A vehicle-mounted animation projection lamp and system adopting a fixed-focus lens variable-focus imaging

Abstract

The application discloses the field of vehicle-mounted lighting and projection technology, and provides a vehicle-mounted animation projection lamp with adjustable focus imaging by using a fixed-focus lens and a lamp system, which comprises a fixed-focus lens, a distance sensor, a control driving board and a distance adjusting motor which are installed in a shell, the control driving board is electrically connected with the distance adjusting motor and the sensor, the control driving board drives the distance adjusting motor to rotate based on the lens distance calibration of the distance sensor, the distance adjusting motor drives the fixed-focus lens to move horizontally up and down through a connecting piece, so that the distance between the fixed-focus lens and the microled is controlled. The application compensates the image distance change by adjusting the object distance, realizes clear imaging under different projection distances while keeping the miniaturization volume to adapt to the original vehicle lamp position.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of lighting technology, specifically to a vehicle-mounted animation projection lighting fixture and system that uses a fixed-focus lens with adjustable focus imaging. Background Technology

[0002] Current automotive lighting commonly uses LED modules in conjunction with reflectors / lenses to achieve road illumination. Optical lenses are divided into two categories: zoom and fixed-focus. Zoom lenses use a motor to drive multiple lens groups to move and change the focal length, allowing for focused imaging, but they have many components and are bulky. Fixed-focus lenses have a compact structure and low cost, but the focal length is fixed and cannot be adjusted, easily leading to blurry and distorted projections, especially after changes in projection distance. For example, existing solution one (zoom type): consists of an LED light source, zoom lens group, projection display chip, drive motor, transmission slide, main control board, and heat dissipation housing. The light source, lens, and chip are coaxially arranged, and the motor drives the lens movement to adjust the focus and image. Disadvantages: Outer diameter ≥120mm, cannot directly replace original vehicle headlights; mechanical structure is easily damaged, failure rate is high, and cost is high. Another example is existing solution two (fixed-focus type): consists of an LED light source, a single fixed-focus lens, built-in storage chip, main control board, and a sealed housing. It is entirely rigidly fixed, without focusing or wireless modules. It can reduce the size, but the fixed focal length leads to an imbalance in sharpness at different distances; it lacks wireless transmission, only plays preset patterns, and does not support APP control or customization, resulting in poor personalization.

[0003] In summary, the existing in-vehicle projection lights have four major drawbacks: ① Limited functionality, providing only illumination and unable to project animations; ② Complex and bulky zoom structure (diameter > 120mm), making it impossible to replace the original headlights; ③ Fixed-focus lenses cannot be adjusted, resulting in blurry images; ④ Lack of wireless interaction, preventing content customization. This invention aims to provide an in-vehicle animation projection light with a diameter ≤ 80mm, capable of directly replacing the original microLED headlights, achieving clear imaging through fine-tuning the distance between the lens and the microLED using a fixed-focus lens, and supporting wireless image transmission via an app. Summary of the Invention

[0004] In view of the shortcomings or deficiencies of the prior art, the technical problem to be solved by this application is to provide a vehicle-mounted animation projection lamp and system that uses a fixed-focus lens with adjustable focus imaging.

[0005] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, this application provides the following technical solution: This application proposes a vehicle-mounted animation projection lamp employing a fixed-focus lens with adjustable focus imaging, comprising: a fixed-focus lens, a distance sensor, a control drive board, and an adjustable-focus motor installed within a housing; wherein the control drive board is connected to the adjustable-focus motor and is also electrically connected to the distance sensor; based on lens distance calibration from the distance sensor, the control drive board drives the adjustable-focus motor to rotate, and the adjustable-focus motor, via a connector, moves the fixed-focus lens vertically and horizontally, thereby controlling the distance between the fixed-focus lens and the microLED light source.

[0006] The above solution uses a distance sensor to acquire real-time distance information between the projection plane and the device, and utilizes a control drive board to construct a closed-loop feedback control, driving the adjustment motor to move the fixed-focus lens. Although a fixed-focus lens with a fixed optical focal length is used, by precisely adjusting the object distance between the fixed-focus lens and the MicroLED light source to satisfy the Gaussian imaging formula, the image remains clear when the projection distance changes by synchronously adjusting the object distance. This design eliminates the complex multi-lens moving mechanism of traditional zoom lenses, achieving equivalent zoom function through the overall displacement of a single lens, significantly reducing the radial size of the lamp, making it compatible with the original vehicle MicroLED headlight mounting position, while ensuring image quality at different projection distances.

[0007] Further optionally, it also includes: a slide table, on which the fixed-focus lens is mounted, and the distance adjustment motor drives the fixed-focus lens on the slide table to move horizontally up and down via a connector, thereby controlling the distance between the fixed-focus lens and the microLED light source.

[0008] This preferred solution introduces a slide as a support and guide component for the fixed-focus lens, converting the rotational motion or driving force of the motor into precise linear motion of the slide along the optical axis. The slide structure provides a stable motion trajectory and support force, preventing the fixed-focus lens from tilting or wobbling during adjustment, ensuring the coaxiality of the optical axis, thereby improving the stability of the focusing process and the geometric consistency of the image.

[0009] Further optionally, the connector includes a gear assembly, through which the telemetry motor drives the fixed-focus lens to move horizontally up and down.

[0010] This preferred solution utilizes gear assemblies as the transmission medium. On the one hand, it can amplify the output torque of the pitch motor to overcome the frictional resistance when the lens assembly moves. On the other hand, gear transmission has a definite transmission ratio. When combined with precision drive sources such as stepper motors, it can achieve micron-level displacement resolution, meeting the high precision requirements of optical focusing. At the same time, gear meshing transmission has higher reliability and lifespan compared to friction transmission.

[0011] Further optionally, it also includes: a lens bushing, the lens bushing being fitted onto the fixed-focus lens, the adjustment motor being driven to the lens bushing via a connector, thereby driving the fixed-focus lens to move up and down horizontally.

[0012] This preferred solution, by incorporating a lens bushing, avoids direct contact between the transmission mechanism and the precision optical lens, preventing mechanical stress from damaging or contaminating the lens. As an intermediate adapter, the lens bushing not only protects the fixed-focus lens but also facilitates modular assembly and disassembly of the fixed-focus lens and the drive mechanism, improving production assembly efficiency and ease of subsequent maintenance.

[0013] Further optionally, it also includes a controller, wherein the control drive board and the adjustable motor are both electrically connected to the controller.

[0014] This preferred solution uses a separate controller as the core computing and scheduling unit, responsible for processing distance sensor data, executing focusing algorithms, generating motor control signals, and managing other peripherals. Separating the control logic from the power drive (control driver board) improves the system's anti-interference capability and the real-time performance of signal processing, ensuring fast and accurate focusing response.

[0015] Further optionally, it also includes a heat dissipation component, which is electrically connected to the controller.

[0016] This preferred solution takes into account the heat generated by the MicroLED light source and motor under high load operation, and uses a heat dissipation component for active or passive thermal management. The controller controls the electrical connection of the heat dissipation component, enabling the system to dynamically adjust the heat dissipation efficiency based on temperature feedback, preventing light decay, lens thermal defocusing, or damage to electronic components caused by overheating, and ensuring the long-term stable operation of the lamp in the harsh automotive environment.

[0017] Alternatively, the heat dissipation component may include a cooling fan.

[0018] This preferred solution uses a cooling fan as an active cooling method. Compared with purely passive cooling, it can provide a higher heat transfer coefficient when the lamp volume is limited (e.g., diameter ≤ 80mm), quickly remove the heat accumulated in the sealed cavity, ensure that the junction temperature of the MicroLED light source is within a safe range, and maintain the stability of projection brightness and color temperature.

[0019] Further optionally, it also includes a communication module, which is also electrically connected to the controller.

[0020] This preferred solution establishes a data link between the lighting fixture and external devices through a communication module, supporting wireless transmission of user-defined content, firmware upgrades, and status monitoring. This allows the vehicle-mounted projection lighting fixture to move beyond preset patterns, acquiring intelligent interactive capabilities and greatly expanding application scenarios and personalized user experiences.

[0021] In addition, this application also provides a lighting system, including a vehicle-mounted animation projection lighting system with a fixed-focus lens and adjustable focus imaging as described in the above scheme, and further including: a mobile terminal and a cloud server, wherein the cloud server, the mobile terminal and the controller are communicatively connected.

[0022] The aforementioned system solution constructs a three-in-one intelligent ecosystem of "cloud-device-light". The mobile terminal serves as the human-computer interaction interface, facilitating real-time user operation; the cloud server provides massive content resources and computing power support; and the lighting fixture itself acts as the execution terminal. The three work together to achieve real-time content updates, remote management, and multi-device linkage, solving the problem of information silos in traditional vehicle lighting fixtures.

[0023] Alternatively, the cloud server may also be equipped with an OTA firmware upgrade module and a media download module.

[0024] This preferred solution, through the OTA firmware upgrade module, allows the lighting fixtures to continuously fix bugs, optimize focusing algorithms, or add new features after they are sold, extending the product's life cycle; while the media download module provides users with a rich library of animation and image resources, lowering the barrier to user-created content and enhancing the system's usability and stickiness.

[0025] Compared with the prior art, this application has the following technical effects: Compared to traditional zoom structures that require moving multiple lens groups to change the equivalent focal length, this invention achieves full-range clear imaging functionality equivalent to a zoom lens by moving only the imaging lens, which is cost-effective and compact. This solves the industry's inherent prejudice that fixed-focus lenses cannot be focused from an optical principle perspective.

[0026] The technical solution provided in this application fundamentally solves the technical contradiction between miniaturization and high-definition imaging in automotive projection lamps through an innovative "fixed-focus lens + electronically controlled displacement" optical path architecture. Specifically, it utilizes a distance sensor to perceive the projection distance in real time and precisely adjusts the object distance between the fixed-focus lens and the MicroLED light source by controlling the drive board and the pitch adjustment motor. Based on the Gaussian imaging principle, it dynamically compensates for changes in image distance, thereby achieving clear imaging (MTF≥0.6@30lp / mm) across a distance range of 1m to 5m without eliminating the need for a complex mechanical zoom assembly. This solution allows the lamp's outer diameter to be reduced to less than 80mm, enabling direct and non-destructive replacement of original vehicle MicroLED headlights. Simultaneously, it reduces the number of parts by approximately 40%, significantly lowering the mechanical failure rate and production costs. Furthermore, by combining wireless communication and a cloud system, it endows the lamp with the ability to customize content and remotely upgrade, enhancing the product's intelligence and user experience. Attached Figure Description

[0027] Other features, objects, and advantages of this application will become more apparent from the following detailed description of non-limiting embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 This is a cross-sectional view of the internal structure of the vehicle-mounted animation projection lamp according to an embodiment of this application; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the fixed-focus imaging optical path principle of an embodiment of this application.

[0028] Among them, 1-shell, 2-MicroLED light source, 3-fixed focus lens, 4-distance sensor, 5-control drive board, 6-adjustable distance motor and 7-slide table. Detailed Implementation

[0029] The technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this application, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0030] Example 1 Such as 1 and Figure 2As shown, this embodiment provides a vehicle-mounted animation projection lamp employing a fixed-focus lens with adjustable focus imaging. The lamp includes a fixed-focus lens 3, a distance sensor 4, a control drive board 5, and an adjustable-focus motor 6, all mounted within a housing 1. The control drive board 5 is connected to the adjustable-focus motor 6 and is also electrically connected to the distance sensor 4. Specifically, the housing 1 serves as the supporting base for the entire lamp, and its interior forms a cavity for integrating optical and electronic control components. In this embodiment, the housing 1 is preferably cylindrical to accommodate standard mounting positions for vehicle headlights, and its outer diameter can be controlled within 80mm, thus enabling non-destructive replacement of the original vehicle headlights. The fixed-focus lens 3, distance sensor 4, control drive board 5, and adjustable-focus motor 6 are all arranged within this cavity, forming a highly integrated modular structure. It should be understood that although a specific spatial arrangement of the components is shown, in other embodiments, the relative positions of the components can be adjusted according to the internal spatial shape of the housing 1. For example, the control drive board 5 can be placed at the bottom or side of the housing 1, as long as the electrical connection and mechanical transmission relationship between the components are not affected.

[0031] Based on the lens distance calibration using distance sensor 4, the control drive board 5 drives the adjustment motor 6 to rotate. The adjustment motor 6, through a connector, moves the fixed-focus lens 3 vertically and horizontally, thereby controlling the distance between the fixed-focus lens 3 and the MicroLED light source 2. It is important to note that the "vertical movement" mentioned in this application refers to the axial displacement adjustment of the fixed-focus lens 3 along the optical axis, intended to change the object distance between the fixed-focus lens 3 and the MicroLED light source 2, rather than referring to vertical or horizontal movement perpendicular to the optical axis. This description is intended to encompass the essential focusing action of the luminaire under different installation postures; that is, regardless of whether the luminaire is installed vertically or horizontally, its core adjustment dimension is always the longitudinal displacement along the direction of light propagation.

[0032] Specifically, the aforementioned "lens distance calibration based on distance sensor 4" constitutes the core closed-loop control logic for achieving clear projection in this embodiment. Its hardware implementation path is as follows: First, distance sensor 4 collects real-time distance information from the light outlet of the lamp to the projection plane (such as the ground or wall) and transmits this distance data to the control drive board 5. Distance sensor 4 can be of various types, such as a time-of-flight (ToF) sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, or an infrared ranging module; a ToF sensor is preferred to obtain millimeter-level ranging accuracy and millisecond-level response speed. Second, after receiving the distance data, the control drive board 5 performs calculations based on a preset optical model to generate corresponding motor drive signals. Finally, the distance adjustment motor 6 responds to this drive signal, converting the rotational motion into linear displacement of the fixed-focus lens 3 through a connector, precisely adjusting the object distance.

[0033] From an optical principle perspective, the reason why this embodiment can achieve equivalent zoom by moving the fixed-focus lens 3 is based on the Gaussian lens imaging equation: 1 / f = 1 / u +1 / v； in, f Focal length u For object distance, v The distance is the image distance.

[0034] Due to focal length f When a user sets the target projection distance (i.e., v changes) via the app, the object distance must be adjusted synchronously. u To maintain the balance of the equations, clear imaging can be achieved. For this purpose, the distance sensor (4) on the device can accurately measure the position to be imaged and the image distance v. By calculation, the required object distance u is obtained, and the slide (2) driven by the stepper motor is controlled to move back and forth in a straight line along the optical axis to change the object distance.

[0035] Here, is the fixed focal length of the fixed-focus lens 3, is the object distance from the MicroLED light source 2 to the fixed-focus lens 3, and is the image distance from the fixed-focus lens 3 to the projection plane. Since the focal length of the fixed-focus lens 3 is a fixed value, when the vehicle's movement causes a change in the projection distance (i.e., the image distance), in order to maintain the balance of the imaging formula and ensure image clarity, the object distance must be adjusted synchronously in the opposite direction. For example, when the distance sensor 4 detects an increase in the projection distance, it controls the drive board 5 to drive the distance adjustment motor 6 to decrease the object distance; conversely, when the projection distance decreases, the object distance is increased. Through this dynamic compensation mechanism, this embodiment successfully overcomes the technical prejudice that traditional fixed-focus lenses cannot adapt to variable-distance projection, achieving high-definition imaging across a full distance range of 1m to 5m without the need for a complex multi-lens zoom structure.

[0036] Regarding the transmission between the telemetry motor 6 and the fixed-focus lens 3, this embodiment uses the overarching concept of a "connector." The function of this connector is to transmit the output power of the telemetry motor 6 to the fixed-focus lens 3, causing it to produce the desired axial displacement. In specific implementations, this connector can be any one or a combination of a gear and rack mechanism, a lead screw and nut pair, a synchronous belt pulley assembly, or a linkage mechanism. In the basic architecture description of this embodiment, the specific form of the connector is not limited, as long as it can realize the conversion function from motor driving force to linear displacement of the lens. This overarching concept aims to protect all transmission schemes capable of realizing the core technical concept of "motor-driven axial displacement of the lens," preventing limitations on the scope of protection due to simple replacement of specific transmission structures.

[0037] Through the above technical solution, this embodiment constructs an adaptive focusing system composed of "sensing-computation-execution". Compared with the solutions in the prior art that rely on manual adjustment or complex mechanical zoom groups, this embodiment utilizes the collaborative work of distance sensor 4 and control drive board 5 to realize the automation and intelligence of the focusing process. This not only significantly simplifies the internal mechanical structure of the lamp, reducing the number of parts by about 40% and lowering the mechanical failure rate, but also allows for a significant reduction in the overall size of the lamp, perfectly fitting the compact installation space of automotive headlights. At the same time, the precise object distance adjustment based on the Gaussian imaging principle ensures excellent imaging quality with a modulation transfer function (MTF) ≥ 0.6@30lp / mm at different projection distances, effectively solving the industry pain point of blurry images in traditional fixed-focus projection lamps.

[0038] Optionally, the vehicle-mounted animation projection lamp also includes a slide table 7. A fixed-focus lens 3 is mounted on the slide table 7. A pitch-adjusting motor 6 moves the fixed-focus lens 3 up and down horizontally on the slide table 7 via a connector, thereby controlling the distance between the fixed-focus lens 3 and the MicroLED light source 2. Specifically, the slide table 7 not only serves as the physical support base for the fixed-focus lens 3, but more importantly, it acts as a precision linear guide mechanism. In a vehicle environment, the lamp is inevitably subjected to multi-frequency vibrations and impacts generated by vehicle movement. If the lens is supported solely by a motor shaft or a simple cantilever structure, radial runout or axial movement can easily cause optical axis misalignment, resulting in distorted or blurred projected images. In this embodiment, the slide table 7 is preferably a miniature precision linear guide or a dovetail groove structure. Its sliding mating surface is precision ground, and the mating gap is controlled at the micrometer level. This effectively constrains the five degrees of freedom of the fixed-focus lens 3, excluding the optical axis direction, ensuring that the lens maintains strict coaxiality with the MicroLED light source 2 during adjustment. Furthermore, the slide 7 can be made of copper alloy, engineering plastics (such as POM), or anodized aluminum alloy, and supplemented with a self-lubricating coating or built-in solid lubricant to reduce the coefficient of friction and eliminate abnormal noise during movement. This ensures a long service life and maintenance-free operation while maintaining the smoothness and linearity of the focusing movement. It should be understood that although this embodiment uses a slide as a preferred example of a guiding mechanism, in other embodiments, structures that can achieve single-degree-of-freedom precision linear guidance, such as precision guide rods with linear bearings or V-shaped wheel sets with tracks, can also be used, as long as they can ensure the stability and repeatability of the fixed-focus lens 3 moving along the optical axis.

[0039] Optionally, the aforementioned connector includes a gear assembly, through which the pitch motor 6 drives the fixed-focus lens 3 to move horizontally up and down. In this embodiment, the gear assembly constitutes the core transmission medium between the pitch motor 6 and the slide 7. Compared to lead screw and nut pairs or synchronous belt drives, the gear assembly offers higher transmission rigidity and a defined transmission ratio within a compact space. Specifically, the gear assembly typically includes a driving gear mounted on the output shaft of the pitch motor 6 and a rack (or driven gear) fixed to or linked with the slide 7, converting the rotational motion of the motor into the linear displacement of the slide 7 through gear meshing. The core advantage of this design lies in achieving the dual effects of "speed reduction and torque increase" and "resolution subdivision". On the one hand, to fit the original vehicle headlight position, the outer diameter of the vehicle projection lamp is limited to within 80mm, leaving extremely limited space for the motor. The output torque of a small-sized motor is often insufficient to overcome the static friction of the lens assembly at low temperatures or after aging. However, the gear assembly, through a set transmission ratio (e.g., 1:3 to 1:10), can effectively amplify the output torque and ensure the reliability of the focusing action. On the other hand, to meet the stringent requirements of high-definition projection for the focus position, the system needs to achieve micron-level adjustment accuracy. When a stepper motor with a step angle of 1.8° is used in conjunction with a gear set with a specific number of teeth, the linear displacement corresponding to a single pulse can be precisely controlled to about 0.005mm. This allows the system to control the blur spot diameter within the human eye's resolution limit across the entire projection distance range of 1m to 5m, and the measured modulation transfer function (MTF) remains stably above 0.6 at a spatial frequency of 30lp / mm. Of course, the specific form of the gear assembly is not limited to spur gears. Depending on the spatial layout requirements, helical gears, worm gears, or planetary gear systems can also be selected. Among them, the worm gear structure also has a self-locking function, which can prevent the lens from shifting back due to gravity or vibration when the power is off.

[0040] Optionally, the lamp also includes a lens bushing, which is fitted onto the fixed-focus lens 3. The telemetry motor 6 is connected to the lens bushing via a connector, thereby driving the fixed-focus lens 3 to move horizontally up and down. This structural design embodies the concept of protective assembly for precision optical components. As a core imaging component, the fixed-focus lens 3 typically has lenses made of glass or optical resin with an anti-reflective coating. The bonding or press-fit relationship between the lens barrel and the lens is extremely sensitive to stress. If the driving force of the gear assembly or slide 7 is directly applied to the body of the fixed-focus lens 3, mechanical assembly stress, thermal expansion stress, and dynamic loads during movement are easily transmitted to the lens, causing changes in the lens surface shape (i.e., stress birefringence or astigmatism), severely degrading image quality. In this embodiment, by setting the lens bushing as an intermediate adapter, the external mechanical force is completely isolated at the bushing level. The fixed-focus lens 3 is fixed inside the lens bushing only by low-stress methods such as interference fit, threaded connection, or adhesive bonding, thereby ensuring a stress-free state of the optical system. Meanwhile, the outer cylindrical surface of the lens bushing can also serve as a precision fitting reference surface for the slide 7, simplifying the machining requirements of the fixed-focus lens 3 itself and reducing production costs. In terms of material selection, the lens bushing should preferably be made of a material with a coefficient of thermal expansion matching that of the fixed-focus lens 3 barrel (such as stainless steel or Invar) to avoid relative displacement caused by temperature changes. Furthermore, the design of the lens bushing also makes the fixed-focus lens 3 an independent, replaceable module. When optical specifications need to be upgraded or repaired / replaced, it is not necessary to disassemble the entire focusing mechanism, greatly improving product maintainability and production assembly efficiency. In summary, the slide 7, gear assembly, and lens bushing work together to construct a precision displacement subsystem that combines high precision, high rigidity, low stress, and miniaturization. This is the mechanical basis for achieving equivalent zoom functionality and maintaining excellent image quality within a confined space of ≤80mm.

[0041] Optionally, the vehicle-mounted animation projection light fixture also includes a controller, with the control drive board 5 and the pitch-adjustable motor 6 both electrically connected to the controller. Specifically, the controller acts as the core logic operation and scheduling hub in this system, while the control drive board 5 focuses on power amplification and execution drive, forming a hierarchical control architecture. The controller is responsible for receiving raw data collected by the distance sensor 4, running the focus calculation algorithm, processing communication protocols, and managing the system state machine. Its output low-voltage logic signals (such as PWM pulses and direction levels) are sent to the control drive board 5, where the power devices convert them into high-current signals capable of driving the pitch-adjustable motor 6. This design, separating logic and power, effectively avoids the pollution of precision sensor signals and high-speed digital buses by power ripple and electromagnetic interference generated during motor start-up and shutdown, significantly improving the system's anti-interference capability and the real-time performance of focus response. As a preferred implementation, the controller can be a SoC chip (such as the ESP32-S3 series) with integrated Wi-Fi and Bluetooth dual-mode communication functions. This chip has a built-in high-performance dual-core processor and rich peripheral interfaces, which can complete the ranging data processing, motor motion planning and wireless communication tasks on a single chip. However, in other implementations, the controller can also use an STM32 series MCU with an independent communication module, or use other processing units with corresponding computing power such as FPGA and DSP, as long as they can realize the above-mentioned logic control functions. This application does not limit it to a single one.

[0042] Optionally, the lamp also includes a heat dissipation component, which is electrically connected to the controller. Optionally, the heat dissipation component includes a cooling fan. Since the MicroLED light source 2 generates a large amount of heat during high-brightness operation, and the lamp housing 1 is designed as a compact, sealed cavity with a diameter ≤80mm to fit the original vehicle lamp position, relying solely on natural convection heat dissipation is insufficient to meet thermal balance requirements. If heat accumulation leads to excessively high internal temperatures, it will not only accelerate the light decay of the MicroLED light source 2, but more seriously, it will cause focal length drift (i.e., thermal defocusing) of the fixed-focus lens 3 due to thermal expansion, directly disrupting the precise object-image distance conjugate relationship established in the aforementioned embodiments, resulting in a blurred projected image. Therefore, this embodiment introduces a cooling fan intelligently controlled by the controller as an active heat dissipation method. The controller monitors the temperature of the light source substrate or cavity in real time using a built-in or external temperature sensor and dynamically adjusts the speed of the cooling fan accordingly. For example, when the detected temperature is below 40°C, the fan operates silently at low speed or stops; when the temperature rises to the range of 40°C to 60°C, the fan speed increases linearly with the temperature; when the temperature exceeds 60°C, the fan operates at full speed to force heat dissipation. This temperature-based closed-loop speed control strategy ensures that the junction temperature of the MicroLED light source 2 remains within a safe range, maintaining the stability of the projection brightness and color temperature, while also ensuring that the optical parameters of the fixed-focus lens 3 do not experience significant temperature drift. This indirectly ensures that the modulation transfer function (MTF) value of the projected image remains stably maintained at a high-definition level of 0.6@30lp / mm or higher under different operating conditions. It should be understood that although a cooling fan is preferred in this embodiment, in other embodiments, the heat dissipation component can also use other active heat dissipation devices such as piezoelectric fans, micro liquid-cooled circulating pumps, or thermoelectric coolers (TECs), as long as they can be controlled by the controller and provide sufficient heat exchange capacity.

[0043] Optionally, the luminaire also includes a communication module, which is electrically connected to the controller. The communication module establishes a bidirectional data link between the luminaire and external smart devices, serving as the hardware foundation for intelligent interaction of the vehicle-mounted projection luminaire. In this embodiment, the communication module preferably supports both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) dual-mode protocols. The BLE channel is primarily used for near-field fast pairing, low-latency control command transmission (such as turning the lights on and off, switching modes, manual focus adjustment), and status reporting, featuring low power consumption and fast response. The Wi-Fi channel is used for high-speed transmission of large amounts of data, such as receiving custom animation files, high-definition image resources, or downloading OTA firmware upgrade packages uploaded by users via mobile terminals. After receiving external commands or data through the communication module, the controller parses them through its internal protocol stack and distributes them to the corresponding functional modules for execution. For example, when a user uploads a new projection animation via an app, the data is transmitted at high speed to the controller's buffer via the Wi-Fi channel, and then written to local storage or directly streamed to the driver chip of the MicroLED light source 2 for display. This dual-mode communication architecture balances real-time control with efficient content transmission, greatly expanding the application scenarios of lighting fixtures. Of course, the specific implementation of the communication module is not limited to this. Depending on actual needs, 4G / 5G cellular communication modules can be used to achieve remote cloud connection, or IoT protocols such as Zigbee and LoRa can be used to adapt to specific fleet management scenarios. These alternative solutions should all be considered to be included within the scope of protection of this application.

[0044] Example 2 This embodiment provides a lighting system that extends the system-level capabilities of the in-vehicle animation projection lighting system using a fixed-focus lens with adjustable focus imaging described in any of embodiments 1 to 3. The system includes the aforementioned in-vehicle animation projection lighting system with a fixed-focus lens and adjustable focus imaging, as well as a mobile terminal and a cloud server. The cloud server, mobile terminal, and controller within the lighting system are communicatively connected. Specifically, this embodiment constructs a three-in-one collaborative interactive architecture of "cloud-terminal-light," breaking the functional limitations of traditional in-vehicle lighting systems as isolated hardware. In this architecture, the mobile terminal (such as a smartphone, tablet, or in-vehicle central control screen) serves as the user's human-computer interaction interface, equipped with a dedicated application (APP) for sending control commands, uploading custom content, and viewing device status. The cloud server acts as a remote resource center and computing platform, responsible for the storage and distribution of massive media resources, user data management, and cloud training of complex algorithms. The controller within the lighting system acts as an edge execution node, responding to local or remote commands in real time and driving the optical and mechanical components. The three components can be connected via multiple communication links: the mobile terminal can communicate directly with the controller via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, or interact with the cloud server via 4G / 5G cellular networks. The cloud server then sends instructions or data to the controller via IoT protocols such as MQTT and HTTPS. This multi-path communication design not only ensures the availability of basic functions in offline environments but also enables the lighting fixtures to access the internet anytime, anywhere to obtain the latest services, thus realizing the transformation of vehicle-mounted projection lighting fixtures from a simple lighting tool to an intelligent connected terminal.

[0045] Optionally, the cloud server is also equipped with an OTA firmware upgrade module and a media download module. These two modules constitute the core software infrastructure for the continuous evolution of the lighting system and the expansion of its content ecosystem. The OTA firmware upgrade module's role extends far beyond fixing program vulnerabilities; more importantly, it enables iterative optimization of the lighting system's core focusing algorithm. Due to differences in lamp installation angles across different vehicle models, the aging characteristics of the MicroLED light source 2, and the impact of ambient temperature on the optical system, factory-preset fixed focusing parameters cannot achieve optimal imaging results under all operating conditions. Through the OTA firmware upgrade module, the cloud server can collect anonymized device operation logs (such as MTF value deviations at specific temperatures, and the mapping relationship between motor steps and actual sharpness), utilize big data analysis or machine learning models to generate optimized compensation curves for specific batches or individuals, and push firmware packages containing new algorithm parameters to the lighting fixtures. Upon receiving the upgrade package, the controller automatically updates the underlying focusing strategy after integrity verification and security decryption. This means that even after the lighting fixtures are sold, their projection sharpness can continue to improve with data accumulation, effectively extending the product's technological lifecycle and solving the problem of traditional embedded devices having fixed functions and being unable to adapt to long-term aging and drift.

[0046] Regarding the media download module, it provides users with abundant content acquisition channels and personalized creation support. Specifically, the media download module not only pre-loads a massive amount of copyrighted animations, holiday-themed patterns, and practical traffic sign projection materials, but also supports users uploading custom image or video files. When a user uploads a high-definition video via a mobile terminal, the cloud server's media processing service automatically converts it into a grayscale or color encoded stream adapted to the resolution and refresh rate of the MicroLED light source, and then compresses and encapsulates it. To ensure the reliability and security of data transmission, the media download module adopts a breakpoint resume mechanism and segmented verification technology: even if the network signal is unstable during vehicle operation and the transmission is interrupted, the system can continue downloading from the breakpoint after the signal is restored, without having to start over; at the same time, each data packet is accompanied by a CRC checksum and digital signature to prevent transmission errors or malicious tampering, ensuring the integrity and compliance of the projected content. In addition, the media download module can also trigger intelligent recommendations based on geographical location, time, or vehicle status, such as automatically pushing anti-slip warning animations on rainy days or pushing celebratory effects on holidays, greatly enhancing the immersive and interactive experience of the user.

[0047] Through the collaborative work of the aforementioned system architecture and functional modules, this embodiment achieves deep integration of lighting hardware and cloud services. Compared to traditional solutions that only have local storage and control functions, this application endows the optical system with the ability to continuously self-optimize through an OTA firmware upgrade module, ensuring high-definition imaging quality throughout its entire lifecycle; it builds an open content ecosystem through a media download module, meeting users' growing demand for personalized expression; and it ensures stable and reliable data interaction in the in-vehicle environment based on encrypted transmission and breakpoint resume security mechanisms. This system design, which decouples hardware and software and empowers the cloud, not only enhances the product's commercial value and user stickiness but also lays a solid technical foundation for the standardization and ecological development of future in-vehicle intelligent projection devices.

[0048] It should be understood that this embodiment is not a simple repetition of the aforementioned technical features, but rather integrates and verifies optical focusing, mechanical transmission, electronic control logic and wireless interaction in a dynamically changing real environment, in order to demonstrate the response mechanism and performance boundaries of each subsystem when facing complex variables.

[0049] Specifically, the following typical application scenario is defined: While the vehicle is stationary or in motion, the user uploads a custom high-definition animation file to the light fixture via a dedicated application on their mobile device. Subsequently, the vehicle starts and enters different road conditions, with the distance between the projection plane (such as the ground or wall) and the light source continuously and dynamically changing within a range of 1 to 5 meters. During this process, the system must simultaneously complete two core tasks: content parsing and display, and real-time adaptive focusing, to ensure that the projected image always maintains a clarity standard acceptable to the human eye.

[0050] In this scenario, the system's dynamic response process is as follows: First, the communication module receives the animation data stream from the mobile terminal, decodes it through the controller, and transmits it to the MicroLED light source 2 for imaging display. Simultaneously, the distance sensor 4 collects distance information from the projection plane in real time at a frequency of no less than 50Hz and sends this raw data to the controller. The focusing algorithm running inside the controller performs millisecond-level calculations based on the Gaussian imaging formula, where is the fixed focal length of the fixed-focus lens 3, is the image distance measured by the distance sensor 4, and is the target object distance to be solved. When the vehicle moves from a close distance (e.g., 1m) to a distant distance (e.g., 5m), the image distance increases significantly. The controller then calculates the corresponding decrease in object distance and generates a precise stepping pulse sequence, sending it to the control drive board 5. The control drive board 5 drives the focusing motor 6 to rotate, converting the rotational motion into linear displacement of the slide 7 along the optical axis through a gear assembly. This, in turn, causes the fixed-focus lens 3, mounted in the lens bushing, to perform "vertical and horizontal movement," that is, to move closer to the MicroLED light source 2 along the optical axis to compensate for the defocusing effect caused by the increased image distance. The closed-loop response time of the entire adjustment process is controlled within 20ms, ensuring that the image focus can smoothly follow the rapid fluctuations in projection distance caused by changes in vehicle speed without significant lag or jitter.

[0051] Regarding the verification of image quality, within the aforementioned dynamic adjustment range of 1m to 5m, actual measurements showed that the modulation transfer function (MTF) of the projected image consistently remained above 0.6 at a spatial frequency of 30lp / mm. This data indicates that even under extreme conditions of vehicle vibration and drastic distance changes, the lamp described in this application can still output high-definition images with sharp edges and rich details, fully meeting the stringent visual quality requirements of vehicle projection. In contrast, if a traditional fixed-focus lens solution is used, since its object distance and focal length are fixed values, the imaging formula can only be satisfied at a single specific image distance; once the actual projection distance deviates, the diameter of the blur spot will quickly exceed the resolution limit of the human eye, resulting in overexposure and blurring at 1m or blurring and defocusing at 5m, which cannot adapt to the variability of vehicle-mounted mobile scenarios. This embodiment, through the innovative architecture of "fixed-focus lens + electronically controlled displacement," fundamentally overcomes this physical limitation, achieving full-range clear imaging capability equivalent to a zoom lens, while compressing the volume to within 80mm, verifying the technical feasibility of achieving both miniaturization and high performance.

[0052] Furthermore, wireless interaction and cloud services also play a crucial supporting role in this application scenario. For example, when a user uploads an animation file with a newer format or higher resolution, the media download module on the cloud server can automatically trigger transcoding optimization to ensure that the content is compatible with the physical pixel matrix of the MicroLED light source 2. If a minor deviation in the focusing curve is detected during vehicle operation (such as changes in mechanical clearance due to long-term vibration), the cloud server can also push a targeted compensation parameter package through the OTA firmware upgrade module. The controller can then load and correct the motion control model online, thereby restoring the optimal imaging state without disassembling the lamps. This dynamic evolution capability of hardware and software collaboration further enhances the system's robustness and the consistency of user experience during long-term use.

[0053] In summary, this embodiment, by simulating a dynamic projection task in a real in-vehicle environment, fully verifies the entire closed-loop technology chain from sensor perception, algorithm decision-making, motor execution to content interaction. Test results demonstrate that the technical solution proposed in this application not only meets the standards under static laboratory conditions but also stably achieves high-definition, adaptive, and intelligent projection functions in complex and ever-changing real-world applications. It effectively solves the industry pain points of existing in-vehicle projectors, such as large lamp size, blurry focus, and lack of interactive capabilities, demonstrating significant practical value and promising prospects for widespread adoption.

[0054] In the description of this application, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "connected," "linked," and "fixed" 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. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application according to the specific circumstances.

[0055] In this application, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, "above" or "below" the second feature can include direct contact between the first and second features, or contact between the first and second features through another feature between them. Furthermore, "above," "over," and "on top" of the second feature includes the first feature being directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is at a higher horizontal level than the second feature. "Below," "below," and "under" the second feature includes the first feature being directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is at a lower horizontal level than the second feature.

[0056] In the description of this embodiment, the terms "upper," "lower," "left," "right," etc., refer to the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are used only for ease of description and simplification of operation, 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, they should not be construed as limitations on this application. In addition, the terms "first" and "second" are used only for distinction in description and have no special meaning.

[0057] The above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of this application and are not intended to limit it. The preferred embodiments have been described in detail. Those skilled in the art should understand that modifications or equivalent substitutions can be made to the technical solutions of this application without departing from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of this application, and all such modifications and substitutions should be covered within the scope of the claims of this application.

Claims

1. A vehicle-mounted animation projection lamp employing a fixed-focus lens with adjustable focus imaging, characterized in that, Includes a fixed-focus lens, a distance sensor, a control drive board, and a distance adjustment motor installed inside the housing, wherein the control drive board is connected to the distance adjustment motor and is also electrically connected to the distance sensor; Based on the lens distance calibration of the distance sensor, the control drive board drives the adjustment motor to rotate. The adjustment motor is connected to the fixed-focus lens to move up and down horizontally through the connector, thereby controlling the distance between the fixed-focus lens and the microLED light source.

2. The vehicle-mounted animation projection lamp with a fixed-focus lens and adjustable focus imaging as described in claim 1, characterized in that, Also includes: A slide table is provided, on which the fixed-focus lens is mounted. The distance adjustment motor moves the fixed-focus lens up and down horizontally via a connector, thereby controlling the distance between the fixed-focus lens and the microLED light source.

3. The vehicle-mounted animation projection lamp with a fixed-focus lens and adjustable focus imaging as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The connector includes a gear assembly, through which the telemetry motor drives the fixed-focus lens to move horizontally up and down.

4. The vehicle-mounted animation projection lamp with a fixed-focus lens and adjustable focus imaging as described in claim 1, characterized in that, Also includes: A lens bushing is fitted onto the fixed-focus lens. The adjustment motor is connected to the lens bushing via a connector, thereby driving the fixed-focus lens to move up and down horizontally.

5. The vehicle-mounted animation projection lamp with a fixed-focus lens and adjustable focus imaging as described in claim 1, characterized in that, Also includes: The controller, the control drive board, and the adjustable motor are all electrically connected to the controller.

6. The vehicle-mounted animation projection lamp with a fixed-focus lens and adjustable focus imaging as described in claim 1, characterized in that, Also includes: A heat dissipation component, which is electrically connected to the controller.

7. The vehicle-mounted animation projection lamp with a fixed-focus lens and adjustable focus imaging as described in claim 6, characterized in that, The heat dissipation component includes: a cooling fan.

8. The vehicle-mounted animation projection lamp employing a fixed-focus lens with adjustable focus imaging as described in any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that, Also includes: The communication module is also electrically connected to the controller.

9. A lighting system, characterized in that, The vehicle-mounted animation projection lamp with a fixed-focus lens and adjustable focus imaging as described in claim 1 further includes: a mobile terminal and a cloud server, wherein the cloud server, the mobile terminal and the controller are communicatively connected.

10. The lighting system according to claim 9, characterized in that, The cloud server is also equipped with an OTA firmware upgrade module and a media download module.

Images