DE10005795A1 - Controllable headlights - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a controllable headlight comprising a field of n individual light emitters (4) and at least one optical light directing element (3, 2L, 2R) which is displaceably mounted in front of each individual light emitter (4) and which is provided for influencing a light beam respectively emitted by the assigned individual light emitter (4). The individual light emitters (4) are preferably provided in the form of light-emitting diodes, and the light directing elements (3, 2L, 2R) are provided in the form of micro-optical elements. The headlight is preferably used as a motor vehicle headlight.

Description

This invention relates to a headlamp with a controllable Light control system.

Controllable light guides are used for headlights, in particular for car headlights known systems that not only different light intensities, dimming and provide high beam functions, but also a side off Illumination in the curve or horizontal headlight range adjustment possible chen. Possibilities for realizing this result from liquid control te or by piezo or electromagnetically controlled in the headlamp ordered optical lenses.

US 5,438,486 describes a shape-changeable lens for use in car headlights that consist of a transparent, disc-like hollow body consists of one flat side is formed from an elastic material. The hollow body is filled with a likewise transparent liquid, so that one side made of elastic material when increasing the fluid pressure convex and thus the focal length of the lens is changed to that of switch illuminated areas between low beam and high beam. In Throttle valves or interconnected ones can be located inside the lens zelkammern be arranged to shift the liquid during the To prevent acceleration. A conventional glow is the light source lamps / reflector arrangement selected.

From DE 196 48 620 A1 is a lighting system with one by changes Liquid pressure adjustable lens to adjust the lighting tion field known. Here is an incandescent lamp / concave mirror / lens both an infinitely variable lighting cone and one Allows influencing the shape of the light cone of the lighting system.

From US 5,747,273 are for finer adjustment of the shape and distribution of the lighting field for lighting systems in theaters fields from to described flexible lenses working principle described above. Here respective cavities, which are each assigned to a lens, by a Honeycomb structure formed over which a meme as a flexible transparent material bran is excited. All cavities or individual groups of cavities are fluid  in connection with each other, so that when pressure is applied all Lentils or certain groups of lenses are bulged out in the same way. In addition to round or hexagonal lenses, cylindrical lenses are also mentioned. Here, too, all lenses are replaced by a common light bulb / reflector Arrangement shines through.

DE 36 28 421 A1 describes a headlight for motor vehicles, at to influence the shape of the light beam reaching the road an incandescent lamp with a reflector, one fixed in the focal point of the reflector existing aperture and a reshaped slidable along the optical axis tete lens are provided.

All previously described headlights have in common that a parabolic mirror or the like is used as a reflector to pass through by the bulb generated light to obtain a parallel light beam, which by the nachge switched lens or the downstream lens system is affected. this has but on the one hand the disadvantage that even with a geometrically ideal shape of the Not all rays are parallel because the light source, here the lamps helix, is not punctiform, but has a finite extent. Wei ter there are the disadvantages that the production of the mirror is expensive and the mounted headlamp in terms of its size, d. H. Luminous area has a relatively large depth.

The use of light-emitting diode fields as a rear light enables a flat design, but is not suitable as a headlight. The manufacture of such a light-emitting diode array is described in the article by T. Ashley et al. "Optical Concen trators for Light Emitting Diodes", SPIE, Vol. 3289 ( 1998 ), pages 43 to 50 be described.

Accordingly, the object of the invention is to produce one in a simple manner Specify dim headlights with a controllable light control system.

This object is achieved according to the invention by a generic headlight according to patent claim 1 . Advantageous further developments are specified in the subordinate claims.

The headlight according to the invention has an array of n individual light emitters on, with each light emitter exactly one or more optical light directing elements  are assigned to each one of the associated lights affect the emitted light beam, preferably by their focal wide or relative position is adjustable with respect to the emitter, or by Change the refraction of the deflection angle is adjustable. Through such before preferably liquid-controlled or by piezo or electromagnetic preferably controlled micro-optical elements, which are preferably in front of each Individual light emitters can be controlled individually, a desired lighting tion field are generated because the generation of parallel beams and a ge desired lighting field no longer on a combination of glow helix or a light emitter with a parabolic mirror and a lens or Lens group, but on n individual emitters arranged in one field each with an upstream lens or lens group. In addition to the optical Lichtlenkungselementes can change the relative position of Lichtlen kungselementes to the individual light emitter the individual light emitters themselves by min at least one actuator can be adjustable.

According to the invention is similar to the state of the art by means of the pressure of a fluid changeable lens a headlight range adjustment taken that not only low and high beam functions are available provides, but also a stepless horizontal headlight range adjustment light. Next is preferably by means of two additional, by the pressure egg Nes fluid changeable lenses a light width and / or side illumination tion regulation made, which is also infinitely adjustable to For example, when cornering, anticipatory lighting of the road receive.

As an alternative to the lenses that can be changed by the pressure of a fluid according to the invention switchable by a fluid from refraction to transmission Prisms or optical elements displaceable by actuators, preferably one fixed focal length lens that can be moved by actuators.

As single light emitters, for example, light-emitting diodes (LEDs), low-molecular lare or polymeric OLEDs or VCSELs is used, so according to the invention Single emitter-based headlights with a controllable light control system realized in a flat design.

The headlight according to the invention is preferably used as a motor vehicle registration certificate thrower used. Due to the inventive arrangement of a respective adjustable  optical light directing element before each individual light emitter sufficient illuminance is also achieved in this case.

The preferred configurations according to the invention can be used to achieve this a combination of desired functions combined with each other or under be exchanged.

The invention is based on schematic drawings Based on exemplary preferred embodiments further explained tert. Show it:

Fig. 1 is provided with three lenses per individual light emitter light control system according to a first embodiment according to the inven tion.

Fig. 2 different light control functions of the light control system shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 shows the principle of operation of the filling system of a lens array.

Fig. 4 shows the filling system of a lens array for side illumination or regulation of the light width.

FIG. 5 shows a possible assignment of the filling channels shown in FIG. 4 and lenses adapted to them in accordance with FIG. 1 to the individual light emitters.

Fig. 6 shows a light control system with prisms and lenses according to a second embodiment according to the invention.

FIG. 7 shows different light control functions of the light control system shown in FIG. 6.

Fig. 8 shows the assignment of filling channels and individual prisms and lenses to the individual light emitters for the light control system shown in Fig. 6.

Fig. 9 shows a headlamp light control function of a steering system according to a third embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 10 light control functions of a light control system according to a fourth embodiment according to the invention.

Fig. 11 is a plan view of a portion of the intelligent light control system shown in Fig. 10.

A light steering system according to the invention for a headlight according to a first embodiment according to the invention will be described below with reference to FIGS . 1 to 5.

Fig. 1 shows a sectional view of the first embodiment according to the invention, in which each individual light emitter 4 of a field of n individual light emitters are assigned to lenses which can be changed by the pressure of a fluid, namely a first fillable lens 3 for near and high beam, ie for stepless headlight range control, and two second in relation to the field of individual light emitters 4 and the first lenses 3 with half pitch, ie in the horizontal dimension in half a grid, arranged second lenses 2 L, 2 R for stepless side lighting to the left or to the left right or for infinitely variable beam width regulation.

In the case shown, the individual light emitters 4 are arranged on a common sub strate 5 and each provided with a reflector 1 . Above each Re reflector 1 , two second lenses 2 L, 2 R and above a first lens 3 are net angeord. In the upper part of FIG. 1 unfilled first lenses 3 and two filled lenses 2 L, 2 R are shown, ie that a respective beam emanating from an individual light emitter 4 does not pass through the first lens 3 arranged in front of it and the lenses 2 L arranged there before , 2 R is influenced. In the lower part of FIG. 1 it is shown that the respective first lenses 3 are also filled with a fluid.

Due to the arrangement according to the invention, exactly one lens group for each Single emitter of a field of n single emitters can be the beam alignment in Comparison with the described prior art due to the reduced Mapping errors occur more precisely. It is further through the use of a field  of n individual light emitters additionally possible, a flat headlight build up.

Fig. 2 shows an example of a single light shown in Fig. 1 ter 4 how a light beam emanating therefrom is influenced by a respective first lens 3 or second lens 2 L, 2 R. In the upper left part of Fig. 2, the case is shown that neither the first lens 3 nor a second lens 2 L, 2 R are pressurized. Therefore, the light rays emitted by the individual light emitter 4 and the associated reflector 1 are not influenced by the lenses 3 , 2 L, 2 R which can be changed by the pressure of a fluid and are emitted essentially as a parallel light beam.

In the upper right part of FIG. 2 it is shown that the parallel light beams emitted by the single-cell light emitter 4 via the reflector 1 are bundled by a filled first lens 3 . Depending on the fluid pressure, the curvature of the lens surface of the first lens 3 changes , as a result of which the focal point can be shifted, ie the light range can be variably regulated. The second lenses 2 L, 2 R are again not filled, so that they do not affect the beam.

In the lower part of FIG. 2, a pressurized second lens 2 L is shown on the left, which is arranged on the left above the individual light emitter 4 , and on the right a pressurized second lens 2 R, which is arranged on the right above the individual cell emitter. The respective other two lenses are not filled, which in turn does not affect the beam path. It is to be known that a filled second lens 2 L deflects the generated light beam to the left and a filled second lens 2 R deflects or widens the generated light beam to the right. In this way, a directed side illumination or in the event that both second lenses 2 L, 2 R are filled, any headlight range adjustment can be carried out depending on the fluid pressure. Of course, the degree of side illumination can also be determined via the filling pressure.

Fig. 3 shows the example of the first lens 3, the structure of the inventively usable by the pressure of a fluid changeable lenses. The steering system for headlight range control shown here consists of two thin plastic plates that are provided with channels for fluid control on the inside. The surface containing the lenses 3 can be produced, for example, from a stretchable silicone polymer as a membrane. For this purpose, a stretchable silicone polymer is connected to a transparent thin solid polymer plate 3 a, which contains round openings with the diameters and pitch corresponding to the spherical lenses. This creates a transparent membrane field. Due to the closed connection of the membrane field with a solid polymer plate 3 b, the targeted change in the overpressure enables a change in the focal length of the lens field due to the difference in the extensibility between the regions of the round openings of the membrane field, that is to say the lenses 3 , and the regions in between .

In the upper part of FIG. 3 it is shown how the field consisting of individual lenses 3 is subjected to an equilibrium pressure P ₀ which does not cause the lenses 3 to bulge. The lower part of Fig. 3 shows an application with an overpressure P necessary for the curvature of the lenses 3. Depending on the strength of the overpressure P, the curvature of the lenses 3 of the membrane field and thus their focal point, ie the light range, can be determined.

With reference to FIG. 4, the example of the second lens 2 L, 2 R for the headlight range adjustment is described, as instead of the spherical lens fields described with reference to FIG. 3, cylindrical lens fields can also be used.

To produce such cylindrical lens fields with lenses 2 L, 2 R, a non-structured stretchable film is glued directly onto the upper edges of the liquid channels L, R over a transparent, thin, solid polymer plate provided with channels L, R. These edges replace the inextensible areas of the spherical fields shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 4 shows an example provided with two channels L, R Polymerplat te 2 b, where both channels L, R in the polymer sheet b 2 ends, that each have only one open end. The channels L, R are each designed so that they lie alternately next to each other in the longitudinal direction, ie in their transverse direction z. B. the order L, R, L, R is formed.

Fig. 5 diagrammatically shows the assignment of in Fig. 4 len Kanae shown in the channeled polymer sheet b 2 to the individual light emitters 4, wherein the polymer sheet b 2 is only shown as a section. It can be seen that each individual light emitter 4 is assigned two channels L, R in the polymer plate 2 b.

As an alternative to gluing the stretchable film directly onto the edges of the channels, a spherical lens field can be arranged over the channels instead of the cylindrical lens field, as is also shown in FIG. 5. The manufacture of this spherical lens field is done analogously to the manufacture of the first lenses 3 , but with half the pitch being used according to the channels, since by means of the second lenses 2 L, 2 R the side illumination or luminous width regulation is carried out, which is why - as before wrote - two second lenses 2 L, 2 R are arranged in front of a single light emitter 4 , ie a second lens for each channel L, R arranged over a single light emitter 4 .

Fig. 6 shows a second embodiment according to the invention in which, unlike the aforementioned first embodiment of the invention, the second lens 2 L, 2 R, which deflect the oblique to the direction of irradiation of the entire emitter array extending beams more laterally, so Perform the function of the side lighting via the two independent channel systems, since independent activation of the left and / or right lens system of the second lenses 2 L, 2 R is made possible by a fixed prism field with a prism 7 with two dimming areas per single light emitter 4 is set, wherein the prisms 7 are within a speed with an immersion liquid fillable hollow plate, which has for each prism 2 each abutting a deflecting filling channels 6 . A respective prism 7 is arranged in such a way that incident light rays when filling both filling channels 6 are let through due to the transmission without interference, in the case of a respective unfilled filling channel 6, however, the rays going through the part of the prism 7 , which is at the unfilled Be filling channel 6 is deflected by refraction.

In Fig. 6 it is shown that the low and high beam functions, ie the headlight range control, which is realized in the first embodiment according to the invention by an additional field of first lenses 3 , in the upper part of Fig. 6 without excess pressure and in the lower part of FIG. 6 are charged with overpressure.

FIG. 7 shows, analogously to FIG. 2, the light control function for the second embodiment according to the invention. In the upper left part, a first lens 3 filled with overpressure and filled filling channels 6 is shown, whereby the parallel beams generated by means of the individual light emitter 4 and the reflector 1 pass through without being influenced by the prism 7 and the first lens 3 . In the upper right part a bundling of the generated parallel rays is achieved by the pressurized first lens 3 .

The lower part of the left shows a lateral deflection to the left and right of a lateral deflection to the right by a respective emptying of the left against the left Abblendfläche of the prism 7 or the right adjacent to the right from glare surface of the prism 7 adjoining filling duct. 6 By borrowing both filling channels, a defined beam expansion takes place.

Fig. 8 shows a field of 3 x 3 individual light emitters 4, the respective voltage Assign a prism 7 with two filling channels 6 into a single light emitter 4. Furthermore, a field of 3 × 3 first lenses 3 for the low and high beam function is shown for the headlight range control, of which a first lens 3 is located above a single light emitter 4 .

For the high and low beam function of a third embodiment, a prism array with prisms 8 and filling channels may alternatively according to the invention are employed 9, per individual emitters 4 exactly one Pris ma allocates 8, by about 90 ° with respect to the in the Fig. 4 shown prisms 7 for light width or side illumination regulation is rotated, as shown in FIG. 9 in its lower part. In the upper part of FIG. 9, the deflection of the beam emanating from a single emitter 4 is shown downward through a single prism 8 for the case that no filling fluid 9 is present in the filling channel 9 adjacent to the single prism 8 of the single prism. If the filling channel 9 is filled with an immersion liquid, the light beam generated by the individual light emitter 4 is not deflected downward. Alternatively, this embodiment can be used for headlight range control in two stages, for example to adapt to the loading condition.

A fourth embodiment according to the invention is described with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11, according to which, in contrast to the first to third embodiments described above, the light is guided by an array of n optical light-directing elements which can be displaced by actuators.

Optical light directing elements can in turn use lenses or refraction Transmission switchable prisms. Piezoelectric, electromagnetic or electrostatically driven actuators Use fin the.

Fig. 10 shows in its upper part, an arrangement is arranged in which a lens 10 with a fixed curvature above a single light emitter 4 and through one or more first actuators 11 in z-direction and second actuators 14 in x- and y-direction can be adjusted. The lens 10 attached to a carrier ring 12 is moved in relation to a carrier plate 13 arranged parallel to the field of individual light emitters 4 in the x and y directions by the actuators 14 , while the carrier plate 13 is moved by the first actuators 11 in z. Direction is moved. It is also conceivable to use lenses whose focal length can be changed by, for example, compressive or tensile stress, if necessary using additional actuators.

Here, the microlenses 10 are shifted with fe ster curvature in the direction of the optical axis of the emerging light beam of the single emitter for the dipped or high beam function, that is, along the z-axis. For the cornering light function or the side illumination, the lens 10 is moved horizontally in the desired direction (x-axis). For an existing headlight range control in addition to the low beam or high beam function, e.g. B. to adapt egg nes vehicle to different loading conditions, the lens is moved in the vertical direction (y-axis). As an alternative to this, both functions can also be achieved in that 10 actuators 11 for the z displacement are provided for a lens and are actuated to different extents. Since there is a tilting of the lens 10 , which can also be used as a cornering light or for headlight range control. This tilting can also be combined with a displacement in the x-direction or y-direction, so as to intensify the effect of the respective lateral deflection.

The optical elements can advantageously be shifted independently of one another are, the displaceability along only the y, z or x axis or in be given in all three spatial directions.  

FIG. 11 shows a plan view of part of the fourth embodiment according to the invention shown in FIG. 10, in which the two actuators 14 for the x and y directions are shown with an offset of 90 ° to one another. Accordingly, the actuators 14 opposite two resilient elements 15 are arranged.

In addition to an adjustment of the optical light control element by actuators it is also possible to make the individual light emitter relative by at least one actuator to adjust the optical light control element. As light control elements can the light guide elements described above in the embodiments elements can be used. Likewise, a light control element can also be a front preferably micro or fixed focal length. The Ver The adjustability of the individual light emitter is preferably along the optical axis and / or along one or both directions perpendicular to it. The single cell light emitter itself or one or more individual light emitters Arrangement, which can also include the reflector or reflectors, for example adjustable for this. For the simultaneous adjustment of several light control elements elements or / and individual light emitters, these can be mechanically coupled.

All four described embodiments can be used to achieve a combination nation of desired functions can be combined.

LEDs, low molecular weight or polymer can be used as single emitters OLEDs, VCSELs are used, microlenses being used as optical elements or microprisms are used.

Of course, there are also other optical elements with corresponding properties ten usable, for example a replacement of the refractive elements by dif fractive elements such as grids are conceivable.

According to the invention, a field of n optical elements is therefore for a headlight Light control elements for headlight range control or dimming and High beam function, a field of 2n optical light control elements for Luminous width and / or side lighting regulation or a field of n optical shiftable by actuators. Elements for simultaneous fulfillment both functions are provided in a field of n individual light emitters, where the optical light directing elements in the first two cases  Pressure of a fluid changeable lens or by a fluid of refraction prisms switchable on transmission (a prism with m anti-glare speaks m light control elements) and in the third case by actuators sliding optical elements with fixed properties.

Claims (14)

1. headlights, characterized by a field of n individual light emitters ( 4 ) and at least one in front of each individual light emitter ( 4 ) arranged Lichtlen control element ( 3 , 2 L, 2 R, 10 ), the optical light control element and / or the individual light emitter ( 4 ) are adjustable to influence a respective light beam emitted by the assigned individual light emitter ( 4 ). 2. Headlamp according to claim 1, characterized in that an opti cal light guiding element ( 3 , 2 L, 2 R, 10 ) influences a light beam by the focal length and / or the relative position of the light guiding element ( 3 , 2 L, 2 R, 10 ) is adjusted to the individual light emitter ( 4 ) and / or by changing the deflection angle via the refraction. 3. Headlamp according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that in front of each individual emitter ( 4 ) a first optical element ( 3 ) is arranged for headlight range control. 4. Headlamp according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that two second optical light-directing elements ( 2 L, 2 R) for luminous width and / or side illumination regulation are arranged in front of each individual emitter ( 4 ). 5. Headlight according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that a first and / or second optical light-directing element ( 3 , 2 L, 2 R) is a visually adjustable focal length lens. 6. Headlight according to claim 5, characterized in that a first and / or second optical light-directing element ( 3 , 2 L, 2 R) is an adjustable by the pressure of a fluid lens. 7. Headlight according to one of claims 3 to 6, characterized in that a first or second optical light-directing element ( 3 , 2 L, 2 R) is a prism adjustable by means of an immersion liquid with regard to its transmission. 8. Headlight according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the optical light-directing element ( 3 , 2 L, 2 R, 10 ) and / or the individual light emitter ( 4 ) for headlight range control and / or for light width and / or side illumination regulation in their relative position to each other are adjustable. 9. Headlight according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that before each individual emitter ( 4 ) a third optical Lichtlenkungse element ( 10 ) for headlight range control and for light width and / or Be tenausleuchtungsregulierung is arranged. 10. Headlight according to claim 9, characterized in that the third optical light-directing element ( 10 ) is a by actuators ( 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 ) ver adjustable lens. 11. Headlight according to claim 8, characterized in that the single light emitter by at least one actuator relative to the light control element is adjustable. 12. Headlight according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the one or more actuators ( 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 ) are arranged in the direction of the optical axis and / or in the directions perpendicular thereto. 13. Headlight according to one of claims 10 to 12, characterized in that at least a part of the adjustable light directing elements ( 10 ) or at least part of the adjustable individual light emitters are each mechanically coupled. 14. Headlight according to one of the preceding claims, characterized records that he is used as a motor vehicle headlight.