Vehicle lighting device

Abstract

A vehicle lighting device according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises: a light source; a first reflection plate, on the concave surface of which the light source is arranged; and a second reflection plate that is spaced apart from the first reflection plate and has a convex surface facing the concave surface, wherein the first reflection plate and the second reflection plate have the same radius of curvature.

Description

vehicle lighting devices

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle lighting device.

[0002] In general, vehicles are equipped with various vehicle lamps that have a lighting function to easily identify objects located around the vehicle when driving at night and a signaling function to inform other vehicles and other road users of the vehicle's driving status.

[0003] For example, there are devices that operate by directly emitting light using lamps, such as headlights that illuminate the front to secure the driver's field of vision, brake lights that turn on when the brakes are applied, and turn signals used when turning right or left. In addition, reflectors that function by reflecting light so that the vehicle can be easily recognized from the outside are installed at the front and rear of the vehicle. These vehicle lamps generally mainly use light sources such as halogen lamps or high intensity discharge (HID).

[0004] Vehicles are equipped with a Night Vision System (NVS) to display road conditions ahead during nighttime driving. This system can effectively prevent traffic accidents during nighttime driving. To achieve this, the NVS emits infrared rays in front of the vehicle to detect obstacles, such as pedestrians, and then captures them with an infrared camera, providing the driver with a visual representation to encourage safe driving.

[0005] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a vehicle lighting device.

[0006] In order to solve the above technical problem, a vehicle lighting device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a light source; a first reflector having the light source arranged on a concave surface; and a second reflector having a convex surface spaced apart from the first reflector and facing the concave surface, wherein the first reflector and the second reflector have the same radius of curvature.

[0007] The above light source may be arranged to overlap with the second reflector in the first axis direction.

[0008] The diameter of the first reflector may be larger than the diameter of the second reflector.

[0009] The above second reflector can be moved in the first axis direction.

[0010] The above second reflector can be moved in a second axis direction perpendicular to the first axis.

[0011] According to the present embodiments, light can be transmitted over a longer distance using an existing light source.

[0012] Additionally, it can be applied to a night vision system to expand the detection area ahead of the road, thereby ensuring the safety of night driving.

[0013] Figure 1 is a drawing for explaining the SWIR wavelength range.

[0014] Fig. 2 illustrates a vehicle lighting device according to the present embodiment.

[0015] FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 are drawings for explaining the operation of a vehicle lighting device according to the present embodiment.

[0016] Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings.

[0017] However, the technical idea of ​​the present invention is not limited to some of the embodiments described, but can be implemented in various different forms, and within the scope of the technical idea of ​​the present invention, one or more of the components between the embodiments can be selectively combined or substituted for use.

[0018] In addition, terms (including technical and scientific terms) used in this embodiment may be interpreted as having a meaning that can be generally understood by a person of ordinary skill in the technical field to which this embodiment belongs, unless explicitly and specifically defined and described, and terms that are commonly used, such as terms defined in a dictionary, may be interpreted in consideration of the contextual meaning of the relevant technology.

[0019] Additionally, the terms used in this embodiment are for the purpose of describing the embodiments and are not intended to limit the present invention.

[0020] In this specification, the singular may also include the plural unless specifically stated otherwise in the phrase, and when it is described as “A and / or at least one (or more) of B, C”, it may include one or more of all combinations that can be combined with A, B, C.

[0021] Additionally, in describing the components of this embodiment, terms such as first, second, A, B, (a), (b), etc. may be used. These terms are only intended to distinguish the components from other components, and are not intended to limit the nature, order, or sequence of the components.

[0022] And, when a component is described as being 'connected', 'coupled', or 'connected' to another component, it may include not only cases where the component is 'connected', 'coupled', or 'connected' directly to the other component, but also cases where the component is 'connected', 'coupled', or 'connected' by another component between the component and the other component.

[0023] Additionally, when described as being formed or arranged "above" or "below" each component, "above" or "below" includes not only cases where the two components are in direct contact with each other, but also cases where one or more other components are formed or arranged between the two components. Furthermore, when expressed as "above" or "below," the meaning may include not only the upward direction but also the downward direction based on one component.

[0024]

[0025] Figure 1 is a drawing for explaining the SWIR wavelength range.

[0026] Vehicles are equipped with a Night Vision System (NVS) to display road conditions ahead during nighttime driving. This system can effectively prevent traffic accidents during nighttime driving. To achieve this, the NVS emits infrared rays in front of the vehicle to detect obstacles, such as pedestrians. The system then captures these images with an infrared camera and provides the driver with a visual representation, encouraging safe driving.

[0027] When using standard cameras in night vision systems, ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems) face limitations in object recognition in environments such as dust, tunnels, fog, and nighttime. Furthermore, LiDAR is vulnerable to object recognition in rainy or dusty environments and suffers from structural complexity.

[0028] Using short-wavelength infrared (SWIR) in a night vision system can provide the strong contrast necessary for high-resolution imaging, as photons are reflected or absorbed by objects. Therefore, it can be used for autonomous vehicle imaging even in environments with poor visibility.

[0029] Light sources that achieve 1350 nm in the shortwave infrared range include YAG fiber (Y3Al5O12), EEL (Edge Emitting Laser), and halogen light sources. YAG fibers, while highly linear, primarily utilize a wavelength of 1064 nm. While there is a transition to the 1440 nm range, their output is weak. EELs, however, have a weaker output and therefore a shorter optical reach. Halogen light sources, being forward-facing, require a reflector to assist their operation.

[0030] Current headlamps are being replaced by LEDs or HIDs, but halogen light sources are the light sources used in the past and include a wavelength of 1500 nm, which is in the SWIR region. Typically, halogen light sources have an output of 700 to 2000 lm at 55 W, a beam angle of about 150 degrees, and a light coverage distance of about 100 m. In this case, if the beam angle is controlled to about 30 degrees, the light coverage distance can be increased, and theoretically, it can be secured up to about 200 m, making it suitable as a light source for night vision.

[0031]

[0032] FIG. 2 illustrates a vehicle lighting device according to the present embodiment, and FIGS. 3 and 4 are drawings for explaining the operation of the vehicle lighting device according to the present embodiment.

[0033] A vehicle lighting device according to the present embodiment may include a light source (10), a first reflector (20), and a second reflector (30).

[0034] The light source (10) may be placed on the concave surface of the first reflector (20). The light source (10) may be placed in the central region of the first reflector (20). The light source (10) may be placed in contact with the concave surface of the first reflector (20). The light source (10) may be placed spaced apart from the concave surface of the first reflector (20).

[0035] The concave surface of the first reflector (20) may be a reflective surface. The second reflector (30) may be arranged spaced apart from the first reflector (20) and may be arranged so that the convex surface faces the light source (10). The second reflector (30) may include a convex surface spaced apart from the first reflector (20) and facing the concave surface of the first reflector (20). The convex surface of the second reflector (30) may be a reflective surface. The first reflector (20) and the second reflector (30) may be formed of a material capable of reflecting light from the light source (10). For example, the first reflector (20) and the second reflector (30) may be formed of a metal plate. The concave surface of the first reflector (20) and the convex surface of the second reflector (30) can be coated with a paint capable of reflecting light.

[0036] The concave surface of the first reflector (20) and the convex surface of the second reflector (30) may be arranged to face each other. The diameter of the first reflector (20) may be larger than the diameter of the second reflector (30). When the focus of the first reflector (20) is P, the second reflector (30) may be arranged between the first reflector (20) and the focus (P) of the first reflector (20).

[0037] The light source (10) may be arranged to overlap with the second reflector (30) in the first axis direction. The entire second reflector (30) may be arranged to overlap with the first reflector (20) in the first axis direction. A part of the first reflector (20) may overlap with the second reflector (30) in the first axis direction, and the remainder of the first reflector (20) may not overlap with the second reflector (30) in the first axis direction. The light emitted from the light source (10) may be reflected sequentially from the convex surface of the second reflector (30) and the concave surface of the first reflector (20) and may travel straight forward.

[0038] The first reflector (20) and the second reflector (30) may have the same radius of curvature. Through this, the light from the light source (10) can travel straight forward using the Cassegrain formula. The forward direction may be referred to as the first axis direction or the X-axis direction. The light emitted from the light source (10) is reflected from the convex surface of the second reflector (30), and the reflected light is reflected again from the concave surface of the first reflector (20) to travel straight forward.

[0039]

[0040] Referring to Fig. 3, the second reflector (30) may be movable in the first axis direction. When the first reflector (20) and the second reflector (30) come closer, the optical reach distance may increase and the optical steering angle may decrease. When the first reflector (20) and the second reflector (30) move away from each other, the optical reach distance may decrease and the optical steering angle may increase.

[0041] Referring to Fig. 4, the second reflector (30) can be moved in a second axis direction perpendicular to the first axis and a third axis direction perpendicular to the first and second axes. Through this, the direction of light irradiation or the light reaching distance can be adjusted to suit the night vision system.

[0042] According to these embodiments, light can be transmitted over a longer distance using existing light sources. Furthermore, by applying it to a night vision system, the detection area ahead of the road can be expanded, thereby ensuring the safety of nighttime driving.

[0043]

[0044] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention can be implemented in modified forms without departing from the essential characteristics of the above-described description. Therefore, the disclosed methods should be considered illustrative rather than restrictive. The scope of the present invention is set forth in the claims, not the foregoing description, and all differences within the scope equivalent thereto should be construed as being encompassed by the present invention.

Claims

1. Light source; A first reflector having the light source arranged on a concave surface; and A second reflector is included, which is spaced apart from the first reflector and includes a convex surface facing the concave surface, A vehicle lighting device wherein the first reflector and the second reflector have the same radius of curvature.

2. In paragraph 1, A vehicle lighting device in which the light source is arranged to overlap the second reflector in the first axis direction.

3. In paragraph 1, A vehicle lighting device wherein the diameter of the first reflector is larger than the diameter of the second reflector.

4. In paragraph 1, The above second reflector is a vehicle lighting device that can move in the first axis direction.

5. In paragraph 1, The above second reflector is a vehicle lighting device that can move in a second axis direction perpendicular to the first axis.

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