KR20200025602A - Lighting apparatus for vehicle and method for using the lighting apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

A lighting apparatus for a vehicle with improved light efficiency according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises: a light source; a reflection unit reflecting light emitted from the light source forward; a lens plate including a plurality of liquid crystal polymers arranged to transmit the light emitted from the light source and light reflected by the reflection unit and irradiate the light in a target direction; and a main control unit which adjusts the arrangement form of the plurality of liquid crystal polymers by applying a control voltage generated in correspondence with a target direction to which light is to be irradiated to a lens plate.

Description

Lighting apparatus for vehicle and method for using same

The embodiment relates to a vehicle lighting apparatus and a method of using the same.

In general, a vehicle light has a main purpose of irradiating light, and the irradiation distance of the light irradiated from the light and the distribution of the light source are fixed. A vehicle lighting device that drives such a light to irradiate light requires an actuator as a separate motor control device. As a result, not only the entire volume of the lighting apparatus is increased but also the manufacturing cost increases.

The embodiment provides a lighting device for a vehicle having a thin, light and improved light efficiency and a method of using the same.

Vehicle lighting apparatus according to an embodiment, the light source; A reflection unit reflecting light emitted from the light source in front; A lens plate including a plurality of liquid crystal polymers arranged to transmit light emitted from the light source and light reflected by the reflector to be irradiated in a desired direction; And a main controller configured to adjust the arrangement of the plurality of liquid crystal polymers by applying a control voltage generated corresponding to the target direction to be irradiated with light to the lens plate.

For example, the lens plate may include a plurality of lens plates spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance on a path through which light is irradiated.

For example, the vehicle lighting apparatus may further include a distance adjusting unit configured to move any one of the plurality of lens plates in response to a distance control signal to adjust the predetermined distance, and the main control unit may radiate and converge the light. The distance control signal may be generated in response to the focal position.

For example, the target direction includes at least one of a transverse direction or a longitudinal direction, wherein the longitudinal direction includes a first focal position spaced apart from the lens plate by a first distance; And a second focal position spaced apart from the lens plate by a second distance greater than the first distance.

For example, the vehicle lighting apparatus may include a light blocking unit disposed on a path through which light travels between the reflecting unit and the lens plate to block a part of the light traveling to the lens plate; And a blocking controller for adjusting the position of the light blocking unit to determine a range of the light to be blocked.

For example, the lens plate may include: first and second plates disposed opposite to each other on a path through which light passes and having light transmission; A common electrode disposed on the first surface facing the second plate in the first plate; And a plurality of individual electrodes spaced apart from each other on a second surface facing the first surface in the second plate, wherein the plurality of liquid crystal polymers are disposed between the plurality of individual electrodes and the common electrode, respectively. The control voltage may be applied to the common electrode and the plurality of individual electrodes, respectively.

For example, the lens plate may further include a passivation unit disposed between the individual electrode and the second surface of the second plate.

For example, the main controller may include a voltage generator configured to generate the control voltage; A plurality of switches disposed between the control voltage of the voltage generator and each of the plurality of individual electrodes of the lens plate, and configured to switch in response to a switching control signal; And a switching controller configured to generate the switching control signal corresponding to the target direction to which the light is to be irradiated.

For example, the lens plate may further include a sub-electrode spaced apart from a neighboring individual electrode between the plurality of individual electrodes.

For example, each of the first and second plates may include glass, and each of the common electrode and the plurality of individual electrodes may include a transparent conductive layer.

According to another embodiment, a method of using the lighting apparatus of claim 1 in a vehicle performing a plurality of functions may include: irradiating light through the lighting apparatus mounted on the vehicle; Sensing surroundings of the vehicle to obtain a sensing value required when performing at least one of the plurality of functions; Calculating the target direction to which light is irradiated using the sensing value; And arranging the plurality of liquid crystal polymers using the calculated target direction.

The vehicle lighting apparatus and the method of using the same according to the embodiment have a low manufacturing cost, can be implemented in a thin, thin, thin, light, can concentrate the light in the desired direction, and the light loss is reduced The pointing luminance (ie, the luminance in the focus area) can be increased.

1 is a conceptual diagram of a vehicle lighting apparatus according to an embodiment.
2A and 2B illustrate cross-sectional views of embodiments of the lens plate illustrated in FIG. 1.
3 (a) and 3 (b) are diagrams for explaining an exemplary arrangement of a plurality of liquid crystal polymers arranged under the control of the main control unit.
4 to 7 show the light is irradiated from the lens plate in different direction.
8 is a conceptual diagram of a vehicle lighting apparatus according to another embodiment.
9 (a) and 9 (b) show perspective views for explaining AFLS of a vehicle.
10 is a plan view for describing AFLS of a vehicle.
11 is a perspective view for explaining the HBA function of the vehicle.
12 is a flowchart for describing a method of using the vehicle lighting apparatus according to an embodiment.
13 is a conceptual diagram of a vehicle lighting apparatus according to a comparative example.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the following examples, and the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, embodiments according to the present invention may be modified in many different forms, and the scope of the present invention should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments described below. Embodiments of the present invention are provided to more fully describe the present invention to those skilled in the art.

In the description of the present embodiment, when described as being formed on "on or under" of each element, the above (up) or below (down) ( on or under includes both that two elements are in direct contact with one another or one or more other elements are formed indirectly between the two elements.

In addition, when expressed as "up" or "on (under)", it may include the meaning of the downward direction as well as the upward direction based on one element.

Furthermore, the relational terms such as "first" and "second," "upper / upper / up" and "lower / lower / lower", and the like, as used below, may be used to describe any physical or logical relationship between such entities or elements, or It may be used to distinguish one entity or element from another entity or element without necessarily requiring or implying an order.

Hereinafter, vehicle lighting apparatuses 100A and 100B according to embodiments will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. For convenience, the vehicle lighting apparatuses 100A and 100B will be described using the Cartesian coordinate system (x-axis, y-axis, z-axis), but it can of course be described by other coordinate systems. In addition, according to the Cartesian coordinate system, the x-axis, the y-axis and the z-axis are orthogonal to each other, but the embodiment is not limited thereto. That is, the x-axis, y-axis and z-axis may intersect each other.

1 illustrates a conceptual diagram of a vehicle lighting apparatus 100A according to an exemplary embodiment.

The vehicle lighting apparatus 100A illustrated in FIG. 1 may include a light source 110, a reflector 120, a lens plate 130, and a main controller 140.

The light source 110 serves to emit light. For example, the light source 110 may include an incandescent lamp, a halogen lamp, a xenon gas discharge lamp, a light emitting diode (LED), and a high brightness discharge lamp (HID). Intensity Discharge Lamps (LDs) or laser diodes (LDs), which are not limited to specific forms of the light source 110.

In addition, the light source 110 may correspond to various lights attached to the vehicle. For example, the light source 110 may correspond to any one of a low beam light, a high beam light, a daytime running light, a fog light, a traffic light, or a rear combination lamp.

The reflector 120 reflects light emitted from the light source 110 forward. When the light source 110 is a non-directional light source that does not emit light in a specific direction, the light emitted from the light source 110 may be emitted in the front, that is, the + x-axis direction due to the reflection part 120 disposed. To this end, the light source 110 may be disposed at an inner middle point of the reflector 120 as shown in FIG. 1, but the embodiment is not limited thereto. That is, if the light emitted from the light source 110 can be reflected by the reflector 120 and emitted forward, the light source 110 may be disposed at various points of the reflector 120.

In addition, the reflector 120 may have an elliptical shape so that the light emitted from the light source 110 may be reflected forward, but the embodiment is not limited to the specific shape of the reflector 120.

In addition, the lighting apparatus 100A according to the embodiment may further include a light blocking unit 160 and a blocking control unit 170.

The light blocking unit 160 is disposed on a path through which light travels between the reflecting unit 120 and the lens plate 130 to block a portion of the light traveling to the lens plate 130. In order to prevent the light from being emitted below the vehicle, the light blocking unit 160 includes at least a portion of the light directed from below the lens plate 130 among the light emitted from the light source 110 and the light reflected by the reflector 120. You can block some.

The blocking controller 170 may adjust the position of the light blocking unit 160 to determine a range of light blocked by the light blocking unit 160. For example, the blocking controller 170 may rotate the light blocking unit 160 in the direction indicated by the arrow A1 to determine the range of light blocked by the light blocking unit 160. That is, under the control of the blocking control unit 170, when the light blocking unit 160 rotates in the counterclockwise direction, the range of light blocked by the light blocking unit 160 is narrowed, and when the light blocking unit rotates in the clockwise direction, the light blocking unit ( The range of light blocked at 160 may be widened.

In some cases, the light blocking unit 160 and the blocking control unit 170 may be omitted.

On the other hand, the lens plate 130 is a plurality of liquid crystal polymers arranged to transmit the light emitted from the light source 110 and the light reflected by the reflector 120 to be irradiated in a desired direction (hereinafter referred to as the "purpose direction") It may include.

Here, the target direction may be at least one of the transverse direction and the longitudinal direction. The horizontal direction may be a right direction or a left direction based on the x-axis shown in FIG. 1. The longitudinal direction may be the first or second focal position. Here, the first focus position F1 is a position at which light irradiated to a place spaced apart from the lens plate 130 by the first distance x1 converges, and the second focus position F2 is from the lens plate 130. It may be a position at which light irradiated to a place spaced apart by the second distance x2 converges. Here, the second distance x2 is greater than the first distance x1.

2A is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment 130A of the lens plate 130 illustrated in FIG. 1, and FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment 130B of the lens plate 130 illustrated in FIG. 1. Indicates.

Each of the lens plates 130A and 130B illustrated in FIGS. 2A and 2B includes first and second plates 210 and 220, a common electrode 230, a plurality of individual electrodes 240, and a plurality of liquid crystal polymers. (LCP: Liquid Crystal Polymer) (or liquid crystal molecules or polymers) (LCP1 to LCP4).

The first plate 210 and the second plate 220 may be disposed to face each other on a path through which light travels. Each of the first and second plates 210 and 220 may have light transmittance. For example, the material of each of the first and second plates 210 and 220 may include glass, but embodiments are not limited thereto.

The common electrode 230 may be disposed on the first surface S1 facing the second plate 220 in the first plate 210.

The plurality of individual electrodes 240 may be spaced apart from each other on the second surface S2 of the second plate 220. Here, the second surface S2 of the second plate 220 is defined as a surface facing the first surface S1 of the first plate 210. The lens plate 130A shown in FIG. 2A includes a plurality of individual electrodes 240: 242, 244, 246, and 248 arranged in a single layer form, and the lens plate 130B shown in FIG. 2B is arranged in a multilayer form. A plurality of individual electrodes 240: 242, 243, 244, 245, 246, 247, and 248.

The aberration of the lens plate 130A serving as a lens is determined according to the intervals in which the plurality of individual electrodes 240: 242, 244, 246 and 248 shown in FIG. 2A are spaced apart from each other, that is, the pitch Δz1 of the electrodes. You can increase it. Similarly, the aberration of the lens plate 130B serving as a lens according to the distance between the plurality of individual electrodes 240: 243, 245, and 247 illustrated in FIG. 2B, that is, the pitch Δz 2 of the electrodes. Can be increased.

The plurality of liquid crystal polymers LCP1 to LCP4 are disposed between the plurality of individual electrodes 240: 242 to 248 and the common electrode 230, respectively, and the plurality of individual electrodes 240: 242 to 248 and the common electrode 230. The phase difference between them can change its phase. For example, the first liquid crystal polymer LCP1 may be disposed between the common electrode 230 and the first individual electrode 242 such that the phase of the LCP1 may be changed by a potential difference between them 230 and 242. The second liquid crystal polymer LCP2 may be disposed between the common electrode 230 and the second individual electrode 244, and the phase of the LCP2 may be changed by a potential difference between the second and second electrodes 230 and 244. The liquid crystal polymer LCP3 may be disposed between the common electrode 230 and the third individual electrode 246 so that the phase of the liquid crystal polymer LCP3 may be changed by the potential difference between the liquid crystal polymers 230 and 246. The LCP4 may be disposed between the common electrode 230 and the fourth individual electrode 248 so that the phase of the LCP4 may be changed by the potential difference between the 230 and 248.

Hereinafter, the normal direction of the first or second surfaces S1 and S2, that is, the thickness direction (eg, the x-axis direction) of the first or second plates 210 and 220 is referred to as a 'vertical direction'. The direction orthogonal to the vertical direction (eg, z-axis direction) is referred to as the 'horizontal direction'.

As the phases of the liquid crystal polymers LCP1 to LCP4 are changed, the liquid crystal polymers may be arranged in a vertical direction, in a horizontal direction, or arranged in a horizontal direction and a vertical direction as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B.

The liquid crystal polymers LCP1 to LCP4 arranged in the horizontal direction block the progress of light, and the liquid crystal polymers LCP1 to LCP4 arranged in the vertical direction may allow the light to travel in the vertical direction. Alternatively, the liquid crystal polymers LCP1 to LCP4 arranged between the horizontal direction and the vertical direction may allow the light to travel between the horizontal direction and the vertical direction. As a result, by changing the phase of the liquid crystal polymers LCP1 to LCP4, the target direction in which light is irradiated may change. That is, light may be transmitted in the vertical direction when the liquid crystal polymer LCP is arranged in the vertical direction, and light may not be transmitted in the vertical direction when the liquid crystal polymer LCP is arranged in the horizontal direction, and liquid crystal polymer LCP may be transmitted in the vertical direction. ) Can be transmitted at an inclined angle by the inclined liquid crystal polymer when is arranged inclined toward the predetermined angle horizontal direction from the vertical direction (for example, the x-axis direction).

For the above operation, physical properties of each of the plurality of liquid crystal polymers can be determined. For example, the viscosity, which is one of the physical properties of each of the plurality of liquid crystal polymers, may be 9.5 or more when the liquid crystal polymers are arranged in the vertical direction and 3.3 or less when the liquid crystal polymers are arranged in the horizontal direction. It is not limited to.

In addition, the liquid crystal polymer is optically anisotropic, and as other physical properties of each of the plurality of liquid crystal polymers, an abnormal refractive index n _e (where 'e' is an abbreviation of extraordinary) and a normal refractive index n _o (where ' o 'stands for orginary). For example, the abnormal refractive index n _e may be 1.6128 and the normal refractive index n _o may be 1.2128, but embodiments are not limited to specific values of the abnormal refractive index n _e and the normal refractive index n _o .

In addition, the space in which the liquid crystal polymer is disposed between the common electrode 230 and the plurality of individual electrodes 240: 242 to 248 may be a vacuum or may be filled with a paste-like material. It is not limited to.

2A and 2B illustrate the concept of the lens plate 130 illustrated in FIG. 1. In FIG. 2A, four individual electrodes 242, 244, 246, and 248 and four liquid crystal polymers LCP1 to FIG. Although only LCP4) is illustrated, the number of individual electrodes and liquid crystal polymers may be greater than four. For example, in FIG. 2B, only seven individual electrodes 242, 243, 244, 245, 246, 247, and 248 and four liquid crystal polymers LCP1 to LCP4 are illustrated.

In addition, the number of liquid crystal polymers and the number of individual electrodes may be the same as shown in FIG. 2A, or may be different as shown in FIG. 2B.

Each of the common electrode 230 and the plurality of individual electrodes 240: 242 to 248 may be formed of a material having both light transmission and electrical conductivity. For example, each of the common electrode 230 and the plurality of individual electrodes 240: 242 to 248 may be formed of a transmissive conductive layer (eg, ITO), but embodiments are not limited thereto.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 2A, the lens plate 130A may further include a first passivation unit 260. The first passivation unit 260 may be disposed between the individual electrodes 240: 242 to 248 and the second surface S2 of the second plate 220.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 2B, the lens plate 130B further includes a second passivation portion 262 disposed between the individual electrodes 242, 244, 246, and 248 on the first passivation portion 260. It may include. In this case, the individual electrodes 243, 245, and 247 may be disposed on the second passivation portion 262.

In addition, according to another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2A, the lens plate 130A may further include sub electrodes 250 (252 to 256). The sub electrodes 252 to 256 may be spaced apart from neighboring individual electrodes between the plurality of individual electrodes 242 to 248. That is, the first sub-electrode 252 may be disposed to be spaced apart from the 242 and 244 between the first and second individual electrodes 242 and 244 neighboring each other. The first and second passivation units 260 and 262 serve to prevent an electrical short circuit due to leakage current when a voltage is applied to the individual electrodes 240. Voltages are applied to the individual electrodes 242, 244, 246, and 248 via the first passivation unit 260 in FIGS. 2A and 2B, and through the first and second passivation units 260 and 262 in FIG. 2B. The voltage may be applied to the individual electrodes 243, 245, and 247, but embodiments are not limited thereto.

As illustrated in FIG. 2B, when the individual electrodes 240 are disposed in a multilayer form, the liquid crystal polymer may be more precisely controlled.

Hereinafter, although the lens plate 130 is described as illustrated in FIG. 2A, the following description may be applied to the case where the lens plate 130 is implemented as illustrated in FIG. 2B.

Meanwhile, referring back to FIG. 1, the main controller 140 generates a control voltage in accordance with the desired direction, and applies the generated control voltage CV to the lens plate 130 to thereby supply a plurality of liquid crystal polymers LCP1 to LCP4. ) Can be adjusted. To this end, the number of control voltages CV generated by the main controller 140 is equal to the number of individual electrodes 240: 242 to 248. That is, a plurality of control voltages CV are applied to one common electrode 230 and a plurality of individual electrodes 242 to 248, respectively.

The potential difference between the common electrode 230 and the plurality of individual electrodes 242 through 248 may be changed by the control voltage CV, and the phase of the corresponding liquid crystal polymer may be changed corresponding to the changed potential difference.

3A and 3B are diagrams for explaining an exemplary arrangement of a plurality of liquid crystal polymers (LCPs) under the control of the main controller 140.

FIG. 3A illustrates an actual cross-sectional view of the lens plate 130 illustrated in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3B illustrates a configuration of the main controller 140 and a potential difference between the common electrode 230 and the individual electrode 240. It is a figure for demonstrating PO). Each switch illustrated in FIG. 3B may be connected to each individual electrode 240 illustrated in FIG. 3A.

According to an embodiment, the main controller 140 shown in FIG. 1 may include a voltage generator 142, a plurality of switches 144, and a switching controller 146 as shown in FIG. 3B. have.

The voltage generator 142 may generate a control voltage CV and output the control voltage CV to the plurality of switching 144 and the common electrode 230. Here, the number of control voltages CV generated by the voltage generator 142, the number of individual electrodes 140, and the number of switches 144 may be the same.

The plurality of switches 144 are disposed between the control voltage CV output from the voltage generator 142 and each of the plurality of individual electrodes 240: 242 to 248 of the lens plate 130, and the switching control signal ( Switching operation is performed in response to S). Here, the number of switching control signals S is equal to the number of switches 144. Accordingly, the plurality of switches 144 may individually perform switching operations.

The switching controller 146 generates a switching control signal S corresponding to the target direction to which light is to be irradiated from the lens plate 130, and outputs the generated switching control signal S to the plurality of switches 144. .

Therefore, the plurality of switches 144 are individually switched on or switched off, so that the phases of the plurality of liquid crystal polymers LCP1 to LCP4 may be varied.

In the case of FIG. 3A, the liquid crystal polymer LCP is assumed to be arranged in the vertical direction when the switch is switched off, but the embodiment is not limited thereto. That is, according to another embodiment, the liquid crystal polymer (LCP) may be arranged in the vertical direction when the switch is switched on.

In addition, when the switch is switched on, the liquid crystal polymer LCP may have a different phase according to the level of the control voltage CV.

For example, as shown in FIG. 3 (b), the control voltage CV is applied to the plurality of individual electrodes 240 by the switching on / switching off operation of the switch 144. As illustrated in FIG. 2, when the plurality of liquid crystal polymers LCP are arranged, the lens plate 130 may serve as the convex lens LS. That is, the lens plate 130 may perform the same role as the folded lens, that is, the Fresnel lens, which has the same function as the convex lens by reducing the aberration by the prism action.

Therefore, as the plurality of liquid crystal polymers LCP are arranged in various forms by the control voltage CV, the target direction in which the light transmitted from the lens plate 130 is irradiated may vary.

4 to 7 show the light emitted from the lens plate 130 in different direction. 4 and 5 show the liquid crystal polymer arrangement of the portion shown in FIG. 3 (b), and FIG. 6 (a) shows the Fresnel lens 130 with the lens plate 130 shown in FIG. 6 (b). 7 (a) shows the lens plate 130 shown in FIG. 7 (b) in the form of a Fresnel lens 130.

When the control voltage CV is applied so that the plurality of liquid crystal polymers LCP are arranged as shown in FIG. 4, light emitted from the lens plate 130 (eg, a low beam or a high beam of the vehicle) May be irradiated in the target direction on the left with respect to the vertical direction.

When the control voltage CV is applied so that a plurality of liquid crystal polymers LCP are arranged as shown in FIG. 5, light emitted from the lens plate 130 (eg, a low beam or a high beam of a vehicle) May be irradiated in the target direction on the right with respect to the vertical direction.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the light output from the lens plate 130 may be varied and irradiated in the horizontal direction.

When the control voltage CV is applied and the plurality of liquid crystal polymers LCP are arranged as shown in FIG. 6, the light emitted from the lens plate 130 is irradiated in the vertical direction, but the first focal position F1 is applied. ) Can be investigated. That is, the light may converge to the first focal point position F1.

When the control voltage CV is applied and the plurality of liquid crystal polymers LCP are arranged as shown in FIG. 7, the light emitted from the lens plate 130 is irradiated in the vertical direction, but the second focal position F2 is applied. ) Can be investigated. That is, the light may converge to the second focal position F2.

As illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, the light output from the lens plate 130 may be varied and irradiated in the longitudinal direction.

8 is a conceptual diagram of a vehicle lighting apparatus 100B according to another embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 8, the vehicle lighting apparatus 100B includes a light source 110, a reflector 120, a plurality of lens plates 132 and 134, a main controller 140, a distance adjuster 150, and a light blocking unit ( 160 and the blocking controller 170 may be included.

Unlike the vehicle lighting apparatus 100A illustrated in FIG. 1, the vehicle lighting apparatus 100B illustrated in FIG. 8 includes a plurality of lens plates 132 and 134, and further includes a distance adjuster 150. Except for this, the vehicle lighting apparatus 100B illustrated in FIG. 8 is the same as the vehicle lighting apparatus 100A illustrated in FIG. 1. That is, the light source 110, the reflector 120, the main control unit 140, the light blocking unit 160, and the blocking control unit 170 shown in FIG. 8 are the light source 110 and the reflecting unit (shown in FIG. 1). 120, the main controller 140, the light blocking unit 160, and the blocking control unit 170, respectively.

Therefore, the same reference numerals are used for the same parts, and redundant descriptions are omitted. That is, in the vehicle lighting apparatus 100B illustrated in FIG. 8, the description of the vehicle lighting apparatus 100A illustrated in FIG. 1 may be applied to the omitted portions.

In FIG. 8, the plurality of lens plates 132 and 134 may be spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance Δx on a path through which light is irradiated. Here, although the number of the plurality of lens plates is illustrated as two, the embodiment is not limited thereto. That is, of course, three or more lens plates may be arranged.

Each of the plurality of lens plates 132 and 134 may have the same configuration as the lens plate 130 illustrated in FIG. 1 and may perform the same operation. That is, each of the plurality of lens plates 132 and 134 has a configuration as shown in FIG. 2A or 2B, and as shown in FIGS. 4 to 7, light can be irradiated to a desired focal position in a desired target direction. have.

In addition, the physical properties of the liquid crystal polymer included in the plurality of lens plates 132 and 134 may be different or the same. That is, physical properties (eg, viscosity, n _e , n _o, etc.) of the liquid crystal polymer included in the first lens plate 132 may be the same as those of the liquid crystal polymer included in the second lens plate 134. It can be different or different.

The distance adjuster 150 displays a direction in which one of the plurality of lens plates 132 and 134 is indicated by an arrow A2 in response to the distance control signal DC output from the main controller 140 (for example, x Axial direction) to variably adjust a predetermined distance Δx from which the plurality of lens plates 132 and 134 are spaced apart from each other. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 8, the distance adjuster 150 may move the first lens plate 132 in the x-axis direction, and unlike FIG. 8, the distance adjuster 150 may include the second lens. The plate 134 may be moved in the x-axis direction.

When the target direction is the longitudinal direction, the main controller 140 may generate the distance control signal DC in response to the focal length to which light is to be irradiated and output the distance control signal DC to the distance adjuster 150. As the plurality of lens plates 132 and 134 increase the predetermined distance Δx spaced from each other, the focal length is farther from the first lens plate 132, and the predetermined distance from which the plurality of lens plates 132 and 134 are spaced apart from each other. As Δx is decreased, the focal length is closer to the first lens plate 132.

For example, in order to irradiate light to the third focal point position F3, the main controller 140 may move the first or second lens plates 132 and 134 through the distance control signal DC to determine the light. Reduce the distance Δx. Alternatively, when the light is to be irradiated to the fourth focal point position F4, the main controller 140 moves the first or second lens plates 132 and 134 through the distance control signal DC to provide a predetermined distance ( Increase Δx). That is, the longitudinal direction may be the third or fourth focal positions F3 and F4. Here, the third focus position F3 is a position at which light irradiated to a place spaced apart from the first lens plate 132 by a third distance x3 converges, and the fourth focus position F4 is a first lens plate. It may be a position at which light irradiated to a place spaced apart from the 132 by a fourth distance x4 converges. Here, the fourth distance x4 is greater than the third distance x3.

As shown in FIG. 8, when a plurality of lens plates 132 and 134 are disposed, the focal length may be increased like a telephoto lens.

The main controller 140 outputs a plurality of control voltages to the plurality of lens plates 132 and 134, respectively. That is, the main controller 140 may output the first control voltage CV1 to the first lens plate 132 and output the second control voltage CV2 to the second lens plate 134. In FIG. 1, the first lens plate 132 is operated by the first control voltage CV1 and the second control voltage CV2 is operated in the same manner as the lens plate 130 is operated by the control voltage CV. As a result, the second lens plate 134 operates.

Hereinafter, an application example of the above-described vehicle lighting apparatuses 100A and 100B will be described as follows with reference to the accompanying drawings.

9 (a) and 9 (b) are perspective views for explaining an AFLS (Adaptive Front Lighting System) of a vehicle. 10 is a plan view for describing AFLS of a vehicle. Here, AFLS refers to a system that controls the irradiation direction of the light (or lamp) of the vehicle 300, that is, the target direction in the lateral direction, in association with the steering of the vehicle 300.

When the vehicle 300 moves forward, the target direction of the lights of the vehicle 300 is forward, as shown in FIGS. 9A and 10. Therefore, the light may illuminate the first irradiation area LA1 by irradiating light forward.

However, as shown in FIG. 9B, when the vehicle 300 operates the steering to rotate to the right, the target direction of the light of the vehicle 300 is the horizontal direction and the right direction based on the front side. Therefore, light from the light may be irradiated to the right with respect to the front to illuminate the second irradiation area LA2. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 10, when the vehicle 300 operates the steering to rotate to the left side, the target direction of the light of the vehicle 300 is the left side with respect to the front side as the horizontal direction. Therefore, light from the light may be irradiated to the left with respect to the front to illuminate the third irradiation area LA3.

As described above, when the target direction of the light irradiated from the vehicle 300 is the transverse direction, the vehicle lighting apparatuses 100A and 100B according to the embodiment may be usefully used.

That is, as shown in FIG. 10, when the vehicle 300 is to be rotated to the left side, the main control unit 140 that detects the steering operation has the lens plate (B) through the control voltage CV and the switching control signal S. A plurality of liquid crystal polymers included in 130 may be arranged as illustrated in FIG. 4 so that light may be irradiated to the third irradiation area LA3 in the target direction on the left side with respect to the front side.

Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 9B, when the vehicle 300 is to be rotated to the right, the main controller 140 that detects the steering operation is controlled through the control voltage CV and the switching control signal S. FIG. A plurality of liquid crystal polymers included in the lens plate 130 may be arranged as shown in FIG. 5 so that light may be irradiated to the second irradiation area LA2 in the target direction on the right side from the front side.

11 is a perspective view illustrating a HBA (High Beam Assist) function of a vehicle. Here, the HBA function is a function of selectively switching a high beam and a low beam during night driving by monitoring an external environment while driving the vehicle, that is, detecting a change in external illumination. In FIG. 11, the upper side shows that the HBA function is "ON" and the high beam is irradiated, and the lower side shows the HBA function "OFF" and the low beam is irradiated.

As such, when the target direction of the light emitted from the vehicle 300 is the longitudinal direction, the vehicle lighting apparatus 100A or 100B according to the embodiment may be usefully used.

That is, the main controller 140 that detects that the HBA function is “OFF” shows the plurality of liquid crystal polymers included in the lens plate 130 through the control voltage CV and the switching control signal S in FIG. 6. As shown in FIG. 11, the low beams may be irradiated in a target direction of the first or third focal positions F1 and F3 of the vehicle 300, as shown below in FIG. 11.

Alternatively, the main control unit 140 that detects that the HBA function is “ON” shows the plurality of liquid crystal polymers included in the lens plate 130 through the control voltage CV and the switching control signal S in FIG. 7. As shown, the high beam may be irradiated in the target direction of the second or fourth focal positions F2 and F4 of the vehicle 300 as illustrated in FIG. 11.

In addition, the vehicle lighting apparatus according to the above-described embodiment may be used as follows.

12 is a flowchart illustrating a method 400 of using a vehicle lighting apparatus according to an embodiment.

First, a vehicle using the vehicle lighting apparatus 100A or 100B according to an embodiment may perform a plurality of functions. For example, multiple features include Smart Cruise Control (SCC), Blind Spot Detection (BSD), Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS), and Lane Change Assist ( LCAS: Lane Change Assist System (LCAS) function, Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) function, and Forward Collision Warning System (FCWS) function.

Light is irradiated through the lighting apparatuses 100A and 100B mounted on the vehicle (operation 410).

After operation 410, a sensing value required for performing at least one function (hereinafter, referred to as an “objective function”) among the plurality of functions is obtained by sensing the periphery of the vehicle (operation 420).

After operation 420, the target direction in which light is irradiated is calculated (or determined) using the sensing value (operation 430).

After operation 430, the plurality of liquid crystal polymers LCP are arranged using the calculated target direction (operation 440).

For example, it is assumed that the vehicle lighting apparatuses 100A and 100B irradiate a high beam as shown in FIG. 7 (operation 410).

In order to perform the SCC, AEB or FCWS function at night among the plurality of functions, it is possible to sense whether there is a preceding vehicle in front of the driving vehicle and obtain a sensing value that is a result of sensing (operation 420).

In this case, when it is determined that the preceding vehicle exists in front of the vehicle through the sensing value, the target direction to which the light is to be irradiated is determined as the first or third focal positions F1 and F3 (step 430).

According to the target direction determined in operation 430, the liquid crystal polymer is arranged to irradiate the low beam as illustrated in FIG. 6 (operation 440).

Hereinafter, a vehicle lighting apparatus according to a comparative example and a vehicle lighting apparatus according to an embodiment will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings as follows.

FIG. 13 is a conceptual diagram of a vehicle lighting apparatus according to a comparative example, and includes a light source 110, a reflector 120, a light blocking unit 160, a blocking control unit 170, a condenser lens 500, and an actuator (FIG. 510.

Unlike the vehicle lighting apparatus 100A according to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the vehicle lighting apparatus according to the comparative example illustrated in FIG. 13 includes a condenser lens 500 instead of the lens plate 130, and includes a condenser lens ( It further comprises an actuator 510 which serves to change the irradiation direction of the light by operating the 500. Except for this, since the vehicular lighting apparatus according to the comparative example shown in FIG. 13 is the same as the vehicular lighting apparatus 100A according to the embodiment shown in FIG. That is, the light source 110, the reflector 120, the light shielding unit 160, and the blocking controller 170 illustrated in FIG. 13 may include the light source 110, the reflector 120, and the light blocking unit illustrated in FIG. 1. It corresponds to the 160 and the blocking control unit 170, respectively.

The vehicle lighting apparatus according to the comparative example requires a separate actuator 510 to irradiate light emitted from the condenser lens 500 in the lateral direction or the longitudinal direction. Here, the actuator 510 may move the condenser lens 500 to adjust the irradiation angle at which the light emitted from the light source 110 is irradiated.

On the other hand, the lighting apparatuses 100A and 100B according to the embodiment may adjust only the shape in which the plurality of liquid crystal polymers are arranged to change the target direction in which the light is irradiated in the horizontal direction or the vertical direction. Therefore, the lighting apparatus 100A or 100B according to the embodiment does not require a separate actuator for changing the direction in which the light is irradiated. Therefore, the manufacturing cost of the vehicular lighting apparatus according to the embodiment becomes cheaper and the volume can be reduced.

In addition, while the lens plates 130 and 130A of the lighting apparatuses 100A and 100B according to the embodiment are a kind of Fresnel lens as described above, the lighting apparatus according to the comparative example shown in FIG. 13 is the condensing lens 500. Use In general, Fresnel lenses have a large diameter and a short focal length, but are lighter and take up less volume than condensing lenses. In addition, when a large amount of luminous flux is to be obtained by the condenser lens, the focal length is short, the thickness of the condenser lens is thick in the direction in which light passes through the lens, which is heavy, and the degree of absorption of light from the lens is increased, thereby reducing efficiency. Fresnel lenses, on the other hand, are easy to focus light in a desired direction, and the thickness of the lens is constant. In consideration of this, the lens plates 130 and 130A may transmit more light while being thinner and lighter than the condensing lens 500 of the same diameter, and may concentrate light in a desired direction to irradiate it. That is, since the lighting apparatus 100A or 100B according to the embodiment includes the thin lens plates 130 and 130A instead of the thick condensing lens 500, the lighting apparatus 100A and 100B may be implemented in a thin shape and the overall thickness is thin so that the lens plate 130 may be thin. , The light loss absorbed at 130A may be reduced to increase the pointing luminance (that is, the luminance at the focus area).

The above-described various embodiments may be combined with each other as long as they do not conflict with each other without departing from the object of the present invention. In addition, when the components of one embodiment of the above-described various embodiments are not described in detail, the description of the components having the same reference numerals of the other embodiments may apply mutatis mutandis.

Although the above description has been made with reference to the embodiments, these are only examples and are not intended to limit the present invention, and those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains should not be exemplified above without departing from the essential characteristics of the present embodiments. It will be appreciated that many variations and applications are possible. For example, each component specifically shown in the embodiment can be modified. And differences relating to these modifications and applications will have to be construed as being included in the scope of the invention defined in the appended claims.

Claims (11)

Light source;
A reflection unit reflecting light emitted from the light source in front;
A lens plate including a plurality of liquid crystal polymers arranged to transmit light emitted from the light source and light reflected by the reflector to be irradiated in a desired direction; And
And a main controller configured to adjust the arrangement of the plurality of liquid crystal polymers by applying a control voltage generated corresponding to the target direction to which light is irradiated to the lens plate. The method of claim 1, wherein the lens plate
And a plurality of lens plates spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance on a path to which light is irradiated. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising: a distance adjusting unit configured to move any one of the plurality of lens plates in response to a distance control signal to adjust the predetermined distance,
And the main controller generates the distance control signal in response to a focal position where the light is irradiated and converges. The method of claim 3, wherein the target direction includes at least one of a transverse direction and a longitudinal direction,
The longitudinal direction is
A first focal position spaced apart from the lens plate by a first distance; And
And a second focal position spaced apart from the lens plate by a second distance greater than the first distance. The vehicle lighting apparatus of claim 1, wherein
A light blocking unit disposed on a path through which light travels between the reflecting unit and the lens plate to block a portion of the light traveling to the lens plate; And
And a blocking control unit adjusting the position of the light blocking unit to determine a range of the light to be blocked. The method of claim 1, wherein the lens plate
First and second plates disposed opposite to each other on a path through which light travels and having light transmission;
A common electrode disposed on the first surface facing the second plate in the first plate; And
Further comprising a plurality of individual electrodes disposed spaced apart from each other on a second surface facing the first surface in the second plate,
The plurality of liquid crystal polymers are respectively disposed between the plurality of individual electrodes and the common electrode,
And the control voltage is applied to the common electrode and the plurality of individual electrodes, respectively. The method of claim 6, wherein the lens plate
And a passivation portion disposed between the individual electrode and the second surface of the second plate. The method of claim 6, wherein the main control unit
A voltage generator generating the control voltage;
A plurality of switches disposed between the control voltage of the voltage generator and each of the plurality of individual electrodes of the lens plate, and configured to switch in response to a switching control signal; And
And a switching controller configured to generate the switching control signal corresponding to the target direction to which the light is to be irradiated. The method of claim 6, wherein the lens plate
And the sub-electrode spaced apart from the neighboring individual electrodes between the plurality of individual electrodes. The method of claim 6, wherein each of the first and second plates comprises glass,
And the common electrode and the plurality of individual electrodes each include a translucent conductive layer. In the method of using the lighting device according to claim 1 in a vehicle performing a plurality of functions,
Irradiating light through the lighting device mounted to the vehicle;
Sensing surroundings of the vehicle to obtain a sensing value required when performing at least one of the plurality of functions;
Calculating the target direction to which light is irradiated using the sensing value; And
And arranging the plurality of liquid crystal polymers using the calculated target direction.

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