Adaptive Headlight Beam Control via Laser-Phosphor Array
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing headlight systems lack a high-powered, non-mechanical, switchable dipped to driving beam with adaptive capability that can create both dipped and driving beam spots and control the beam spot range and cut-off point for optimal road illumination with minimal glare, and they face challenges in efficiently managing waste heat from semiconductor light emitting devices adjacent to photoluminescent materials.
Innovation Solution
A laser-based light unit with an array of lasers illuminating a phosphor to create adaptive beam spots without mechanical components, where semiconductor light emitting devices are spatially separated from the photoluminescent material to manage waste heat independently, allowing for electronic switching between dipped and driving beam modes and enhancing optical efficiency by eliminating the need for light blocking shields.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a shield is inserted into the light path to create a dipped beam, then glare to oncoming road users is reduced, but optical efficiency of the projector headlight is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical shield with an adaptive light source system using multiple laser emitters and phosphor elements. The dipped beam is created by electronically controlling which light sources are activated and their emission patterns, eliminating the need for physical light blocking shields and thereby maintaining optical efficiency while still preventing glare to oncoming road users.
Solution Approach 2:
The headlight system is divided into multiple independently controllable light sources (laser emitters and phosphor elements) that can be selectively activated. This segmentation allows the system to create different beam patterns (dipped beam, driving beam, adaptive patterns) by controlling specific segments of the light source array, replacing the need for a single shield that blocks all light.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a mechanical switching mechanism is provided to switch between dipped beam and driving beam, then beam pattern switching is enabled, but device complexity and reliability are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates mechanical switching mechanisms by using an all-electronic control system. Multiple laser emitters and phosphor elements are controlled through electronic circuitry that can switch between dipped beam, driving beam, and adaptive beam patterns without any moving parts, thereby reducing device complexity and improving reliability while maintaining beam pattern switching capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs dynamically controllable light sources where the emission characteristics (intensity, pattern, direction) can be changed in real-time through electronic control. This dynamic control replaces static mechanical switching mechanisms, allowing seamless transition between different beam patterns without mechanical movement.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple light source units are provided to create adaptive beam spot, then adaptive illumination is achieved, but headlight cost and volume are increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple laser emitters and phosphor elements into a single integrated headlight unit with shared optical components. This merging approach achieves adaptive beam spot capability through coordinated control of multiple light sources while avoiding the cost and complexity of completely separate light source units, as they share common optical pathways and control electronics.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution enables a headlight system with adaptive beam control, improved optical efficiency, and reduced mechanical complexity, enhancing road illumination and safety while managing waste heat effectively, allowing for electronic switching between beam modes without mechanical parts.
Implementation Method 1
a light beam generator for generating at least first and second independently controllable sets of light beams for illuminating respective fixed regions of the photoluminescent material; wherein the light beam generator comprises a plurality of semiconductor light emitting devices spatially separated from the photoluminescent material and independently controllable, each of the plurality of light emitting devices generating, in use, a respective light beam
Implementation Method 2
a wavelength converting medium, such as a phosphor, to convert light from the first waveband of the laser emitter to longer wavelengths of a second or more wavebands and by such a means provide a white light source
Data Source
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AI summary
A light source system comprising projection optics, which are capable of producing a far-field image of a light source. The light source comprises a fluorescent medium that when illuminated by light from laser emitters of a first waveband emits light of a second or more wavebands of longer wavelength. The resulting light emission produces a colour perceived as white. The light source is illuminated by a plurality of laser emitters arranged to illuminate the light source in an array-like manner. Control of the output of one or more of the laser emitters results in a variation of the spatial emission distribution from the light source and hence a variation of the far-field beam spot distribution via non-mechanical means.