Fog light module and its control method, fog lights

Abstract

This application provides a fog light module and its control method, and a fog light, relating to the field of automotive lighting technology. The fog light module includes: an LED light source and a laser light source, both used for emitting light; a lens, including an incident light surface and a first light-emitting surface and a second light-emitting surface opposite to the incident light surface. The incident light surface is opposite to both the laser light source and the LED light source. The first light-emitting surface is located above the second light-emitting surface, opposite to the LED light source, and opposite to the laser light source. The emitted light from the LED light source is incident on the lens through the incident light surface and, after exiting through the first light-emitting surface, forms the fog light pattern. The emitted light from the laser light source is incident on the lens through the incident light surface and, after exiting through the second light-emitting surface, forms a supplementary light pattern. The supplementary light pattern is located below and overlaps with the fog light pattern. In the left-right direction of the vehicle, the width of the fog light pattern is greater than the width of the supplementary light pattern.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of automotive lighting technology, and in particular to a fog light module and its control method, and a fog light. Background Technology

[0002] As a core component of automotive active safety and interaction, vehicle lights have two core functions: road illumination and light signal indication. They play an indispensable role in ensuring driving safety, enabling signal transmission, and improving vehicle visibility.

[0003] Fog lights are a type of vehicle light, mainly used to provide road lighting in adverse weather conditions with low visibility, such as rain, fog, and sandstorms. Their light pattern design needs to meet requirements such as wide illumination range, strong penetration, and low glare, so as to ensure that drivers can still clearly perceive the road conditions ahead and the surrounding environment in adverse weather conditions.

[0004] However, with the development of intelligent vehicle lighting, fog lights in related technologies are only activated in inclement weather and have limited functionality, making it difficult to meet the lighting needs of various scenarios. Summary of the Invention

[0005] This application proposes a fog light module and its control method, as well as a fog light, aiming to address the problem that fog lights in related technologies are difficult to meet the lighting needs of multiple scenarios.

[0006] In a first aspect, embodiments of this application provide a fog light module, comprising: an LED light source and a laser light source, both used for emitting light; a lens, including an incident light surface and a first light-emitting surface and a second light-emitting surface opposite to the incident light surface, wherein the incident light surface is opposite to both the laser light source and the LED light source, the first light-emitting surface is located above the second light-emitting surface, the first light-emitting surface is opposite to the LED light source, and the second light-emitting surface is opposite to the laser light source; the emitted light from the LED light source is incident on the lens through the incident light surface and, after exiting through the first light-emitting surface, forms a fog light pattern; the emitted light from the laser light source is incident on the lens through the incident light surface and, after exiting through the second light-emitting surface, forms a supplementary light pattern, the supplementary light pattern being located below and overlapping the fog light pattern, and in the left-right direction of the vehicle, the width of the fog light pattern is greater than the width of the supplementary light pattern.

[0007] The fog light module of this application embodiment divides the light-emitting surface of the lens into a first light-emitting surface and a second light-emitting surface, and simultaneously arranges an LED light source opposite to the first light-emitting surface and a laser light source opposite to the second light-emitting surface. This allows the fog light module to simultaneously form both fog light patterns and supplementary light patterns. In inclement weather, the LED light source can be illuminated, enabling the fog light module to achieve basic fog light illumination. In inclement weather, when the vehicle is on an incline or descent, there may be a loss of near-field visibility due to the transition between inclines and descents. Simultaneously illuminating the LED and laser light sources in this situation provides fog light illumination for the entire area in front of the vehicle, avoiding blind spots. In normal weather, the fog light module can illuminate the LED and laser light sources at low power while the low beam headlights are on, providing accompanying low beam illumination and preventing dark areas in the area where the fog light module is located, thus improving the visual integrity and aesthetics of the overall vehicle lighting. Therefore, the fog light module can adapt to diverse scenario requirements, thereby improving the user experience.

[0008] Furthermore, the two light sources in this application employ LED and laser light sources respectively. The characteristics of LED and laser light sources can work together to improve the road illumination directly in front of the vehicle while ensuring low energy consumption and cost. Thus, it guarantees lighting performance in multiple scenarios and achieves a balance between cost and performance.

[0009] Furthermore, since the laser light source is closer to a point light source, on the one hand, the cutoff line of the supplementary light pattern can be made more flush. On the other hand, the area of ​​the light-incident surface can be reduced, thereby reducing the overall volume and size of the lens, which in turn helps to reduce costs and meet the miniaturization design requirements of fog light modules.

[0010] In some embodiments, the lens further includes an extension integrally formed on the bottom of the light-incident surface, the extension including a reflective surface near the laser light source, the reflective surface being used to reflect a portion of the light from the laser light source to the light-incident surface and exit from the first light-exiting surface.

[0011] By incorporating an extension section, the edge light from the laser source can be reflected, and the reflected light can participate in the formation of the fog light pattern. This firstly reduces light waste, improving light leakage and increasing the energy utilization rate of the laser source, thus enhancing luminous efficiency. Secondly, since the two light patterns are from different light sources, the reflective surface allows a portion of the laser light to be used to form the fog light pattern, resulting in a smooth transition between the fog light pattern and the supplementary light pattern, thereby improving lighting quality and visual comfort. Furthermore, the integrated molding design further enhances the miniaturization and compactness of the fog light module. Additionally, because the laser light participates in both light patterns simultaneously, both light-emitting surfaces of the lens can emit light even when the LED light source is off, enabling low-power lighting modes with only laser illumination or decorative accompanying lighting effects, thus further improving the functional versatility and scene adaptability of the fog light module.

[0012] In some embodiments, the area of ​​the first light-emitting surface is larger than the area of ​​the second light-emitting surface.

[0013] This configuration ensures that the light-emitting area of ​​both lenses matches the light-emitting area of ​​the corresponding light source, resulting in better illumination under the same light source power. This, in turn, helps to improve light utilization, save energy, reduce lens size, lower costs, and meet the miniaturization requirements of fog light modules.

[0014] In some embodiments, the first light-emitting surface and the second light-emitting surface are both convex freeform surfaces, and the light-incident surface is a concave freeform surface.

[0015] By setting the incident light surface as a concave curved surface, the amount of light received from both light sources can be maximized, thereby improving light utilization and luminous efficiency. By setting the two light exiting surfaces as free-form surfaces, the light distribution accuracy and illuminance uniformity of the two light patterns can be improved, resulting in more precise light pattern control and a more uniform road lighting effect.

[0016] In some embodiments, the first light-emitting surface is provided with a first polarizing structure on at least one side in the left-right direction of the vehicle, and the first polarizing structure is configured to deflect a portion of the emitted light from the first light-emitting surface along a direction away from the optical axis of the LED light source.

[0017] By setting a first polarizing structure on at least one side of the first light-emitting surface, some light rays emitted from the first light-emitting surface can be deflected in a direction away from the optical axis of the LED light source, making the fog light pattern wider in the left-right direction. This helps to expand the illumination width of the fog light pattern and improve the visibility of road conditions on both sides. Furthermore, it can optimize the light intensity distribution at the boundary of the fog light pattern, improve the uniformity and continuity of illumination, and thus improve the lighting effect of the fog light pattern. In addition, by adjusting the specific structure of the first polarizing structure, the light intensity distribution of the fog light pattern in the left-right direction can be flexibly controlled, providing additional adjustment freedom for light distribution design, thereby also improving the convenience of optical design.

[0018] In some embodiments, the bottom of the light-incident surface is provided with a second polarizing structure on at least one side in the left-right direction of the vehicle, the second polarizing structure being configured to deflect the light incident thereon along a direction close to the optical axis of the laser source.

[0019] By setting a second polarizing structure on at least one side of the bottom of the incident surface, some of the light from the laser source can be deflected towards the optical axis of the laser source when it enters the second polarizing structure. This narrows the supplementary light pattern in the left-right direction, thereby improving the average and central illuminance of the supplementary light pattern. This concentrates the laser energy onto the near-field road surface directly in front of the vehicle, enhancing the near-field lighting effect, optimizing the intensity distribution at the boundary of the supplementary light pattern, reducing unnecessary light diffusion on both sides, and improving the refraction efficiency for large-angle light, thus improving the utilization rate of laser energy. Furthermore, by adjusting the specific structure of the second polarizing structure, the intensity distribution of the supplementary light pattern in the left-right direction can be controlled, providing additional degrees of freedom for light distribution design and improving the convenience of optical design.

[0020] In some embodiments, the first polarizing structure includes a plurality of first convex strips arranged in the left-right direction of the vehicle and extending in the height direction of the vehicle, and the second polarizing structure includes a plurality of second convex strips arranged in the left-right direction of the vehicle and extending in the height direction of the vehicle.

[0021] By employing a first and second polarizing structure with raised strips, on the one hand, it is possible to achieve directional widening of the fog light pattern and directional narrowing of the supplementary light pattern without increasing the size of the lens, thereby improving the structural compactness and design flexibility of the lens. On the other hand, the multiple first and second raised strips are evenly arranged in the left-right direction to form a continuous deflection effect, which also helps to ensure the uniformity of the two light patterns, avoid the appearance of local bright spots or dark lines, and improve the lighting quality.

[0022] In some embodiments, the fog light module further includes a circuit board, on which both the laser light source and the LED light source are disposed. On one hand, this improves the integration of the fog light module, reduces the number of parts, simplifies the internal structure, and consequently reduces the size of the fog light module, achieving miniaturized design. On the other hand, it reduces assembly processes and alignment errors, improves production efficiency and optical alignment accuracy, and also reduces electrical connection points, thereby improving the reliability of the fog light module and reducing overall cost.

[0023] In some embodiments, the light-incident surface is integrally formed with a dimming part on one side edge along the left-right direction of the vehicle. The dimming part includes a first adjusting post and a second adjusting post. One of the first adjusting post and the second adjusting post is used to cooperate with the end face of the dimming screw, and the other of the first adjusting post and the second adjusting post is used to install an elastic reset member.

[0024] By setting a dimming unit on one edge of the light-receiving surface, no additional dimming bracket or adapter is needed. This not only helps to reduce the number of parts and lower costs, but also helps to improve structural rigidity and dimming accuracy. At the same time, it also helps to reduce the size of the fog light module and achieve miniaturization design.

[0025] In some embodiments, the fog light module further includes a controller, which is electrically connected to both the laser light source and the LED light source, and the controller is configured to control the fog light module to switch between a fog light operating mode and an accompanying operating mode; In the fog light operating mode, the LED light source is lit at a first power to form the fog light pattern, and the laser light source is selectively lit; In the accompanying working mode, the LED light source is either turned off or lit at a second power, and the laser light source is lit at a third power, wherein the second power is less than the first power.

[0026] By setting two operating modes—a fog light working mode and a companion working mode—the fog light module can adapt to different usage scenarios. It provides functional lighting in inclement weather and visual supplementary lighting in normal weather, achieving multiple uses with a single module and thus improving its utilization rate and practical value. Furthermore, different power strategies are employed in different modes, supplying energy on demand. This ensures lighting performance while reducing energy consumption and extending the lifespan of the light source. In addition, the controller can automatically switch between the two light source operating modes, reserving the hardware foundation for future integration with sensors to achieve intelligent functions such as automatic mode switching and adaptive dimming. This further enhances the fog light module's intelligence level and scene adaptability.

[0027] In some embodiments, in the fog light operating mode: The laser light source is turned off when the vehicle is on a flat road. When the vehicle is on an uphill or downhill road, the laser light source is lit at a fourth power, which is greater than the third power.

[0028] This setup helps reduce energy consumption while ensuring lighting safety. Furthermore, it compensates for the loss of near-field visibility caused by switching between uphill and downhill sections, improving driving safety on slopes.

[0029] Secondly, embodiments of this application provide a control method for a fog light module, applied to the fog light module as described in the first aspect, the method comprising: Obtain weather information corresponding to the vehicle's current location and determine whether the weather information is severe weather information; When the weather information is severe weather information, control the LED light source to light up at the first power and obtain the vehicle's slope information; When the vehicle is on a flat road, the laser light source is turned off; when the vehicle is on an uphill or downhill road, the laser light source is turned on at a fourth power. When the weather information is not severe weather information, obtain the low beam headlight operating status information; When the low beam headlight is on, the LED light source is controlled to turn off or be lit at a second power, and the laser light source is controlled to be lit at a third power, wherein the second power is less than the first power and the fourth power is greater than the third power.

[0030] The control method of the fog light module in this application embodiment is based on the same inventive concept as the fog light module in the above embodiment. Therefore, the control method of the fog light module can obtain the beneficial effects of the fog light module in the corresponding embodiment.

[0031] Thirdly, embodiments of this application provide a fog light, including the fog light module as described in the first aspect.

[0032] The fog lamp in this embodiment is based on the same inventive concept as the fog lamp module in the above embodiment. Therefore, the fog lamp can obtain the beneficial effects of the fog lamp module in the corresponding embodiment. Attached Figure Description

[0033] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the fog light module provided in the embodiments of this application; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the lens structure provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the light pattern of a fog light module provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 4This is a schematic diagram of the dimming section of the fog light module provided in the embodiments of this application; Figure 5 This is a flowchart illustrating the control method for a fog light module provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0034] The annotations in the attached figures are explained as follows: 10. Fog light module; 100. LED light source; 200. Laser light source; 300, Lens; 310, Light-incident surface; 311, Second polarizing structure; 3111, Second convex strip; 321, First light-exiting surface; 322, Second light-exiting surface; 323, First polarizing structure; 3231, First convex strip. 400, extension section; 410, reflective surface; 500, dimming section; 510, first adjustment column; 520, second adjustment column; 600, dimming screw. Detailed Implementation

[0035] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this application clearer, the following detailed description is provided in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative and not intended to limit the scope of this application.

[0036] In the description of this application, it should be understood that if terms such as "upper," "lower," "left," and "right" indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, they are only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, the terms used to describe positional relationships in the accompanying drawings are only for illustrative purposes and should not be construed as limiting this application. For those skilled in the art, the specific meaning of the above terms can be understood according to the specific circumstances.

[0037] Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as implying or suggesting relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature. In the description of this application, "multiple" means at least two, such as two, three, etc., unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0038] In the description of this application, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," "joining," "fixing," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components, unless otherwise expressly limited. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application according to the specific circumstances.

[0039] like Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, an embodiment of the first aspect of this application provides a fog light module 10. The fog light module 10 includes an LED (Light Emitting Diode) light source 100, a laser light source 200, and a lens 300. Both the LED light source 100 and the laser light source 200 are used to emit light. The lens 300 includes a light-incident surface 310 and a first light-emitting surface 321 and a second light-emitting surface 322 opposite to the light-incident surface 310. The light-incident surface 310 is opposite to both the laser light source 200 and the LED light source 100. The first light-emitting surface 321 is located above the second light-emitting surface 322 and is opposite to the LED light source 100. The second light-emitting surface 321... Opposite to the laser light source 200, the emitted light from the LED light source 100 is incident on the lens 300 through the light-incident surface 310 and emitted through the first light-emitting surface 321 to form the fog light pattern P1. The emitted light from the laser light source 200 is incident on the lens 300 through the light-incident surface 310 and emitted through the second light-emitting surface 322 to form the supplementary light pattern P2. The supplementary light pattern P2 is located below the fog light pattern P1 and overlaps with the fog light pattern P1. In the left-right direction of the vehicle, the width of the fog light pattern P1 is greater than the width of the supplementary light pattern P2.

[0040] It should be noted that the terms "front," "rear," "left," "right," "up," and "down" mentioned in this article are all relative to the vehicle, meaning that the direction the front of the vehicle is pointing is "front," and the direction the rear of the vehicle is pointing is "rear."

[0041] The fog light module 10 of this application embodiment includes an LED light source 100, a laser light source 200, and a lens 300. The LED light source 100 can emit diffused light, which, together with the light-incident surface 310 and the first light-emitting surface 321 of the lens 300, forms the fog light pattern P1, realizing the fog light illumination function. Optionally, the LED light source 100 can be a white LED, using a single LED or a multi-core LED.

[0042] The laser source 200 features high brightness, a small divergence angle, and strong directionality, making it closer to a point light source. The emitted light from the laser source 200, in conjunction with the incident surface 310 and the second emitting surface 322 of the lens 300, forms a supplementary light pattern P2, thereby providing supplementary illumination for the fog lights. Optionally, the laser source 200 can be a laser diode.

[0043] Lens 300 is a single, integrally molded optical element made of transparent optical materials (such as PC, PMMA, etc.). Lens 300 includes an incident surface 310, a first emitting surface 321, and a second emitting surface 322. The incident surface 310 is a common incident surface, simultaneously receiving the emitted light from both the LED light source 100 and the laser light source 200. It can be a complete plane, a sphere, or a freeform surface, which can be flexibly selected. Optionally, in some embodiments, the incident surface 310 can also be divided into two regions with different surface parameters, one region corresponding to the LED light source 100 and the other region corresponding to the laser light source 200. In this way, the incident light from the two light sources can be further differentiated in the initial processing, improving optical efficiency.

[0044] The first light-emitting surface 321 is located at the top and corresponds to the LED light source 100. It is responsible for modulating the light from the LED light source 100 into a wide fog light pattern P1 to achieve medium-to-long-distance illumination in the front and side areas of the vehicle and improve the uniformity of illumination.

[0045] The second light-emitting surface 322 is located below and corresponds to the laser light source 200. It is responsible for modulating the light from the laser light source 200 into a concentrated supplementary light pattern P2 to achieve short-range road illumination in the area in front of the vehicle. It can be understood that the first light-emitting surface 321 and the second light-emitting surface 322 are connected to each other and have a clear dividing line.

[0046] The width of the supplementary beam pattern P2 is smaller than that of the fog light beam pattern P1. This design is based on two reasons. First, as the primary illumination beam pattern, the fog light pattern P1 needs to meet the horizontal diffusion angle requirements of fog light regulations to ensure effective illumination of the road conditions within a sufficient range on both sides of the vehicle, thus requiring a larger width. Second, as the near-field enhancement beam pattern, the supplementary beam pattern P2 aims to enhance the illumination of the road surface directly in front of the vehicle. A smaller width allows the high-brightness energy of the laser to be concentrated in the area directly in front, maximizing the supplementary lighting efficiency. Simultaneously, the narrow width of the supplementary beam pattern P2 matches the small divergence angle characteristic of the 200° laser source, resulting in higher optical efficiency.

[0047] The fog light module 10 of this embodiment divides the light-emitting surface of the lens 300 into a first light-emitting surface 321 and a second light-emitting surface 322. An LED light source 100 is positioned opposite the first light-emitting surface 321, and a laser light source 200 is positioned opposite the second light-emitting surface 322. This allows the fog light module 10 to simultaneously generate both fog light pattern P1 and supplementary light pattern P2. In adverse weather conditions, the LED light source 100 can be illuminated, enabling the fog light module 10 to provide basic fog light illumination. In adverse weather conditions, when a vehicle is traveling uphill or downhill, there may be a loss of near-field visibility due to the transition between inclines and declines. Simultaneously illuminating the LED light source 100 and the laser light source 200 provides fog light illumination for the entire area in front of the vehicle, preventing blind spots. Under normal weather conditions, the fog light module 10 can illuminate the LED light source 100 and the laser light source 200 at low power when the low beam headlights are on, enabling the fog light module 10 to achieve simultaneous low beam illumination. This avoids dark areas in the area where the fog light module 10 is located at the front of the vehicle, improving the visual integrity and aesthetics of the overall vehicle lighting. Therefore, the fog light module 10 can adapt to diverse scenario requirements, thereby enhancing the user experience.

[0048] Furthermore, the two light sources in this application employ an LED light source 100 and a laser light source 200, respectively. The characteristics of the LED light source 100 and the laser light source 200 can work together to improve the road illumination directly in front of the vehicle while ensuring low energy consumption and cost. Thus, it ensures lighting performance in multiple scenarios and achieves a balance between cost and performance.

[0049] Furthermore, since the laser light source 200 is closer to a point light source, on the one hand, the cutoff line of the supplementary light pattern P2 can be made more flush. On the other hand, the area of ​​the light-incident surface 310 can be reduced, thereby reducing the overall volume and size of the lens 300, which in turn helps to reduce costs and meet the miniaturization design requirements of the fog light module 10.

[0050] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, in some embodiments, the lens 300 further includes an extension 400 integrally formed on the bottom of the light-incident surface 310. The extension 400 includes a reflective surface 410 on the side near the laser light source 200. The reflective surface 410 is used to reflect part of the light from the laser light source 200 to the light-incident surface 310 and exit through the first light-out surface 321.

[0051] The extension 400 is integrally formed at the bottom of the light-incident surface 310 of the lens 300, extending from the main body of the lens 300 towards the two light sources. The extension 400 has a reflective surface 410, which can be a concave curved surface. The reflective surface 410 can be coated with a reflective film such as an aluminum film or a silver film.

[0052] By providing the extension 400, the edge light from the laser light source 200 can be reflected, and the reflected light can participate in the formation of the fog light pattern P1. This firstly reduces light waste, improves light leakage, and increases the energy utilization rate of the laser light source 200, thus improving luminous efficiency. Secondly, since the two light patterns are of different light source types, by providing the reflective surface 410, a portion of the laser light source 200 can be used to form the fog light pattern P1, achieving a smooth transition between the fog light pattern P1 and the supplementary light pattern P2, thereby improving lighting quality and visual comfort. Furthermore, the integrated molding design further enhances the miniaturization and structural compactness of the fog light module 10. In addition, since the laser light source 200 participates in both light patterns simultaneously, the two light-emitting surfaces of the lens 300 can emit light even when the LED light source 100 is off, achieving a low-power lighting mode with only laser illumination or a decorative accompanying lighting effect, thus further improving the functional versatility and scene adaptability of the fog light module 10.

[0053] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, in some embodiments, the area of ​​the first light-emitting surface 321 is larger than the area of ​​the second light-emitting surface 322.

[0054] This configuration ensures that the light-emitting areas of both lenses match the light-emitting areas of the corresponding light sources, resulting in better illumination under the same light source power. This, in turn, helps to improve light utilization, save energy, reduce the size of the lens 300, lower costs, and meet the miniaturization requirements of the fog light module 10.

[0055] Optionally, the area of ​​the first light-emitting surface 321 can be 3 to 7 times the area of ​​the second light-emitting surface 322, for example, it can be 3 times, 4 times, 5 times, 6 times, or 7 times, and can be flexibly set according to the actual situation.

[0056] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, in some embodiments, the first light-emitting surface 321 and the second light-emitting surface 322 are both convex free-form surfaces, and the light-incident surface 310 is a concave curved surface.

[0057] By setting the light-incident surface 310 as a concave curved surface, the light received from both light sources can be maximized, thereby improving light utilization and luminous efficiency. By setting the two light-exit surfaces as free-form surfaces, the light distribution accuracy and illuminance uniformity of the two light patterns can be improved, achieving more precise light pattern control and a more uniform road lighting effect.

[0058] like Figure 1 and Figure 2As shown, in some embodiments, the first light-emitting surface 321 is provided with a first polarizing structure 323 on at least one side in the left-right direction of the vehicle. The first polarizing structure 323 is configured to deflect part of the emitted light from the first light-emitting surface 321 in a direction away from the optical axis of the LED light source 100.

[0059] The fog light pattern P1 should be as wide as possible to provide supplementary illumination to the outside of the vehicle when turning. The light pattern needs to reach at least 60° to the outside (the angle relative to the vehicle's centerline). The single curved surface in related technologies cannot achieve this, which may lead to problems such as insufficient deflection angle and low illumination uniformity.

[0060] By providing a first polarizing structure 323 on at least one side of the first light-emitting surface 321, some light rays emitted from the first light-emitting surface 321 can be deflected in a direction away from the optical axis of the LED light source 100, making the fog light pattern P1 wider in the left-right direction. This helps to expand the illumination width of the fog light pattern P1 and improve the visibility of road conditions on both sides. Furthermore, it can optimize the light intensity distribution at the boundary of the fog light pattern P1, improve the uniformity and continuity of illumination, and thus improve the lighting effect of the fog light pattern P1. In addition, by adjusting the specific structure of the first polarizing structure 323, the light intensity distribution of the fog light pattern P1 in the left-right direction can be flexibly controlled, providing additional adjustment freedom for light distribution design, thereby also improving the convenience of optical design.

[0061] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, in some embodiments, the bottom of the light-incident surface 310 is provided with a second polarizing structure 311 on at least one side in the left-right direction of the vehicle. The second polarizing structure 311 is configured to deflect a portion of the emitted light from the second light-emitting surface 322 along the direction close to the optical axis of the laser source 200.

[0062] The supplementary light pattern P2 only needs to supplement the illumination of the area below the center of the fog light pattern P1. The width can be reduced to improve the average illuminance of the supplementary light pattern P2.

[0063] By providing a second polarizing structure 311 on at least one side of the bottom of the incident surface 310, some of the light from the laser source 200 incident on the second polarizing structure 311 is deflected towards the direction closer to the optical axis of the laser source 200, making the supplementary light pattern P2 narrower in the left-right direction. This helps to improve the average illuminance and center illuminance of the supplementary light pattern P2, allowing the laser energy to be concentrated on the near-field road surface directly in front of the vehicle. This enhances the near-field lighting effect, optimizes the light intensity distribution at the boundary of the supplementary light pattern P2, and reduces unnecessary light diffusion on both sides, improving the refraction efficiency for large-angle light rays, thereby improving the utilization rate of laser energy. Furthermore, by adjusting the specific structure of the second polarizing structure 311, the light intensity distribution of the supplementary light pattern P2 in the left-right direction can be controlled, providing additional adjustment freedom for light distribution design, thus also improving the convenience of optical design.

[0064] Optionally, the first polarizing structure 323 and the second polarizing structure 311 can be Fresnel structures, microprism structures, sawtooth structures, convex prism structures, etc., and can be flexibly designed according to the actual situation.

[0065] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, in some embodiments, the first polarizing structure 323 includes a plurality of first protrusions 3231 arranged along the left-right direction of the vehicle and extending along the height direction of the vehicle. Optionally, the protruding surface of the first protrusion 3231 can be a prism surface, a sawtooth surface, a cylindrical surface, etc., and this application does not limit it.

[0066] By employing a raised strip-shaped first polarizing structure 323, on the one hand, the directional widening of the fog light pattern P1 can be achieved without increasing the volume of the lens 300, thereby improving the structural compactness and design flexibility of the lens 300. On the other hand, the multiple first raised strips 3231 are evenly arranged in the left-right direction, which can form a continuous deflection effect, thus helping to ensure the uniformity of the fog light pattern P1, avoiding local bright spots or dark lines, and improving the lighting quality.

[0067] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, in some embodiments, the second polarizing structure 311 includes a plurality of second protrusions 3111 arranged along the left-right direction of the vehicle and extending along the height direction of the vehicle. Optionally, the protruding surface of the second protrusions 3111 can be a prism surface, a sawtooth surface, a cylindrical surface, etc., and this application does not limit this.

[0068] By employing a convex strip-shaped second polarizing structure 311, on the one hand, the directional narrowing of the supplementary light pattern P2 can be achieved without increasing the volume of the lens 300, thereby improving the structural compactness and design flexibility of the lens 300. On the other hand, the multiple second convex strips 3111 are evenly arranged in the left-right direction, forming a continuous deflection effect, which also helps to ensure the uniformity of the supplementary light pattern P2, avoid the appearance of local bright spots or dark lines, and improve the illumination quality.

[0069] In some embodiments, the fog light module 10 further includes a circuit board (not shown in the figure), on which both the laser light source 200 and the LED light source 100 are disposed.

[0070] By placing both the laser light source 200 and the LED light source 100 on the same circuit board, on the one hand, it is beneficial to improve the integration of the fog light module 10, reduce the number of parts, simplify the internal structure, and thus reduce the size of the fog light module 10, achieving miniaturization. On the other hand, it can reduce assembly processes and alignment errors, improve production efficiency and optical alignment accuracy, and also reduce electrical connection points, thereby improving the reliability of the fog light module 10 and reducing overall costs.

[0071] like Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 4 As shown, in some embodiments, the light-incident surface 310 is also integrally formed with a dimming part 500 on one side edge along the left-right direction of the vehicle. The dimming part 500 includes a first adjusting post 510 and a second adjusting post 520. One of the first adjusting post 510 and the second adjusting post 520 is used to cooperate with the end face of the dimming screw 600, and the other of the first adjusting post 510 and the second adjusting post 520 is used to install an elastic reset member.

[0072] The dimming unit 500 is disposed on one side of the light-receiving surface 310 in the width direction. The dimming unit 500 is provided with a first adjusting post 510 and a second adjusting post 520. Taking the first adjusting post 510 engaging with the end face of the dimming screw and the second adjusting post 520 being fitted with an elastic reset component as an example, the following explanation is provided. The end face of the dimming screw is uneven. When the dimming screw is rotated, the end face of the dimming screw can push the first adjusting post 510 to move back and forth along the optical axis, thereby causing one side of the lens 300 to shift back and forth, changing the tilt angle of the lens 300, and thus adjusting the emission angle of the fog light module 10 to meet the illumination angle requirements under different working conditions. The elastic reset component on the second adjusting post 520 provides an elastic reset force to reset the lens 300. The two work together to achieve dimming of the fog light module 10.

[0073] By setting a dimming part 500 on one side edge of the light-incident surface 310, no additional dimming bracket or adapter parts are needed. This not only helps to reduce the number of parts and lower costs, but also helps to improve structural rigidity and dimming accuracy. At the same time, it also helps to reduce the size of the fog light module 10 and achieve miniaturization design.

[0074] In some embodiments, the fog light module 10 further includes a controller (not shown in the figure), which is electrically connected to both the laser light source 200 and the LED light source 100. The controller is configured to control the fog light module 10 to switch between a fog light operating mode and an accompanying operating mode. In the fog light operating mode, the LED light source 100 is lit at a first power to form a fog light pattern P1, and the laser light source 200 is selectively lit. In the accompanying operating mode, the LED light source 100 is turned off or lit at a second power, where the second power is less than the first power, and the laser light source 200 is lit at a third power.

[0075] This embodiment further proposes two operating modes for the fog light module 10. Specifically, the fog light module 10 has a fog light operating mode and an accompanying operating mode. When the vehicle is in adverse weather conditions with low visibility, such as rain, fog, or sandstorms, the controller controls the fog light module 10 to switch to the fog light operating mode. The LED light source 100 is lit at the first power to form the fog light pattern P1, providing basic fog light illumination. The laser light source 200 is selectively lit according to road conditions to enhance near-field illumination. When the vehicle is in normal weather and the low beam headlights are on, the controller controls the fog light module 10 to switch to the accompanying operating mode. The LED light source 100 can be turned off, and the laser light source 200 can be lit alone at the third power. Alternatively, the LED light source 100 and the laser light source 200 can be lit at lower second and third powers, respectively, so that the two light-emitting surfaces of the lens 300 present a uniform light emission effect, avoiding dark areas in the area where the fog lights are located in front of the vehicle, and improving the visual integrity and aesthetics of the overall vehicle lighting.

[0076] By setting two operating modes—a fog light working mode and a companion working mode—the fog light module 10 can adapt to different usage scenarios. It provides functional lighting in inclement weather and visual supplementary lighting in normal weather, achieving multiple uses with a single module and thus improving its utilization rate and practical value. Furthermore, different power strategies are employed in different modes, supplying energy on demand. This ensures lighting performance while reducing energy consumption and extending the lifespan of the light source. In addition, the controller can automatically switch between the two light source operating modes, reserving the hardware foundation for future integration with sensors to achieve intelligent functions such as automatic mode switching and adaptive dimming. This further enhances the intelligence level and scene adaptability of the fog light module 10.

[0077] In some embodiments, in fog light operating mode: When the vehicle is on a flat road, the laser light source 200 is turned off. When the vehicle is on an uphill or downhill road, the laser light source 200 is lit at a fourth power, which is greater than the third power.

[0078] This embodiment further proposes a specific control method for the laser source 200 in fog light operating mode. When the vehicle is on a flat road, the laser source 200 is turned off, and only the LED source 100 provides basic fog light illumination, which helps to reduce energy consumption while ensuring lighting safety. When the vehicle is on an incline or descent, the laser source 200 is illuminated at a fourth power, forming a supplementary light pattern P2 to enhance near-field illumination, compensate for the loss of near-field visibility caused by switching between inclines and descents, and improve driving safety on inclines. The fourth power is greater than the third power in the accompanying operating mode to ensure lighting needs on inclines.

[0079] It should be noted that the above controller can be electrically connected to various control signals of the vehicle to directly obtain relevant electrical signals and then control the fog light module 10 to switch in the above mode. Alternatively, the above controller can be electrically connected to the vehicle controller, with the vehicle controller sending control commands to the fog light module 10 controller, and the fog light controller executing the corresponding mode switching and power adjustment according to the commands. The two connection methods can be flexibly selected according to the vehicle architecture.

[0080] like Figure 5 As shown, an embodiment of the second aspect of this application provides a control method for a fog light module 10, applied to the fog light module 10 described in the first aspect. The control method for the fog light module 10 includes: Obtain the weather information corresponding to the vehicle's current location and determine whether the weather information is severe weather information; When the weather information is severe, control the LED light source 100 to light up at the first power and obtain the vehicle's slope information; When the vehicle is on a flat road, the laser light source 200 is turned off; when the vehicle is on an uphill or downhill road, the laser light source 200 is turned on at the fourth power. When the weather information is not severe weather information, obtain the low beam headlight operating status information; When the low beam headlights are on, control the LED light source 100 to turn off or turn on at the second power, and control the laser light source 200 to turn on at the third power. The second power is less than the first power, and the fourth power is greater than the third power.

[0081] The control method for the fog light module 10 of this application is applied to the fog light module 10 described in the first aspect. When the fog light module 10 is working, it first acquires the weather information corresponding to the vehicle's current location, and then determines whether the weather is severe. It is understood that the method for acquiring the weather information corresponding to the vehicle's current location can be, for example, by first locating the vehicle using a positioning system, mobile communication network positioning, or vehicle networking technology, and then acquiring the weather data corresponding to the current location through the vehicle's map or network, including weather conditions such as rain, snow, fog, and dust storms, and then determining whether it is severe weather. Alternatively, it can acquire the weather report information corresponding to the road at the current location, such as whether there are traffic restrictions or speed limits due to weather conditions, and determine whether it is severe weather based on these restrictions or speed limits. Optionally, weather conditions can also be detected directly through onboard sensors, such as detecting rainfall through a rain sensor, detecting fog or dust storms through a light sensor or camera, or combining multiple detection methods to improve the accuracy and reliability of weather judgment.

[0082] Severe weather information can include low visibility weather conditions such as heavy fog, heavy rain, heavy snow, dust storms, and haze, and the specific definition can be flexibly determined according to the actual situation.

[0083] When the weather information is severe, the LED light source 100 can be controlled to illuminate at its first power, causing the fog light module 10 to emit fog light pattern P1. At the same time, the vehicle's slope information is acquired.

[0084] Vehicle slope information can be obtained in various ways, such as by directly detecting the vehicle's pitch angle using body attitude sensors, acceleration sensors, suspension height sensors, etc., or by obtaining the current road slope information through navigation map data. Alternatively, multiple detection methods can be combined to improve the accuracy of slope judgment. Optionally, image signals, radar signals, and other operating condition signals can also be used. Based on image information, radar's three-dimensional point cloud, or echo characteristics, visual features of the road surface can be identified, thereby directly determining the road conditions ahead. This application does not impose specific limitations on the methods used to identify road conditions; other technical means capable of identifying road conditions should be considered to fall within the protection scope of this application.

[0085] When the vehicle is on a flat road, the laser light source 200 is turned off. Basic fog light illumination is provided solely by the fog light pattern P1, meeting the road lighting needs on flat roads while also reducing energy consumption and extending the lifespan of the light source.

[0086] When the vehicle is on an uphill or downhill road, the laser light source 200 is controlled to light up at the fourth power to form a supplementary light pattern P2. This light pattern P2 works together with the fog light pattern P1 to achieve fog light illumination in the entire area in front of the vehicle, enhance the illumination of the near road surface, compensate for the loss of near vision caused by switching between uphill and downhill roads, avoid blind spots, and thus improve driving safety on slopes.

[0087] When the weather information is not severe, obtain the low beam headlight operating status information.

[0088] When the low beam headlights are not turned on, both the LED light source 100 and the laser light source 200 are kept off to save energy.

[0089] When the low beam headlights are on, the LED light source 100 is either turned off or illuminated at a second power, while the laser light source 200 is illuminated at a third power. This causes the fog light module to enter an accompanying working mode, resulting in a uniform light emission effect from the light-emitting surface of the lens 300. This prevents dark areas or hollow spaces in the fog light area at the front of the vehicle, improving the visual integrity and aesthetics of the overall vehicle lighting. The second power is lower than the first power, which is, for example, the reference power of the LED light source 100; the fourth power is higher than the third power, which is, for example, the reference power of the laser light source 200. The second and third powers represent the low-power illumination states of the LED light source 100 and the laser light source 200, respectively, only needing to meet the visual requirements of accompanying illumination.

[0090] The control method of the fog light module 10 in this application embodiment enables the fog light module 10 to adapt to diverse scenario requirements, thereby improving the user experience.

[0091] An embodiment of the third aspect of this application provides a fog light, including the fog light module 10 described in the first aspect.

[0092] The fog lamp in this embodiment is based on the same inventive concept as the fog lamp module 10 in the above embodiment. Therefore, the fog lamp can obtain the beneficial effects of the fog lamp module 10 in the corresponding embodiment.

[0093] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of this application, but the scope of protection of this application is not limited thereto. Any variations or substitutions that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art within the scope of the technology disclosed in this application should be included within the scope of protection of this application. Therefore, the scope of protection of this application should be determined by the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A fog light module, characterized in that, include: Both LED and laser light sources are used to emit light. The lens includes an incident light surface and a first light emitting surface and a second light emitting surface opposite to the incident light surface. The incident light surface is opposite to both the laser light source and the LED light source. The first light emitting surface is located above the second light emitting surface. The first light emitting surface is opposite to the LED light source, and the second light emitting surface is opposite to the laser light source. The emitted light from the LED light source is incident on the lens through the light-incident surface, and after exiting through the first light-emitting surface, it forms a fog light pattern; The emitted light from the laser source is incident on the lens through the incident light surface, and after exiting through the second light-emitting surface, it forms a supplementary light pattern. The supplementary light pattern is located below the fog light pattern and overlaps with the fog light pattern. In the left-right direction of the vehicle, the width of the fog light pattern is greater than the width of the supplementary light pattern.

2. The fog light module according to claim 1, characterized in that, The lens also includes an extension integrally formed on the bottom of the light-incident surface. The extension includes a reflective surface near the laser light source. The reflective surface is used to reflect part of the light from the laser light source to the light-incident surface and exit from the first light-out surface.

3. The fog light module according to claim 1, characterized in that, The area of ​​the first light-emitting surface is larger than the area of ​​the second light-emitting surface; And / or, the first light-emitting surface and the second light-emitting surface are both convex freeform surfaces, and the light-incident surface is a concave freeform surface.

4. The fog light module according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first light-emitting surface has a first polarizing structure on at least one side in the left-right direction of the vehicle. The first polarizing structure is configured to deflect a portion of the emitted light from the first light-emitting surface in a direction away from the optical axis of the LED light source. And / or, the bottom of the light-incident surface is provided with a second polarizing structure on at least one side in the left-right direction of the vehicle, the second polarizing structure being configured to deflect the light incident thereon along the direction close to the optical axis of the laser source.

5. The fog light module according to claim 4, characterized in that, The first polarizing structure includes a plurality of first convex strips arranged along the left-right direction of the vehicle and extending along the height direction of the vehicle. The second polarizing structure includes a plurality of second convex strips arranged along the left-right direction of the vehicle and extending along the height direction of the vehicle.

6. The fog light module according to claim 1, characterized in that, The fog light module also includes a circuit board, on which both the laser light source and the LED light source are mounted; And / or, the light-incident surface is integrally formed with a dimming part on one side edge along the left-right direction of the vehicle. The dimming part includes a first adjusting post and a second adjusting post. One of the first adjusting post and the second adjusting post is used to cooperate with the end face of the dimming screw, and the other of the first adjusting post and the second adjusting post is used to install an elastic reset member.

7. The fog light module according to claim 1, characterized in that, The fog light module also includes a controller, which is electrically connected to both the laser light source and the LED light source. The controller is configured to control the fog light module to switch between a fog light working mode and an accompanying working mode. In the fog light operating mode, the LED light source is lit at a first power to form the fog light pattern, and the laser light source is selectively lit; In the accompanying working mode, the LED light source is either turned off or lit at a second power, and the laser light source is lit at a third power, wherein the second power is less than the first power.

8. The fog light module according to claim 7, characterized in that, In the fog light operating mode: The laser light source is turned off when the vehicle is on a flat road. When the vehicle is on an uphill or downhill road, the laser light source is lit at a fourth power, which is greater than the third power.

9. A control method for a fog light module, applied to a fog light module as described in any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that, The method includes: Obtain weather information corresponding to the vehicle's current location and determine whether the weather information is severe weather information; When the weather information is severe weather information, control the LED light source to light up at the first power and obtain the vehicle's slope information; When the vehicle is on a flat road, the laser light source is turned off; when the vehicle is on an uphill or downhill road, the laser light source is turned on at a fourth power. When the weather information is not severe weather information, obtain the low beam headlight operating status information; When the low beam headlight is on, the LED light source is controlled to turn off or be lit at a second power, and the laser light source is controlled to be lit at a third power, wherein the second power is less than the first power and the fourth power is greater than the third power.

10. A fog light, characterized in that, Includes the fog light module as described in any one of claims 1 to 8.

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