CN101018693A - Projector lamp headlight with chromatic aberration correction - Google Patents

Abstract

A reduced glare projector style headlight assembly (10) comprises a light source (14), a reflector (12) and an optical lens (18). An opaque mask (16) is positioned between the lens (18) and the reflector (12) for creating an upper shadow region in the focused beam pattern (28) to shield on-coming traffic. The mask (16) includes a transition region (32) proximate its top edge (22) for allowing a limited amount of projected light to pass through the mask (16), into the upper shadow region in the focused beam pattern (28). In several embodiments, the mask (16) is applied or otherwise affixed to a transparent substrate (20) which also supports the transition region (32). To combat undesirable chromatic effects, a color filter (38) can be positioned in the light path (26) for disrupting selective wavelengths of light energy. As alternative approaches, the transparent substrate (20) and/or the lens (18') can be doped with a color filtering material or composition.

Description

Projector lamp headlight with chromatic aberration correction

The cross reference of relevant application

Present patent application requires following preceence in first to file: No. the 60/560th, 797, the U.S. Provisional Patent Application of submitting on April 8th, 2004; And No. the 60/607th, 011, the U.S. Provisional Patent Application of submitting on September 3rd, 2004.

Technical field

Relate generally to headlight arrangement of the present invention.More specifically, the present invention relates to vehicle front employed porjection type (project-type) headlight arrangement that throws light on.

Background technology

Front lamp of vehicle mainly is to be used for providing when night driving the place ahead illumination to improve visbility.During use, most of front lamp of vehicle all have two kinds of mode of operations at least: the first is front or the country beam attitude used when head-on not having traffic when road traveling; Another kind is the low beam attitude of using under most of night driving state, makes chaufeur can see the fwd road conditions clearly, limits the dazzle because of using the country beam attitude to produce simultaneously.

When driving for the use low beam, statutory regulation requires front lamp of vehicle that a light path distribution light beam pattern (beam pattern) that concrete photometric requirement is arranged is provided usually, is not subjected to the influence of dazzle to protect oncoming traffic.The projector lamp headlight that can satisfy these requirements is in focused beam usually and shows relative bright/dark demarcation line (stark light/dark cutoff line).This tangible, so-called light-hachure comes from and has used the opaque metal mask so that upwards light beam projection of restriction.This mask is positioned at the bottom of light path between light source (and/or light deflector) and the collector lens, and in view of the imaging inverted character of collector lens commonly used, the shadow of mask projection is transferred to the upper area of projected light beam.Therefore, in the light beam of headlight arrangement projection, the upper limb of mask produces a light-hachure, wherein, light below this line, the top that shadow is then online.This dark bright light distribution pattern down can be the road surface visbility provides illumination, but also will reduce the dazzle to the oncoming vehicle generation as far as possible.

When an automobile ran into bulge or depression on the road surface, projected light beam may be interim in the visual field that rises to oncoming vehicle.Because significantly light-shadow border effect, oncoming vehicle will be considered as distractive flash of light (distracting flash) to the light beam of this rising and decline.

In addition, the porjection type headlight that is equipped with metal mask can also produce so-called " aberration " or bad colour effect (chromatic effect), has the tendency that the light that makes different colours focuses at difference.This aberration can produce bright colour light band effect, harasses or confuse oncoming chaufeur.Though the mechanism of this effect of relevant at present generation is also still disputable, this kind colour light band is considered to be generated by the metal mask upper limb.According to a kind of theoretical saying, the white light that sends from light source is beaten the upper limb of metal mask, produces a kind of beam splitting lens (prismatic lensing) effect with the upper limb ambient air, thereby white light is decomposed into colour light band (as shown in Figure 6A).According to another kind of theoretical, polarized at the metal mask upper limb with the light that leaning angle reflects, make the orientation comparatively obviously (as described in Fig. 6 B) of visible electromagnetic field vector.No matter its reason how, known aberration causes a kind of bad effect, and when the oncoming vehicle that uses the porjection type headlight ran into the of short duration orchid of protuberance or recessed generation-purple flash of light on the road surface, colour light band usually presented blue look, and very showy.These flashes of light produce the dazzle harassing and wrecking to the vehicle on opposite, disperse its attention, and the vehicle that usually makes chaufeur think that the opposite is come by mistake may be the car of using of police car or other emergency situation.

Therefore, in order to help oncoming safety traffic, people are badly in need of reducing the negative glare effect of this tangible light-shadow border and aberration generation.

Summary of the invention

According to a first aspect of the invention; a kind of porjection type headlight arrangement that can weaken dazzle comprise a light source that sends visible light, described light source of vicinity and the catadioptre that light is led the place ahead light path common, one be arranged in described the place ahead light path in order to conversion and adjust optical lens and opaque mask that light becomes focused beam; in the place ahead light path of this mask between described lens and described catadioptre, in described focused beam, form a top shaded area with the protection oncoming vehicle.Described mask has a upper limb of setting up a light-shadow border in described focused beam.This mask comprises a transition region near described upper limb, makes limited projection light pass mask.By making a little projection light enter to be in the top on the light-shadow border in the described focused beam, when light-shadow border is mirrored or is left the sight line of oncoming vehicle, because the weakening of light intensity abrupt change, make oncoming vehicle all or to small part have benefited from this effect.

According to another aspect of the present invention; a kind of porjection type headlight arrangement that can weaken dazzle comprises a light source that sends visible light; described light source of vicinity and the catadioptre that light is led the place ahead light path common; one be arranged in described the place ahead light path in order to conversion and adjust the optical lens that light becomes focused beam; a color filter that optionally disturbs the luminous energy wavelength that is arranged in described the place ahead light path; and opaque mask; in the place ahead light path of this mask between described lens and described catadioptre, in described focused beam, form a top shaded area with the protection oncoming vehicle.Described mask has a upper limb and the transition region near its upper limb of setting up a light-shadow border in described focused beam.This transition region makes the limited light in the light path forwardly pass described mask, makes a little projection light enter to be in the top on the light-shadow border in the described focused beam thus.Like this, reduced conversely the distractive influence of oncoming vehicle, this influence can be when light-shadow border is mirrored or left the sight line of oncoming vehicle, because of the light intensity abrupt change produces.Any aberration that produces in this device can be controlled by color filter.

According to a further aspect of the invention, a kind of porjection type headlight arrangement that can weaken dazzle comprise a light source that sends visible light, described light source of vicinity and the catadioptre that light is led the place ahead light path common, one be arranged in described the place ahead light path in order to conversion and adjust the optical lens that light becomes focused beam, these lens comprise a kind of filter material, and the energy selectivity is disturbed the luminous energy wavelength in the light path; And an opaque mask, in the place ahead light path of this mask between described lens and described catadioptre, in described focused beam, form a top shaded area with the protection oncoming vehicle.Described mask has a upper limb and the transition region near its upper limb of setting up a light-shadow border in described focused beam.This transition region makes the limited light in the light path forwardly pass described mask, makes a little projection light enter to be in the top on the light-shadow border in the described focused beam thus.In this structure, when light-shadow border was mirrored or left the sight line of oncoming vehicle, oncoming vehicle can not dashed forward and be met the abrupt change of light intensity, and any aberration that produces in this device can be controlled by filter lens.

Description of drawings

Read the following detailed description below in conjunction with accompanying drawing, can similarly know and understand fully other advantage of the present invention.Wherein:

What Fig. 1 showed is the simplified perspective view that comprises the headlight arrangement of lamp, catadioptre, mask and lens in the one embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is the transparent view that has the opaque mask of skew transition region among the optional embodiment;

Fig. 3 is the forward-looking front elevation of mask that sees through headlight arrangement shown in Figure 1, for the diagram purpose shows its transition region in exaggerative mode;

Fig. 4 is the front elevation of similar Fig. 3, but has shown the another kind of structure of transition region;

Fig. 5 is the simplification cross sectional drawing of the headlight arrangement of another embodiment, shows by the place ahead light path of light behind the catadioptre change of direction with from the focused beam of lens;

Fig. 6 A and Fig. 6 B are the enlarged drawings in zone shown in Figure 5, have shown the origin cause of formation with different theoretical explanation aberration;

What Fig. 7 showed is another embodiment of the present invention, and wherein, lens have used the colour filter coating;

What Fig. 8 showed is another embodiment of the present invention, and wherein, a color filter is between light source and lens; With

What Fig. 9 showed is another embodiment of the present invention, and wherein, lens contain filter material.

The specific embodiment

Fig. 1 has shown a porjection type headlight arrangement 10, and it comprises that one usually is positioned at light in the light source 14 on catadioptre 12 focuses, an opaque mask 16 and lens 18 that are positioned at mask 16 the place aheads that are positioned at light source 14 the place aheads along the catadioptre 12 of light path guiding forward, one.Light source 14 can be any known type, comprises halide torch, tungsten lamp, high-intensity discharge lamp (xenon lamp) etc.As known in the art, catadioptre 12, mask 16 and lens 18 the most handy lens bracket (not shown) interconnect, and whole headlight arrangement 10 is packed in the bigger front lamp cover (figure do not show).Different with mask 16, representational catadioptre 12, light source 14 and lens 18 are that those of ordinary skills widely are familiar with and available element among Fig. 1.

The mask 16 that shows is rectangle basically, but also can be other shape with equal effect, comprises the lens mount overcoat that is fit to pack into not shown or the shape in the front lamp cover.The rectangular shape of the amplification of mask 16 is in order to remove all its side and bases in the light path of the place ahead, so that reduce negative air/border effect among Fig. 1.Mask 16 can be incorporated into one with Fig. 1, Fig. 3 and a coplanar transparent substrates 20 of being made by glass or plastics shown in Figure 4.In this case, mask 16 is made of the opaque coating or the coating that are attached to or are coated on the transparent substrates 20, uses any technology of knowing, as glazing, etching, imbed, coating etc.Perhaps, as shown in Figure 2, mask 16 is in the mode of bearing, and---promptly being fixed on the plane of a biasing---sticks on the transparent substrates 20, and its reason is discussed below.

The zone that mask 16 covers ends at the extreme higher position of its upper limb 22, and the mask 16 with upper limb 22 has presented several shapes, comprises the sloping portion 24 that selective resistance is in the light, and this sloping portion 24 is that the incense choosing is used.If use, it can have multiple shape and structure, depends on needed light beam style fully.No matter concrete structure how, upper limb 22 all can be set up light-shadow border in focused beam.In Fig. 5, light dots, and has the light path forward 26 of the light that reflects from catadioptre 12, the focused beam 28 that lens 18 send, and the light-hachure 30 that comprises focused beam 28 upper areas.

See Fig. 3 again, what show here is the front elevation of mask 16.Mask 16 comprises the transition region 32 near its upper limb 22, makes a certain amount of projection light pass mask 16.This transition region 32 makes the projection light of a little enter the top on the light-shadow border 30 of focused beam 28, and the traffic that makes the opposite come is benefited a great deal.Because when light-shadow border 30 is mirrored or is left the visual field of oncoming vehicle, can be all or reduce the influence that abrupt change caused of light intensity to small part.Transition region 32 preferably includes the light transmission of different stage, and is opaque from the opaque completely part to its top of its bottom.The existing visible luminous energy of the opaque expression small part of part passes lens 18, and the part visible light then can not pass.In any case, transition region only can occupy a part or nearly all mask 16, thereby makes it as the Fig. 2-step by step shown in Figure 4 or the top transmitted ray of mask 16 above whole mask 16 or just progressively.

As an example, transition region 32 forms with banded or progressive opaque form, wherein least transparent part stops all visible lights (promptly＞～90% visible light is blocked), medium opaque section stop portions visible light (being blocked as 50% visible light) substantially and only can stop hoot visible light (being blocked as 10% visible light) than transparent part in the bottom, and this more transparent part is near upper limb 22.This transition region can be finished by any way, and for example in the Fig. 3 shown in the exaggerative form, transition region 32 comprises a plurality of discrete opaque points 34, and transparent substrate 20 comes out around these discrete points.Adopt and generating mask 16 identical materials on the transparent substrates 20 and technology can generate opaque point 34 on transparent substrates 20.Usually a plurality of discrete opaque points 34 can be the geometric configuratioies of repetition, round dot for example shown in Figure 3.They also can be other shape, pattern or grid.In Fig. 3, near the zone that is limited by discrete opaque point 34 the upper limb 22 is regional littler than what limited from upper limb 22 farther discrete opaque points 34.In other words, bigger near the diameter of the discrete opaque point 34 of transition region 32 bottoms, when they during progressively near upper limb 22, discrete 34 of opaque points are more and more littler.

Perhaps as shown in Figure 4, transition region 32 can also comprise a plurality of discrete holes 36, exposes transparent substrates 20 by them.These discrete holes 36 also can have the geometric configuration of repetition, circle as shown in Figure 4 usually.But as previously mentioned, they also can be other geometric configuration and/or patterns.In order to realize the gradual transition from opaque to transparent, these zones that discrete hole 36 limited near upper limb 22 are bigger than the zone that the discrete hole 36 away from upper limb 22 is limited.

Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 represent the different application of the sintering belt technology that the prior art Windshield uses respectively.Usually, sintering belt is to be coated in around the Windshield and baking is advanced in the glass and formed by black enamel (enamel), and it presents the point that gradually changes or the border in hole usually, and its part can be served as the fixed shading plate.Yet, also have many other technology also to can be used to generate this novel transition region 32 of mask 16 as what the present invention presented.For example to can be made into one all be the metallo-plate to mask 16, zone punching at an upper portion thereof, thus generate as transition region required among Fig. 5-Fig. 9 32.In addition, need not punch but generate crenellation pattern or the pectination edge also can play same effect at the upper area of mask 16.Technology that any one is such or other design all can be used to realize to allow the light in limited the place ahead light path pass mask 16, make a little projection light enter the purpose of the top on the light of focused beam 28-shadow border 30.Can reduce the distractability to oncoming vehicle like this, this effect can be when light-shadow border 30 is mirrored or left the visual field, owing to the abrupt change of light intensity produces.

Fig. 6 A has shown the air/edge interface on the mask 16.Wherein, air represents that with the A line imaginary prism is sentenced dotted line at P and represented.The light that penetrates from light source 14 passes prism P (as air/edge interface A) and is shattered into chromatic spectrum (ROYGBV), and the light that wherein is positioned at orchid-purple scope then is easy to the traffic on opposite is produced maximum stimulation.Perhaps shown in Fig. 6 B, problematic color colour effect is to form polarization state and cause by sentence light that leaning angle reflects from metal mask 16 upper limbs 22.

Can learn that in conjunction with Fig. 1, Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 mask 16 needn't be imbedded or be embedded on the transparent substrates 20.On the contrary, mask 16 can be adhesion, assembling or alternate manner and be additional to independent component on the transparent substrates 20.In Fig. 2, this optional embodiment illustrates the mask 16 that constitutes with the metal sheet of conventional design, and its transition region 32 is coated in one independently on the transparent substrates 20.The method of the windstream of this embodiment by adopt upsetting upper limb 22 tops has solved the problem of colour band, because the air/edge effect of metal mask 16 and may produce this colour band.

All embodiment of the present invention with regard to having discussed at present clear out of and/or tell by the light path of light that the air A that will be positioned at air/edge interface place sends from light source, can eliminate this problematic colour effect.Optional as another kind, or extra a kind of mode, transparent substrates 20 is implemented absorption or disturbed surface treatment also can further reduce or eliminate this air/border effect.For example known absorbing or interference coating can be used to stop selectively the light of some wavelength.In the visible region of spectrum, absorption appears at absorber coatings, and at this moment electromagnetic energy is not passed coating.That is to say that predetermined energy wavelength is absorbed and needn't be reflected by coating.The color filter that is integrated into transparent substrates 20 can also comprise that one deck disturbs coating, wherein can not see through the disturbed phenomenon of wavelength rather than the absorption or the scattering removing of color filter.This interference coating or color filter generally include the alternately coating made from two or more materials with different refractivity, can be in the different piece of electromagnetic spectrum, as ultraviolet, visible light and infrared radiation (IR radiation) optionally transmission and/or reflected light rays.The conventional process of making color filter is that employing is well-known to those skilled in the art double-colored to coating process.

In addition, mask 16 can also with all or part of transparent substrates 20 as double-colored to or half material that absorbs, or with this class material as the coating on the transparent substrates 20, or with all or part of substrate 20 as manufacturings such as variable refractivity (gradient-index) glass.

7-Fig. 9 with the aid of pictures has more now proposed various different embodiment, and wherein, when not using or not having available transparent substrates 20, problematic colour effect will be overcome.During without transparent substrates 20, owing to can produce more surface, and the light in the light path of the place ahead may have the opposite effect to described surface, and near the aberration phenomenon transitional region 32 may be more obvious.In these embodiments, Tao Yan orchid-purple (or other color gamut or direction vector) light is absorbed or scattering because of having used the colour filter technology.

In Fig. 7, one deck colour filter coating 38 that utilization is coated on the lens 18 has solved colour effect.This coating is known in the art, and they may be double-colored to the type coating, light that can only some wavelength of transmission, other light on the reflectance spectrum simultaneously; Or be used for filtering other known coating of the light and/or the direction vector of offensive wavelength.In this manner, make the unhappy orchid-purple light of people can not see through lens 18.Certainly, can optionally filter out the light (comprising orchid-purple scope or other scope or direction vector) of any offensive inflexible wavelength by the composition of regulating coating 38.

In the embodiment of Fig. 8, color filter 40 is arranged in the place ahead light path 26, and is preferably placed between light source 14 and the lens 18.As shown in the figure, color filter 40 can be fixed in the front lamp cover that is close to the mask of representing with solid line or dotted line 16.The material manufacture that can buy on color filter 40 available markets, be widely used in photography and lighting field, for example dichroic filters, gel coated lens etc.Color filter 40 optionally stops the light of tedious wavelength, prevents that orchid-purple light (or disagreeable polarized light) from passing lens 18.As the extension of this notion, a plurality of color filter 40 with various filtering characteristics can be combined selected range of wavelength of filtration and/or direction.

In Fig. 9, lens 18 have doped filter material, and this metamaterials can be selected commercially available from market, the known in the art material.The glass of lens 18 (or other constitute) mixes with the colour filter material with its state original, that do not melt, and the composite of generation forms lens shape subsequently, thereby has inherent colour filter characteristic.

The invention provides a projector lamp headlight device 10, soft light-shadow border 30 can be provided, eliminated the dazzle that produces owing to the jump light beam that projects oncoming vehicle and negative colour effect.

Must recognize, more than describe with the present invention preferably embodiment be introduced, but the present invention is limited to these specific embodiments of introducing by no means, those skilled in the art are all clear also to have multiple variation and modification to knowing, for example multiple different macking technique and the geometrics of mask 16 all can use.In addition, although be depicted as the rectangle mask, any other shape that is fit to application-specific also can be used.All such changes and modifications all fall within the scope of the invention.

Claims (20)

1. porjection type headlight arrangement that can weaken dazzle comprises:

A light source that sends visible light;

A catadioptre, contiguous described light source is with light the place ahead light path that leads;

An optical lens is arranged in described the place ahead light path, becomes focused beam in order to conversion and adjustment light;

An opaque mask in the place ahead light path between described lens and described catadioptre, forms a top shaded area with the protection oncoming vehicle in described focused beam; Described mask has a upper limb of setting up a light-shadow border in described focused beam;

Described mask comprises a transition region near described upper limb, make limited projection light pass the below of described upper limb, make a little projection light enter to be in the top on the light-shadow border in the described focused beam thus, the abrupt change of the unlikely prominent chance light intensity of oncoming vehicle when described light-shadow border is mirrored or left the visual field.

2. device according to claim 1 is characterized in that described transition region comprises a transparent substrates along described upper limb normal direction that presents with the gradual change amount in described mask.

3. device according to claim 2, it is characterized in that described transition region be fixed on the coplanar plane of described mask in.

4. device according to claim 2 is characterized in that described transition region is fixed in the plane of setovering with described mask remainder.

5. device according to claim 2 is characterized in that described transition region comprises a plurality of discrete opaque points, exposes described transparent substrates around described discrete point.

6. device according to claim 5, it is characterized in that described a plurality of discrete opaque point has the geometric configuration of repetition, wherein, lack than the zone that described discrete opaque point limited near the zone that described discrete opaque point limited of described upper limb away from described upper limb.

7. device according to claim 2 is characterized in that described transition region is included in a plurality of discrete hole in the described mask, exposes described transparent substrates by discrete hole.

8. device according to claim 7, it is characterized in that described a plurality of discrete hole has the geometric configuration of repetition, wherein, bigger near the zone that described discrete hole limited of described upper limb than the zone that described discrete hole limited away from described upper limb.

9. device according to claim 2 is characterized in that described transparent substrates extends to described the place ahead light path of light from described mask upper limb top.

10. device according to claim 2 is characterized in that described transition region is included in a plurality of discrete hole in the described mask, exposes described transparent substrates by discrete hole.

11. device according to claim 1 is characterized in that described mask comprises double-colored at least a in material and absorbing material.

12. device according to claim 1 is characterized in that described transparent substrates is made of variable refractivity glass and constitutes at least a portion of described mask.

13. device according to claim 2 is characterized in that described mask comprises that a metal covers, the contiguous described metal of described transparent substrates covers.

14. device according to claim 1, also further comprise one be positioned on the light path of described the place ahead in order to optionally to disturb the color filter of luminous energy wavelength.

15. device according to claim 14 is characterized in that described color filter is between described mask and described lens.

16. device according to claim 15 is characterized in that described color filter is fixed on the described lens.

17. device according to claim 14 is characterized in that described color filter is between described light source and described mask.

18. device according to claim 1 is characterized in that described lens package contains the filter material that is used for optionally disturbing the luminous energy wavelength on described light path.

19. a porjection type headlight arrangement that weakens dazzle comprises:

A light source that sends visible light;

A catadioptre, contiguous described light source is with light the place ahead light path that leads;

An optical lens is arranged in described the place ahead light path, becomes focused beam in order to conversion and adjustment light;

A color filter is arranged in described the place ahead light path, optionally disturbs the luminous energy wavelength;

An opaque mask in the place ahead light path between described lens and described catadioptre, forms a top shaded area with the protection oncoming vehicle in described focused beam; Described mask has a upper limb of setting up a light-shadow border in described focused beam;

Described mask comprises a transition region near its upper limb, this transition region makes the limited light in the light path forwardly pass described mask, make a little projection light enter to be in the top on the light-shadow border in the described focused beam thus, the abrupt change of the unlikely prominent chance light intensity of oncoming vehicle when described light-shadow border is mirrored or left the visual field.

20. the porjection type headlight arrangement that can weaken dazzle comprises:

A light source that sends visible light;

A catadioptre, contiguous described light source is with light the place ahead light path that leads;

An optical lens is arranged in described the place ahead light path, becomes focused beam in order to conversion and adjustment light, and described lens comprise the filter material that is used for optionally disturbing the luminous energy wavelength on described light path;

An opaque mask in the place ahead light path between described lens and described catadioptre, forms a top shaded area with the protection oncoming vehicle in described focused beam; Described mask has a upper limb of setting up a light-shadow border in described focused beam;

Described mask comprises a transition region near its upper limb, this transition region makes the limited light in the light path forwardly pass described mask, make a little projection light enter to be in the top on the light-shadow border in the described focused beam thus, the abrupt change of the unlikely prominent chance light intensity of oncoming vehicle when described light-shadow border is mirrored or left the visual field.

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