A vehicle light optical module, an optical module control system and a control method

Abstract

The present invention provides a headlight optical module, an optical module control system and a control method, and relates to the field of headlight projection technology. The headlight optical module comprises a PCB board, LED lamp beads, an aperture plate, a liquid lens and a liquid lens control board. The PCB board is a light source board used to provide current and control commands to the LED lamp beads; a plurality of LED lamp beads are arranged in an array on the PCB board; the aperture plate is used to evenly light the light emitted by the plurality of LED lamp beads; the liquid lens is used to amplify and image a pattern evenly lighted by the aperture plate; the liquid lens control board is used to control the voltage applied to the liquid lens to change its focal length; according to the distance and angle between the observer and the vehicle, the focal length of the liquid lens is controlled to change in real time, so that the observer can observe clear dynamic images at any angle and any position.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of vehicle light projection, and in particular to a vehicle light optical module, an optical module control system and a control method. Background Art

[0002] As a lighting device, car lights are usually only used as a tool for road lighting when driving at night, and are also a tool for issuing various vehicle signal prompts. When used as a signal prompt tool, it can be combined with dynamic display effects. Naked-eye 3D technology allows observers to observe three-dimensional images through the screen without any auxiliary tools. When the naked-eye 3D technology is applied to the taillights of cars, when the position of the observer is changed, the changing three-dimensional virtual image can be observed, thereby achieving a dynamic display effect. The current mainstream naked-eye 3D technical means are: slit liquid crystal grating, directional light source, and active backlight. No matter which method is used, there are specific requirements for the position and observation direction of the observer.

[0003] For example, patent CN201210003117.6 discloses a naked-eye 3D projection screen and a naked-eye 3D projection system, which achieve the naked-eye 3D effect through micro-cylindrical lenses; patent CN201711080471.8 discloses a naked-eye 3D display device, which achieves the naked-eye 3D effect through multi-layer lenses. However, such naked-eye 3D effect requires the observer to be within a certain range, and the structure is complex.

[0004] However, the car moves in real time while driving, and the position of the car relative to the observer also changes in real time. If the observer is to observe clear images at all times to achieve the effect of the naked eye, the observer is usually required to have a fixed position or wear grating glasses. There is no guarantee that the observer can observe clear images at any angle and any position of the car lights. Summary of the invention

[0005] The present invention discloses a headlight optical module, an optical module control system and a control method, which solve the problem that the existing headlight optical module cannot ensure that the observer can observe clear dynamic images at any angle and any position, so that the observer can observe clear dynamic images at any angle and any position, and the optical module has a simple structure, a small size and can be spliced.

[0006] To achieve the above object, the technical solution of the present invention is specifically implemented as follows:

[0007] On the one hand, the present invention discloses a headlight optical module, including a PCB board, LED lamp beads, an aperture plate, a liquid lens and a liquid lens control board, wherein the PCB board is a light source board, used to provide current and control commands to the LED lamp beads; a plurality of the LED lamp beads are arranged in an array on the PCB board; the aperture plate is used to evenly distribute the light emitted by the plurality of LED lamp beads; the liquid lens is used to amplify and form an image after being evenly distributed by the aperture plate; and the liquid lens control board is used to control the voltage applied to the liquid lens to change its focal length.

[0008] Furthermore, the headlight optical module also includes a shell, which is arranged on the outside of the PCB board, LED lamp beads, aperture plate, liquid lens and liquid lens control board.

[0009] Furthermore, the aperture plate is made of a light-transmitting material, a surface of the aperture plate close to the liquid lens is sprayed with black paint, a pattern is engraved on the surface sprayed with black paint, and the position of the engraved pattern corresponds to the center of the liquid lens.

[0010] Furthermore, the minimum spacing D of the LED lamp beads when arranged on the PCB board satisfies the following formula:

[0011]

[0012] Among them, A is the design index of uniformity, d is the minimum arrangement spacing of LED lamp beads when the aperture plate is made of transparent material, I0 is the central light intensity of the LED lamp beads, h is the distance from the LED lamp beads to the aperture plate, and m is the Lambertian coefficient of the light intensity distribution of the LED lamp beads.

[0013] Furthermore, the aperture plate is made of a transparent light-transmitting material or a milky white light-transmitting material.

[0014] Furthermore, the shell is made of ABS black light-proof material.

[0015] Furthermore, the PCB board is an integral board or a spliced ​​board.

[0016] Furthermore, the PCB board is a flexible substrate or a non-flexible substrate.

[0017] On the other hand, the present invention discloses an optical module control system, comprising a headlight optical module, a radar and a control unit as described above, wherein the radar is fixedly installed on the outside of the vehicle to detect the distance and angle between the observer and the vehicle, and send them to the control unit; the control unit is used to calculate the actual imaging distance of the liquid lens based on the distance and angle data sent by the radar, and send a control command to adjust the focal length to the optical module based on the calculated actual imaging distance.

[0018] In another aspect, the present invention discloses a control method for an optical module control system, comprising the following steps:

[0019] The radar detects the distance and angle between the observer and the vehicle in real time and sends it to the control unit;

[0020] The control unit receives the distance and angle between the observer and the vehicle sent by the radar, calculates the actual imaging distance, and sends a control command for adjusting the focal length to the optical module according to the calculated actual imaging distance;

[0021] The liquid lens control board in the optical module receives the control command and adjusts the voltage of the liquid lens, thereby changing the focal length of the liquid lens.

[0022] Beneficial technical effects:

[0023] 1. The present application discloses a headlight optical module, comprising a PCB board, LED lamp beads, an aperture plate, a liquid lens and a liquid lens control board, wherein the PCB board is a light source board, used to provide current and control commands to the LED lamp beads; a plurality of the LED lamp beads are arranged in an array on the PCB board; the aperture plate is used to homogenize the light emitted by the plurality of the LED lamp beads; the liquid lens is used to magnify and image a pattern homogenized by the aperture plate; the liquid lens control board is used to control the voltage applied to the liquid lens to change its focal length, and the magnification effect is achieved through the liquid lens, so that the position and angle of the observer can also be changed to present a dynamic and clear pattern effect, and the optical module has a simple structure, a small volume, and can be spliced, and can meet a variety of modeling and design requirements;

[0024] 2. The present application discloses a control system and a control method for a headlight optical module. The control system includes a radar, a headlight optical module and a control unit. The radar is fixedly installed on the outside of the vehicle to detect the distance and angle between the observer and the vehicle and send the distance and angle to the control unit. The control unit is used to calculate the actual imaging distance of the liquid lens according to the distance and angle data sent by the radar, and send a control command for adjusting the focal length to the optical module according to the calculated actual imaging distance. The voltage of the liquid lens in the optical module can be controlled by a liquid lens control board. When the voltage is applied, the liquid lens changes its shape, thereby changing the focal length, so that the observer can see a clear dynamic image at any angle and distance. The control system and control method are simple and easy to implement.

[0025] 3. In this application, the pattern on the aperture plate can be customized according to the modeling requirements to meet personalized needs;

[0026] 4. In this application, the outer cover is made of ABS black opaque material, which can eliminate the influence of stray light between modules;

[0027] 5. In this application, a group of liquid lens arrays is used for imaging. The thickness of the entire module is about 2 cm, and the size of a single imaging unit does not exceed 10*10 mm. It can be used as a platform imaging unit and applied to a variety of shapes. According to the structure of the headlight itself, the scenes are changeable and the applicability is strong. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solution of the present invention, the drawings required for describing the embodiments are briefly introduced below.

[0029] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of a headlight optical module according to the present invention;

[0030] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of a headlight optical module according to the present invention;

[0031] Figure 3 It is an overall schematic diagram of a vehicle light optical module control system according to the present invention;

[0032] Figure 4 The present invention is a flowchart of a method for controlling a vehicle light optical module.

[0033] Among them, 1-PCB board, 2-LED lamp beads, 3-aperture plate, 4-liquid lens, 5-liquid lens control board, 6-housing. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0034] Embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below, examples of which are shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein the same or similar reference numerals throughout represent the same or similar elements or elements having the same or similar functions. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and are only used to explain the present invention, and cannot be understood as limiting the present invention.

[0035] The embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0036] The present invention discloses a headlight optical module. Figure 1-Figure 2 The headlight optical module includes a PCB board 1, LED lamp beads 2, an aperture plate 3, a liquid lens 4 and a liquid lens control board 5. Specifically, the PCB board 1 is a light source board for providing current and control commands to the LED lamp beads 2. The PCB board 1 can be a flexible substrate or a non-flexible substrate; a plurality of LED lamp beads 2 are arranged in an array on the PCB board 1. The PCB board 1 can be designed as an integral or spliced ​​board according to the arrangement of the LED lamp beads 2 and the shape of the headlight. The minimum arrangement spacing D of the LED lamp beads 2 on the PCB board 1 satisfies the following formula:

[0037]

[0038] In the formula,

[0039] A is the design index of uniformity, which is a known value. d is the minimum arrangement spacing of LED lamp beads when the aperture plate is made of transparent material. I0 is the central light intensity of the LED lamp beads. h is the distance from the LED lamp beads to the aperture plate. m is the Lambertian coefficient of the light intensity distribution of the LED lamp beads. The light intensity distribution of LED lamp bead 2 can be Lambertian or quasi-Lambertian.

[0040] As an embodiment of the present invention, the aperture plate 3 is used to evenly distribute the light emitted by a plurality of LED lamp beads 2. Specifically, the aperture plate 3 is a light-transmitting material, which can be a transparent light-transmitting material or a milky white light-transmitting material, and the material can be PC, acrylic, etc.; the aperture plate 3 is sprayed with black paint on one side close to the liquid lens 4, and a pattern is engraved on the surface sprayed with black paint, and the pattern can be customized according to the modeling requirements, and the position of the engraved pattern corresponds to the center of the liquid lens 4. The light emitted by the LED lamp beads 2 is transmitted to the aperture plate 3. After being evenly distributed through the aperture plate 3, part of the light is intercepted and absorbed by the black paint on the aperture plate 3, and part of the light passes through the pattern on the aperture plate 3 to form a luminous figure. The pattern on the aperture plate 3 can achieve different depths of pattern effects by adjusting the power of the LED lamp beads 2; the liquid lens 4 is used to magnify and image the pattern after being homogenized by the aperture plate 3; the liquid lens control board 5 is used to control the voltage applied to the liquid lens 4 to change its focal length. Specifically, the liquid lens 4 can control its voltage through the liquid lens control board 5. When the voltage is applied, the liquid lens 4 will change its shape, thereby changing the focal length. After the voltage is removed, the liquid lens 4 will return to its original shape. The liquid lens control board 5 increases the applied voltage from 0V to 100V, and the focal length increases from 7.5mm to 13.1mm. The resolution of the lens can reach 29 lines per millimeter.

[0041] As a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the headlight optical module also includes a shell 6, which covers the outside of the PCB board 1, the LED lamp beads 2, the aperture plate 3, the liquid lens 4 and the liquid lens control board 5. Preferably, the shell 6 is ABS black opaque material, which can eliminate the influence of stray light between modules.

[0042] The working process of the vehicle light optical module disclosed in the present invention is as follows:

[0043] PCB board 1 provides current to LED lamp bead 2, and the light emitted by LED lamp bead 2 is output to aperture plate 3. After being uniformed by aperture plate 3, part of the light is intercepted and absorbed by the black paint on aperture plate 3, and part of the light passes through the laser engraved pattern on aperture plate 3 to form a luminous figure, which serves as the object plane of liquid lens 5. The image is magnified by liquid lens 5, and the liquid lens voltage can be controlled by liquid lens control board 5, thereby changing the focal length of liquid lens 4.

[0044] The vehicle light optical module disclosed in the present invention has a simple structure, a small volume, can be spliced, and can meet various modeling and design requirements; the liquid lens achieves a magnifying effect, and can still present dynamic and clear patterns by changing the position and angle of the observer.

[0045] Another aspect of the present invention discloses a vehicle light optical module control system, see Figure 3 The control system includes the headlight optical module, radar and control unit as described above, wherein the radar is fixedly installed on the outside of the vehicle to detect the distance and angle between the observer and the vehicle, and send them to the control unit; the control unit is used to calculate the actual imaging distance of the liquid lens according to the distance and angle data sent by the radar, and send a control command for adjusting the focal length to the optical module according to the calculated actual imaging distance. The control system flexibly adjusts the focal length of the liquid lens according to the real-time detection of the distance and angle between the observer and the vehicle, ensuring that a clear dynamic image can be presented even if the observer's position changes.

[0046] In another aspect, the present invention discloses a control method for an optical module control system. Figure 4 , specifically including the following steps:

[0047] S1: The radar detects the distance and angle between the observer and the vehicle in real time and sends it to the control unit;

[0048] S2: The control unit receives the distance and angle between the observer and the vehicle sent by the radar, calculates the actual imaging distance, and sends a control command for adjusting the focal length to the optical module according to the calculated actual imaging distance;

[0049] S3: The liquid lens control board in the optical module receives the control command and adjusts the voltage of the liquid lens, thereby changing the focal length of the liquid lens.

[0050] The control system and control method of the headlight optical module disclosed in the present invention can adjust the focal length of the liquid lens in real time according to the real-time distance and angle between the observer and the vehicle, so that when the observer's position changes, the observer can still see clear dynamic images. The control system has a simple structure, a simple control method, and is easy to implement.

[0051] The headlight optical module disclosed in the present invention forms an image through a liquid lens array. The module is small in size and can be spliced. It can be used as a platform unit for various shapes and small spaces. The pattern can be customized, and the aperture plate can be replaced and can be used as a standard part. The headlight optical module control system and control method disclosed in the present invention can detect the distance and angle between the observer and the vehicle in real time, and control the change of the focal length of the liquid lens in real time according to the detected distance and angle, so that when the observer's position changes, a clear dynamic image can still be observed. The control system has a simple structure, a simple control method, and is easy to implement.

[0052] In the description of this specification, the description with reference to the terms "one embodiment", "some embodiments", "examples", "specific examples", or "some examples" means that the specific features, structures, materials or characteristics described in conjunction with the embodiment or example are included in at least one embodiment or example of the present invention. In this specification, the schematic representation of the above terms does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Moreover, the specific features, structures, materials or characteristics described may be combined in any one or more embodiments or examples in a suitable manner.

[0053] The above embodiments are only descriptions of the preferred implementation modes of the present invention, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. Without departing from the design spirit of the present invention, various modifications and improvements made to the technical solutions of the present invention by ordinary engineering and technical personnel in the field should fall within the protection scope determined by the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A headlight optical module, characterized in that: include: A PCB board (1), the PCB board (1) being a light source board, used to provide current and control commands to the LED lamp beads (2); LED lamp beads (2), wherein a plurality of the LED lamp beads (2) are arranged in an array on the PCB board (1); An aperture plate (3) for homogenizing the light emitted by the plurality of LED lamp beads (2); A liquid lens (4) is used to magnify and image the pattern after being homogenized by the aperture plate (3); A liquid lens control board (5) for controlling the voltage applied to the liquid lens (4) to change its focal length; The aperture plate (3) is made of a light-transmitting material, a surface of the aperture plate (3) close to the liquid lens (4) is sprayed with black paint, a pattern is engraved on the surface sprayed with black paint, and the position of the engraved pattern corresponds to the center of the liquid lens (4); The minimum spacing D between the LED lamp beads (2) when arranged on the PCB board (1) satisfies the following formula: , in, is the design index for uniformity, It is the minimum arrangement spacing of LED lamp beads when the aperture plate is made of transparent material. is the central light intensity of the LED lamp bead, is the distance from the LED lamp bead to the aperture plate, It is the Lambertian coefficient of the light intensity distribution of LED lamp beads.

2. The headlight optical module according to claim 1, characterized in that: It also comprises a housing (6) which is arranged outside the PCB board (1), the LED lamp beads (2), the aperture plate (3), the liquid lens (4) and the liquid lens control board (5).

3. The headlight optical module according to claim 1, characterized in that: The aperture plate (3) is made of a transparent light-transmitting material or a milky white light-transmitting material.

4. The headlight optical module according to claim 2, characterized in that: The housing (6) is made of ABS black light-proof material.

5. The vehicle light optical module according to claim 1, characterized in that: The PCB board (1) is an integral board or a spliced ​​board.

6. The vehicle light optical module according to claim 1, characterized in that: The PCB board (1) is a flexible substrate or a non-flexible substrate.

7. An optical module control system, characterized in that: A vehicle light optical module comprising a vehicle light optical module as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6; A radar, which is fixedly mounted on the outside of the vehicle and is used to detect the distance and angle between the observer and the vehicle and send the information to the control unit; The control unit is used to calculate the actual imaging distance of the liquid lens according to the distance and angle data sent by the radar, and send a control command for adjusting the focal length to the optical module according to the calculated actual imaging distance.

8. The control method of an optical module control system according to claim 7, characterized in that: The following steps are involved: The radar detects the distance and angle between the observer and the vehicle in real time and sends it to the control unit; The control unit receives the distance and angle between the observer and the vehicle sent by the radar, calculates the actual imaging distance, and sends a control command for adjusting the focal length to the optical module according to the calculated actual imaging distance; The liquid lens control board in the optical module receives the control command and adjusts the voltage of the liquid lens, thereby changing the focal length of the liquid lens.

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