Vehicle Headlight LED Matrix Dark Grid Suppression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicle headlight systems with semiconductor light emitting diodes (LEDs) in a matrix pattern suffer from dark grids formed between adjacent LEDs, which can obscure light distribution patterns and reduce visibility, as these gaps create non-light-emitting regions that are difficult to suppress using existing image shifting techniques.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle headlight system employing a trapezoid image shifter with slanted surfaces and a projection optical system that shifts and overlaps images in a diagonal direction to eliminate dark grids between LEDs, ensuring a continuous and clear light distribution pattern.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a plurality of LED chips are arranged in a matrix pattern on a substrate, then the light distribution pattern can be controlled in real time, but dark portions are formed between the LED chips due to gaps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies image shifters that displace light beams in the vertical direction (y-axis) to overlap light beams from adjacent LED chips. This introduces a dimensional transformation where the originally two-dimensional matrix arrangement creates three-dimensional light path overlap, eliminating dark portions between chips while preserving the controlled light distribution capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces image shifters as intermediary optical elements between the LED chip array and the projection lens. These shifters act as mediators that redirect and overlap light beams from adjacent chips, filling the dark gaps without requiring changes to the LED array configuration or direct modification of the light sources themselves.
2Illumination intensity
If the position of the LED chip array is moved nearer to the projection lens than the focal point, then the projected light beams become diverging and dark portions become unclear, but the light distribution precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The image shifters serve as intermediary elements that operate at a specific position between the LED array and projection lens. By placing the shifters at this intermediate location, the patent achieves beam overlap to eliminate dark portions while maintaining the precision required for accurate light distribution patterns through the subsequent projection lens.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different optical functions to different regions: the image shifters locally modify light beam paths in the region between LED chips to eliminate dark portions, while the projection lens maintains overall light distribution precision. This localized application of optical correction preserves global system precision while addressing local dark portion issues.
3Illumination intensity
If conventional image shifting techniques are used to suppress dark portions, then the dark grids between LEDs are reduced, but the technique is difficult to apply effectively in both row and column directions simultaneously
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the optical correction function into separate image shifters for different directions (row direction and column direction). Each shifter handles beam displacement in its specific direction, allowing independent optimization and simplifying the overall system design compared to a single complex multi-directional shifting mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs asymmetric arrangement of image shifters with different orientations - some shifters are configured for row-direction beam displacement while others are configured for column-direction displacement. This asymmetric configuration allows effective dark portion suppression in both directions without requiring symmetric complexity in all components.
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 effectively suppresses dark grids in both the row and column directions, enhancing visual clarity and preventing glare to oncoming vehicles by creating a seamless light distribution pattern, thereby improving driver visibility and safety.
Implementation Method 1
an image shifter for shifting an image in a vertical direction, the image shifter having a plate shape when viewed from the front and having a slanted surface, and the light distribution adjusting element comprises the image shifter
Implementation Method 2
a projection optical system that projects light emitted from the light source
Data Source
Figure 1A~1D
Figure 2A~2C
Figure 3A~3C
AI summary
An object is to provide a lamp device which can be used as vehicle use headlight, and can form light distribution pattern capable of suppressing generation of dark grids in the field of view. A lamp device is provided which comprises a light source in which a plurality of light emitting elements are regularly arranged in a plane, and the light emitting elements are distributed along a first direction and along a second direction crossing the first direction in the plane, a projecting optic system capable of forming images of the respective light emitting elements of the light source on an image plane located on an optic axis of light beam emitted from the light source, and an image shifter capable of forming basic image of the plurality of light emitting elements on an image plane, and simultaneously forming first moved image which is formed by moving the basic image along the first direction and along the second direction simultaneously on the image plane.