KR20150020317A - Head lamp arrangement for generating variable light distribution - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a headlight for a vehicle generating lights of a space and a color variable headlight and having a compact structure. The headlight apparatus includes: a light source for irradiating a beam; a light-emitting layer generating converted light of a first spectrum, and at least partially excited by a beam; a pivotal deflection device deflecting a beam toward the light-emitting layer; and a control means coupled with the deflection device to allow a beam to oscillate and enter the light-emitting layer. At least another light source is provided to irradiate extra light of a second spectrum which is different from the first spectrum. Accordingly, mixed light which is composed of the converted light and the extra light can be generated.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention [0001] The present invention relates to a headlamp apparatus for forming variable light distribution,

The present invention relates to a headlamp apparatus for a vehicle, which comprises at least two light sources, a light emitting layer, a deflecting member and a control means, for forming headlamp light of variable space and color.

Headlight devices consist of a light source, a light emitting layer and a corresponding deflection member, and are disclosed in the prior art. Such a device is disclosed, for example, in DE 102012004629 Al. The light beam of the light source is deflected toward the light emitting layer through two fixed reflectors, and is converted into light having a white light color there.

A similar device is disclosed in DE 102010062463 A1. The light rays of at least one light source directly enter the two light emitting layers. Where the excited light is again deflected by the reflector for use as headlight light.

DE 102010028949 relates to a headlamp apparatus in which the light rays of a light source are deflected by a deflecting member into a light emitting layer. Since the biasing member is pivotably provided, the light beam can be deflected to any surface of the light emitting layer. The light excited by the light emitting layer passes through the optical element, and thus can be used as headlight light.

A disadvantage of the disclosed solution is limited flexibility in the adjustment of the headlight. That is, the spatial change of the headlight, that is, the change of the light distribution, can be barely achieved. It is also impossible to adjust the color of the headlight. In other words, this flexibility has become necessary as well as desirable today. The headlight must not only be able to optimally illuminate the surroundings of the vehicle, but also perform auxiliary and warning functions. The prior art also presents only a complex headlamp device for performing various functions, which is made up of a number of parts requiring a lot of space inside the vehicle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a headlight device for a vehicle which forms space and color variable headlight light and is characterized by a compact structure.

The above problem is solved by the headlamp apparatus according to claim 1.

Other preferred embodiments of the invention are subject of the dependent claims.

A headlight device according to the present invention includes a light source suitable for emitting a light beam. Also provided is a light-emitting layer, which can be excited by light rays, thus forming a converted light of the first spectrum. That is, the light emitting layer may be excited by light emission to emit the converted light having the first spectrum upon incidence of light on the light emitting layer. To achieve this, a pivotable deflecting device is provided, which deflects the light beam into a light emitting layer. The deflection device is coupled to the control means. This coupling is made in such a way that the deflecting device deflects the light beam so that the light beam oscillates and enters the light emitting layer. Also provided is a light source that emits at least one other light. The additional light emitted from the other light source has a second spectrum, and the second spectrum is different from the first spectrum of the converted light. Mixed light is generated by mixing two lights of different spectra, and the mixed light acts as headlight light. That is, the mixed light is used to form the headlight light illuminating the periphery of the vehicle.

By the control of the deflecting member according to the present invention, the headlamp light can be spatially changed and the light output of the light source can be used optimally. The light beam can be incident on the entire surface of the light emitting layer by the oscillating motion. As a result, a wide range of strong headlight can be formed. Further, the biasing member can be controlled by the control means so that the light beam is incident on only one region or a plurality of regions of the light emitting layer. As a result, space-variable light distribution of the headlight can be achieved. Further, according to the present invention, the headlight light can be changed in color hue. This is achieved by the control of the other light sources and by the way of deflection of the additional light. Thus, various lighting scenarios can be reproduced that assist the driver or are used as a design element. Notwithstanding the above-described diversity, the headlamp apparatus is configured simply and compactly, which not only guarantees the operability, but also the limited available space inside the vehicle is optimally utilized.

The light source can be a variety of illuminants, in which case a particular lamp may be preferred depending on the purpose sought. That is, it is preferable when the light source that emits the light beam emits light of a narrow beam. That is, the opening angle of the light beam is only a few degrees. The deflecting device can deflect the light rays completely toward the light emitting layer, and yet can be formed compactly. Further, the deflection by the deflecting device can be controlled very accurately. However, if a broad beam of light is to be emitted, an optical device, for example a lens, may bundle the beam before the deflecting device. In addition to the narrow beam of light, a monochromatic beam is also desirable. This allows a good adjustment of the first discontinuous spectrum of the material and the light rays in the light emitting layer, and thus a predetermined converted light can be obtained. Therefore, a laser or a laser diode is particularly suitable for a light-emitting body that emits light. Incandescent or gas discharge lamps may be considered for other light source (s). An LED may be used as the light source. The light source may be configured to emit light or light whose intensity and duration of emission are variable. Thus, various kinds of mixed light can be realized. The light source is not a single light emitter but an apparatus composed of a plurality of light emitters.

The light emitting layer must be at least partially excitable by the emitted light of the light source. For this, it is necessary to adjust the light source and the material of the light emitting layer because the light emitting layer can absorb only light of a specific wavelength for re-emission. Excitation of the light emitting layer is based on luminescence, for example phosphorescence or fluorescence. In this case, it is possible to use a plurality of materials in addition to the uniform material selection. The materials can have different excitation energies and can be distributed and homogeneously mixed into multiple regions. The entire light emitting layer may not be formed of one or a plurality of light emitting materials. Diffuse reflection or absorption regions in the light emitting layer can also be considered.

In order to enable the excitation of a light emitting layer suitable for headlight light, a light ray must be emitted with a high energy, that is, a light ray having a wavelength in the range between blue and ultraviolet light. This causes the converted light to be in the visible range. In addition, the light-emitting layer based on phosphorescence offers the advantage that the light-emitting layer emits afterglow and partially delays the re-emission of light. The intensity of the converted light is lowered when the light source is cut off, and the intensity of the mixed light is not suddenly lowered. The surroundings are slowly dimmed. This prevents the occurrence of an undesirable pearl string - or rolling shutter effect that may result in oscillating light when the object is moved. The long afterglow time thus represents aesthetic design effects and provides additional safety when leaving the vehicle.

In particular, a light source that emits light in the blue wavelength range is preferable. When the light-emitting layer is based on phosphorescence, part of the light is absorbed and yellow light is emitted again. The converted light is generated by superposition of the reflected portion of the blue light, and the light has a first spectrum of white / yellow. Such converted light is very suitable as a base of mixed light. Further, the mixed light may be formed by the additional light, and the mixed light is composed of a plurality of light colors, and exhibits a definite clear optical structure.

The light emitting layer is preferably supported by a carrier. Since the carrier may be light transmissive, the light source may be arranged in a line with the light emitting layer in particular. Preferably, the carrier includes a reflective surface, so that the incident light is totally reflected. Further, the carrier serves as a heat sink for the light emitting layer which generates heat which is undesirable here.

Since the deflecting device is used to deflect the light beam emitted from the light source to the light emitting layer, the light beam oscillates and enters the light emitting layer. On the one hand, the deflector comprises a reflector or a suitable lens arrangement, which deflects the light beam towards the light emitting layer. A micro mirror is particularly suitable as the reflector of the deflecting device, and the pivotality of the micromirror can be easily realized. In addition, the micromirror requires a small space in the vehicle due to its small size. On the other hand, the deflecting device is arranged to be pivotable vertically and / or horizontally. This causes the variable deflection of the light beam to enable different spatial distribution of the converted light.

The control means adjusts the turning motion of the deflection device. The swirling motion is regular and has an oscillating characteristic. Thus, the light beams are regularly deflected at various angles and correspondingly enter the various points of the light emitting layer. The light beam scans the so-called light emitting layer. As a result, the light beam is incident on an arbitrary region of the light emitting layer. It is preferable that the light is incident on the entire surface of the light-emitting layer for as large a light yield as possible. It can be deflected by an additional light deflection device in addition to the light beam. Thus, various spatial optical structures of the additional light can be reproduced by the deflecting device.

The spatial light distribution of the deflecting device and the converted light is controlled by the control means. The control means can also adjust the light distribution of the additional light. For example, when additional light is deflected by the deflecting device, the control means controls the spatial light distribution of the additional light by the deflecting device. In the case where a separate movable optical element for deflection or refraction of additional light is provided, the control means can also be coupled to the optical element and can control the optical element. Variable light distribution of mixed light composed of two lights is possible, so that more complicated lights such as a cornering light and a diffuse reflection upper light are suitable as headlight lights besides a turn signal lamp and an upward light.

Further, the control means may be coupled to a light source that emits a light beam. So that the intensity and spectrum of the converted light are also controlled by the control means. The light source can be controlled to adjust the light intensity of the light beam and the intensity of the converted light, as well as the time sequence of emission of the light beam. Further, the light source can be made of a plurality of light emitting bodies, and can provide a change in the kind of the emitted light ray. For example, if a light-emitting layer of a plurality of materials is adjusted to absorb light rays having different energies, the first spectrum of the converted light is changed. Therefore, it is possible to adjust the light converted in various ways by the control means. It is also preferable when the control means is coupled to another light source. As a result, not only the intensity and spectrum of the additional light can be changed but also the adjustment with the light source may be made. Further, the light sources may include common or separate control units, and the control unit is independent of the control means.

The converted light and the additional light together form mixed light, and the spectrum of the mixed light is composed of different spectra of the two lights. Accordingly, a large variety of mixed light can be realized. The mixed light is used as headlight light, and the headlight light can be adjusted in space and color variability. For use as headlight light, the mixed light may be suitably aligned, bundled and / or magnified by imaging devices such as a lens-or iris device.

Other light sources may be placed in the beam path of the converted light. Further, an additional configuration in which the additional light is radiated toward the converted light is also possible. Further, a light-emitting layer or another light-emitting layer can also be used for deflection and conversion of the additional light. For example, the additional light is incident and enters the light emitter where additional light is converted. Further, the light emitting layer can act as a reflector of the additional light, so that the additional light is totally reflected. Optionally, the additional light is also deflected by a deflecting device or other optical element.

The preferred embodiment includes a uniform mixed light, and the mixed light has a uniform light color, that is, it appears to the observer as a monochromatic color. This can be achieved by superposing the additional light with the converted light as diffused light. Implementation by other light sources that emit diffuse light is also possible, and the additional light is mixed with the converted light. A common deflection of the additional light of the light beam and of the narrow beam is also possible by the deflecting device, whereby additional light oscillates and enters the light emitting layer and is mixed. The additional light can also be reflected or converted in the light emitting layer. The variable-homogeneous mixed light can be simply formed, and is particularly suitable as headlight light for reliable surrounding illumination.

The light color of the mixed light can be arbitrarily adjusted. Especially from warm yellow to cool white. For this purpose, for example, a blue light source and another ultraviolet light source are provided in the form of a laser, and the two light beams of the laser are deflected toward the light emitting layer by the deflecting device. The light emitting layer is suitable for being excited by blue and ultraviolet light. This causes the converted light to form a first spectrum of yellow, and the additional light forms a second spectrum of white / blue. Mixed light between yellow and white / blue is formed according to the portions of the lights. For example, if sharp and strong light is needed, white / blue light can be selected. The light can, however, be brilliant in certain situations, for example on wet roads. In this case, the yellow diffused mixed light is rather preferable. Further, the adjustment of the mixed light may be considered according to the daylight hours. Therefore, yellow light is sufficiently visible at the time of dawn, and the yellow light feels pleasant to the driver and other road users.

It is possible to form heterogeneous mixed light having various light color ranges in addition to uniformly mixed light. In the case where the nonuniform mixed light is composed of light having, for example, a yellow and white spectrum, various ranges of the headlight light can be optimally adjusted. That is, yellow illumination is preferable for the upward light and the boundary region, and white illumination is preferable for the near region. Clearly defined sections or smooth transitions between various light colors are possible.

It is also possible to present a separate mark or symbol in the headlight. In this case, additional light is emitted by another light source, and the additional light has a different color from that of the converted light and is spread over a limited range. As a result, mixed light having a virtually defined structure is formed. The mark may serve as a design element on the one hand, for example a logo, or may serve as a warning function. In particular, an additional white light of a signal color, for example red, is suitable for warning. It is also possible to display information for reproducing vehicle width or navigation data at a narrow point, for example.

The adjustment of the mixed light is performed by the control means, and the control means may be coupled to the vehicle sensor or other control device. When rainfall or reduction in the amount of sunshine is registered by the vehicle sensor, for example, adjustment of the light color and intensity of the mixed light is performed. Optimal operator assistance is possible when coupled to control devices for driver assistance or navigation, thereby utilizing available data. Adjustment of the headlight is made automatically according to the provided sensor and / or vehicle data. Of course, it is also possible to combine an operating device and a control means for manual selection and adjustment of the headlamp light, so that the passenger can adjust and adjust the headlamp light intentionally.

FIG. 1A schematically shows a headlamp apparatus according to the present invention having uniform light mixing. FIG.
Fig. 1B is a schematic view of a headlamp apparatus according to the present invention in Fig. 1A having nonuniform mixed light. Fig.
2 is a view schematically showing a headlamp apparatus according to the present invention having nonuniform mixed light.

The headlamp apparatus for a vehicle according to the present invention shown in Fig. 1 includes a light source 1, which emits a light beam 10. The light source 1 emits a narrow beam of light 10 with a discontinuous wavelength in the blue range. The light beam 10 enters the deflecting device 3 and is deflected towards the light emitting layer 5 by the device. Since the deflecting device 3 carries out the regular pivoting motion, the light ray 10 oscillates and enters the entire surface of the light emitting layer 5. As a result, the light emitting layer 5 is optimally used, and the light yield is maximum. The deflecting device 3 is at least one micromirror, and the micromirror can be turned vertically and horizontally. Since the micromirror has a small movable structure and a simple control portion, variable swing motion can be optimally ensured. The regular pivoting motion of the deflecting device 3 is controlled by the control means 4 coupled to the deflecting device.

The light emitting layer 5 is made of a material which can be excited by phosphorescence. Thus, the light beam 10 is at least partially absorbed by the light-emitting layer 5, and the light is re-emitted. The other part of the light ray 10 is re-reflected from the light emitting layer 5. [ Converted light 11 having a first spectrum of white / yellow is formed from the excited and reflected portion.

There is provided another light source 2 for emitting the additional light 20 in addition to the light source 1. [ The additional light 20 is a narrow beam of light having a second spectrum in the ultraviolet range. The second spectrum of the additional light 20 is different from the first spectrum of the converted light 11. The laser is also used as the other light source 2. The additional light 20 is incident on the deflecting device 3, and is oscillated by the deflecting device to be deflected to the light emitting layer. The additional light 20 is absorbed and converted by the entire surface of the light-emitting layer 5. To this end the emissive layer must consist of a number of materials which can be excited from the light beam 10 and the further light 20. [

The afterglow of the light emitting layer 5 becomes possible by using the phosphor. As a result, the illumination is maintained even after the light sources 1 and 2 are shut off. The intensity of afterglow decreases slowly after interruption. This is a lighting scenario that not only prevents pearl string- and rolling shutter effects, but also feels comfortable, and also satisfies safety functions. After leaving the vehicle, the surroundings are still lightly illuminated, so passengers can safely leave the parking lot.

A carrier 6 is used for supporting the light-emitting layer 5, and the carrier contacts the light-emitting layer 5. The carrier 6 has the characteristics of a reflector. So that the unexcited portion of the light beam 10 is reliably reflected. Further, the carrier 6 is used as a heat sink for the light-emitting layer 5. Undesirable heat is generated in excitation in the light emitting layer 5, and the heat can be reduced by cooling.

The converted light 11 and the additional light 10 together form mixed light 30. The mixed light 30 is thus made up of two spectra of the converted light 11 and the additional light 20. Uniform light 30 is formed by the headlamp apparatus according to FIG. That is, the entire mixed light 30 appears to the observer as a monochromatic color. In order to illuminate the surroundings of the vehicle, the mixed light 30 is used as headlight light. To this end, an optical device 7 such as a lens for deflecting the mixed light 30 linearly is provided, so that the mixed light can act as a headlight light.

The spatial light distribution of the mixed light 30 can be changed arbitrarily. As the deflection device 3 is controlled by the control means 4, the area of the light emitting layer on which the light beam 10 and the further light 20 are incident changes. The spatial light distribution of the mixed light 30 is also changed. The predetermined spatial light distribution can reproduce, for example, reproduction and cornering of an upward light or a flashing light, and an anti-diffuse upward light.

Not only the spatial light distribution of the mixed light 30 but also the spectrum and the light color of the mixed light 30 are changed. To this end, the control means is coupled to the light source 1 and the other light source 2. Therefore, the intensity and the color of the mixed light 30 can be adjusted. The light sources 1 and 2 can be activated arbitrarily. The mixed light 30 can thus be activated and deactivated on the one hand. On the other hand, adjustment of the intensities of the light sources 1, 2 and the mixed light 30 can be considered. Further, the light color of the mixed light 30 can be changed by activating and deactivating the other light source 2.

The uniformly mixed light 30 can be adjusted by the headlamp apparatus shown in Fig. Since the blue light beam 10 of the light source 1 is absorbed by the light emitting layer 5, most of it is converted to yellow light and the light 11 converted to white / yellow by the reflected blue portion is formed. The additional light 20 of higher energy of the ultraviolet spectrum is converted into white / blue light by the light emitting layer 5. The mixed light 30 has a yellow or blue spectrum rather depending on the converted light 11 and related portions of the additional light 20. [ The light color of the mixed light 30 can be individually adjusted according to the driver's demand and / or external conditions. That is, while white / yellow light from wet roads is required, ambient and outline can be perceived more clearly when the light is cool white / blue light. White / blue light may also dazzle other road users, so white / yellow light is more preferred in bidirectional traffic. Similar color variability can be achieved by other light sources, which emit additional light with a second spectrum of white / blue or yellow, and the additional light is mixed with the converted light 11 without direct pre-excitation . Variable formation of spatial light distribution is only possible.

Control of the mixed light 30 is performed by the control means 4. [ To this end, the control means (4) is connected to the driver's operating unit, whereby the driver can perform manual adjustment of the mixed light (30). Further, the control means is connected to another control device of the vehicle, and the control device can detect, for example, the vicinity of the vehicle and perform an appropriate evaluation. By the data, the mixed light 30 is automatically adjusted according to the external conditions, and the ambient light for the driver is optimized.

FIG. 1B shows a headlamp apparatus according to the present invention in FIG. 1A, in which uneven mixed light 30 'is formed by the apparatus, and the mixed light represents a plurality of light colors that can be sensed. The heterogeneous mixed light 30 'is formed by the deflecting device 3 which deflects the light beam 10 into the region 51 and deflects the further light 20 into the region 52. The region 51 is formed on the entire surface of the light emitting layer 5 while the region accommodates the smaller central region 52 of the light emitting layer 5. For this adjustment, the deflecting device can be composed of multiple mirrors, so that in addition to the light beam 10, the additional light 20 can also be deflected arbitrarily. The ratio and distribution of the regions 51 and 52 of the light emitting layer 5 determine the spatial and hue of the mixed light 30 '. 1B shows, for example, mixed light 30 ', wherein the outer section of the mixed light appears as white / yellow while the inner section appears as white / blue. The transitions of the sections are smooth. By this formation of the mixed light 30 ', other traffic users in the edge region of the headlight are not blind. Also, because the yellow light is better reflected, objects within the edge area can be better seen. Nevertheless, good visibility is provided to the driver because road markings can be particularly well visible in white / blue light.

The configuration also substantially corresponds to the device according to Figs. 1A and 1B. As a light source 2 'other than the light source 1, a laser diode (not shown) is used as the light source 2' And the laser diode emits an additional light 20 'having a second spectrum of red. The additional light 20' is emitted by the deflector 3, together with the light 10 of the light source 1, The light emitting layer 5 is excited by the oscillating light ray 10 to form the converted light 11. In the case of the additional light 20, on the other hand, total reflection takes place. The second spectrum of the red light color of the additional light 20 is clearly defined by the first spectrum of the converted light 11 and forms a clear structure in the mixed light 30 ". The structure may be a symbol or a mark. These marks can thus be recognized in the headlight light and projected to the periphery. The mark may be a design element, warning or information.

The control means (4) controls the light sources (1, 2) and the deflecting device. The control means 4 controls the display of the mark and is coupled to the operating member or the control device of the vehicle for this purpose. If a risk is registered by the vehicle's driver assistance system, for example, a warning may be displayed automatically. Further, since the coupling to the navigation system can be considered, the direction indication can be displayed in the headlight light.

Various types of headlight beams can be formed by a simple means by the above-described headlight device. In this case, it is also possible to change the spatial distribution and the color of the light distribution. Also, the intensity of the headlight light can be variably controlled.

1 light source
2, 2 'other light source
3 deflection device
4 control means
5 Light emitting layer
6 carriers
7 Optical device
10 rays
11 converted light
20, 20 'Additional light
30, 30 '30 "mixed light

Claims (10)

A headlamp apparatus for a vehicle,
A light source (1) for the emission of light (10)
A light emitting layer 5 which can be at least partially excited by the light beam 10 and forms a converted spectrum 11 of the first spectrum,
A pivotable deflecting device 3 for deflecting the light beam 10 to the light emitting layer 5,
Control means (4) coupled to the deflecting device (3) to cause the light beam (10) to oscillate and enter the light emitting layer (5)
, Wherein at least one other light source (2, 2 ') is provided for the emission of a second spectrum of additional light (20, 20') different from the first spectrum so that said converted light (11) And the mixed light (30, 30 ', 30 ") composed of the additional light (20, 20') can be obtained. 2. The headlamp apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the light source (1) and / or the other light source (2, 2 ') are laser or laser diodes. 3. The headlamp apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the light emitting layer (5) is made of a plurality of light emitting materials, and the materials have different excitation energies. 4. The headlamp apparatus for a vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the mixed light (30 ', 30 ") is non-uniform. 5. The headlamp apparatus for a vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the mixed light (30 ', 30 ") reproduces a symbol or mark-like structure. 6. The headlamp apparatus for a vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said another light source (2 ') radiates additional light (20') having a red spectrum. 7. The headlamp apparatus for a vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the control means (4) is coupled to the light source (1) and / or the other light source (2, 2 '). 8. The headlamp apparatus for a vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the control means (4) is coupled to an operation device and / or a control device of the vehicle. 9. A headlamp apparatus for a vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that said additional light (20, 20 ') is deflected by said deflecting device (3). 10. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the additional light (20, 20 ') is at least partially reflected from the light emitting layer (5) or causes excitation of the light emitting layer Automotive headlight unit.

Images