achieve optimum temperature or light emission characteristics. “This optimization can be achieved by estimating the temperature of each individual LED based on measurement parameters and with the help of a neural network and controlling the system accordingly,” explain inventors Carl Csaky-Pallavicini and Johannes Ivancsics.
Austria among the top 10 for patent applications per capita
In 2024, Austrian companies filed a total of 2,146 patent applications for innovations with the EPO. This puts Austria in 16th place among the most patent-active countries of origin and in 8th place among the countries with the most patent applications per capita. This figure is a key indicator of a country’s innovative strength. There are nine European companies in the top 25, two more than in the previous year.
Source: https://www.epo.org/en/about-us/statistics/data-download
About ZKW
The ZKW Group is the specialist for innovative premium lighting systems and electronics. ZKW has been part of the LG Group as a subsidiary of LG Electronics Vehicle Solution Company since 2018.
As a system supplier, ZKW is a global partner to the automotive industry. In line with its motto “Bright Minds, Bright Lights.”, the Group develops and produces complex premium lighting and electronic modules for international car manufacturers with bright minds and state-of-the-art production technologies.
Its top products include powerful and cost-efficient complete LED systems. The ZKW Group has a total of twelve locations worldwide, with intelligently networked development and production. In 2024, the Group employed around 10,000 people and generated total sales of around 1.55 billion euros.
In accordance with the corporate vision “Ground-breaking premium lighting and electronic systems from ZKW for all mobility concepts of the global automotive industry”, the company’s primary goal is to produce top-quality high-tech products and to promote the development of innovative holistic lighting systems.
With our discoveries and inventions, the ZKW corporate group makes vehicles more desirable, more unique, safer, and more energy efficient. Our 360 degree product portfolio includes headlamps and fog lamps, rear lamps, flashers, interior and license plate lamps as well as electronic modules. Major automotive manufacturers trust their brands to innovative products from ZKW. We are proud of our customers like BMW (BMW, Rolls Royce), DAIMLER (MERCEDES-BENZ Cars and Trucks), FORD (Lincoln, Ford), GEELY (Volvo, Polestar, Lynk Co, Geely), GENERAL MOTORS (Buick, Chevrolet, Cadillac), Hyundai/Kia, JLR (Jaguar, Land Rover), Stellantis (Opel, Citroen), RENAULT/NISSAN (Infiniti, Alpine), VGTT (Volvo Trucks, MACK) and VW (Porsche, Audi, Lamborghini, Bentley, Skoda, Seat/Cupra, VW, VW Commercial Vehicles, MAN, Scania). With intelligent lighting systems and innovative styling, ZKW is shaping the look and character of vehicles worldwide.
Press contact
Andreas Wimmer
Headquarters
ZKW Group GmbH
Rottenhauser Straße 8
A-3250 Wieselburg
press@zkw-group.com
+43 7416 505 0
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