Dichromatic White Light Source with Spatial Modulation for Automotive Headlamps
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current white lighting solutions face issues with color consistency and shifts over time due to aging components, particularly in automotive headlamps, where 'warm' and 'cool' white labels based on correlated color temperature (CCT) ratings do not guarantee uniform color output across different bulbs and over the lifespan of the light source.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a spatially adaptable and spectrally tunable light source system using dichromatic illumination sources, where a digital micromirror device reflects light from blue and yellow illumination sources to form a white output beam, with a controller modulating intensity, duration, and pattern to maintain desired color consistency, allowing for dynamic spectral tuning to compensate for aging effects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If conventional white light bulbs are used with CCT ratings, then the light source provides a specific color temperature, but the color consistency deteriorates over time due to component aging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the light source adaptable through real-time control. The system dynamically adjusts the spectral power distribution by controlling multiple illumination sources (e.g., LEDs with different wavelengths) and spatial light modulators, allowing the color temperature to be adjusted during operation to compensate for aging effects and maintain consistent white light output throughout the lifespan.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes physical parameters by modifying the spectral power distribution of the light source. Through control of multiple light sources with different wavelengths and intensities, the system can shift the effective color temperature and spectral composition to maintain consistent perceived white color despite component degradation over time.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple illumination sources are combined to create white light, then the spectral output improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing a system where multiple illumination sources and spatial light modulators serve multiple functions. The same components can be used to generate different spectral outputs, adjust color temperature, create beam patterns, and compensate for aging, eliminating the need for separate dedicated systems for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges multiple illumination sources and control mechanisms into an integrated system. By combining several light sources with different spectral characteristics and controlling them through a unified control architecture with spatial light modulators, the system achieves sophisticated spectral tuning while managing complexity through integration rather than separate independent systems.
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
This approach ensures consistent white light output across the lifespan of the system, enabling adaptive spectral tuning without invasive repairs, suitable for various automotive and lighting applications, and can be calibrated to meet different color standards.
Implementation Method 1
a spatial light modulator to reflect and modulate the combined light
Implementation Method 2
at least two illumination sources of differing color illuminate a spatial light modulator
Data Source
AI summary
In described examples of an automotive headlamp, a first illumination source outputs a first color light, and a second illumination source outputs a second color light different from the first color light. A digital micromirror device receives the first color light and the second color light and reflects the first color light and the second color light. A projection optics receives reflected light from the digital micromirror device and outputs a beam from the automotive headlamp having a color that is a combination of the first and second colors. A controller controls intensity and duration of the first illumination source and the second illumination source, controls a pattern on the digital micromirror device, and spectrally tunes the color of the output beam.