The Auto Channel
The Largest Independent Automotive Research Resource
The Largest Independent Automotive Research Resource
Official Website of the New Car Buyer

Ford Licenses Color Kinetics' Patents For Automotive Lighting


PHOTO

BOSTON, April 4 -- Color Kinetics Incorporated 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."

About Color Kinetics

Color Kinetics Incorporated transforms environments through new, dynamic uses of light. Its award-winning lighting systems and technologies apply the benefits of LEDs as a highly efficient, long lasting, environmentally friendly, and inherently digital source of illumination -- reinventing light itself as a highly controllable medium. Color Kinetics also enables widespread adoption of LED lighting through OEM and licensing partnerships in diverse markets. The company is headquartered in Boston, MA with offices in the UK and China. More information is available at http://www.colorkinetics.com/.

Color Kinetics is a registered trademark and the Color Kinetics logo is a trademark of Color Kinetics Incorporated. All other trademarks mentioned are the property of their respective owners.