WO2012005686A1 - An automotive led headlamp comprising a light tunnel device - Google Patents

An automotive led headlamp comprising a light tunnel device Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2012005686A1
WO2012005686A1 PCT/SG2010/000248 SG2010000248W WO2012005686A1 WO 2012005686 A1 WO2012005686 A1 WO 2012005686A1 SG 2010000248 W SG2010000248 W SG 2010000248W WO 2012005686 A1 WO2012005686 A1 WO 2012005686A1
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WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
light
light tunnel
output surface
tunnel
automotive headlamp
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/SG2010/000248
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Hong Yuan Liu
Lye Hock Sim
Original Assignee
I3 Lab Pte Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by I3 Lab Pte Ltd filed Critical I3 Lab Pte Ltd
Priority to PCT/SG2010/000248 priority Critical patent/WO2012005686A1/en
Publication of WO2012005686A1 publication Critical patent/WO2012005686A1/en

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
    • G02B6/0001—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings specially adapted for lighting devices or systems
    • G02B6/0011—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings specially adapted for lighting devices or systems the light guides being planar or of plate-like form
    • G02B6/0033—Means for improving the coupling-out of light from the light guide
    • G02B6/0035—Means for improving the coupling-out of light from the light guide provided on the surface of the light guide or in the bulk of it
    • G02B6/0045—Means for improving the coupling-out of light from the light guide provided on the surface of the light guide or in the bulk of it by shaping at least a portion of the light guide
    • G02B6/0046—Tapered light guide, e.g. wedge-shaped light guide
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
    • F21S41/00—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps
    • F21S41/10—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps characterised by the light source
    • F21S41/14—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps characterised by the light source characterised by the type of light source
    • F21S41/141—Light emitting diodes [LED]
    • F21S41/143—Light emitting diodes [LED] the main emission direction of the LED being parallel to the optical axis of the illuminating device
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
    • F21S41/00—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps
    • F21S41/20—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps characterised by refractors, transparent cover plates, light guides or filters
    • F21S41/24—Light guides

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a projection type automotive LED headlamp, and particularly, to a projection type automotive LED headlamp comprising a light tunnel device.
  • the vehicle headlamps use either halogen filament or high intensity discharge arc (HID) bulb as the light source.
  • HID high intensity discharge arc
  • LED Light Emitting Diode
  • LED is vibration and shock resistant due to the solid state lighting technology
  • LED has color temperature close to day light, which is preferable for road illumination at night;
  • LED light source reaches maximal output within milliseconds, no warm-up delay
  • LED is cold light source and it doesn't contain IR and UV spectrum
  • LED light source has good potentials to be easily integrated into AFL system.
  • a headlamp system is required to produce a low beam and a high beam.
  • Low beams direct most of the light downwards and have strict control of upward light to provide safe forward visibility without excessive glare.
  • the Economic Commission for Europe (ECE) regulation specifies low beam with a sharp, asymmetric cut-off preventing significant amounts of light from being cast into the eyes of drivers of preceding or oncoming vehicles.
  • Figure 1 shows the ECE required low beam illumination pattern at 25m in front of the headlamp.
  • Modem headlamp optical architecture is either of a multi-reflector type or a projection type.
  • a light source is located in the vicinity of the focal point of a reflector with multiple facets.
  • the light emitted from the light source is reflected by the reflector facets, and the combination of the reflection from all the reflector facets forms the desired illumination pattern.
  • a light source and its dedicated optical members to fonm an intermediate spot, and a projection lens to image the said intermediate spot to the front direction to form the desired illumination pattern.
  • Light tunnel is also known as integrating rod, light pipe, or light homogenizer. It is widely used in illumination applications, e.g. digital projection, laser coHimation, solar collector, etc, to homogenize the light output.
  • Commonly used light tunnels have an input surface, an output surface and four or six side surfaces.
  • the cross section of the light tunnel could be square, rectangular, hexagonal, or even round shape.
  • the light emitted from the light source enters into the light tunnel through light tunnel's input surface, and the light travels inside the light tunnel and bounces when it hits the side surfaces. The light comes out of the light tunnel from light tunnel's output surface.
  • Light tunnel may be hollow or solid.
  • Figure 2 shows a typical hollow light tunnel 110 and a typical solid light tunnel 120.
  • the input and output surface are actually virtual surfaces, and the inner side surfaces 140 are coated with high reflectivity coating.
  • the light reflection at the side surfaces 140 is by total internal reflection (TIR) and no coating on the side surfaces is needed.
  • TIR total internal reflection
  • Tapered light tunnel is a special kind of light tunnel. It is useful to reduce the emission angle of the light passing through the light tunnel.
  • the relationship between the emission angle of the input light and output light is as following: 4jsin( ⁇ 1( )] 2 Where the A jn is the tunnel input surface area and ⁇ ⁇ is the emission angle of the input light, A mtt is the tunnel output surface area and ⁇ ⁇ is the emission angle of the output light. If output surface area is bigger than input surface area ( A o > A in ), the output angle is reduced.
  • a beam shutter also known as shield, shade, etc
  • this blockage causes light loss and system efficiency drop, which is not desired.
  • the present invention relates to a projection type automotive LED headlamp comprising at least one LED light source, a light tunnel device having a shaped output surface, and a projection lens.
  • the light tunnel device collects the light emitted from the LED light source and forms a desired intermediate spot on the light tunnel output surface without needing a beam shutter, and the projection lens images the intermediate spot toward the front direction to form the desired illumination pattern.
  • the headlamp comprises a LED source, a light tunnel system having an input surface and a shaped output surface, which the shape of the output surface may be formed by a rectangular section and a trapezoidal section, and a projection lens.
  • the headlamp comprises at least two LED sources, a light tunnel system comprising at least two input surfaces and a shaped output surface, which the shape of the output surface may be formed by a rectangular section and a trapezoidal section, and a projection lens.
  • Figure 1 is the ECE illumination pattern for low beam
  • Figure 2 is a perspective view of typical light tunnels
  • Figure 3 is the working principle of light rays' travelling in light tunnel
  • Figure 4 is a block diagram of the headlamp optical system
  • Figure 5-1 is the first embodiment of the light tunnel according to the present invention.
  • Figure 5-2 is a front view showing the output surface of the light tunnel in Figure 5-1 according to the present invention.
  • Figure 5-3 is a perspective view of the optical system according to the present invention
  • Figure 5-4 is a front view of the light tunnel and projection lens
  • Figure 5-5 is a side view of the light tunnel and projection lens
  • Figure 6 is the second embodiment of the light tunnel according to the present invention.
  • Figure 7 is an illustration diagram showing a multiple-channel light tunnel and two single channel light tunnels
  • Figure 8-1 is the third embodiment of the light tunnel according to present invention.
  • Figure 8-2 is a front view showing the output surface of the light tunnel in Figure 8-1 according to the present invention.
  • FIG 4 is a block diagram of the optical system of a projection type headlamp according to the present invention, which includes LED light source 200, light tunnel 100 and projection lens 300.
  • the LED light source 200 generates white color light.
  • the color temperature of the white light is close to day light (5500K).
  • the white light could be generated by the combination of primary colors (e.g. red, green and blue) or generated from a white LED (e.g. blue die with phosphor coating on top).
  • Figure 5-1 is the first exemplary embodiment according to the present invention.
  • a light tunnel 400 has an input surface 430, at least six side surfaces 440, and an output surface 450.
  • Figure 5-2 shows the shape of the output surface 450 of the light tunnel 400.
  • the shape of the output surface 450 is formed by a rectangular section 452 and a trapezoidal section 454.
  • the inclined side 456 of the trapezoidal section 454 is at angle or to a horizontal axis.
  • the angle may be 45 degree or 15 degree.
  • the vertex of the angle is located at point O.
  • the location and orientation of the trapezoidal section 454 depends on the handedness of traffic regulation.
  • Figure 5-3 is a perspective view of the optical system: the input surface 430 of the light tunnel 400 is aligned with regard to the LED light source 200 and collects the light emitted from LED light source 200.
  • the light tunnel 400 homogenizes the light spot and reduces emission angle of the output light.
  • the light tunnel 400 forms an intermediate spot on its output surface 450.
  • the intermediate spot has the same shape as the light tunnel output surface 450.
  • the light coming out from the light tunnel output surface 450 is aimed toward the projection lens 300.
  • Figure 5-4 is a front view showing the light tunnel position with regard to the projection lens
  • Figure 5-5 is a side view showing the light tunnel position with regard to the projection lens.
  • the light tunnel output surface 450 is located in the vicinity of the focal plane 310 of the projection lens 300.
  • the point O on the output surface 450 is located at the focal point 320 of the projection lens 300.
  • the projection lens 300 images the intermediate spot formed by the light tunnel 400 toward the vehicle's front direction and forms the desired illumination pattern.
  • the light coming out from the rectangular section 452 (shown in Fig 5-2) of the output surface 450 is projected to form the basic horizontal portion in the ECE illumination pattern.
  • the light coming out from the trapezoidal section 454 (shown in Fig 5-2) of the output surface 450 is projected to form the kink portion in the ECE illumination pattern.
  • the light tunnel has one input surface and one output surface.
  • the light tunnel in present invention may not be limited to one input surface, and it may have multiple input surfaces and one output surface.
  • the multiple input surfaces are aligned to multiple LED light sources.
  • the light from multiple light sources is collected by the dedicated light tunnel input surfaces.
  • the collected light travels inside the light tunnel body.
  • the light from multiple LED light sources is combined before the light tunnel output surface and comes out of the light tunnel from the output surface.
  • FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the second exemplary embodiment of the light tunnel according to the present invention.
  • a light tunnel 600 has at least two input surfaces 630, one output surface 650 and plurality of side surfaces 640.
  • the length of the extension portion 670 is L.
  • the length L is determined by such that the sharp edge of the joint-line 690 is effectively de-focused enough from the projection lens (not shown in Figure 6).
  • the output surface 650 is to be located in the vicinity of the focal plane of the projection lens.
  • the left side is a light tunnel with multiple input surfaces and one output surface
  • the right side is an arrangement of combining two individual light tunnels.
  • the optical effects are different for these two cases.
  • the projected image is smooth and uniform.
  • the projected image has a narrow vertical dark area in the center of the image, which is caused by the chromatic dispersion induced by the projection lens. As a result, the illumination is not uniform, and the color of the center region is visibly different to other regions.
  • Figure 8-1 shows the third exemplary embodiment Of the light tunnel according to the present invention:
  • a light tunnel 700 has at least two input surfaces 730, one output surface 750 and plurality of side surfaces 740.
  • Figure 8-2 is a front view showing the shape of the output surface 750 of the light tunnel 700.
  • the shape of the output surface 750 is formed by a rectangular section 752 and a trapezoidal section 754.
  • the inclined side 756 of the trapezoidal section 754 is at angle a to a horizontal axis.
  • the angle a may be 45 degree or 15 degree.
  • the vertex of the angle is located at point O.
  • the location and orientation of the trapezoidal section 754 depends on the handedness of traffic regulation.
  • a light tunnel according to the present invention may have an extended portion from output surface having locating features on it.
  • the locating features are used to ensure the light tunnel is mounted onto a housing body and aligned with regard to the LED light source in high accuracy.
  • the light tunnel may be formed of any suitable material, including, but not limited to, plastic, polymer and glass.
  • the light tunnel may be produced by any known art, including, but not limited to, injection molding, compression molding and liquid molding process.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Optics & Photonics (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Microelectronics & Electronic Packaging (AREA)
  • Non-Portable Lighting Devices Or Systems Thereof (AREA)

Abstract

A novel projection type automotive LED headlamp is disclosed, wherein a light tunnel device having a shaped output surface is used to collect the light emitted from the LED light source and form an intermediate spot on the output surface of the light tunnel, and a projection lens projects the intermediate spot toward front direction to form the desired illumination pattern.

Description

AN AUTOMOTIVE LED HEADLAMP COMPRISING A LIGHT TUNNEL DEVICE
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a projection type automotive LED headlamp, and particularly, to a projection type automotive LED headlamp comprising a light tunnel device.
Background
LED Headlamp with High- and Low-Beam
Traditionally, the vehicle headlamps use either halogen filament or high intensity discharge arc (HID) bulb as the light source.
More recently, solid state lighting devices, such as Light Emitting Diode (LED), are fast becoming preferred light source for automotive headlamp. LED has many advantages compared to the traditional HID/Halogen light sources for a few good reasons listed below:
1. LED is vibration and shock resistant due to the solid state lighting technology;
2. LED has much longer lifetime;
3. LED consumes less electrical power;
4. LED has color temperature close to day light, which is preferable for road illumination at night;
5. LED light source reaches maximal output within milliseconds, no warm-up delay;
6. LED is cold light source and it doesn't contain IR and UV spectrum;
7. LED light source has good potentials to be easily integrated into AFL system.
A headlamp system is required to produce a low beam and a high beam.
Low beams direct most of the light downwards and have strict control of upward light to provide safe forward visibility without excessive glare. The Economic Commission for Europe (ECE) regulation specifies low beam with a sharp, asymmetric cut-off preventing significant amounts of light from being cast into the eyes of drivers of preceding or oncoming vehicles.
Figure 1 shows the ECE required low beam illumination pattern at 25m in front of the headlamp.
High beams cast most of their light straight ahead, maximizing viewing distance, but producing glare, which may cause safety issue when other vehicles are present on the road. High beam is used when there is no other road user or in severe weather conditions. Modem headlamp optical architecture is either of a multi-reflector type or a projection type.
In a multi-reflector type headlamp, a light source is located in the vicinity of the focal point of a reflector with multiple facets. The light emitted from the light source is reflected by the reflector facets, and the combination of the reflection from all the reflector facets forms the desired illumination pattern.
In a typical projection type headlamp, there are a light source and its dedicated optical members to fonm an intermediate spot, and a projection lens to image the said intermediate spot to the front direction to form the desired illumination pattern.
Light Tunnel Device
Light tunnel is also known as integrating rod, light pipe, or light homogenizer. It is widely used in illumination applications, e.g. digital projection, laser coHimation, solar collector, etc, to homogenize the light output.
Commonly used light tunnels have an input surface, an output surface and four or six side surfaces. The cross section of the light tunnel could be square, rectangular, hexagonal, or even round shape. The light emitted from the light source enters into the light tunnel through light tunnel's input surface, and the light travels inside the light tunnel and bounces when it hits the side surfaces. The light comes out of the light tunnel from light tunnel's output surface.
Light tunnel may be hollow or solid.
Figure 2 shows a typical hollow light tunnel 110 and a typical solid light tunnel 120. In the hollow light tunnel case, the input and output surface are actually virtual surfaces, and the inner side surfaces 140 are coated with high reflectivity coating. In solid light tunnel case, the light reflection at the side surfaces 140 is by total internal reflection (TIR) and no coating on the side surfaces is needed.
Tapered light tunnel is a special kind of light tunnel. It is useful to reduce the emission angle of the light passing through the light tunnel. The relationship between the emission angle of the input light and output light is as following:
Figure imgf000003_0001
4jsin(^1()]2 Where the Ajn is the tunnel input surface area and θίη is the emission angle of the input light, Amtt is the tunnel output surface area and θοια is the emission angle of the output light. If output surface area is bigger than input surface area ( Ao > Ain ), the output angle is reduced.
Related Arts
In a typical projection type headlamp, it is not uncommon to use a beam shutter (also known as shield, shade, etc) to block a portion of the light coming from the light source to form the desired intermediate spot. However, this blockage causes light loss and system efficiency drop, which is not desired.
Summary of the Invention
Thus, it is an object of the present invention to provide a projection type headlamp to overcome the above mentioned problem.
The present invention relates to a projection type automotive LED headlamp comprising at least one LED light source, a light tunnel device having a shaped output surface, and a projection lens. The light tunnel device collects the light emitted from the LED light source and forms a desired intermediate spot on the light tunnel output surface without needing a beam shutter, and the projection lens images the intermediate spot toward the front direction to form the desired illumination pattern.
In the first preferred embodiment, the headlamp comprises a LED source, a light tunnel system having an input surface and a shaped output surface, which the shape of the output surface may be formed by a rectangular section and a trapezoidal section, and a projection lens.
In the second and third preferred embodiments, the headlamp comprises at least two LED sources, a light tunnel system comprising at least two input surfaces and a shaped output surface, which the shape of the output surface may be formed by a rectangular section and a trapezoidal section, and a projection lens.
Description of the Drawings
The above as well as other advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the embodiments when considered in the light of the accompanying drawing in which: Figure 1 is the ECE illumination pattern for low beam;
Figure 2 is a perspective view of typical light tunnels;
Figure 3 is the working principle of light rays' travelling in light tunnel;
Figure 4 is a block diagram of the headlamp optical system;
Figure 5-1 is the first embodiment of the light tunnel according to the present invention;
Figure 5-2 is a front view showing the output surface of the light tunnel in Figure 5-1 according to the present invention;
Figure 5-3 is a perspective view of the optical system according to the present invention; Figure 5-4 is a front view of the light tunnel and projection lens; Figure 5-5 is a side view of the light tunnel and projection lens;
Figure 6 is the second embodiment of the light tunnel according to the present invention;
Figure 7 is an illustration diagram showing a multiple-channel light tunnel and two single channel light tunnels;
Figure 8-1 is the third embodiment of the light tunnel according to present invention;
Figure 8-2 is a front view showing the output surface of the light tunnel in Figure 8-1 according to the present invention;
Detailed Description of the Invention
The following detailed description and appended drawings describe and illustrate various exemplary embodiments of the present invention. The description and drawings serve to enable one skilled in the art to make and use the invention, and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention in any manner.
Figure 4 is a block diagram of the optical system of a projection type headlamp according to the present invention, which includes LED light source 200, light tunnel 100 and projection lens 300. The LED light source 200 generates white color light. The color temperature of the white light is close to day light (5500K). The white light could be generated by the combination of primary colors (e.g. red, green and blue) or generated from a white LED (e.g. blue die with phosphor coating on top).
Figure 5-1 is the first exemplary embodiment according to the present invention. A light tunnel 400 has an input surface 430, at least six side surfaces 440, and an output surface 450.
Figure 5-2 shows the shape of the output surface 450 of the light tunnel 400. The shape of the output surface 450 is formed by a rectangular section 452 and a trapezoidal section 454. The inclined side 456 of the trapezoidal section 454 is at angle or to a horizontal axis. The angle may be 45 degree or 15 degree. The vertex of the angle is located at point O. The location and orientation of the trapezoidal section 454 depends on the handedness of traffic regulation.
Figure 5-3 is a perspective view of the optical system: the input surface 430 of the light tunnel 400 is aligned with regard to the LED light source 200 and collects the light emitted from LED light source 200. The light tunnel 400 homogenizes the light spot and reduces emission angle of the output light. The light tunnel 400 forms an intermediate spot on its output surface 450. The intermediate spot has the same shape as the light tunnel output surface 450. The light coming out from the light tunnel output surface 450 is aimed toward the projection lens 300.
Figure 5-4 is a front view showing the light tunnel position with regard to the projection lens; and Figure 5-5 is a side view showing the light tunnel position with regard to the projection lens. The light tunnel output surface 450 is located in the vicinity of the focal plane 310 of the projection lens 300. The point O on the output surface 450 is located at the focal point 320 of the projection lens 300. The projection lens 300 images the intermediate spot formed by the light tunnel 400 toward the vehicle's front direction and forms the desired illumination pattern.
The light coming out from the rectangular section 452 (shown in Fig 5-2) of the output surface 450 is projected to form the basic horizontal portion in the ECE illumination pattern. The light coming out from the trapezoidal section 454 (shown in Fig 5-2) of the output surface 450 is projected to form the kink portion in the ECE illumination pattern.
In above mentioned first exemplary embodiment, the light tunnel has one input surface and one output surface. However, the light tunnel in present invention may not be limited to one input surface, and it may have multiple input surfaces and one output surface. The multiple input surfaces are aligned to multiple LED light sources. The light from multiple light sources is collected by the dedicated light tunnel input surfaces. The collected light travels inside the light tunnel body. The light from multiple LED light sources is combined before the light tunnel output surface and comes out of the light tunnel from the output surface.
Figure 6 is a perspective view of the second exemplary embodiment of the light tunnel according to the present invention. A light tunnel 600 has at least two input surfaces 630, one output surface 650 and plurality of side surfaces 640. There is an extension portion 670 of the light tunnel between the output surface and the joint-point P 680 of the light tunnel channels. The length of the extension portion 670 is L. The length L is determined by such that the sharp edge of the joint-line 690 is effectively de-focused enough from the projection lens (not shown in Figure 6). The output surface 650 is to be located in the vicinity of the focal plane of the projection lens.
[The difference between one single light tunnel having multiple input surfaces and the combination of multiple individual light tunnels is briefly explained as below:
In Figure 7, the left side is a light tunnel with multiple input surfaces and one output surface, and the right side is an arrangement of combining two individual light tunnels. The optical effects are different for these two cases. For one tunnel case, the projected image is smooth and uniform. For two tunnels case, the projected image has a narrow vertical dark area in the center of the image, which is caused by the chromatic dispersion induced by the projection lens. As a result, the illumination is not uniform, and the color of the center region is visibly different to other regions.]
Figure 8-1 shows the third exemplary embodiment Of the light tunnel according to the present invention: A light tunnel 700 has at least two input surfaces 730, one output surface 750 and plurality of side surfaces 740.
Figure 8-2 is a front view showing the shape of the output surface 750 of the light tunnel 700. The shape of the output surface 750 is formed by a rectangular section 752 and a trapezoidal section 754. The inclined side 756 of the trapezoidal section 754 is at angle a to a horizontal axis. The angle a may be 45 degree or 15 degree. The vertex of the angle is located at point O. The location and orientation of the trapezoidal section 754 depends on the handedness of traffic regulation.
A light tunnel according to the present invention may have an extended portion from output surface having locating features on it. The locating features are used to ensure the light tunnel is mounted onto a housing body and aligned with regard to the LED light source in high accuracy. The light tunnel may be formed of any suitable material, including, but not limited to, plastic, polymer and glass.
The light tunnel may be produced by any known art, including, but not limited to, injection molding, compression molding and liquid molding process.
Although the present invention has been described in accordance with the embodiments shown, many modifications may be made by one of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Claims

Claims What is claimed is:
1. An automotive headlamp, comprising
An LED light source;
A projection (ens;
A light tunnel device, further comprising one input surface which is placed immediately next to an LED light source and one output surface having a desired shape;
wherein the desired shape of the output surface is formed by a rectangular section and a trapezoidal section.
2. An automotive headlamp in Claim 1 , wherein the light tunnel device is made of a transparent dielectric material capable of providing a medium for optical path via total internal reflection.
3. An automotive headlamp in Claim 1 , wherein the output surface of the light tunnel is placed in the vicinity of the focal plane of the projection lens.
4. An automotive headlamp in Claim 1 wherein the trapezoidal section of the output surface of the light tunnel has an oblique side which is at 45 degrees to a horizontal axis.
5. An automotive headlamp in Claim 1 wherein the trapezoidal section of the output surface of the light tunnel has an oblique side which is at 15 degrees to a horizontal axis.
6. An automotive headlamp, comprising
At least two LED light sources;
A projection lens;
A light tunnel device, further comprising at least two input surfaces which are placed immediately next to at least two LED light sources and one output surface having a desired shape;
wherein the desired shape of the output surface is formed by a rectangular section and a trapezoidal section.
7. An automotive headlamp in Claim 6, wherein the light tunnel system is made of a transparent dielectric material capable of providing a medium for optical path via total internal reflection.
8. An automotive headlamp in Claim 6, wherein the output surface of the light tunnel is placed in the vicinity of the focal plane of the projection lens.
9. An automotive headlamp in Claim 6 wherein the trapezoidal section of the output surface of the light tunnel has an oblique side which is at 45 degrees to a horizontal axis.
10. An automotive headlamp in Claim 6 wherein the trapezoidal section of the output surface of the light tunnel has an oblique side which is at 15 degrees to a horizontal axis.
PCT/SG2010/000248 2010-07-05 2010-07-05 An automotive led headlamp comprising a light tunnel device WO2012005686A1 (en)

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WO2017000005A1 (en) * 2015-06-30 2017-01-05 Zkw Group Gmbh Lighting module for a vehicle headlamp
JP2018055907A (en) * 2016-09-28 2018-04-05 株式会社日立情映テック Headlight device for vehicle
US10054798B2 (en) 2013-06-18 2018-08-21 Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha Light-emitting device
US10066809B2 (en) 2012-01-18 2018-09-04 Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha Light emitting device with optical member for exciting fluorescence, illumination device, and vehicle headlamp having the same
JP2020057615A (en) * 2016-09-30 2020-04-09 武漢通暢汽車電子照明有限公司 Collector used in low-beam headlight module

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