JP2013258146A - Light module - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a headlight device capable of giving visual contrast even in a long distance zone similarly in a short distance zone.SOLUTION: A vehicle headlight includes a first light source and a second light source which are set so that a light distribution which has a central long distance zone and is irradiated by both the light sources can be generated in a forward region of a vehicle by both the light sources, and the light of the first light source is distributed wider than the light of the second light source, and the light of the second light source is concentrated in the central long distance zone, and the first light source and the second light source emit the light of different colors. In the headlight device, the first light source has a higher color temperature than the second light source.

Description

  The present invention relates to an automobile headlight device.

  A headlight device in which the first light source serves to generate a low beam and the second light source serves to generate a high beam is known from US Pat. The light distribution resulting from the first light source generating a low beam has a bright area located below the horizon in front of the vehicle, and this bright area is delimited by a light / dark boundary located above it. At this time, the second light source is turned off.

  In order to generate a high beam, a second light source is turned on in addition to the first light source, and the second light source also illuminates a second region located above the light / dark boundary, and thus the resulting vehicle front Another illumination of the area is generated. At this time, a gas discharge lamp is used as the first light source, which is relatively expensive but provides a high luminous flux for a wide and bright basic illumination in the front area of the vehicle. A low-cost halogen lamp is used as the second light source, and the light is directed so as to be strongly focused in the distance, and only supplements the so-called broad and bright low beam, and at least partially in the first region. The spot-like second region located outside the range, that is, located above the low-beam light / dark boundary is illuminated. For such a light emitting function, an expensive gas discharge lamp is not necessary.

  In recent years, automotive headlights operated by semiconductor light sources such as light emitting diodes (LEDs) have also been adopted, and such light sources are also used for so-called main light functions such as low beam and / or high beam. It's being used. Patent Document 1 listed at the beginning describes such a headlight.

  Further, it is known from Patent Document 2 that a main light module having a conventional light source is combined with an LED cornering light module.

  Furthermore, headlights with an LED low beam module, also having a high beam module of halogen technology, are known. Such a headlight is adopted in the third generation of Toyota Prius, for example.

  The headlight device known from the patent document 1 mentioned at the beginning is operated by various semiconductor light sources which differ in that they emit light of different colors. Five different light modules of the headlight device illuminate the partial areas A, B, C of the overall light distribution D as shown in FIG. Each of these light modules may have a first LED chip and a second LED chip. The first LED chip generates white light. The second LED chip serves to change the light color of the light module. The second LED chip may be smaller than the first LED chip, may emit less light, and may be set up to emit light having a shorter wavelength than the first LED chip. Alternatively, the second LED chip may be set up to emit light having a longer wavelength than the first LED chip.

  Depending on the environmental conditions, the color of the light is changed in different partial areas A, B and C, which reduces the luminous flux of the first LED chip of the attached light module and the second of the attached light module. This is done by increasing the luminous flux of the LED chip.

  In a partial area B (intermediate light distribution area) at a medium distance in front of the vehicle, the medium wavelength of light is lengthened during fog or snowfall, but this is because light of longer wavelengths is less likely to scatter. It is. In addition to this, a wide partial area C (diffused light distribution area) located in the vicinity of the front of the vehicle is illuminated with light having a medium wavelength compared to the situation without fog or snowfall, This is to improve the visibility of pedestrians, road edges, curbs, and the like.

  In the partial light distribution area (A) located far in front of the vehicle, the medium wavelength of light is shortened during night driving at high speed. This is reasoned by the increased sensitivity of the retina to short wavelengths in the dark, known as the Purkinje effect. Similar measures are taken on wet roads, recognized by rain sensors or by operation of wipers.

  The partial area A located far in front of the vehicle is a long-distance zone in the sense of the present invention.

  As described above, Patent Document 1 shows a headlight device for an automobile having a first light source and a second light source, and this headlight device is illuminated by both light sources by the light of both light sources. Set up to produce a light distribution in front of the vehicle having a central far-field zone, wherein the light from the first light source is more widely distributed than the light from the second light source, and the light from the second light source is centered The first light source and the second light source emit different colors.

  According to this US publication, the wavelength of the light of the second light source that illuminates the long-distance zone should be shorter than the wavelength of the first light source.

US Patent Application Publication No. 7,703,961B2 DE102004053320

  It is an object of the present invention to provide a headlight device that provides the same visual contrast in the long-distance zone as in the short-distance zone.

  The present invention contemplates that the light of the first light source has a higher color temperature than the light of the second light source. In other words, in the present invention, the light of the second light source is intended to resemble the light of the black body radiator having a lower temperature than the light of the black body radiator having a higher temperature. Is intended to resemble the light of a black body radiator with a higher temperature than the light of a black body radiator with a lower temperature.

  As is well known, the color temperature is one of the indications of the color impression of the light source. Color temperature is defined as the temperature of a black body or plank radiator, whose emission spectrum produces a particular color temperature. A relatively low color temperature belongs to a reddish light color, while a rather high color temperature belongs to a pale light color. Unlike this objective definition, reddish light is also called warm light and pale light is also called cold light.

  For example, a halogen lamp supplies light similar to the light of a high temperature black body radiator of about 3200 ° C. as a color, whereas a gas discharge lamp converts light of a high temperature black body radiator above 5000 ° C. as a color. Provides similar light.

  The white color of the emitted light of modern high performance LEDs for automotive lighting is clearly higher color temperature (about 5200-6000 ° K) than conventional halogen lamps (about 3100-3400 ° K). .

  That is, the emitted light is cold and pale. The color impression of the gas discharge lamp also tends to go in this direction, but by comparison, it is located between the white LED and the halogen lamp.

Driving experiments have shown that the current highly modern, future-oriented LED headlights that also illuminate the far-distance zone in front of the car have a visual contrast in the far-distance zone, other than the light distribution. There may be at least a subjective impression that it is not as good as with headlights.

  On the other hand, the visual comfort in the short-distance region and the side is evaluated as good by the LED headlight.

  The present invention offers the advantage that these disadvantages of an otherwise very satisfactory LED headlight are eliminated or at least reduced by changing illumination. However, such improvements are not limited to LED headlights, but can be realized in a similar manner with gas discharge headlights. In addition to this, it is conceivable to apply the change of the light distribution according to the present invention to other partial regions of the light distribution.

  The advantage of the present invention is that the number of photoreceptor cells that feel blue on the retina is closer to the optical axis, ie where humans focus when trying to see something clearly, compared to other parts of the retina. This is due to the fact that there are clearly few.

  In the present invention, this means that in the present invention, for example, the light distribution of the low beam light distribution and / or the high beam light distribution generated by light having a relatively high color temperature (for example, about 5200 to 6000 ° K.) Only in the long-distance zone, for example, a light distribution including light with a relatively low color temperature of the halogen light, ie light corresponding to a color temperature of 3100-3400 ° K, but at least obviously warm white light, Compensated by overlapping.

  Thereby, in the central part of the light distribution, the color impression is shifted from blue-white to clearly white-yellow color, and the contrast vision is improved accordingly.

  The light from the second light source serves primarily to correct the color position of the light from the first light source and to some extent the color tone associated therewith in the area illuminated by both light sources, It is only necessary to generate a smaller amount of light than the light from the first light source. In one preferred embodiment, both light sources are designed such that the luminous flux of the second light source is up to 70% of the luminous flux of the first light source.

  Other advantages will become apparent from the subject matter of the dependent claims, the detailed description of the invention and the accompanying drawings.

  Naturally, the constituent requirements listed above and the constituent requirements described below can be applied not only in the described combinations, but also in other combinations or alone without departing from the framework of the present invention. is there.

  Embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings and are described in detail in the following description. The drawings show, in schematic form, the following:

FIG. 4 is a light distribution in a measuring screen perpendicular to the traveling direction produced by an embodiment of the headlight device according to the invention. FIG. 4 is another light distribution in a measuring screen perpendicular to the direction of travel produced by the above or another embodiment of the headlight device according to the invention. It is a front view which shows one Example of the headlight apparatus by this invention. It is a side view which shows the light module of another Example of the headlight apparatus by this invention. It is a figure which shows a part of light module of another Example of the headlight apparatus by this invention.

  Specifically, FIG. 1 shows that when one embodiment of the headlight device according to the present invention is applied to a road vehicle according to the application, the headlight device is located in front of the vehicle when viewed in the light emission direction or emits radiation. The light distribution which arises in the screen for a measurement in front of the headlight apparatus which performs is shown.

  The measuring screen for displaying and evaluating the light distribution is in front of the vehicle as seen in the direction of light emission. A perpendicular V divides the measurement screen into a left half and a right half, which intersects with the extension of the optical axis of the headlight device and extends at right angles to the horizontal and also to the roadway. . The optical axis corresponds to the main light propagation direction and is located substantially parallel to the long axis of the vehicle. A horizontal line H divides the measurement screen into an upper half and a lower half. The horizontal line represents the shape of the horizon in front of the vehicle.

  In FIG. 1, the low beam light distribution 10 is delimited by an unbroken closed curve. The surface located inside this curve is the bright region of the low beam light distribution. The bright region is located below the light / dark boundary 12. In the illustrated example, the light / dark boundary has an upward slope of 15 ° on the right side of the intersection of the vertical line V and the horizontal line H. In other words, this is a low-beam light distribution for right-hand traffic that is illuminated on the right side of the roadway side higher than the left side of the roadway side, and is accordingly illuminated at a larger range.

  This low beam light distribution is generated by an automotive headlight device that includes a first light source and a second light source.

  At this time, the headlight device is set up to generate a light distribution having a central long-distance zone 14 in the front area of the automobile by the light of both light sources. The central far zone forms a central partial region of the low beam light distribution 10 where the low beam has its maximum range on the road. In the display of the light distribution on the measurement screen, the central long-distance zone 14 is located inside the low beam light distribution in the vicinity of the horizontal line at the left and right of the intersection of the vertical line V and the horizontal line H. It preferably extends to the right and left by −10 ° and is not wider than +/− 3 °. These angle descriptions are each directed to the angle between the optical axis and the peripheral ray of the luminous flux representing the edge of the far zone.

  On the left and right sides of the central long-distance zone 14, there are further regions of the low beam light distribution 10 in which the light from the second light source is not focused and the illumination by the light from the first light source is dominant. Overall, this low beam light distribution consists of a central far zone 14 and a wide edge zone 16 complementary to this far zone.

  As the vertical height increases from below to the horizontal line H along the vertical line V, the distance from the vehicle, measured in the direction of the long axis of the car, increases and thus the distance from the headlight device increases. Go. The long-distance zone 14 is focused in a region located in the vicinity of the light / dark boundary in the direction of the vertical line V. Such an arrangement corresponds to a position on the roadway that is far from the front of the vehicle and at the limit of the low beam range. This is therefore the far zone 14.

  Based on such an arrangement of the long-distance zone 14 along the horizontal line H inside the bright region with a wide light distribution, this is the central long-distance zone 14.

  At this time, the long-distance zone does not necessarily have to be exactly centered, but instead slightly deviates from the central position to the right or left, in particular by a maximum of 3 °, but still in the middle You may arrange | position to the part, ie, not to the position of a periphery.

  The central far zone is illuminated by the light of both light sources, and the light of the first light source is distributed throughout the low beam light distribution 10, ie, the central far zone 14 and the wide edge zone 16, the second The light from the light source is concentrated in the central long-distance zone 14. At this time, the first light source and the second light source emit light of different colors, and the light of the first light source has a higher color temperature than the light of the second light source. The entire region of the low beam light distribution 10 is brightly illuminated by light that is perceptually felt as a cool white (blue white). In addition to this, in the central long-distance zone 14, the light of the second light source, which is rather warm white (yellowish white), is superimposed on this light subjectively compared to the light of the first light source. As a result, a plurality of light of one color is provided in this area, and the human eye for this color is opposed to the cold white light of only the first light source when focused on the area. Has more photoreceptors than ever.

  FIG. 2 shows a high beam light distribution 18 which is divided by a closed curve which is not interrupted in FIG. 2 and whose brightness increases from the outside to the inside. The hatched surface inside the curve represents a relatively bright partial area 14 of the high beam light distribution, which can also be referred to as a long-distance zone 14. The long distance zone 14 is also located in the center when projected onto the measurement screen.

  Similar to the low beam light distribution, the high beam light distribution is also generated by an automotive headlight device having a first light source and a second light source.

  At this time, the headlight device is set up so that light from both light sources generates a light distribution having a central long-distance zone 14 in the front area of the automobile. The central long-distance zone 14 forms the central partial region of the high beam light distribution, which is located farthest away in front of the headlight device.

  As the vertical height along the vertical line V increases, the distance from the vehicle as measured in the direction of the long axis of the car also increases, and thus the distance from the headlight device also increases. The bright region above the horizontal direction H has an effect only when there are other objects such as cars and trees there.

  The central long-distance zone 14 is located at the right and left of the intersection of the vertical line V and the horizontal line H, and is located inside the high beam light distribution. This long-distance zone extends to the left and right by a maximum of +/− 10 ° and is preferably not wider than +/− 3 °. These angle descriptions are each directed to the angle between the optical axis and the peripheral ray of the luminous flux representing the edge of the far zone.

  Based on such an arrangement of the far zone 14 along the horizon within the bright region 16 with a wide light distribution, this is the central far zone 14.

  At this time, the long-distance zone does not necessarily have to be precisely located at the center. Instead, it is slightly off to the right or left from the center position, in particular at a maximum of 3 °, but at the periphery. You may arrange | position in the center part instead of a position. The description of these angles means that the entire far zone is shifted to the right or left by such an angle. An angle value of 0 corresponds to the intersection of the horizontal line H and the perpendicular line V.

  The central far zone is illuminated by the light of both light sources, the light of the first light source is also distributed to areas located outside the central far zone of the light distribution, and the light of the second light source is centered. Concentrated in the far-field zone. At this time, the first light source and the second light source emit light of different colors, and the light of the first light source has a higher color temperature than the light of the second light source.

  On the right and left of the central long-distance zone, there are further regions of high beam light distribution in which the light from the second light source is not focused and illumination by the light from the first light source is dominant.

  The entire area of the high beam 18 is brightly illuminated by light that is subjectively felt as cold white (blue-white). In addition to this, in the central long-distance zone 14, the light from the second light source, which is more subjectively felt as warm white (yellowish white) than the light from the first light source, is further added to this light. As a result, a plurality of light of one color is provided in the area, and the human eye for this color is cold white light of only the first light source when focused on the area. Have more photoreceptors than In this sense, the present invention can be applied to both a low beam and a high beam. Thus, the advantages of the present invention are provided for both low and high beams. Thus, the high beam light distribution 18 as a whole consists of a central far zone 14 and a wide edge zone 16 complementary to this far zone. Accordingly, the low beam light distribution 10 of FIG. 1 is composed of a central far zone 14 and a wide edge zone 16 complementary to this far zone.

  FIG. 3 shows a front view of one embodiment of a headlight device 22 according to the invention for an automobile set up to produce at least one of the light distributions shown in FIGS. Here, the front view means a drawing generated in an observer who is in the optical path in front of the headlight device and has a line-of-sight direction toward the headlight device 22.

  The headlight device 22 includes a low beam module 24, a high beam module 26, and a two-function module 28. In some cases, the headlight device 22 may include additional light modules 30 and 32, which are day driving. It fulfills light-emitting functions such as light and turn signals, and therefore generates a corresponding light distribution that conforms to the rules.

  The low beam module 24 has a first light source in this embodiment, so that the light shifts to a regular low beam light distribution, that is, for example, a low beam having the outer shape of the low beam light distribution of FIG. Set up to produce a light distribution. For clarity, this outer shape does not depend on whether the far zone is additionally illuminated by the second light source. The low beam module 24 is operated only by the first light source.

  The high beam module 26 also has a first light source in the present embodiment, so that the light shifts to a regular high beam light distribution, that is, for example, the outer shape of the high beam light distribution 18 of FIG. Set up to produce a high beam light distribution. Again, for clarity, this outer shape does not depend on whether the far zone is additionally illuminated by the second light source. The high beam module 26 is operated only by the first light source.

  Thus, the low beam module 24 and the high beam module 26 have a light source with a particularly high color temperature.

  The bi-functional module 28 has at least one second light source and is set up to concentrate the light of the second light source in a central far zone, which is a low beam light. The central long-distance zone of the distribution or the central long-distance zone of the high beam light distribution. The name of the bi-functional module is derived from the fact that this module can concentrate the light of the second light source not only in the central long distance zone of the low beam light distribution but also in the central long distance zone of the high beam light distribution. And can switch between both of these options, so that a two-function module can instantiate one of both options at one time and of both options at another time. The other of the above can be embodied. The first light source and the second light source emit light of different colors, and the light of the first light source has a higher color temperature than the light of the second light source.

  The bi-functional module is a projection module with an aperture in one embodiment, which can be switched between a low beam position and a high beam position and has an aperture edge, When the diaphragm is in the low beam position, the projection lens of the projection module forms an image as a light / dark boundary with the resulting light distribution.

  By operating the low beam module 24 and the bifunctional module 28 together in the low beam mode, the headlight device 22 shown in FIG. 3 generates a light distribution as shown in FIG.

  By operating the high beam module 26 and the bifunctional module 28 together in the high beam mode, the headlight device 22 shown in FIG. 3 generates a light distribution as shown in FIG.

  Therefore, the headlight device 22 shown in FIG. 3 is an embodiment of a headlight device for an automobile having a first light source and a second light source, and this headlight device is the farthest in front of the headlight device. A light distribution 10, 18 that forms a central sub-region of the light distribution located and has a central far zone 14 illuminated by the light of both light sources is generated in the front area of the vehicle by the light of both light sources. The light of the first light source also illuminates the light distribution region 16 located outside the central far zone 14 and the light of the second light source is only in the central far zone 14. The first light source and the second light source emit light of different colors, and the light of the first light source has a higher color temperature than the light of the second light source.

  FIG. 4 shows a side view of the structural unit 34 comprising an upper light module 36 that generates a low beam light distribution and a lower light module 38 that generates a high beam light distribution. In this sense, this structural unit is an embodiment of the bi-functional module 28 shown in FIG.

  A low beam light source 40 is disposed in the upper half of the structural unit 34. The light emitted from the low beam light source is shifted to a low beam light distribution by an attached optical system. This may be the far zone 14 of FIG. 1 with a light / dark boundary or, if only the light beam illuminating the far zone 14 is turned off, the wide edge zone 16, apparent from FIG. A wide low beam light distribution having

  The attached optical system, in this embodiment, has an oval basic shape and has an upper half-shell reflector 42 that forms a structural unit with a diaphragm 44 positioned in the horizontal direction. The low beam light source 40 is arranged so that the light is focused on the inner light distribution relative to the upper half-shell reflector 42, and this light distribution is the diaphragm edge of the diaphragm located in the horizontal direction. 46 and can also be called an intermediate light distribution. A projection lens 48 is arranged to project the inner light distribution as an outer light distribution onto the front area in front of the structural unit 34 relative to the half-shell reflector 42 and the diaphragm edge 46 of the diaphragm 44. At this time, the diaphragm edge 46 is imaged as a light / dark boundary. Such projection principles have been known for some time and therefore need not be described further.

  The low beam light source 40 is a first light source in one embodiment, i.e., a light source that emits light of a relatively high color temperature. In this case, the attached optics is set up to produce a broad low beam light distribution.

  In an alternative embodiment, the low beam light source is a second light source, i.e. a light source that emits light of a relatively low color temperature. In this case, the attached optics is set up to produce a central far-field zone of the low beam light distribution.

  The high beam light source 50 is disposed in the lower half of the structural unit 34. The light emitted from the high beam light source is shifted to a high beam light distribution by the attached optical system. This may be the far zone 14 shown in FIG. 2 or, if only the light beam illuminating the far zone 14 is turned off, it has a wide edge zone 16 as is apparent from FIG. It may be a wide high beam light distribution.

  In the present embodiment, the attached optical system has a lower half shell reflector 52. The high beam light source 50 is projected relative to the lower half-shell reflector and projection lens 48 so that its light is projected by the projection lens in front of the structural unit 34 as the outer high beam light distribution shown in FIG. Is arranged. The luminous flux emitted from the structural unit includes the optical axis 54 of the light module embodied by the structural unit and the structural unit, and the horizontal line H and the vertical line of the light distribution shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The intersection of V is located above it.

  The geometry of the system consisting of the lower half-shell reflector 52 and the high beam light source 50 is configured so that the light / dark boundary is not imaged too sharply during high beam operation. As an alternative or supplement, the stop is constructed so that its edge imaged as a light / dark boundary can be swung, pulled out or otherwise defocused so that the stop edge 46 is The image is not formed with the high beam light distribution.

  The high beam light source 50 is a first light source in one embodiment, that is, a light source that emits light having a relatively high color temperature. In this case, the attached optics is set up to produce a broad high beam distribution.

  In an alternative embodiment, the high beam light source 50 is a second light source, i.e., a light source that emits light of a relatively low color temperature. In this case, the attached optics is set up to produce a central far-field zone of high beam light distribution.

  Therefore, it is possible to generate a light distribution of the kind shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 using such two structural units. The upper half produces a low beam light distribution, whether it is a wide low beam light distribution or a central long-range zone of the low beam light distribution. The lower half generates a high beam light distribution, whether it is a wide high beam light distribution or a central long-range zone of the high beam light distribution.

  Accordingly, in embodiments where a central far zone of high beam light distribution is generated, the second light source is part of a separate bi-functional light module.

  It is also preferred that a separate dual function light module is switchable between low beam operation and high beam operation.

  In another preferred embodiment, the bifunctional light module has a second light source but does not have a first light source. That is, it serves to create a far zone.

  In another preferred embodiment, the dual function light module has at least one second light source and at least one first light source. In this embodiment, a set of high beam light distributions can be generated and / or a wide edge zone illuminated by only the first light source, and a long distance zone illuminated by the first and second light sources, A set of low beam light distributions can be generated.

  Furthermore, the headlight device 22 preferably has a structural unit 34 composed of an upper light module 36 that generates a low beam light distribution and a lower light module 38 that generates a high beam light distribution.

  FIG. 5 shows a drawing of part of a light module of another embodiment of a headlight device according to the invention. Specifically, FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of the half-shell reflector 56, and the same half-shell reflector 56 is illuminated by the light of the first light source 60 and the second light source 60. This also applies to the fact that the light from the first light source 58 has a higher color temperature than the light from the second light source 60. This difference defines the classification as the first or second light source. The first light source is a light source having a higher color temperature each time.

  The first light source 58 and the second light source are embodied in the object of FIG. 5 as semiconductor light sources, in particular as light emitting diodes (LEDs). Here, the first light source has more LEDs 58.1 to 58.4 than the second light source 60, because it must produce a larger luminous flux. One LED of the second light source 60, or if it is more than one, the LEDs are closer to the optical axis of the half shell reflector 56 than the LEDs 58.1-58.4 of the first light source 58. , And with it, is preferably located near the center. Such an arrangement, on the one hand, facilitates focusing of the light of the second light source 60 to the central far zone of the light distribution to be generated each time, whether a low beam light distribution or a high beam light distribution. At the same time, it enables a wide distribution of light from the first light source.

  In one preferred embodiment, the central region 62 of the half-shell reflector 56 is set up to direct the light of the second light source 60 specifically to the central far zone, whereas from the optical axis 54 of the reflector. The remotely located reflector regions 64, 66 are set up to distribute the light of the first light source 58 more broadly than is done in particular by the central region 62.

  Another preferred embodiment is intended to illuminate the central far-distance zone only in warm shades each time, while the cold shade illuminates the remaining planar area.

  Another possible embodiment of the headlight device according to the invention is that the low-beam module produces an asymmetric and regular low-beam light distribution with the second light source only in the form of a long-distance zone with a light-dark boundary. The partial light distribution produced by the first light source, on the other hand, has a light-dark boundary that extends horizontally and concomitantly with it . Such horizontal light / dark boundaries are, in one embodiment, somewhat blurred and / or located low.

  A preferred embodiment of the headlight device according to the invention comprises a semiconductor light source, in particular as a first light source, ie as a light source with a higher color temperature. The second light source having a lower color temperature can be used at a low cost, and can be used as a second light source having a lower color temperature, particularly in connection with an LED as the first light source. A halogen lamp characterized by temperature is preferred.

  In this case, since the second light source is focused only with a relatively small solid angle, there is also an advantage that only a relatively small amount of light beam needs to be generated. Therefore, it is considered that a halogen lamp with low output consumption, for example, an H8 type halogen lamp is sufficient.

  When a semiconductor light source, in particular an LED, is used as the first and second light source, one preferred embodiment is intended that the same type of LED is used, but is clearly derived from different color bins. . As is well known, the characteristics of high performance LEDs result in large manufacturing variations. These characteristics, which are disadvantages in their own right, are reversed to positive in this embodiment. Thereby, for example, the yield of usable LEDs from one production process is high. It is also possible to use LEDs whose light color is called cold white (high color temperature) or warm white (low color temperature).

  Another preferred embodiment contemplates that the same type of semiconductor light source, in particular LEDs, are used for the first and second light sources, which are implemented as separate chips. In particular, a separate phosphorescent conversion layer is provided for each chip. Laser diodes can also be utilized for this purpose. A monochromatic LED, for example with a yellow or red color, can also be used for the second light source.

  Another preferred embodiment contemplates the use of a gas discharge lamp as a first and simultaneously a second light source, a special subregion of an optical element (eg a reflector) arranged in the light path of the light of the gas discharge lamp Has a conversion layer. This layer is set up so that the light propagating in this partial region of the light path is converted into light with a low color temperature, which is the color tone of the corresponding region of the overall light distribution. Is changed accordingly.

  This embodiment has the great advantage that only one light source is required for both color components. Thereby, depending on the embodiment, the number of components that need to be optically reflected and / or refracted is also reduced, which reduces design costs and complexity, and also in terms of cost, design space requirements, and reliability. There are corresponding advantages.

  Another preferred embodiment is that the headlight device has a universal module that is only as compact as possible, combined with other modules that generate only the central far zone and generate a wide area of light distribution. Intended.

  This embodiment takes advantage of the fact that only the central part of the light distribution need be always enhanced in the same way. This is because this module does not necessarily meet the legal requirements for light values alone, and other light modules will contribute as well. As a result, a large number of modules for focusing light on the central long-distance zone can be manufactured at a low cost. This is because even if the headlight plan is different, it can be used without change.

  The module that focuses the light in the central far zone is also preferably a separate module located with the other modules inside the headlight. An alternative preferred embodiment contemplates that such a module that focuses the light in a central far zone is integrated into a module that serves the same light emitting function, for example a low beam module.

  For example, a plurality of LEDs that emit cold white light may be arranged as a first light source on a single wiring board, and warm white in a partial region of the wiring board or adjacent to the wiring board. Several LEDs that emit light of the same may be arranged as the second light source. The second light source illuminates the central long-distance zone with the same imaging optical system, and another light distribution is generated by this imaging optical system. In this case, the LED chip that supplies light with a low color temperature is rather in the center of the chip structure and directs the light incident from this chip to the far-distance zone in the center of the light distribution. It is preferable to illuminate this area. This corresponds to the embodiment illustrated in FIG.

  Both the projection module and the reflection module can be applied in combination. At this time, if only the central long-distance zone of each light distribution is illuminated with light of a lower color temperature than the adjacent region of each light distribution, 2 for the low and high beams. Use of a functional system, use of a three-function system, or use of a system satisfying a larger number of light emitting functions is possible.

  In particular, in a headlight having an LED low beam module and a halogen high beam module, the halogen high beam module is preferably configured as a two-function module, that is, a module that can be switched between a high beam mode and a low beam mode.

  For this purpose, it is preferable to use a bi-functional projection module. In the low beam mode and the high beam mode, the central portion of the strong halogen light is superimposed on the LED low beam.

  If light with a low color temperature can be best coupled into the main light path, light that does not belong to the legal white space (eg yellow) can be used, but the resulting mixed color will be in the color space. As long as it stays in a legally acceptable white tone.

  In embodiments where the light module that generates a wide light distribution is a swivel light module, a separate light module having a second light source and thus emitting light with a low color temperature is also embodied as a swivel light module. It is also preferred that they are designed to pivot together and thereby always illuminate approximately the same part of the resulting overall light distribution. Both these light modules swivel together in this embodiment, for example fixed relative to each other and arranged as a single swivel assembly as a whole.

  An alternative embodiment is that a light module that emits light with a low color temperature is moveable (eg, pivotable) relative to a light module that emits light with a high color temperature, so that the overall light It is intended to illuminate various partial areas of the distribution with light of low color temperature.

  Each module, in one embodiment, is a component of the headlight, i.e. it is arranged in a common housing. In another embodiment, each module is located in a different headlight housing.

10, 18 Light distribution 12 Light / dark boundary 14 Far zone 16 Edge zone 18 High beam light distribution 22 Headlight device 24 Low beam module 26 High beam module 28 2 Function module 30, 32 Light module 34 Structural unit 36 Light module 38 Light module 40 Low beam light source 42 Half shell reflector 46 Edge 48 Projection lens 50 High beam light source 52 Half shell reflector 54 Optical axis 56 Half shell reflector 58 Light source 60 Light source 62 Central area 64, 66 Reflector area

Claims (23)

  An automotive headlight device (22) having a first light source (58) and a second light source (60), the headlight device having a central long-distance zone (14). The light distribution (10; 18) illuminated by the light of both the light sources is set up to generate in the front area of the vehicle by the light of both light sources, the light of the first light source (58) being The light of the second light source (60) is more widely distributed than the light of the second light source, and the light of the second light source is concentrated in a central long-distance zone (14), and the first light source (58) and the second light source (60) emits light of different colors. In such a headlight device, the light of the first light source (58) has a higher color temperature than the light of the second light source (60). A headlight device.   The headlight device according to claim 1, wherein the second light source is a part of a separate dual-function light module.   3. The headlight device according to claim 2, wherein the separate two-function light module is switchable between a low beam operation and a high beam operation.   4. The headlight device according to claim 2, wherein the bifunctional light module is embodied as a projection light module having a reflector as a primary optical system and a lens as a secondary optical system.   The headlight device according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the dual-function light module has a second light source but does not have a first light source.   5. The headlight device according to claim 2, wherein the two-function light module includes a plurality of second light sources and at least one first light source. 6.   It has a structural unit (34) composed of an upper light module (36) for generating a low beam light distribution and a lower light module (38) for generating a high beam light distribution. The headlight device according to any one of claims 1 to 6.   Headlight device according to claim 7, characterized in that a low beam light source (40) is arranged in the upper half of the structural unit.   9. Headlight device according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that a high beam light source (50) is arranged in the lower half of the structural unit.   10. Both of the light sources are designed such that the luminous flux of the second light source is 70% of the luminous flux of the first light source at the maximum. Headlight device.   The first light source (58) has more semiconductor light sources (58.1, 58.2, 58.3, 58.4) than the second light source (60). The headlight device according to claim 1.   It has a semiconductor light source (58.1, 58.2, 58.3, 58.4), in particular, a light emitting diode as the first light source, that is, a light source having a higher color temperature, The headlight device according to claim 1.   Head according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it has a semiconductor light source, in particular a light emitting diode, as the second light source (60), i.e. as the light source with the lower color temperature. Light equipment.   14. The headlight device according to claim 1, wherein the second light source (60) having a lower color temperature has at least one halogen lamp.   A semiconductor light source is used as said first and said second light source, these semiconductor light sources are of the same type but derived from distinctly different color bins (Farbbins). The headlight device according to any one of 14.   Semiconductor light sources are used as the first and second light sources, and the same type of semiconductor light source is used as the first and second light sources, but these semiconductor light sources are separate phosphorescent conversion layers for each chip. The headlight device according to claim 1, wherein the headlight device is embodied as a separate chip each including a head.   A semiconductor light source is used as the first and second light sources, and a plurality of semiconductor light sources that emit cold white light are disposed on the one wiring board as the first light source, and the same wiring board 17. At least one semiconductor light source that emits warm white light is disposed as the second light source in the partial region of the light source or adjacent to the wiring board. The headlight device according to claim 1.   A gas discharge lamp is used as the first and second light sources, and a special partial region of an optical element disposed in an optical path of light of the gas discharge lamp includes a conversion layer. The headlight device according to any one of 1 to 17.   19. The light module having the first light source and the light module having the second light source are arranged in a common headlight housing. 19. The headlight device described in 1.   The light module having the first light source and the light module having the second light source are disposed in different headlight housings of the headlight device, respectively. The headlight device according to item.   In an embodiment in which a light module that generates a wide light distribution is configured as a swivel light module, there is a separate light module that has the second light source and accordingly emits light with a lower color temperature. 21. The headlight device according to any one of claims 1 to 20, wherein the headlight device is embodied as a light module that can also be swiveled and swivels together.   A light module that emits light with a lower color temperature is relatively movable with respect to a light module that emits light with a higher color temperature, thereby lowering the color temperature in partial areas with different overall light distributions. The headlight device according to any one of claims 1 to 21, wherein the headlight device is illuminated with a light beam. The headlight device according to claim 22, wherein the movable partial region has an upper light / dark boundary including an upward slope of 15 °.

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