Light for vehicles and vehicles displaying this light

Abstract

Lamp (10) with: a light source (100) designed to emit a first light; and a beam splitter (200) exposed to the first light beam and configured to transmit part of the first light beam to form a transmitted light beam and to reflect another part of the first light to form a reflected light beam, wherein the luminaire (10) produces an output beam pattern that includes the transmitted light beam and the reflected light beam, and a reflector (300) configured to further reflect the first light beam reflected by the beam splitter (200) to form a second reflected light beam, wherein the output beam pattern includes the second reflected light beam, characterized by a digital micromirror device (DMD, 400) configured to further reflect the second reflected light beam to form a third reflected light beam, wherein the output beam pattern includes the third reflected light beam, and a common circuit board (PCB, 800) on which the light source (100) and the digital micromirror device (400) are mounted.

Description

Technical field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a lamp for a vehicle and a vehicle comprising the lamp. Background of the invention

[0002] A digital micromirror device (DMD) is designed to include an array of micromirrors and implement predetermined patterns or images by individually controlling the angles of the micromirrors using microcurrents. Each of the micromirrors forming the DMD corresponds to a pixel, forming a single pattern or image, thus making it possible to implement precise patterns or images by individually controlling the micromirrors within the DMD.

[0003] More recently, however, the DMD is sometimes integrated into a vehicle's headlight. When integrated into a vehicle's headlight, the DMD displays predetermined information onto the road surface. Alternatively, the DMD can perform an adaptive high beam (ADB) function, creating a dark area only in a specific zone where another vehicle or pedestrian is located in front of the vehicle. This preserves the driver's field of vision and prevents glare from the light for pedestrians or other drivers.

[0004] However, since the DMD is not suitable in the prior art for providing the dipped beam required for a vehicle's headlight, a lamp module for generating dipped beam must be installed in the vehicle, even though a lamp module incorporating the DMD is already installed. Therefore, the problem arises that a large number of components and a large volume are required to form the headlight. EP 3 537 032 A1 discloses a luminaire for a vehicle with the features of the preamble of claim 1. Overview of the invention

[0005] The purpose of the present disclosure is to enable a single lighting module to implement different types of beam patterns, thereby reducing the number of components and volume required to form a vehicle headlight and simplifying the headlight manufacturing process.

[0006] To solve the aforementioned problem, one aspect of the present invention provides a lamp for a vehicle, wherein the lamp comprises: a light source configured to emit a first light; and a beam splitter configured to form a transmitted light by transmitting part of the first light, and a reflected light by reflecting another part of the first light, wherein the light transmitted by the beam splitter and the light reflected by the beam splitter form outside beam patterns.

[0007] According to the invention, the luminaire further comprises a reflector which is designed to reflect the light reflected by the beam splitter again, wherein the light reflected by the reflector forms a beam pattern outside.

[0008] The luminaire further features a digital micromirror device (DMD) configured to re-reflect the light reflected by the reflector to form a third reflected light beam, the output beam pattern having the third reflected light beam.

[0009] The luminaire may further comprise a lighting unit provided between the light source and the beam splitter, which is configured to transmit first light emitted by the light source, wherein the lighting unit comprises: a light guide configured to receive the first light emitted by the light source and to transmit the first light forward; and a collimator configured to convert the light transmitted by the light guide into parallel light and to transmit the parallel light to the beam splitter.

[0010] The luminaire may also have a scattering unit designed to scatter the transmitted light transmitted through the beam splitter.

[0011] The luminaire may also include a projection unit designed to transmit the reflected light reflected by the DMD.

[0012] The direction in which the DMD and the projection unit are arranged can be parallel to the direction in which the light source and the lighting unit are arranged.

[0013] According to the invention, the lamp further comprises a common circuit board (PCB) on which the light source and the DMD are mounted.

[0014] The beam pattern formed by the transmitted light passing through the beam splitter and the beam pattern formed by the reflected light reflected from the beam splitter can partially overlap.

[0015] An area in which the beam pattern formed by the transmitted light and the beam pattern formed by the reflected light overlap can form part of a low beam pattern.

[0016] To solve the aforementioned problem, another aspect of the present invention provides a vehicle comprising: a vehicle light, wherein the vehicle light comprises: a light source configured to emit a first light; and a beam splitter configured to form a transmitted light by transmitting part of the first light and a reflected light by reflecting another part of the first light, wherein the light transmitted by the beam splitter and the light reflected by the beam splitter form outside beam patterns.

[0017] The vehicle further comprises: a reflector designed to re-reflect the light reflected by the beam splitter; and a digital micromirror device (DMD) designed to re-reflect the light reflected by the reflector, wherein the DMD may have multiple micromirrors, and the reflected light which is reflected by the DMD may form a beam pattern outside, and the multiple micromirrors of the DMD may be individually controlled so that several types of beam patterns may be formed by the reflected light which is reflected by the DMD.

[0018] According to the present disclosure, the individual lighting module can implement different types of beam patterns, thereby reducing the number of components and volume required to form a vehicle headlight and simplifying the headlight manufacturing process. Brief description of the drawings Fig. Figure 1 is a side view for the schematic representation of a structure of a light for a vehicle according to the present disclosure. Fig. Figure 2 is an enlarged side view to illustrate an example of a structure comprising a lighting unit, a beam splitter, and a scattering unit, which are usable in the luminaire for a vehicle according to the present disclosure. Fig. Figure 3 is an enlarged side view to illustrate an example of a structure of a projection unit which can be used in the luminaire for a vehicle according to the present disclosure. Fig. Figure 4 is a view illustrating respective areas of a beam pattern which can be formed by the light for a vehicle according to the present disclosure. Detailed description

[0019] The following describes a light for a vehicle according to the present disclosure with reference to the drawings. Light for a vehicle

[0020] Fig. Figure 1 is a side view for the schematic representation of a structure of a lamp for a vehicle according to the present disclosure, and Fig. Figure 2 is an enlarged side view illustrating an example of a structure comprising a lighting unit, a beam splitter, and a diffusing unit, which are usable in the luminaire for a vehicle according to the present disclosure. Furthermore, Fig. 3 An enlarged side view to illustrate an example of a structure of a projection unit which may be used in the lamp for a vehicle according to the present disclosure.

[0021] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 1, a lamp 10 for a vehicle (hereinafter referred to as "lamp") according to the present disclosure can have a light source 100 which is configured to emit a first light. The light source 100 can, for example, be a light-emitting diode (LED), but the present disclosure is not limited to this and various types of light sources can be used.

[0022] Furthermore, the luminaire 10 can have a beam splitter 200 which transmits a portion of the first light emitted by the light source 100 to form transmitted light, and reflects another portion of the first light to form reflected light. In this description, the portion of the first light emitted by the light source 100 and transmitted through the beam splitter 200 is referred to as the "transmitted light," and the portion of the first light emitted by the light source 100 and reflected by the beam splitter 200 is referred to as the "reflected light."

[0023] A beam splitter is an optical element that divides the incident light into two types of light based on a predetermined ratio. Beam splitters can be divided into cube-type and plate-type beam splitters. The beam splitter 200 of the luminaire 10 according to the present disclosure can also be either a cube-type or a plate-type beam splitter.

[0024] Referring to Fig. 1. The transmitted light passing through the beam splitter 200 can propagate forward through the beam splitter 200, and the reflected light reflected from the beam splitter 200 can propagate upwards. Unlike in the Fig. In the depicted configuration 1, the light reflected by the beam splitter 200 can spread downwards.

[0025] According to the present disclosure, the transmitted light, which is transmitted through the beam splitter 200, and the reflected light, which is reflected from the beam splitter 200, propagate outwards, forming a predetermined beam pattern. Therefore, according to the present disclosure, the first light emitted by the light source 100 is split by the beam splitter 200 into the transmitted light and the reflected light, and the transmitted light and the reflected light propagate outwards along different paths, so that different types of beam patterns can be formed by the single light source. For example, as described below, the transmitted light can serve as a low beam.The reflected light can function as adaptive high beam (ADB), creating a dark area only in a specific zone where another vehicle or pedestrian is in front of the vehicle. This preserves the driver's field of vision and prevents glare for pedestrians or drivers in other vehicles. The reflected light can also be used to project predetermined information onto the road surface and can form part of the low beam.

[0026] Further referring to Fig. 1. According to the present invention, the luminaire 10 further comprises a reflector 300 configured to reflect the incident light. The reflector 300 is configured to reflect the reflected light, which is reflected by the beam splitter 200, again. As shown in Fig. As shown in Figure 1, the reflector 300 can be positioned above the beam splitter 200 if the reflected light from the beam splitter 200 propagates upwards. Unlike the one shown in Figure 1, the reflector 300 can be positioned above the beam splitter 200 if the reflected light from the beam splitter 200 propagates upwards. Fig. However, in the illustrated configuration, the reflector 300 can be arranged below the beam splitter 200 if the reflected light, which is reflected by the beam splitter 200, propagates downwards.

[0027] According to the present disclosure, the reflected light reflected by the beam splitter 200 is reflected again by the reflector 300 and then spreads outwards, forming the beam pattern.

[0028] Furthermore, the luminaire 10 according to the present invention, as shown in Fig. Figure 1 shows a digital micromirror device (DMD) 400, which is designed to reflect the reflected light which is reflected by the reflector 300.

[0029] The DMD features a large number of micromirrors and can be configured to implement a predetermined beam pattern by individually controlling the angles of the micromirrors using microcurrents. According to the present disclosure, the reflected light, which is re-reflected by the DMD 400, can propagate outwards, thereby forming the beam pattern.

[0030] In particular, because the angles of the large number of micromirrors incorporated in the DMD 400 are individually controlled, the DMD 400 can implement various types of beam patterns. For example, the DMD 400 can be used to implement a beam pattern for displaying predetermined information on a road surface, or a beam pattern that includes a dark area where another vehicle or a pedestrian is located in front of the vehicle.

[0031] Furthermore, the luminaire 10 can have several optical systems according to the present disclosure. The optical systems are described in more detail below.

[0032] Referring to the Fig. 1 and Fig. 2. According to the present disclosure, the luminaire 10 can have a lighting unit 500 arranged between the light source 100 and the beam splitter 200, and configured to transmit the first light emitted by the light source 100. According to the present disclosure, the lighting unit 500 can have a light guide 510 configured to receive the first light emitted by the light source 100 and transmit the first light forward, and a collimator 520 configured to convert the first light transmitted by the light guide 510 into parallel light and transmit the parallel light to the beam splitter 200. The light guide 510 can concentrate the first light emitted by the light source 100 and direct the concentrated light to the collimator 520, thereby preventing the light emitted by the light source 100 from scattering.For example, the optical fiber 510 can have a structure with an inner surface coated with a (not shown) reflective material, so that the first light supplied to the optical fiber 510 can move while being reflected in the optical fiber 510.

[0033] Furthermore, as in the Fig. 1 and Fig. Figure 2 shows that the luminaire 10 according to the present disclosure further comprises a scattering unit 600 configured to scatter the transmitted light transmitted through the beam splitter 200. According to the present disclosure, the scattering unit 600 can scatter the transmitted light transmitted through the beam splitter 200, thereby widening the beam pattern formed by the luminaire 10 according to the present disclosure. In particular, the luminaire 10 according to the present disclosure can form a low beam, and the scattering unit 600 can be configured to form an edge region of the beam pattern for forming the low beam. For example, the scattering unit 600 can have a single lens configured to scatter the parallel incident light in an upward / downward direction and a right-to-left direction.

[0034] Furthermore, as in the Fig. 1 and Fig. Figure 3 shows that the luminaire 10 according to the present disclosure further comprises a projection unit 700 configured to transmit the reflected light reflected by the DMD 400. The reflected light reflected by the DMD 400 can be transmitted by the projection unit 700 and subsequently form various types of beam patterns. For example, the reflected light transmitted by the projection unit 700 can form part of the low beam, serve as an ADB (Advanced Beam Lighting), or be used to display predetermined information on a road surface. As shown in Figure 3, the luminaire 10 further comprises a projection unit 700 configured to transmit the reflected light reflected by the DMD 400. The reflected light can be transmitted by the projection unit 700 and subsequently form various types of beam patterns. For example, the reflected light transmitted by the projection unit 700 can form part of the low beam, serve as an ADB, or be used to display predetermined information on a road surface. Fig. As shown in Figure 3, the projection unit 700 can have a lens arrangement structure in which differently shaped lenses are combined. However, the structure of the projection unit 700 is not limited to the one shown in Figure 3. Fig. The structure shown is limited to 3.

[0035] Furthermore, as in Fig. Figure 1 shows that, according to the present disclosure, a direction in which the DMD 400 and the projection unit 700 are arranged and a direction in which the light source 100 and the illumination unit 500 are arranged are parallel to each other. More precisely, the direction in which the DMD 400 and the projection unit 700 are arranged can be parallel to the direction in which the light source 100, the illumination unit 500, the beam splitter 200 and the scattering unit 600 are arranged.Therefore, according to the present disclosure, an optical path of the transmitted light, which is implemented when transmitting the light emitted by the light source 100 through the beam splitter 200, can run parallel to an optical path of the reflected light after it has been reflected by the DMD 400, wherein the optical path of the reflected light after reflection by the DMD 400 is part of an optical path of the reflected light that is implemented when reflecting the first light through the beam splitter 200.

[0036] Furthermore, according to the present disclosure, the luminaire 10 can also have a circuit board (PCB) 800 on which the light source 100 and the DMD 400 are mounted. In this case, as described in Fig. As shown in Figure 1, the light source 100 and the DMD 400 can be mounted on the individual PCB 800. In particular, the light source 100 and the DMD 400 can be located on the same plane on the PCB 800.

[0037] In the case of a vehicle light equipped with a DMD (Direct-Motion Device) according to the state of the art, light generated by a light source must enter a reflector directly, as there is no beam splitter. Since an optical path along which the light generated by the light source enters the reflector must intersect an optical path along which the light is reflected by the DMD and then enters a projection unit, an imaginary plane enclosing a surface of the circuit board on which the light source is mounted also intersects an imaginary plane enclosing a surface of the circuit board on which the DMD is mounted. Therefore, the circuit board on which the light source is mounted and the circuit board on which the DMD is mounted must be provided separately.

[0038] Furthermore, the circuit board to which the light source is attached and the circuit board on which the DMD is attached are generally mounted on a heat sink to dissipate heat generated by the luminaire. To accommodate the light source and the DMD, the heat sink in the prior art necessarily has an angled section corresponding to an angle defined between the circuit board on which the light source is mounted and the circuit board on which the DMD is mounted. However, when the heat sink has the aforementioned structure, it is difficult to manage the tolerances between the heat sink and the components surrounding it, which can result in a deterioration of the assembly properties.Since components are required to fix the circuit board on which the light source is mounted and the circuit board on which the DMD is mounted to the heat dissipation unit, the number of components required to manufacture the lamp is also increased.

[0039] However, according to the present disclosure, since the light source 100 and the DMD 400 can be attached to the individual PCB 800, a portion of the heat dissipation unit to which the PCB is attached can have a planar shape. Therefore, according to the present disclosure, the assembly characteristics of the luminaire can be improved and the number of components required to manufacture the luminaire can be reduced.

[0040] Fig. Figure 4 is a view illustrating respective areas of a beam pattern which can be formed by the light for a vehicle according to the present disclosure.

[0041] Referring to Fig. 4, the beam pattern formed by the luminaire according to the present disclosure can be divided into a first area R1, a second area R2, a third area R3 and a fourth area R4.

[0042] The first area R1 is formed by the reflected light and can constitute part of the low beam. More precisely, the first area R1 can form a step-shaped dividing line at the upper end of the low beam.

[0043] The second area, R2, is also an area formed by reflected light and can form an ADB (Advanced Beam Detection). More precisely, if a pedestrian or another vehicle is present in front of the vehicle at night, the angles of the multiple micromirrors provided in the DMD 400 (see Fig. 1) individually controlled, so that a dark area can be formed in the area, namely in the second area R2, in which the pedestrian or another vehicle is present in front of the vehicle.

[0044] The third area R3 is an area that the reflected and transmitted light reach simultaneously. The third area R3 can define a central area of ​​the low beam with relatively high light intensity. That is to say, according to the present disclosure, the third area R3 can be understood as an area in which the reflected and transmitted light overlap. More precisely, according to the present disclosure, the beam area outside the vehicle is defined by the transmitted light transmitted through the beam splitter 200 (see Fig. 1) and the beam pattern formed outside the vehicle by the reflected light reflected by the reflector 300, partially overlap. For example, the area in which the beam pattern formed by the transmitted light and the beam pattern formed by the reflected light overlap may form part of the low-beam beam pattern formed by the luminaire according to the present disclosure. In particular, the area in which the beam pattern formed by the transmitted light and the beam pattern formed by the reflected light overlap may form the central area with relatively high luminous intensity.

[0045] The fourth area R4 is an area formed by the transmitted light and can constitute a peripheral area of ​​the low beam with relatively low luminous intensity. Since the luminaire equipped with the DMD can form the fourth area R44 for a vehicle, it is possible, as previously described, according to the present disclosure, to implement the low beam with a wide beam pattern without a separate module. vehicle

[0046] A vehicle according to the present disclosure may have the light 10. In this case, the light 10 may be a headlight.

[0047] Referring to Fig.In this case, the luminaire 10 can include the light source 100, which is configured to emit the first light, and the beam splitter 200, which is configured to form the transmitted light by transmitting part of the first light and the reflected light by reflecting another part of the first light. In this case, the transmitted light, which is transmitted through the beam splitter 200, and the reflected light, which is reflected by the beam splitter 300, can propagate outwards, thereby forming the beam pattern.

[0048] Furthermore, the lamp 10 for a vehicle according to the present disclosure also comprises the reflector 300, which is configured to reflect the reflected light reflected by the beam splitter 200, and the DMD 400, which is configured to reflect the reflected light reflected by the reflector 300. The DMD 400 may include several micromirrors.

[0049] In this case, the reflected light from the DMD 400 spreads outwards, forming the beam pattern. Because the multiple micromirrors in the DMD 400 are individually controlled, the reflected light can create several types of beam patterns outside the vehicle. More precisely, multiple beam patterns can be created because the angles of the multiple micromirrors in the DMD 400 are individually controlled.

[0050] The present disclosure has been described with reference to the limited exemplary embodiments and the drawings, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The described exemplary embodiments can be carried out by a person skilled in the field of the present disclosure in various forms within the technical concept of the present disclosure and within the framework equivalent to the appended claims.

Claims

[1] Lamp (10) with: a light source (100) designed to emit a first light; and a beam splitter (200) exposed to the first light beam and configured to transmit part of the first light beam to form a transmitted light beam and to reflect another part of the first light to form a reflected light beam, wherein the luminaire (10) produces an output beam pattern that includes the transmitted light beam and the reflected light beam, and a reflector (300) configured to further reflect the first light beam reflected by the beam splitter (200) to form a second reflected light beam, wherein the output beam pattern includes the second reflected light beam, characterized by a digital micromirror device (DMD, 400) configured to further reflect the second reflected light beam to form a third reflected light beam, wherein the output beam pattern includes the third reflected light beam, and a common circuit board (PCB, 800) on which the light source (100) and the digital micromirror device (400) are mounted. [2] Luminaire according to claim 1, which further comprises a lighting unit (500) which is provided between the light source (100) and the beam splitter (200) and comprises a light guide (510) and a collimator (520), wherein: the optical fiber (510) is designed to transmit the first light beam emitted by the light source (100) to the collimator (520), and the collimator (520) is designed to convert the first light beam transmitted by the light guide (510) into a parallel light beam and to transmit the parallel light beam to the beam splitter (200). [3] Luminaire according to claim 1, which further comprises a scattering unit (600) configured to scatter the transmitted light beam transmitted by the beam splitter. [4] Luminaire according to claim 2, which further comprises a projection unit (700) configured to transmit the third reflected light beam. [5] Luminaire according to claim 4, wherein the digital micromirror device (400) and the projection unit (700) are arranged in a first direction which is parallel to a second direction in which the light source (100) and the illumination unit (500) are arranged. [6] Luminaire according to claim 1, in which the transmitted light beam and the first reflected light beam partially overlap each other. [7] Luminaire according to claim 6, in which an overlap area between the transmitted light beam and the first reflected light forms part of a low beam beam pattern. [8] Vehicle with the light (10) according to claim 1.

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