Motor vehicle lighting system

Abstract

A motor vehicle lighting system for a vehicle includes a light source, a refractive lens, and a projection lens. The light source includes a first sub-light source. The refractive lens includes a light entrance surface and a light exit surface. The light entrance surface has a first protrusion having a first light entrance face adjacent the first sub-light source and a first light exit face on the light entrance surface of the first refractive lens. The first protrusion is located at a periphery of the light entrance surface of the refractive lens relative to an optical axis of the motor vehicle lighting system.

Description

[0001] Cross-reference to related applications

[0002] This application claims the benefit of PCT application No. PCT / CN2020 / 105675 filed on July 30, 2020 and European patent application No. 20192565.1 filed on August 25, 2020, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Background Technology

[0003] Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are rapidly gaining popularity due to their long lifespan and low energy consumption. Advances in manufacturing have led to the emergence of chip-sized LED packages or modules, in which multiple LEDs are packaged together, like a matrix, comprising one or more rows of LEDs. Summary of the Invention

[0004] A motor vehicle lighting system for a vehicle includes a light source, a refractive lens, and a projection lens. The light source includes a first sub-light source. The refractive lens includes a light incident surface and a light exiting surface. The light incident surface has a first protrusion having a first light incident surface adjacent to the first sub-light source and a first light exiting surface on the light incident surface of the first refractive lens. The first protrusion is located at the periphery of the light incident surface of the refractive lens relative to the optical axis of the motor vehicle lighting system. Attached Figure Description

[0005] A more detailed understanding can be obtained from the following description, which is given by way of example and in conjunction with the accompanying figures, wherein:

[0006] Figure 1 This is a diagram of a motor vehicle lighting system, for example, used in a vehicle;

[0007] Figure 2 This is a diagram of another vehicle lighting system;

[0008] Figure 3 This is a diagram of another vehicle lighting system;

[0009] Figure 4 To show an image of the final light pattern projected from the first and second sub-light sources by the second lens;

[0010] Figure 5 This is a top view of an example LED array;

[0011] Figure 6A , Figure 6B and Figure 6C An image illustrating the light output of an example matrix LED array;

[0012] Figure 7A To illustrate the first and second protrusions, each has a light-emitting surface spaced apart by a very small amount;

[0013] Figure 7B To illustrate the light emitted by the two corresponding sub-light sources and its path through the optics;

[0014] Figure 7C To illustrate the first and second protrusions, each has an overlapping light-emitting surface;

[0015] Figure 7D A diagram illustrating the light emitted by two corresponding sub-light sources after passing through the optics;

[0016] Figure 8 A three-dimensional illustration of an example of a first lens, showing a light-incident surface with first and second protrusions and a light-outceasing surface;

[0017] Figure 9A and Figure 9B A diagram illustrating examples of different potential shapes for the first and second protrusions;

[0018] Figure 10 In order to be able to combine Figure 1 , Figure 2 or Figure 3 A diagram illustrating an example vehicle headlight system using LED lighting; and

[0019] Figure 11 This is a diagram of another example vehicle headlight system. Detailed Implementation

[0020] Examples of different light illumination systems and / or light-emitting diode embodiments will be described more fully below with reference to the accompanying drawings. These examples are not mutually exclusive, and features found in one example may be combined with features found in one or more other examples to achieve further embodiments. Therefore, it will be understood that the examples shown in the accompanying drawings are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit this disclosure in any way. Similar figures always refer to similar elements.

[0021] It will be understood that although the terms first, second, third, etc., may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms may be used to distinguish one element from another. For example, a first element may be referred to as a second element and a second element may be referred to as a first element without departing from the scope of the invention. As used herein, the term "and / or" may include any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

[0022] It will be understood that when an element, such as a layer, region, or substrate, is referred to as "on" or "extending" to another element, it may be directly on or directly extended to the other element, or there may be intermediate elements present. Conversely, when an element is referred to as "directly on" or "directly extended" to another element, there may be no intermediate elements present. It will also be understood that when an element is referred to as "connected" or "coupled" to another element, it may be directly connected or coupled to the other element and / or connected or coupled to the other element via one or more intermediate elements. Conversely, when an element is referred to as "directly connected" or "directly coupled" to another element, there are no intermediate elements between that element and the other element. It will be understood that, except for any orientation depicted in the figures, these terms are intended to cover different orientations of elements.

[0023] Relative terms such as “below,” “above,” “top,” “lower,” “horizontal,” or “vertical” may be used herein to describe the relationship of one element, layer, or region to another element, layer, or region illustrated in the figures. It will be understood that these terms are intended to cover different orientations of the device, in addition to those depicted in the figures.

[0024] Furthermore, whether LEDs, LED arrays, electrical components, and / or electronic components are housed on one, two, or more electronic boards may also depend on design constraints and / or application.

[0025] Semiconductor light-emitting devices (LEDs), or optical power-emitting devices (such as devices that emit ultraviolet (UV) or infrared (IR) light power), are among the most efficient light sources available today. These devices (hereinafter referred to as "LEDs") can include light-emitting diodes, resonant cavity light-emitting diodes, vertical cavity laser diodes, edge-emitting lasers, and so on. For example, due to their compact size and low power requirements, LEDs can be attractive candidates for many different applications. For instance, they can be used as light sources (e.g., flashlights and camera flashes) in handheld battery-powered devices such as cameras and mobile phones. They can also be used for applications such as motor vehicle lighting, head-up display (HUD) lighting, garden lighting, street lighting, video torches, general lighting (e.g., lighting for homes, shops, offices, and studios, theater / stage lighting, and architectural lighting), augmented reality (AR) lighting, virtual reality (VR) lighting, backlighting for displays, and IR spectrometers. A single LED may provide less light than an incandescent light source, and therefore, multi-junction devices or LED arrays (such as monolithic LED arrays, micro-LED arrays, etc.) can be used for applications that expect or require higher brightness.

[0026] For some applications, LEDs can be arranged in arrays. For example, LED arrays can support applications that benefit from fine-grained intensity, spatial, and temporal control of light distribution. This can include, but is not limited to, precise spatial patterning of light emitted from pixel blocks or individual pixels. Depending on the application, the emitted light can be spectrally distinct, time-adaptive, and / or environmentally responsive. LED arrays can provide pre-programmed light distributions with various intensities, spatial, or temporal patterns. The emitted light can be based at least in part on received sensor data and can be used for optical wireless communication. The associated electronics and optics can differ at the transmitter, transmitter block, or device level.

[0027] LED arrays can be formed from one-dimensional, two-dimensional, or three-dimensional arrays of LEDs, VCSELs, OLEDs, or other controllable light-emitting systems. LED arrays can be formed as emitter arrays on a monolithic substrate, formed by partially or completely slicing the substrate, using photolithography, additive or subtractive processes, or assembled using pick-and-place or other suitable mechanical placement. LED arrays can be uniformly arranged in a grid pattern, or alternatively positioned in a defined geometry, curve, random, or irregular layout.

[0028] Figure 5 This is a top view of the example LED array 510. Figure 5 In the illustrated example, LED array 510 is an array of emitters 511. The emitters 511 in LED array 510 can be individually addressable or can be grouped / subgroup addressable.

[0029] Figure 5 An exploded view of a 3×3 portion of the LED array 510 is also shown. As shown in the 3×3 exploded view, the LED array 510 may include emitters 511, each having a width w1. In embodiments, the width w1 may be approximately 100 μm or less (e.g., 40 μm). The width of the channel 513 between the emitters 511 may be w2. In embodiments, the width w2 may be approximately 20 μm or less (e.g., 5 μm). In some embodiments, the width w2 may be as small as 1 μm. The channel 513 may provide an air gap between adjacent emitters or may contain other materials. The distance d1 from the center of one emitter 511 to the center of an adjacent emitter 511 may be approximately 120 μm or less (e.g., 45 μm). It will be understood that the widths and distances provided herein are merely examples and actual widths and / or dimensions may vary.

[0030] Will understand, although Figure 5 A rectangular emitter arranged in a symmetrical matrix is ​​shown, but emitters of any shape and arrangement can be applied to the embodiments described herein. For example, Figure 5 The LED array 510 may include more than 20,000 emitters in any suitable arrangement (such as a 200×100 matrix, a symmetric matrix, an asymmetric matrix, etc.). It will also be understood that multiple sets of emitters, matrices, and / or boards may be arranged in any suitable form to implement the embodiments described herein.

[0031] As described above, an LED array (such as LED array 510) may include up to 20,000 or more emitters. Such an array may have a 90 mm diameter. 2 These LEDs may have a larger surface area and may require considerable power (e.g., 60 watts or more) to power them. Such LED arrays can be referred to as microLED arrays or simply microLEDs. In some embodiments, a microLED may comprise hundreds, thousands, or even millions of LEDs or emitters located together on a substrate with an area of ​​centimeters or smaller. A microLED may comprise an array of individual emitters disposed on a substrate, or it may be a single silicon wafer or die partially or completely divided into segments forming emitters.

[0032] A controller can be coupled to selectively power emitter subgroups in the LED array, thereby providing different beam patterns. At least some emitters in the LED array can be individually controlled via connected traces. In other embodiments, groups or subgroups of emitters can be controlled together. In some embodiments, emitters can have different non-white colors. For example, at least four emitters can be an RGBY emitter group.

[0033] LED array illuminators can include luminaires that can be programmed to project different lighting patterns based on selective emitter activation and intensity control. Such illuminators can use non-moving components to transmit multiple controllable beam patterns from a single illuminator. Typically, this is accomplished by adjusting the brightness of individual LEDs in a 1D or 2D array. Optionally, optics (whether shared or individual) can direct light onto specific target areas. In some embodiments, the height of the LEDs, their supporting substrates and traces, and associated micro-optics can be less than 5 mm.

[0034] Vehicle headlights are an application that can require a large number of pixels and high data refresh rates for LED arrays. Motor vehicle headlights that actively illuminate only selected sections of the road can be used to reduce problems associated with glare or blindness for oncoming drivers. By using an infrared camera as a sensor, the LED array can activate only those transmitters needed to illuminate the road, while deactivating transmitters that could glare pedestrians or drivers of oncoming vehicles. Additionally, pedestrians, animals, or signs outside the road can be selectively illuminated to improve driver environmental awareness. If the transmitters are spectrally different, the color temperature of the light can be adjusted according to the corresponding daytime, dusk, or nighttime conditions. Some transmitters can be used for optical wireless vehicle-to-vehicle communication.

[0035] Such LED packages or modules typically produce a Lambertian emission distribution centered on the optical axis of the package or module. In many headlamps and other lighting devices that include such LED packages or modules, lenses can be used to image the light distribution or pattern produced by the light source (e.g., an LED matrix) into the far field. In this case, due to the curvature in the light-incident surface of the lens, LEDs or pixels of a light source located on the periphery of the lens can be separated from the corresponding inner coupling portion of the light-incident surface of the lens by a greater distance compared to LEDs or pixels of a light source located at the center of the lens. This can result in very large light loss, or at least extremely low inner coupling efficiency at the edges of the lens.

[0036] Figure 6A , Figure 6B and Figure 6C An image illustrating the light output of an example matrix LED array. Figure 6A The image shows the light output from a 4×25 matrix array without the use of optics. Figure 6B The image shows the light output from a 4×25 matrix array using a 3-4 part lens system. Figure 6C The image shows a uniform light distribution of a 4×25 matrix array. (See image for example.) Figure 6A , Figure 6B and Figure 6C As can be seen, in many headlights and other lighting devices that include such LED packages or modules, any non-uniformity or intensity structure generated by the light source can be projected and reproduced in the far field. Particularly in matrix systems, the gaps between the individual LEDs or pixels of the light source may undesirably be imaged as black lines in the far field. The embodiments described herein provide a motor vehicle lighting system that can have improved performance, at least based on assessments of illumination uniformity and internal light coupling efficiency.

[0037] Figure 1 This is a diagram of a motor vehicle lighting system 1, used, for example, in a vehicle. Figure 1In the example shown, the vehicle lighting system 1 includes a light source 11, a first lens (e.g., a refractive lens) 12, and a second lens (e.g., a projection lens) 13. The light source 11 may be a matrix array and may include at least a first sub-light source 111 (e.g., an LED). In some embodiments, the first sub-light source 111 may be located off-axis relative to the optical axis L of the vehicle lighting system 1, for example, near the upper edge of the first lens 12.

[0038] The first lens 12 may have a light incident surface 121 and a light exit surface 122. A first protrusion 141 may be further disposed on the light incident surface 121 of the first lens 12, for example, on its periphery. For example, the first protrusion may be located on the periphery of the light incident surface of the first lens relative to the optical axis of the motor vehicle lighting system. For example, if the first lens is shaped to have a circular profile, and the optical axis passes through the first lens at the center of the circle, the first protrusion may be disposed on the circumference of such a circular first lens.

[0039] exist Figure 1 In the example shown, the first protrusion 141 is located at the upper edge of the light-incident surface 121 of the first lens 12. In this way, light emitted by the light source 11 (e.g., by the first sub-light source 111) can be incident on the first protrusion 141 before entering the first lens 12 at an optically downstream position. The first protrusion 141 may have a first light-incident surface 1411 and a first light-exit surface 1412, wherein light from the first sub-light source 111 can first be incident on the first light-incident surface 1411 and can be refracted therefrom and enter the interior of the first protrusion 141. As the light propagates within the first protrusion 141, it can undergo several total internal reflections and be refracted at the first light-exit surface 1412 of the first protrusion 141, thereby entering the first lens 12.

[0040] As in Figure 1As can be seen, in the vehicle lighting system 1, light emitted from the light source 11 (e.g., from the first sub-light source 111) can only enter the first lens 12 after passing through the first protrusion 141, which can be located in front of the optical path. In this way, compared to the case without the protrusion, the inner coupling surface of the light from the first sub-light source 111 can move forward in the optical upstream direction, for example, from the light incident surface 121 of the first lens 12 to the first light incident surface 1411 of the first protrusion 141. This forward movement of the inner coupling surface can compensate for the large distance at the edge of the first lens 12, which would otherwise exist between the first sub-light source 111 and the light incident surface 121 of the first lens 12 (e.g., due to the curvature in the light incident surface 121 of the first lens 12, such as convex curvature in the optical upstream direction). This can help increase the internal coupling efficiency of light from the light source 11 to the first lens 12 and reduce light loss at the edge of the first lens 12. In some embodiments, if the first light emitting surface 1412 of the first protrusion 141 is selected to be 1 to 4 times larger than the first light incident surface 1411 of the first protrusion 141, the maximum internal optical coupling efficiency can be obtained.

[0041] In some embodiments, the light incident surface 121 of the first lens 12 may include a plurality of first protrusions 141, which may be equidistantly spaced, for example, along the periphery of the light incident surface 121 of the first lens 12, to increase the internal coupling efficiency of light and correspondingly reduce light loss at the edges of the vehicle lighting system 1. With the aid of the second lens 13, light from the light source 11 (e.g., from the first sub-light source 111) can be projected onto the road in front of the vehicle after passing through the first protrusions 141 and the first lens 12. In an embodiment, the second lens 13, located at the optically final position in the vehicle lighting system 1, may be a projection lens.

[0042] In some embodiments, the light source 11 may further include one or more second sub-light sources 112, such as the two LEDs shown in the figures. In this case, as an example, the first sub-light source 111 and the second sub-light source 112 may be distributed in an array, for example, in a column perpendicular to the optical axis L of the vehicle lighting system 1. Accordingly, the light incident surface 121 of the first lens 12 may include one or more second protrusions 142, wherein each second protrusion 142 may be configured to receive light from a corresponding second sub-light source 112. Figure 1As shown, in the direction perpendicular to the optical axis L of the vehicle lighting system 1, each second protrusion 142 can be deployed at the same position as its corresponding second sub-light source 112. This ensures greater intra-optical coupling efficiency from each second sub-light source 112 to the corresponding second protrusion 142, and provides minimal light loss across the entire light incident surface 121 of the first lens 12. Similarly, similar to the first protrusion, maximum intra-optical coupling efficiency from the second sub-light source 112 to the corresponding second protrusion 142 can be obtained by setting the left light exit surface of the second protrusion 142 to 1 to 4 times the right light incident surface of the second protrusion 142.

[0043] It should be noted that the number of first sub-light sources 111 and second sub-light sources 112 is provided only as an example to illustrate the light source 11 and should not be construed as limiting the invention to this. In other words, the number of first sub-light sources 111 or second sub-light sources 112 can also be any other number, for example, distributed in an array perpendicular to the optical axis L of the vehicle lighting system 1. Accordingly, the corresponding first and second protrusions 141, 142 can be arranged in a similar array across the light incident surface 121 of the first lens 12.

[0044] By providing an array distribution of multiple sub-light sources (including first and second sub-light sources) and corresponding protrusions (including first and second protrusions), a matrix light pattern (e.g., a matrix high beam light pattern, where the light sources are used to emit high beams) can be provided by the motor vehicle lighting system described herein, wherein each pair of sub-light sources and its corresponding protrusion serves as a matrix pixel. This at least enables the possibility that the final light pattern projected onto the front of the vehicle by the second lens can be set in a desired form or shape, for example, by turning on only a few pairs of sub-light sources and protrusions, but turning off the rest of the sub-light sources and protrusions.

[0045] Figure 2 This is a diagram of another motor vehicle lighting system 1. Figure 2 Most components in the vehicle lighting system 1 are related to Figure 1 The same reference numerals are used to denote the same elements as in the motor vehicle lighting system 1, and therefore the same reference numerals are used to denote the same elements. The following description... Figure 1 and Figure 2 The differences between the vehicle lighting systems 1.

[0046] On the one hand, Figure 2In a motor vehicle lighting system 1, system 1 includes a third lens 15, for example, located at an optical intermediate position between a first lens 12 and a second lens 13. The third lens 15 can be configured to receive light from the first lens 12 and redirect it onto the second lens 13. With the addition of the third lens 15, greater flexibility can be provided, for example, in the shaping of the light beam ultimately projected by the motor vehicle lighting system 1 at the front of the vehicle. Those skilled in the art, having benefited from the teachings described herein, should readily conceive of different shapes and / or configurations suitable for the third lens 15, and all such embodiments should be covered within the scope of the embodiments described herein.

[0047] On the other hand, such as Figure 2 As shown in the vehicle lighting system 1, the light incident surface 121 of the first lens 12 can be symmetrically convex in the upstream optical direction, for example, so that its center C is located at the optical axis L of the vehicle lighting system 1. Furthermore, as... Figure 2 As shown, in a direction parallel to the optical axis L of the vehicle lighting system (i.e., the horizontal direction in the figures), the first light incident surface 1411 of the first protrusion 141 can be located at the same position as the center C of the light incident surface 121 of the first lens 12. This may mean that the first light incident surface 1411 of the first protrusion 141 is spaced apart from the corresponding first sub-light source 111 by a distance equal to the distance between the center C of the light incident surface 121 of the first lens 12 and the corresponding second sub-light source 112 located at the optical axis L of the vehicle lighting system 1. This flush positioning configuration between the center C of the light incident surface 121 of the first lens 12 and the first light incident surface 1411 of the first protrusion 141 can help maintain uniform intra-optical coupling efficiency across the light incident surface 121 of the first lens 12, and thus facilitates a uniform intensity distribution in the final light pattern projected onto the front of the vehicle. In a similar consideration, the flush positioning configuration described above can also be applied between the center C of the light incident surface 121 of the first lens 12 and the light incident surface of the second protrusion 142, and for the sake of simplicity, a detailed explanation will not be repeated here.

[0048] Figure 8 A three-dimensional illustration of an example of the first lens 1, showing a light-incident surface 121 with first and second protrusions 141 and 142 and a light-outceasing surface 122. Figure 9A and Figure 9B This is a diagram illustrating examples of the different potential shapes of the first and second protrusions. Figure 9A For example, the light incident surface 1411a has a circular shape, while the light exiting surface 1412 has a square shape. Figure 9BIn this example, both the light incident surface 1411b and the light exiting surface (not shown) have a square shape. In some embodiments, at least one of the first light incident surface of the first protrusion and the second light incident surface of the second protrusion has a rectangular, circular, triangular, or polygonal outline.

[0049] According to some embodiments, at least one of the first light-emitting surface of the first protrusion and the second light-emitting surface of the second protrusion may have a rectangular or trapezoidal profile. It should be noted that all the above-described profiles regarding the light-incident or light-emitting surfaces of the first or second protrusion are provided merely for illustrative purposes and should not be considered as limitations or constraints on the invention. Those skilled in the art, having benefited from the teachings of this invention, should readily conceive of any other shape or profile suitable for the light-incident or light-emitting surfaces of the two protrusions, and all such alternatives should be covered within the scope of this invention.

[0050] According to some embodiments, the first protrusion may have curved sides that abut one end against the first light incident surface and the other end against the first light emitting surface. For example, the first protrusion may be provided with a cylindrical side surface. A similar configuration can also be applied to the second protrusion (e.g., the second protrusion may have curved sides that abut one end against the second light incident surface and the other end against the second light emitting surface). Thus, for example, the second protrusion may also have a cylindrical side surface.

[0051] According to some embodiments, the first protrusion may have more than two flat sides, each flat side abutting at one end to the first light incident surface and at the other end to the first light emitting surface. As an example, the first protrusion may be provided with prismatic side surfaces. A similar configuration can also be applied to the second protrusion (e.g., the second protrusion may have more than two flat sides, each flat side abutting at one end to the second light incident surface and at the other end to the second light emitting surface). In this case, for example, the second protrusion may also have prismatic side surfaces. In one example, at least one of the flat sides of the first or second protrusion may form an acute angle relative to the light incident surface of the first lens, thereby helping to ensure partial overlap between the light emitting surfaces of the two protrusions.

[0052] It should be noted that in the two aspects of the invention described above, different configurations can be used for the vehicle lighting system, wherein the first configuration may involve only the peripheral position of at least one protrusion on the light incident surface of the first lens, and the second configuration may involve only the partial overlap between the light emitting surfaces of the two protrusions. This provides the possibility that the two configurations can be used separately in two independent vehicle lighting systems. However, this separately described approach should not be considered as limiting oneself to these cases (e.g., using the two configurations of the vehicle lighting system independently). In fact, the embodiments described herein can also be combined into a single vehicle lighting system.

[0053] Figure 3 This is a diagram of another motor vehicle lighting system 1. Figure 3 Most components in the vehicle lighting system 1 are related to Figure 1 The same reference numerals are used to denote the same elements as in the motor vehicle lighting system 1, and therefore the same reference numerals are used to denote the same elements, such as the first protrusion 141 on the periphery of the light incident surface 121 of the first lens 12. The following description... Figure 1 and Figure 3 The differences between the vehicle lighting systems 1.

[0054] On the one hand, Figure 3 In the motor vehicle lighting system 1, a third lens 15 is provided, for example, at an optical intermediate position between the first lens 12 and the second lens 13. Similar to the above regarding... Figure 2 The description, Figure 3 The third lens 15 in the vehicle lighting system 1 is also configured to receive light from the first lens 12 and redirect it to the second lens 13, thereby enabling greater flexibility in beam shaping, for example, the final light pattern projected onto the front of the vehicle.

[0055] On the other hand, Figure 3 In the vehicle lighting system 1, two adjacent protrusions (first protrusion 141 and second protrusion 142) can be closely positioned so that their light-emitting surfaces partially overlap. This allows for... Figure 7A , Figure 7B , Figure 7C and Figure 7D It can be seen more clearly in the middle.

[0056] Figure 7A To illustrate the first protrusion 141a and the second protrusion 142a, each has a light-emitting surface spaced apart by a small amount (as shown in circle 702a). As can be seen... Figure 7A As can be seen, the beam paths indicated by the arrow lines passing through the light-emitting surfaces of the first and second protrusions 141a and 142a at least partially overlap.

[0057] Figure 7BThis diagram illustrates the light emission from the corresponding two sub-light sources 111 and 112 after passing through the optics. It can be seen that the two pixels 704A and 706A are very close together, but there is still a visible boundary between the two pixels.

[0058] Figure 7C To illustrate the first protrusion 141b and the second protrusion 142b, each has overlapping light-emitting surfaces (e.g., there is no space between the light-emitting surfaces of the first protrusion 141b and the second protrusion 142b). In an embodiment, this can be achieved by providing a single body having a common base region from which the first and second protrusions project. Figure 7C As can be seen, if you extend the inner and outer surfaces of each protrusion downwards into the base region, the light-emitting surfaces of each of the first and second protrusions overlap in the region within circle 702b. Figure 7A In the first lens 12, the light beams emitted through the light-emitting surfaces of the first and second protrusions 141b and 142b overlap at least partially.

[0059] Figure 7D This diagram illustrates the light emission from the corresponding two sub-light sources 111 and 112 after passing through the optics. It can be seen that the two pixels 704B and 706B are... Figure 7B The spacing in the middle is closer, where there is no clearly defined boundary between two pixels.

[0060] Regarding Figure 1 Similar to the above description, Figure 3 The first protrusion 141 in the motor vehicle lighting system 1 also includes a first light incident surface 1411 and a first light emitting surface 1412. Similarly, the second protrusion 142 also includes a second light incident surface 1421 and a second light emitting surface 1422. The partial overlap refers to the partial overlap 1400 between the first light emitting surface 1412 of the first protrusion 141 and the second light emitting surface 1422 of the second protrusion 142. Figure 3 The motor vehicle lighting system 1 shows a first light emitting surface 1412 of a first protrusion 141, a second light emitting surface 1422 of a second protrusion 142, and a partial overlap 1400 between them. Figure 3 As depicted, the first light emitting surface 1412 of the first protrusion 141 has an upper boundary at point a and a lower boundary at point c, while the second light emitting surface 1422 of the second protrusion 142 has an upper boundary at point b and a lower boundary at point d, wherein the segment between points b and c serves as a partial overlap 1400.

[0061] Additionally, the partial overlap 1400 (as described above) between the first light emitting surface 1412 of the first protrusion 141 and the second light emitting surface 1422 of the second protrusion 142 can be configured such that the second lens 13 projects light from the first and second sub-light sources 111, 112 onto the road in front of the vehicle, as having a first maximum light intensity I. max1 Second maximum light intensity I max2 and at the first maximum light intensity I max1 Second maximum light intensity I max2 Minimum light intensity I between min The light pattern, where I min / I max1 >90% and I min / I max2 >90%, resulting in a uniform distribution of light intensity across the final light pattern. (See below for reference.) Figure 4 This paper explains the details of the final light pattern projected by the vehicle's front lighting system, and provides example simulation results of the light intensity distribution of the final light pattern according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0062] In some embodiments, at least one of the first light incident surface of the first protrusion and the second light incident surface of the second protrusion includes a flat surface perpendicular to the optical axis of the vehicle lighting system. In other words, the first protrusion and / or the second protrusion is provided with a flat light incident surface perpendicular to the optical axis of the vehicle lighting system. This can help maintain a constant and relatively small distance between each protrusion and its corresponding sub-light source across the light incident surface of the first lens, thereby facilitating high intra-optical coupling efficiency across the entire light incident surface of the first lens.

[0063] Figure 4 To illustrate an image of the final light pattern projected from the first and second sub-light sources 111, 112 by the second lens 13. As shown in Figure 4 As can be seen, the final light patterns projected by the second lens 13 from the first and second sub-light sources 111 and 112 include the first maximum light intensity I located at points A and B, respectively. max1 Second maximum light intensity I max2 Furthermore, in Figure 4 In the final light pattern, especially in the first and second maximum light intensities I max1 I max2 On the connecting line between them, there also exists a minimum light intensity I located at point C. min , where I min / I max1 >90% and I min / I max2 >90%. From the perspective of generation, such as Figure 4 As shown and, for example, by Figure 3The final light pattern produced by the motor vehicle lighting system 1 is the result of superposition between two sub-light patterns, which are projected by the second lens 13 from the first sub-light source 111 and the second sub-light source 112 respectively, and include their own light intensity centers located around points A and B respectively.

[0064] As described above, a special overlap is introduced between the first light emitting surface 1412 of the first protrusion 141 and the second light emitting surface 1422 of the second protrusion 142 to obtain a uniform superposition result between the two sub-light patterns, thereby resulting in the final light pattern having two light intensity peaks I around the center of the two sub-light patterns. max1 I max2 And it also has two peaks I max1 I max2 Minimum light intensity I between min The minimum light intensity I min It is also greater than each peak I max1 I max2 90%. This helps ensure that the final light pattern projected by the vehicle's front lighting system 1 is uniformly distributed in light intensity, and furthermore, the gaps that would otherwise exist between the two sub-light patterns from the two sub-light sources can be well closed. This perfect uniform distribution of light intensity in the final light pattern can also be achieved through the pattern outline of the final light pattern (e.g., by...). Figure 4 The average light intensity I (indicated by the dashed rectangle in the image) ave And the two peaks of light intensity as described above, I max1 I max2 To represent the special relationship between them, for example, I ave / I max1 >0.4 and I ave / I max2 >0.4.

[0065] In some embodiments, the partial overlap 1400 between the first light emitting surface 1412 of the first protrusion 141 and the second light emitting surface 1422 of the second protrusion 142 is less than half of the first light emitting surface 1412 of the first protrusion 141 and also less than half of the second light emitting surface 1422 of the second protrusion 142. In this way, the first or second maximum light intensity I... max1 I max2 and minimum light intensity I min The differences between them can be greatly reduced, which helps to provide an even more uniform distribution of light intensity for the final light pattern projected by the vehicle's front lighting system 1.

[0066] Figure 10 This is a diagram illustrating an example vehicle headlight system 1000, which can be combined with... Figure 1 , Figure 2 or Figure 3 LED lighting system. Figure 10 The example vehicle headlight system 1000 shown includes a power line 1002, a data bus 1004, an input filter and protection module 1006, a bus transceiver 1008, a sensor module 1010, an LED DC-DC (DC / DC) module 1012, a logic low-dropout (LDO) module 1014, a microcontroller 1016, and an active headlight 1018. In an embodiment, the active headlight 1018 may include an LED lighting system (such as...) Figure 1 , Figure 2 or Figure 3 LED lighting system).

[0067] Power line 1002 may have an input for receiving power from the vehicle, and data bus 1004 may have inputs / outputs through which data can be exchanged between the vehicle and the vehicle headlight system 1000. For example, the vehicle headlight system 1000 may receive commands from other locations within the vehicle, such as commands to turn on turn signals or turn on headlights, and may send feedback to other locations within the vehicle if needed. Sensor module 1010 may be communicatively coupled to data bus 1004 and may provide additional data to the vehicle headlight system 1000 or other locations within the vehicle, such additional data relating to environmental conditions (e.g., time of day, rain, fog, or ambient light levels), vehicle status (e.g., parked, moving, speed, or direction of movement), and the presence / location of other objects (e.g., vehicles or pedestrians). A headlight controller, separate from any vehicle controller communicatively coupled to the vehicle data bus, may also be included in the vehicle headlight system 1000. Figure 10 In this configuration, the headlight controller can be a microcontroller, such as a microcontroller (μc) 1016. The microcontroller 1016 can be communicatively coupled to a data bus 1004.

[0068] The input filter and protection module 1006 can be electrically coupled to the power line 1002 and can, for example, support various filters to reduce conducted emissions and provide power immunity. Additionally, the input filter and protection module 1006 can provide electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection, load dump protection, alternator field attenuation protection, and / or reverse polarity protection.

[0069] LED DC / DC module 1012 can be coupled between filter and protection module 1006 and active headlamp 1018 to receive filtered power and provide drive current to power the LEDs in the LED array of active headlamp 1018. LED DC / DC module 1012 can have an input voltage between 7 volts and 18 volts, with a nominal voltage of approximately 13.2 volts, and an output voltage that can be slightly higher (e.g., 0.3 volts) than the maximum voltage of the LED array (e.g., determined by factors or local calibration and operating condition adjustments due to load, temperature, or other factors).

[0070] The logic LDO module 1014 can be coupled to the input filter and protection module 1006 to receive filtered power. The logic LDO module 1014 can also be coupled to the microcontroller 1016 and the active headlight 1018 to provide power to the silicon backplane (such as CMOS logic) in the microcontroller 1016 and / or the active headlight 1018.

[0071] The bus transceiver 1008 may have, for example, a Universal Asynchronous Receiver Transmitter (UART) or a Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI) and may be coupled to a microcontroller 1016. The microcontroller 1016 may translate vehicle input based on or including data from the sensor module 1010. The translated vehicle input may include a video signal that can be transmitted to an image buffer in the active headlight 1018. Furthermore, the microcontroller 1016 may load a default image frame and test open / short-circuit pixels during startup. In an embodiment, the SPI interface may load an image buffer in CMOS. The image frame may be a full frame, differential, or partial frame. Other features of the microcontroller 1016 may include a control interface monitoring of CMOS state, including die temperature and logic LDO outputs. In an embodiment, the LED DC / DC output may be dynamically controlled to minimize headroom. In addition to providing image frame data, other headlight functions may be controlled, such as complementary use with side marker lights or turn signals, and / or activation of daytime running lights.

[0072] Figure 11 This is a diagram of another example vehicle headlight system 1100. Figure 11 The example vehicle headlight system 1100 shown includes an application platform 1102, two LED lighting systems 1106 and 1108, and secondary optics 1110 and 1112. The two LED lighting systems 1106 and 1108 can be LED lighting systems (such as...) Figure 1 , Figure 2 or Figure 3 LED lighting systems, or may include Figure 1 , Figure 2 or Figure 3LED lighting system plus Figure 10 Some or all of the other modules in the vehicle headlight system 1000. In a later embodiment, LED lighting systems 1106 and 1108 may be vehicle headlight subsystems.

[0073] LED lighting system 1108 can emit beam 1114 ( Figure 11 (As shown between the middle arrows 1114a and 1114b). The LED lighting system 1106 can emit a beam 1116 ( Figure 11 (As shown between the middle arrows 1116a and 1116b). Figure 11 In the illustrated embodiment, secondary optics 1110 are adjacent to LED lighting system 1108, and light emitted from LED lighting system 1108 passes through secondary optics 1110. Similarly, secondary optics 1112 are adjacent to LED lighting system 1106, and light emitted from LED lighting system 1106 passes through secondary optics 1112. In an alternative embodiment, secondary optics 1110 / 1112 are not provided in the vehicle headlight system.

[0074] In the included cases, the secondary optics 1110 / 1112 may be or include one or more light guides. The one or more light guides may be edge-illuminated or may have internal openings defining the inner edges of the light guides. LED lighting systems 1108 and 1106 (or active headlights of a vehicle headlight subsystem) may be inserted into the internal openings of one or more light guides, such that they inject light into the inner edges (internal opening light guides) or outer edges (edge-illuminated light guides) of the one or more light guides. In embodiments, the one or more light guides may shape the light emitted by LED lighting systems 1108 and 1106 in a desired manner (e.g., having a gradient, chamfered distribution, narrow distribution, wide distribution, or angular distribution).

[0075] Application platform 1102 can provide power and / or data to LED lighting systems 1106 and / or 1108 via line 1104, which may include Figure 10 One or more of the power lines 1002 and the data bus 1004, or a portion thereof. One or more sensors (which may be sensors from the example vehicle headlight system 1000 or other additional sensors) may be inside or outside the housing of the application platform 1102. Alternatively or additionally, such as Figure 10 As shown in the example vehicle headlight system 1000, each LED lighting system 1108 and 1106 may include its own sensor module, connectivity and control module, power supply module, and / or LED array.

[0076] In an embodiment, the vehicle headlight system 1100 may represent a motor vehicle with a maneuverable beam of light, wherein LEDs can be selectively activated to provide maneuverable light. For example, an array of LEDs (e.g., LED array 510) may be used to define or project a shape or pattern, or to illuminate only selected portions of a road. In an example embodiment, infrared camera or detector pixels within LED lighting systems 1106 and 1108 may be sensors (e.g., similar to those used in automotive lighting systems) that identify portions of a scene that need to be illuminated (e.g., a road or pedestrian crossing). Figure 10 (The sensor in sensor module 1010).

[0077] The embodiments have been described in detail, and those skilled in the art will appreciate that, given this description, modifications can be made to the embodiments described herein without departing from the spirit of the inventive concept. Therefore, it is not intended that the scope of the invention be limited to the specific embodiments illustrated and described.

Claims

1. A motor vehicle lighting system for a vehicle, the motor vehicle lighting system comprising: a light source comprising a first sub-light source on a plane and a plurality of second sub-light sources on the plane; a refractive lens comprising a light entrance surface and a light exit surface, the light entrance surface being shaped such that a distance from the light entrance surface to the plane is greater in a peripheral region of the refractive lens than in a central region of the refractive lens, the refractive lens comprising a first protrusion having a first light entrance face adjacent to the first sub-light source and a first light exit face on the light entrance surface of the refractive lens, the first protrusion being located in the peripheral region of the light entrance surface of the refractive lens, wherein in the central region of the refractive lens no protrusion is provided on the light entrance surface of the refractive lens facing the plurality of second sub-light sources; and a projection lens arranged on a side of the refractive lens distal to the light source. The first light exit face of the first protrusion is 1 to 4 times larger than the first light entrance face of the first protrusion.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein, 3. The system of claim 1, wherein: the refractive lens has a circular contour with an optical axis of the refractive lens passing through a center of the circular contour, and the first protrusion is provided at a circumference of the circular contour. The first light entrance face of the refractive lens is configured to receive light from the first sub-light source.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein, The projection lens is configured to receive light from the refractive lens and project the received light towards a road in front of the vehicle.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein, The first sub-light source is located at an off-axis position relative to an optical axis of the motor vehicle lighting system.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein, 7. The system of claim 1, wherein: the light entrance surface of the refractive lens is shaped convex towards the light source, wherein a center of the refractive lens is located at an optical axis of the motor vehicle lighting system, and in a direction parallel to the optical axis of the motor vehicle lighting system, the first light entrance face of the first protrusion is located at the same position as a center of the light entrance surface of the refractive lens.

8. A motor vehicle lighting system for a vehicle, the motor vehicle lighting system comprising: a light source comprising a first sub-light source and a second sub-light source on a plane; a refractive lens comprising a light entrance surface and a light exit surface, the light entrance surface being shaped convex towards the plane and comprising a first protrusion and a second protrusion, the first protrusion having a first light entrance face adjacent to the first sub-light source and a first light exit face on the light entrance surface of the refractive lens, the second protrusion having a second light entrance face adjacent to the second sub-light source and a second light exit face on the light entrance surface of the refractive lens; and a projection lens arranged on a side of the refractive lens distal to the light source; the first protrusion and the second protrusion are a single member comprising a base region, wherein the first protrusion and the second protrusion protrude from the base region, the first light exit face of the first protrusion and the second light exit face of the second protrusion partially overlap in the base region. wherein a first light exit face of the first protrusion and a second light exit face of the second protrusion partially overlap, such that the projection lens projects light from the first sub light source and the second sub light source onto the road in front of the vehicle as a light pattern having a first maximum light intensity I max1 , a second maximum light intensity I max2 , and a minimum light intensity I max1 between the first maximum light intensity I max2 and the second maximum light intensity I min , wherein I min / I max1 > 90% and I min / I max2 > 90%.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein, ​ 10. The system of claim 8, wherein, The partial overlap between the first light exit face of the first protrusion and the second light exit face of the second protrusion is less than half of the first light exit face of the first protrusion and further less than half of the second light exit face of the second protrusion.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein, At least one of the first light entry face of the first protrusion and the second light entry face of the second protrusion comprises a flat face perpendicular to the optical axis of the motor vehicle lighting system.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein, At least one of the first light entry face of the first protrusion and the second light entry face of the second protrusion has a rectangular, circular, triangular or polygonal contour.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein, At least one of the first light exit face of the first protrusion and the second light exit face of the second protrusion has a rectangular or trapezoidal contour.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein, The first protrusion has a curved side face adjoining the first light entry face at one end and the first light exit face at the other end or the second protrusion has a curved side face adjoining the second light entry face at one end and the second light exit face at the other end.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein, The first protrusion has more than two flat side faces each adjoining the first light entry face at one end and the first light exit face at the other end or the second protrusion has more than two flat side faces each adjoining the second light entry face at one end and the second light exit face at the other end.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein, At least one of the flat side faces encloses an acute angle with respect to the light entry surface of the refractive lens.

17. The system of claim 8, further comprising a third lens configured to receive light from the light exit surface of the refractive lens and project it onto the projection lens.

18. The system of claim 8, wherein, The light source is configured to provide a matrix high beam pattern.

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