Vehicle lamp projection system, control method of vehicle lamp projection system and vehicle

Abstract

The invention provides a vehicle lamp projection system, a control method of the vehicle lamp projection system and a vehicle. The vehicle lamp projection system comprises a laser light source assembly, a fluorescence conversion layer, a micro-lens array and an in-lamp controller. The fluorescence conversion layer is arranged on a light emitting path of the laser light source assembly. The laser light source assembly is used for emitting laser, and the laser penetrates through the fluorescence conversion layer and the micro-lens array to form a projection pattern. And the in-lamp controller is used for controlling on-off of the laser light source assembly. The laser light source assembly emits laser, the energy density of the laser light source is high, the laser directivity is good, a light source collimator is not needed, the number of parts is reduced, and the structure is simple.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the field of vehicles, and in particular to a vehicle light projection system, a control method for the vehicle light projection system, and a vehicle. Background Art

[0002] With the advancement of automotive technology, many different types of headlights have emerged on the market. Headlights are essential components for ensuring normal driving in low-light conditions and are a crucial lighting tool. Existing headlight projection systems can also utilize mircoLEDs, a pixel light source, as the light source for the imaging lens assembly. With 20,000 pixels, mircoLEDs can display complex patterns and create interactive animations. The number of imaging lens groups typically required is three to five to clearly magnify the shape of the light source.

[0003] Traditional headlight projection systems consist of an LED light source, a collimator, and an imaging lens assembly. LEDs utilize solid-state semiconductor chips as their luminescent material. Carrier recombination within the semiconductor releases excess energy, resulting in photon emission. Traditional LED light sources have an energy density of less than or equal to 10W / cm². LED light sources have poor directionality, necessitating a collimator positioned between the LED and the imaging lens assembly to convert the LED's less-than-directional light into directional light for illumination of the imaging lens assembly.

[0004] However, the light source of traditional headlight projection systems has limited luminous flux, making it difficult to achieve high-brightness projection, especially at long distances or in complex environments. Further increasing the output power per unit area will result in poor heat dissipation of the LED light source, shortening its service life. Furthermore, LED light sources have low energy efficiency, and their heat dissipation structures occupy a large space. Traditional headlight projection systems require the stacking of five to seven glass or plastic lenses to achieve accurate imaging. A collimator is also required between the light source and the lens to adjust the directionality of the light source. Furthermore, headlight projection systems are bulky, complex, and experience light losses exceeding 50%.

[0005] Therefore, it is necessary to provide an improved vehicle light projection system, a control method of the vehicle light projection system, and a vehicle to solve the above problems. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The present application provides a vehicle light projection system with high light source energy density and simple structure, a control method for the vehicle light projection system, and a vehicle.

[0007] The present application provides a vehicle lamp projection system, comprising: a laser light source assembly, a fluorescent conversion layer, a microlens array, and an in-lamp controller, wherein the fluorescent conversion layer is arranged on the light output path of the laser light source assembly, the laser light source assembly is used to emit laser light, and the laser light passes through the fluorescent conversion layer and the microlens array to form a projection pattern, and the in-lamp controller is used to control the laser light source assembly.

[0008] Furthermore, the laser light source assembly includes multiple laser light sources, each of which includes a blue laser diode, and the fluorescent conversion layer is arranged on the light output path of the blue laser diode; the blue laser diode emits blue light and irradiates the fluorescent conversion layer, and the fluorescent conversion layer converts part of the blue light into yellow light, and the remaining blue light is mixed with the yellow light to form white composite light; the wavelength of the blue light is 450nm~460nm.

[0009] Furthermore, each of the laser light sources also includes a red laser diode, which is made of aluminum gallium indium phosphide. The wavelength of the red light emitted by the red laser diode is controlled by adjusting the ratio of aluminum to gallium; the wavelength of the red light is 630nm~690nm.

[0010] Furthermore, the microlens array includes a transparent glass substrate, a mask layer, a field lens array and a projection lens array, the mask layer is covered on the transparent glass substrate, the field lens array and the projection lens array are respectively arranged on both sides of the transparent glass substrate and the mask layer, the field lens array is close to the light source side of the laser light source assembly, and the projection lens array is arranged on the light output side of the laser light source assembly.

[0011] Furthermore, the mask layer is arranged between the field lens array and the transparent glass substrate; a plurality of images are engraved on the mask layer, and the plurality of images are arranged in an array to increase the luminous flux of the projection pattern; the size of a single image is at the micron level.

[0012] Furthermore, the microlens array includes a plurality of microlens areas, each of the microlens areas includes a certain number of microlens units, and each of the microlens units is correspondingly arranged to one of the laser light sources.

[0013] Furthermore, the in-lamp controller includes a plurality of matrix chips, and each matrix chip is used to control the brightness and on / off of the laser light source in a microlens area.

[0014] The present application also provides a control method for a headlight projection system, which is applied to the above-mentioned headlight projection system. The control method is as follows: obtaining lane information and real-time position information of the vehicle; generating corresponding headlight control information based on the lane information and the real-time position information; and controlling the laser light source assembly according to the headlight control information to locally illuminate the microlens array.

[0015] Furthermore, the lane information includes the width of the lane, the number of lanes and the lane line position of the lane; the vehicle light control information includes turn signal control information, lane switching information, position light control information, brake light control information and rear fog light control information.

[0016] The present application also provides a vehicle, comprising the above-mentioned vehicle light projection system.

[0017] This application uses a laser light source assembly to emit laser light, which passes through a phosphor conversion layer and a microlens array to form a projection pattern. The laser light source has high energy density, resulting in a high-definition projection pattern. Furthermore, the laser light source has good directionality, eliminating the need for a light source collimator, reducing the number of parts, and simplifying the structure. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the vehicle light projection system of the present application.

[0019] Figure 2 2 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of the vehicle light projection system of the present application.

[0020] Figure 3 Schematic diagram of the structure of the micro-lens array of the vehicle light projection system of the present application.

[0021] Figure 4 It is a schematic diagram of the projection pattern of the vehicle light projection system of the present application.

[0022] Figure 5 This is a flow chart of a control method of a vehicle light projection system of the present application.

[0023] Figure 6 It is a schematic diagram of the headlight control information of the headlight projection system of the present application.

[0024] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the mode corresponding to the partial lighting of the microlens array of the vehicle light projection system of the present application.

[0025] Explanation of Figure Numbers

[0026] 10. Laser light source assembly; 11. Laser light source; 20. Phosphor conversion layer; 30. Microlens array; 301. Microlens area; 3011. Microlens unit; 31. Transparent glass substrate; 32. Mask layer; 321. Image; 33. Field lens array; 34. Projection lens array; 40. Projection pattern; 41. Steering projection; 42. Lane projection; 43. Position light vehicle width projection. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] Here, the technical solutions in the embodiments (or "implementations") of the present application will be clearly and completely described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. When the following description refers to the drawings, unless otherwise indicated, the same numbers in different drawings represent the same or similar elements.

[0028] If there are terms related to directional indications or positional relationships in the embodiments of this application (such as up, down, left, right, front, back, inside, outside, top, bottom, center, vertical, horizontal, longitudinal, transverse, length, width, counterclockwise, clockwise, axial, radial, circumferential, etc.), such terms are only used to explain the relative positional relationship, movement, etc. between the components in a specific posture (as shown in the accompanying drawings); if the specific posture changes, the directional indication or positional relationship will also change accordingly. In addition, the terms "first" and "second" in the embodiments of this application are only used for the purpose of convenience of description and should not be understood as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0029] See also Figures 1 to 2 As shown, the present application provides a vehicle lamp projection system comprising a laser light source assembly 10, a phosphor conversion layer 20, a microlens array 30, and an in-lamp controller. The phosphor conversion layer 20 is disposed in the light output path of the laser light source assembly 10. The laser light source assembly 10 is configured to emit laser light, which passes through the phosphor conversion layer 20 and the microlens array 30 to form a projection pattern 40. The in-lamp controller is configured to control the laser light source assembly 10.

[0030] The laser energy density emitted by the laser light source assembly 10 is greater than or equal to 100W / square centimeter, while the energy density of a traditional LED light source is less than or equal to 10W / square centimeter. The laser energy density is higher and the energy utilization rate is greater.

[0031] The laser light source assembly 10 includes multiple laser light sources 11. Each laser light source 11 includes a blue laser diode and a red laser diode. A phosphor conversion layer 20 is disposed in the light output path of the blue laser diode. The blue laser diode emits blue light, which is irradiated onto the phosphor conversion layer 20. The phosphor conversion layer 20 absorbs the blue light and converts some of it into yellow light through the photoluminescence effect. The remaining blue light mixes with the yellow light to form a white composite light, avoiding the color cast problem of traditional white light LED light sources. The blue light has a wavelength of 450nm to 460nm.

[0032] According to the embodiments of the present application, the white composite light and the yellow light can be used in the ground projection of turn signals, position lights, and low-beam auxiliary light blankets.

[0033] The red laser diode is made of aluminum gallium indium phosphide (AlGaInP). The red laser diode controls the wavelength of the red light it emits by adjusting the ratio of aluminum (Al) to gallium (Ga). The wavelength of the red light is 630nm to 690nm. According to the embodiment of the present application, the red light can be used for ground projection of rear fog lights and brake lights. When the brake light is turned on for ground projection, a red light strobe can be added and combined with a warning sound to increase the attention of vehicles behind.

[0034] In some embodiments, a microchannel heat sink may be provided on the laser light source assembly 10. The heat sink may be made of a copper-graphene composite material, which has high thermal conductivity and heat dissipation power.

[0035] In other embodiments, ultraviolet laser with a wavelength of 380nm to 405nm may be used to excite RGB phosphors to achieve full-color projection.

[0036] The phosphor conversion layer 20 is disposed between the laser light source assembly 10 and the microlens array 30. The phosphor conversion layer 20 can utilize cerium (Ce)-doped YAG (yttrium aluminum garnet) phosphor. In other embodiments, the phosphor conversion layer 20 and the microlens array 30 are integrated into one design, reducing optical path complexity and meeting the need for miniaturization of vehicle lamps.

[0037] The microlens array 30 includes a transparent glass substrate 31, a mask layer 32, a field lens array 33, and a projection lens array 34. The mask layer 32 covers the transparent glass substrate 31. The field lens array 33 and the projection lens array 34 are located on either side of the transparent glass substrate 31 and the mask layer 32, respectively. The field lens array 33 is located near the light source side of the laser light source assembly 10, while the projection lens array 34 is located on the light output side of the laser light source assembly 10. The mask layer 32 is located between the field lens array 33 and the transparent glass substrate 31.

[0038] According to the embodiments of the present application, the field lens array 33 can converge the laser beam emitted by the laser light source assembly 10, and the projection lens array 34 performs secondary shaping on the laser beam to reduce the distortion of the projection pattern 40. Furthermore, the transparent glass substrate 31 is smaller in size, replacing traditional film, thereby realizing a compact vehicle light projection system.

[0039] A plurality of images 321 are engraved on the mask layer 32. Specifically, the transparent glass substrate 31 is etched using a photolithography machine to form the plurality of images 321. Each image 321 is micrometer-sized. The plurality of images 321 are arranged in an array on the transparent glass substrate 31 to increase the luminous flux of the projected pattern 40. In some embodiments, the images 321 include turn arrows, lane change images, position light vehicle width images, brake light images, and rear fog light images.

[0040] See also Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, the microlens array 30 includes multiple microlens regions 301. Each microlens region 301 includes a certain number of microlens units 3011, and each microlens unit 3011 is corresponding to a laser light source 11. According to an embodiment of the present application, multiple groups of microlens regions 301 are set in the same vehicle lamp to achieve switching of multiple images 321.

[0041] The lamp controller includes multiple matrix chips arranged in an array on the microlens array 30. Each matrix chip corresponds to a microlens region 301 and controls the brightness and on / off of a certain number of laser light sources 11 within that microlens region 301. Each microlens region 301 is equipped with 12 microlens units 3011.

[0042] In some embodiments, the number of matrix chips ranges from 2 to 42, the number of microlens units 3011 ranges from 20 to 500, and the number of laser light sources 11 ranges from 20 to 500. The projection pattern 40 corresponds to multiple images 321. The projection pattern 40 includes a steering projection 41, a lane projection 42, a position light vehicle width projection 43, a brake light projection, and a rear fog light projection.

[0043] See also Figures 5 to 7 As shown, the present application also provides a control method for a vehicle light projection system, which is applied to the above vehicle light projection system. The control method is as follows:

[0044] Step S100, obtaining lane information and real-time location information of the vehicle;

[0045] Step S200, generating corresponding vehicle light control information based on lane information and real-time location information;

[0046] In step S300 , the laser light source assembly 10 is controlled according to the vehicle light control information to partially illuminate the microlens array 30 .

[0047] According to the implementation mode of the present application, the lane information and the real-time position information of the vehicle are obtained through the vehicle control module, and the corresponding headlight control information is also generated by the vehicle control module based on the lane information and the real-time position information.

[0048] After step S200 , the following steps are further included: the in-lamp controller communicates with the vehicle control module and obtains the vehicle lamp control information. The in-lamp controller then controls the laser light source assembly 10 based on the vehicle lamp control information to partially illuminate the microlens array 30 .

[0049] Specifically, lane information includes lane width, lane number, and lane marking position. Vehicle light control information includes turn signal control information, lane switching information, position light control information, brake light control information, and rear fog light control information.

[0050] In some embodiments, the vehicle's real-time location information may include vehicle speed, steering angle, and braking signals. Furthermore, during the data acquisition phase, high-precision map information can be integrated to predict vehicle projection patterns, such as curve arrows and speed limit signs.

[0051] According to an embodiment of the present application, the partial lighting of the microlens array 30 includes a turning animation mode, a lane switching animation mode, a position light vehicle width mode, a brake light mode, and a rear fog light mode.

[0052] The corresponding vehicle light control information can illuminate the microlens array 30 in the corresponding mode. For example, if the controller receives turn signal control information, the turn animation mode will be illuminated. If the controller receives lane switching information, the lane switching animation mode will be illuminated. If the controller receives position light control information, the position light vehicle width mode will be illuminated. If the controller receives brake light control information, the brake light mode will be illuminated. If the controller receives rear fog light control information, the rear fog light mode will be illuminated.

[0053] In some embodiments, multiple matrix chips communicate and coordinate through the CAN (Controller Area Network) bus in the lamp to control the number and position of the laser light sources 11 that are turned on, and then control the current size and current switching mode of the laser light source 11 through PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) to achieve smooth switching of the brightness of the projection pattern 40 to achieve an animation effect.

[0054] The present application also provides a vehicle, comprising the above-mentioned vehicle light projection system.

[0055] This application utilizes a laser light source assembly 10 to emit laser light, which passes through a phosphor conversion layer 20 and a microlens array 30 to form a projection pattern 40. The laser light source has high energy density, resulting in high definition of the projection pattern 40. The laser light source has good directionality, eliminating the need for a light source collimator, reducing the number of parts and simplifying the structure. Furthermore, a matrix chip can control the laser light source assembly 10 to partially illuminate the microlens array 30 based on corresponding headlight control information, enabling mode switching of the headlight projection system.

[0056] It should be noted that the technical solutions or technical features described in the above embodiments can be combined or supplemented with each other without conflict. The scope of protection of this application is not limited to the precise structures described in the above embodiments and shown in the accompanying drawings; all modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc. made within the spirit and principles of this application shall be included in the scope of protection of this application.

Claims

1. A vehicle light projection system, characterized in that: include: A laser light source assembly, a fluorescent conversion layer, a microlens array, and an in-lamp controller. The fluorescent conversion layer is arranged on the light output path of the laser light source assembly. The laser light source assembly is used to emit laser light, and the laser light passes through the fluorescent conversion layer and the microlens array to form a projection pattern. The in-lamp controller is used to control the laser light source assembly.

2. The vehicle light projection system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The laser light source assembly includes multiple laser light sources, each of which includes a blue laser diode. The fluorescent conversion layer is arranged on the light output path of the blue laser diode; the blue laser diode emits blue light and irradiates the fluorescent conversion layer, and the fluorescent conversion layer converts part of the blue light into yellow light, and the remaining blue light is mixed with the yellow light to form white composite light; the wavelength of the blue light is 450nm~460nm.

3. The vehicle light projection system according to claim 2, characterized in that: Each of the laser light sources further includes a red laser diode, which is made of aluminum gallium indium phosphide. The wavelength of the red light emitted by the red laser diode is controlled by adjusting the ratio of aluminum to gallium; the wavelength of the red light is 630nm to 690nm.

4. The vehicle light projection system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The microlens array includes a transparent glass substrate, a mask layer, a field lens array and a projection lens array. The mask layer covers the transparent glass substrate. The field lens array and the projection lens array are respectively arranged on both sides of the transparent glass substrate and the mask layer. The field lens array is close to the light source side of the laser light source assembly, and the projection lens array is arranged on the light output side of the laser light source assembly.

5. The vehicle light projection system according to claim 4, characterized in that: The mask layer is arranged between the field lens array and the transparent glass substrate; a plurality of images are engraved on the mask layer, and the plurality of images are arranged in an array to increase the luminous flux of the projection pattern; the size of a single image is at the micron level.

6. The vehicle light projection system according to claim 2, characterized in that: The microlens array includes a plurality of microlens areas, each of the microlens areas includes a certain number of microlens units, and each of the microlens units is correspondingly arranged with one of the laser light sources.

7. The vehicle light projection system according to claim 6, characterized in that: The controller inside the lamp includes a plurality of matrix chips, each of which is used to control the brightness and on / off of the laser light source in a microlens area.

8. A control method for a vehicle light projection system, characterized in that: Applied to the vehicle light projection system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, the control method is as follows: Obtain lane information and real-time vehicle location information; generating corresponding vehicle light control information based on the lane information and the real-time position information; The laser light source assembly is controlled according to the vehicle light control information to partially illuminate the microlens array.

9. The control method of the vehicle light projection system according to claim 8, characterized in that: The lane information includes the width of the lane, the number of lanes and the lane line position of the lane; the vehicle light control information includes turn signal control information, lane switching information, position light control information, brake light control information and rear fog light control information.

10. A vehicle, characterized in that: The vehicle light projection system comprises the vehicle light projection system according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

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