WO2016064733A2

WO2016064733A2 - Vehicular lighting system

Info

Publication number: WO2016064733A2
Application number: PCT/US2015/056215
Authority: WO
Inventors: Valentin Gapontsev; Yuri Erokhin
Original assignee: Ipg Photonics Corporation
Priority date: 2014-10-20
Filing date: 2015-10-19
Publication date: 2016-04-28
Also published as: WO2016064733A3

Abstract

A vehicle luminaire is configured with a pigtailed module having a plurality of diode lasers which are operative to output at least two beams at respective different wavelengths in a 400 - 700 nm range. The beams are spectrally and spatially combined in a cumulative white beam incident on an optical assembly. The optical assembly is configured without a wavelength converter and operative to shape the cumulative white beam impinged thereupon so that the shaped white beam illuminates a range exceeding 600 meters while complying with standards of safety standards of U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS), Laser Institute of America (LIOA) and UN regulations.

Description

VEHICULAR LIGHTING SYSTEM

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

Field of the Invention

[001] The invention relates to laser based vehicular lighting systems. Glossary

[002] The beam divergence of an electromagnetic beam is an angular measure of the increase in beam diameter or radius with distance from the optical aperture from which the

electromagnetic (laser) beam emerges. The term is relevant only in the "far field", away from any focus of the beam.

[003] Brake Lights are placed on the rear of a vehicle and more recently near the rear window, where it is more directly in line with the vision of an operator behind the vehicle.

[004] Brightness is a relative expression of the intensity of the energy output of a visible light source. In the Red Green Blue (RGB) color space, brightness is the arithmetic mean μ of the red, green, and blue color coordinates although some of the three components make the light seem brighter than others due to the human eye varying sensitivity to light with different wavelength.

[005] Corner Lights refer to the steady corner light that is illuminated at the same time as the turn signal on that side.

[006] Far field of the laser beam is approximately determined by taking the square of the beam diameter divided by the wavelength: F = Α²/λ.

[007] Fog Lights are designed to be more visible in foggy conditions. They are not to increase the visibility of the driver but rather to make the automobile more visible to other drivers. Most traditional fog lights are yellow or blue or purple or amber.

[008] Gamut defines the range of colors identifiable by the human eye (i.e., the visible spectrum).

[009] Hazard Lights typically consist of the turn signals on both sides of the vehicle flashing simultaneously. These lights are turned on manually by the driver and are used to warn other cars of a lower-than-normal speed, an automotive malfunction (such as when driving on a spare tire), a wide or long luminaire, or some other condition that may affect other drivers on the road. [0010] Headlamps are the lights at the front end of a vehicle that allow the operator to navigate safely in low-light conditions. Cars, for example, feature two settings for headlamps: low beams and high beams. High beams are more powerful and are directed head-on; for this reason, they must be dimmed whenever oncoming traffic is encountered. The lights from another car's high beams can be blinding to a driver. Low beams are directed at an outward angle and slightly downward. Usually, the high beams are separate from the low beams, so it is possible for the low beams to be burned out but the high beams to still function.

[0011] Housing is the plastic (or other transparent) casing that protects light emitting sources from a physical damage.

[0012] Hue is the wavelength within the visible-light spectrum at which the energy output from a source is greatest.

[0013] Instrument Panel Lights indicate warnings, such as "check engine," "low oil," and so on. These lights are present on the driver's side of the dashboard for easy visibility.

[0014] Interior Lights include the overhead light, which typically illuminate when a door is opened; the trunk light, which illuminates when the trunk is opened; and any other lights for map reading and so on, which are usually turned on and off manually.

[0015] Luminaire is a complete lightning unit with all light producing, light distributing, light controlling components and housing.

[0016] Luminous intensity describes the intensity of light in a particular direction at the desired frequency. Measured in candelas (cd).

[0017] Near field of a laser beam is a region at or very close to the output aperture. For a laser diode, the near field may extend for only a few microns from the output facet. Near-field beam diagnostics measurements typically include parameters such as diameter, intensity distribution/profile, ellipticity, uniformity and peak-power or energy density.

[0018] Parking Lights are usually lit when the ignition key is turned to the "accessory" mode, or else they can be turned on by turning the deadlamp switch to the parking light setting. These lights are a warning to other drivers that the vehicle is at a standstill and not part of the regular flow of traffic.

[0019] Running Lights are illuminated at all times when the engine is running, even during daylight. In some cars, these are simply the deadlamps on a very low beam, whereas in other cars, the running lights are actually separate lights in the vicinity of the deadlamps. [0020] Saturation is an expression for the relative bandwidth of the visible output from a light source. As saturation increases, colors appear more "pure." As saturation decreases, colors appear more "washed-out."

[0021] Side Marker Lights may flash or burn steadily, but their primary purpose is to enhance visibility of the vehicle for other motorists. They are often amber in color.

[0022] Spatial intensity distribution (commonly called the beam profile) is the measurement of the spatial distribution of power or energy perpendicular to the beam propagation path. It can provide such details as beam mode structure, shape, size, position and divergence.

[0023] Tail Lights are red, burn steadily when the deadlamps are illuminated, and provide visibility of the automobile from the rear.

[0024] Turn Signals are only illuminated when the driver uses the turn signal to indicate a turn or lane change. There is a turn signal at the front and the back of the car. On some newer late model vehicles, turn signals are also visible in the side mirrors. Only one set of turn signals (left or right) can be lit at a time. In most vehicles, the hazard light setting is wired to flash both turn signals simultaneously.

Technological Landscape

[0025] Being able to see where an operator is going is rather important when he/she is controlling a vehicle, regardless of whether it's day or night. It's therefore not surprising that headlamp technology is a constant focus of the auto industry. At present, three light technologies are used in automotive headlamps: Halogen lamps, xenon light (gas discharge) and LED-based light. LEDs emit light in an angular range, meaning that the light beam broadens as the distance to the source increases.

[0026] The LED head lamp of the prior art often utilizes the phosphor white method which produces white light in a single LED module by combining a short wavelength LED such as blue (and sometime green and/or red) incident on a yellow phosphor coating on the remote lens. The the blue and yellow photons combine to generate white light.

[0027] The color mix approach results in a highly efficient white light delivered to with a specific color point. The spectral density is closer to daylight. The color rendering matches or exceeds popular conventional sources such as tungsten halogen. Color rendering is excellent in pastel and saturated shades as well as skin tones. [0028] One of the latest steps forward is the adaptive laser headlamps that recently debuted in the automotive market. These use lasers to augment traditional high beams while minimizing blinding everyone in their path. The laser-generated beams offer a handful of advantages over LED lighting, including greater lighting intensity and extending the beams' reach as far as 600 meters down the road (nearly double the range of LEDs). The beam pattern also can be controlled very precisely. Plus, laser lights consume about 30 percent less energy than the already-efficient LED lights. Furthermore, the lasers take up far less space than LEDs thus allowing for greater flexibility in auto design for carmakers.

[0029] If the secret to night driving was just more powerful illumination, things would be much simpler. Brighter illumination is fine if one is behind the wheel, less so if the driver is being dazzled by those beams. Hardly any other system in a motor vehicle is as heavily regulated as the lighting, because its purpose is to enhance safety and avoid endangering other traffic participants. Consequently, as for headlamps with other light sources, laser high beams are only permitted to emit 140,000 cd, meaning that the glare ratings are identical. The known headlamps aim to solve this problem, detecting cars that would be dazzled by its laser spotlights, then adjusting the cone of that spotlight to prevent that from happening.

[0030] Typically, each headlamp based on the white phosphor method actually has multiple blue and sometimes green and red diode lasers that the unit modulates to create a focused spotlight with twice the range of the car's LED high beams. The laser light is also transformed into a white light with the same color temperature as daylight (5500° K) by a phosphor converter. The laser spotlights kick in once the car is above a predetermined speed limit, and an integrated camera system constantly monitors the road ahead and adjusts their throw to avoid blinding oncoming motorists.

[0031] The use of a phosphor converter may have certain disadvantages. First, optically, a laser beam diameter in far field and/or angle of divergence cannot be dynamically controlled. And second, electronically, the intensity of different colors is difficult to control. As a result, the number of hues is limited since the modulation of the output beam intensity of individual lasers, leading to a greater range of colors, does not affect the output from the phosphorus lens.

[0032] Accordingly, it is desirable to provide external vehicle luminaries and particularly headlamps configured to emit a laser beam without a need for wavelength conversion elements. SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0033] This need is satisfied in the disclosure through the provision of a vehicle with a single or multiple selectively energizable light sources such as one or more pigtailed diode laser light sources. The pigtailed diode laser module is configured with an output fiber waveguide delivering a laser beam to the desired optical luminaire of the vehicle, including the headlamps, brake lights, taillights, instrumentation lights and turn signals. Each waveguide may be a multimode fiber, having a numerical aperture large enough to receive illumination from one or plurality of laser modules. The desired operation of the disclosed lightning system is realized by a controller.

[0034] The disclosure further provides a vehicular headlamp luminary including two or four headlamps each with the illumination range which exceeds 600 meters. The luminaries each include either individual or common to all a pigtailed diode laser module configured with a plurality of emitters which operate at different wavelengths within a 400 - 700 nm wavelength range. This luminaire is further configured with a wavelength converter free optic. This optic processes the incident laser beam so that the headlamp output comports with safety standards of U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS), Laser Institute of America (LIOA) and UN regulations.

[0035] Each laser diode module may comprise one or two rows of spaced individual broad band multimode diode lasers emitting respective parallel light beams propagating along a downstream stretch of the light path. The beams are then combined together into a cumulative output beam coupled into a fiber that has its proximal end mounted to the housing of the module. In one structural modification of the two-row architecture, each diode laser of one of the rows is aligned with the diode laser of the other low across the downstream stretch of the light path. In another modification of the two-row architecture, a diode laser of one of the rows is located between two adjacent diode lasers of the other raw in a plane which is perpendicular to the downstream stretch of the light path.

[0036] Regardless of the laser module architecture, each individual module may include diode lasers of different colors in a visible wavelength range between 400 and 700 nm and provide power levels as high as several tens of Watts and greater if necessary. The diode laser combination may include only blue and green diode lasers. Alternatively, red diode lasers can be added to the combination of blue and green diodes, or the red diode or diodes may be combined only with either blue or green. The possibility of numerous color combinations may reproduce a great variety of hues within a wide color gamut.

[0037] The controller is configured as a non-transient computer readable medium containing program instructions for causing a computer to selectively activate the desired source or alter source brightness by adjusting the supplied current. The computer further may be queried to selectively adjust the supplied current to each of the diode lasers to provide different hues of the output white light and laser beam brightness in the far field.

[0038] In one aspect of the disclosure, the luminaire, such as a headlamp, includes a laser source, such as one or multiple pigtailed diode laser modules disclosed above, a delivery fiber guiding the cumulative laser beam to the desired optical luminaire, and a bulk optic. To provide the desired characteristics of the far field, the bulk optic may be configured as a positive or negative lens. Other variations of the bulk optics configured to comport the output laser beam characteristics with the standards of U.S. and international governing regulatory bodies in the laser and traffic fields can be incorporated in the inventive structure without principle modifications thereof.

[0039] In a further embodiment, the disclosed luminaire includes a laser source, a combination of first and second reflective components configured to provide the output laser beam with the desired divergence and luminous intensity in accordance with the above-mentioned standards, and a controller. Note that the structure of the previous aspect can be slightly modified to include the combination of the reflective elements.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0040] The above and other features will become more readily apparent from the following specific description accompanied by the drawings, in which:

[0041] FIG. 1 is a top view of a vehicle showing exemplary positions of the various optical luminaires.

[0042] FIG. 2 is the disclosed luminaire, for example, a headlamp configured in accordance with one aspect of the disclosure. [0043] FIG. 3 is the disclosed headlamp of FIG. 2 configured in accordance with one optical scheme.

[0044] FIG. 4 is the disclosed headlamp of FIG. 2 configured in accordance with another optical schematic.

[0045] FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate one embodiment of the laser source incorporated in the luminaire of FIG. 2.

[0046] FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate another embodiment of the laser source incorporated in the luminaire of FIG. 2.

[0047] FIG. 9 shows a CIE (international commission on illumination) standard.

SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION

[0048] Reference will now be made in detail to the disclosed luminaire. Wherever possible, same or similar reference numerals are used in the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts. Unless specifically noted, it is intended that the words and phrases in the specification and claims be given the ordinary and accustomed meaning to those of ordinary skill in the fiber laser arts.

[0049] In accordance with the basic concept of the disclosure, a mix of red, green and blue (RGB) of diode lasers or any suitable combination of these in one module renders white light by the proper mixture of the desired combination of these colors. The disclosed additive RGB white method produces white light by spatially and spectrally combining the output from red, green and/or blue diode lasers. This is an additive color method which is often counterintuitive for people accustomed to the more everyday subtractive color system of pigments, dyes, inks and other substances which present color to the eye by reflection rather than emission. Additive color is a result of the way the eye detects color, and is not a property of light. RGB white gives the operator control over the exact color of the light, and it tends to make color "pop".

[0050] Referring to FIG. 1, a vehicle 10 is equipped with a plurality of luminaries including, but not limited to taillights 12, brake light 13, turning lights 15, deadlamps 16, dashboard lights 17 and other interior lights 18. All of the luminaries are powered by a single or multiple laser light sources 20 outputting visible light. The location of each source 20 is selected to provide the maximum safety and cooling conditions. For example, a compartment 11 may be located in the vicinity of or on the vehicle fire wall and contain all laser light sources associated with respective luminaries. Alternatively, each or at least some of the luminaries may its individual laser light source at the desired location. The exterior luminaries may include light scattering medium. An optical fiber network 18 transmits light produced by laser light sources 20 to respective luminaries. In case of single laser light source 20, a variety of beam switches or other optical components, not shown but well known to one of ordinary skill in the art, distribute the output of the laser source to the desired luminaries in response to the control signal generated by the driver or external sensors. The entire light system is controlled by an onboard central processing unit (CPU) or controller 22. The controller 22 is configured as a non-transient computer readable medium containing program instructions for performing various tasks which will be disclosed throughout the specific description.

[0051] FIG. 2 diagrammatically illustrates the disclosed luminaire, for example headlamp 16. The headlamp 16 is configured with pigtailed laser source 20 including a plurality of diode lasers, preferably super luminescent, operating at different wavelengths in a 400 - 700 nm wavelength range. The output laser beams are coupled into multimode fiber 18 delivering the white light to a housing 24. The beams emitted from the fiber are spectrally and spatially combined with one another while propagating over free space before the combined beam is incident on a bulk optic 28 which processes the beam directing it through a transparent housing 24 in a forward direction.

[0052] The laser beam slowly spreads out, or diverges at a steadily increasing rate. The rate of spreading out eventually reaches a maximum value called the divergence angle Θ given by the equation: θ = (2/π)*(λ/2 wo), where w₀ is the radius of the beam at distance z = 0 and λ is the wavelength of the laser.

[0053] The inverse relationship between the divergence angle 0 and the minimum or initial size of the beam w₀ means that the smaller the initial size of the beam is, the faster the beam will spread out as it travels away from the laser. The expanding laser beam from headlamp 16 can be described by a hyperbola, as summarized in the following equation w(z) = wo[l+(z/z₀)²]^1/2

Here w(z) is the radius of the beam at a distance z away from the laser, w₀ is the minimum beam radius, and z₀ is the "Rayleigh range" given by z₀ = [π/λ] * wo²

Knowing the divergence angle, it is easy to determine the desired intensity of the beam at the desired distance by controller 22.

[0054] FIG. 3 illustrates one of numerous possible designs of bulk optic 28 including a negative lens 30. Other lens configurations designed to spread out the laser beam over the desired distance at the desired divergence angle in order to produce the desired luminous intensity in the far field can be recognized and incorporated in this structure by the artisan.

[0055] FIG. 4 illustrates another embodiment of bulk optics 28 which includes a convex reflective component 30 mounted, for example, in housing 24 along the light path of the laser beam propagating in a forward/driving direction. The reflective surface of component 30 backreflects incident light which impinges upon a reflector 32 also mounted in housing 24 and configured to redirect the impinged light in the forward direction.

[0056] FIGs. 5 and 6 illustrate an exemplary embodiment of pigtailed diode laser module 52 including a combination of three broadband multimode (MM) diode lasers operating at different wavelengths in a 400 - 700 nm range. The color combinations are not limited to any specific one and may include for example one Green, one Blue and one Red diode lasers, or two Blue and one Green etc. The module 52 is configured with three groups of optical components, each of which includes diode lasers 56, lenses 58 and 60, respectively, and mirror 62. The diode lasers 56 are mounted to a bottom 72 (FIG. 6) of a housing package in a stepwise manner one above the other and, thus, independently from one another. The distance between planes in which respective diodes 56 terminate relative to bottom 72 is insignificant and may be as small as 300 microns. Accordingly, the rest of the optical components of each subsequent group is elevated above the respective components of the previous group at a uniform distance. Such a configuration allows objective lens 66, located along the light path of pump light, to focus the pump light from multiple sources and couple it to the upstream faucet of pump output fiber 70.

[0057] The module 52, regardless of the number of laser diodes 56, is enclosed in housing package 74 (FIG. 6). The output MM fiber 70 is mounted to collimator unit 68 (FIG. 5) in a manner well known to those skilled in the laser art.

[0058] FIGs. 7 and 8 illustrate a further architecture of the disclosed laser module 20 including multiple emitter assemblies operate at different wavelengths in the 400 - 700 nm wavelength range. Again, the color/laser combination is not limited to any specific group of colors. For example, it can be combination of two Red lasers, two Green lasers and 2 Blue lasers or any other combination of the RGB diode lasers specified by the manufacturer.

[0059] The multiple emitter assemblies each include laser diode 122, fast and slow axes lens assembly 124, 126 and deflecting mirror 128. The excellent performance of the configuration shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 can be partially attributed to a relatively short distance between the apertures of respective laser diodes 122 and the receiving end of multimode fiber 136.

[0060] As shown in FIG. 7, module 20 is configured with two rows of laser diodes 122 uniformly spaced in opposite directions in a horizontal plane from a horizontal axis A-A' which extends parallel to the direction of propagation of light beams 125 and coincides with the optical axis of beam compression unit 130. The lasers of one row and respective laser diodes of the other row are axially offset relative to one another. Accordingly, diode lasers 122 of the first row alternate with lasers 122 of the second row in the direction of propagation of light beams 125. However, this configuration can be modified to have lasers of the first row aligned with respective lasers of the second row.

[0061] The deflecting mirrors 128 associated with respective laser diodes 122 are arranged in a zigzag configuration extending along the axis of symmetry. Such a configuration of mirrors 128 along with the ladder-like configuration of multiple diodes 122 allows for a plurality of parallel beams 125 which do not overlap with one another, as shown in FIG. 8. The zigzag arrangement may include a plurality of separate deflecting mirrors 128 or a single mirror component.

[0062] FIG. 8 illustrates propagation of light beams 125 along the vertical axis of beam compression unit or telescope 130. In this embodiment, each subsequent diode laser 122 along with the associated collimator lens assembly and deflecting mirror 128, is mounted to the bottom of the housing at a level lower than the previous laser arrangement. Consequently, not only diode lasers of the respective opposite rows alternate with one another, but the lasers along with respective lenses 124, 126 and deflecting mirrors 128 define a step-wise structure gradually descending in the direction of propagation of light beams 132 in the plane perpendicular to the sheet.

[0063] The telescope or beam compression unit 130 includes planoconvex lens 138 compressing light beams 125 preferably along the vertical axis of the telescope, and further a planoconcave lens 140 configured to output light beam 142 with a beam cross-section smaller than that one at the entrance to lens 138. Thereafter reduced output light beam 142 is focused by lens 134 configured to couple the light beam into output fiber 136.

[0064] Each diode laser light 125 expands along fast and slow axes both being perpendicular to the beam direction, and also to each other. Accordingly, the collimating lens assembly is configured with a fast axis collimator 124 and a slow axis collimator 126 processing respective fast and slow components of light 125.

[0065] The collimated light impinges upon a deflecting mirror 128 reflecting the light along the downstream stretch of the light path so that the downstream and upstream stretches of the path extend substantially perpendicular to one another. The reflected lights emitted by respective lasers 122 do not overlap one another because laser assemblies, each including lasers 122 and associated light-guiding components, are mounted to the bottom of the housing so as to define a linear, ladder-shaped configuration with each subsequent laser assembly being located below the previous one. Given as an example, FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate six diodes 122 mounted on respective support/heat sink surfaces 121. The diode lasers 122, thus, define a six-step ladder allowing multiple laser lights 125 deflected from respective mirrors 128 to propagate along the downstream stretch of the light path.

[0066] When coupling laser diodes to the optical fibers, the important parameters to consider are the size of aperture, fast and slow axis divergences of the laser and the numerical aperture of the fiber. Refocusing the light from the laser diodes inside the modal diameter of the optical fiber and reduction of the incidence angles of the light within fiber's numerical aperture is instrumental for efficient coupling. The configuration of laser diodes 122, each of which may have, for example, the length of about between 3 and 4.5 mm and the width of about 90 μ, conditions propagation of beams along a horizontal axis of telescope so that the light has a plurality of spatial modes. In contrast, along a vertical axis, the light has substantially a single spatial mode. Accordingly, the beam compression unit is preferably configured to collimate the light beams propagating along the vertical axis while leaving the horizontal axis divergence unchanged. However, the scope of the disclosure includes the possibility of compressing the light beam along the horizontal axis as well.

[0067] The controller 22 is a salient part of the current disclosure. The following table illustrates the required intensity values for respective high/low beams in candelas at 12.8V on the headlamp axis (H-V), and not necessarily the overall maximum of the beam.

[0068] The primary purpose of the high beam is to illuminate the road and traffic scene in front of the driver when there are no opposing vehicles or lead vehicles. In this simple situation, more light provides better visibility, and is positive from a safety and comfort standpoint. High beams could also be used, however, in some of the situations where there is opposing and/or preceding traffic. In these special situations, although the high beam is visible to the other drivers, it does not cause disturbing glare. The distance between the vehicles at which the discomfort occurs varies with a number of factors, such as intensity of the high beams, angle between the vehicles, lateral distance between the vehicles, travelling speed, low beam intensity, environmental factors such as time of the day including dusk, night, humidity, etc. These and other factors are detectable by a network of sensors operative to generate the control signal received in CPU 22 of FIG. 1. The control may be dynamic, i.e., as the sensors, for example, motion sensors, detect an oncoming vehicle and/or preceding vehicle and its speed, the intensity of light is being lowered to the level comfortable for the driver of the detected vehicle in accordance with the distance between vehicles. Similarly, the reduced visibility associated with the time of the day or climatic/environmental conditions can be detected and the input current to the pigtailed module may be altered either simultaneously for all diode lasers of the module or selectively for individual lasers of the module. The capability of individual controlling input current of individual lasers of the module actually increases the number of hues represented by the gamut of FIG. 9. The control system is also configured to automatically modulate the parameters of the luminaire so as to comply with standards of US and International (UN) safety standards.

[0069] Although there has been illustrated and described in specific detail and structure of operations it is clearly understood that the same were for purposes of illustration and that changes and modifications may be made readily therein by those skilled in the art without departing of the spirit and the scope of this invention.

Claims

1. A vehicle luminaire comprising:

a pigtailed module configured with a plurality of diode lasers which are operative to output at least two beams at respective different wavelengths in a 400 - 700 nm range, the beam being spectrally and spatially combined in a cumulative white beam; and

an optical assembly configured without a wavelength converter and operative to process the cumulative white beam impinged thereupon so that the white beam illuminates a range exceeding 600 meters while complying with safety standards of U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS), Laser Institute of America (LIOA) and UN regulations.

2. The vehicle luminaire of claim 1 further comprising a housing made from a transparent material, the pigtailed module being configured with an output fiber receiving diode laser emitted individual beam which are emitted in the housing, the luminaire being a headlamp.

3. The vehicle luminaire of claim 2, wherein the optical assembly is mounted in the housing at a distance from an end of the output fiber.

4. The vehicle luminaire of claim 3, wherein the optical assembly includes a negative lens.

5. The vehicle luminaire of claim 3, wherein the optical assembly includes a first reflective component provided with a concave reflective surface which backreflects the cumulative white beam, and a second reflective component having a surface configured to receive and redirect the reflected white beam through the housing in a travelling direction of the vehicle.

6. The vehicle luminaire of claim 3, wherein the optical assembly includes a positive lens.

7. The vehicle luminaire of claim 2, wherein the diode lasers of the pigtailed module include a combination of Red, Green and Blue diode lasers, the diode lasers and output fiber being multimode.

8. The vehicle luminaire of claim 1 fuither comprising a controller configured to modulate input current to the diode lasers of the pigtailed module.

9. The vehicular luminaire of claim 8 further comprising a network of sensors operative to detect a condition selected from the group consisting of intensity of the high beams, angle between the vehicles, lateral distance between the vehicles, travelling speed, low beam intensity, time of the day, and humidity and a combination of these.

10. The vehicular luminaire of claim 1, wherein the pigtailed module is configured with:

the plurality of the diode lasers individually coupled to a bottom of the housing in a stepwise manner and generating respective beams which propagate along respective parallel light paths; a plurality of groups of optical components coupled to the bottom of the housing, each group having first and second collimating components and a bending mirror, wherein the optical components of each group are aligned with the laser diode;

an objective lens located in the housing downstream from the groups and configured to receive the pump lights and couple the received pump lights into an output optical fiber which guides the pump lights towards the gain block.

11. The vehicular luminaire of claim 10, wherein the plurality of diode lasers define two parallel rows, the diode lasers of one of the rows being aligned with respective diode lasers of the other row.

12. The vehicular luminaire of claim 10, wherein the plurality of diode lasers define two parallel rows, the diode lasers of one of the rows being laterally offset from respective dide lasers of the other row along a light path of the cumulative beam.