Laser Headlamp Apparatus with Phosphor Conversion and Dynamic Beam Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional headlamp technologies for vehicles are limited in range and pattern, have a large form factor, and are inefficient, making them unsuitable for broad automotive applications.
Innovation Solution
A small form factor lighting apparatus using a blue laser device with gallium and nitrogen containing material to emit electromagnetic radiation, interacting with a phosphor material to generate white light, and an infrared laser device for dual band emission, integrated with sensors for dynamic control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If conventional headlamp technologies (halogen, HID, LED) are used, then the headlamp can provide illumination, but the form factor is large and the efficiency is low
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple laser sources (blue laser at 450nm and infrared laser at 850nm) with phosphor materials and optical elements into a single integrated headlamp module. This merging of multiple light sources and optical components into one compact unit achieves high lighting efficiency through laser-phosphor conversion while maintaining a small form factor, directly resolving the technical contradiction between efficiency and size.
2Length of moving object
If conventional headlamp technologies are used, then illumination is provided, but the lighting range and pattern control are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic beam shaping through electronically controllable optical elements including liquid crystal display (LCD) panels and digital micromirror device (DMD) arrays. These dynamic optical components enable real-time adjustment of beam patterns and lighting ranges without mechanical moving parts, achieving extended lighting range while maintaining manageable system complexity through electronic control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes multiple wavelengths (blue light at 450nm and infrared at 850nm) simultaneously, adding a spectral dimension to the lighting system. This multi-dimensional approach allows different beam patterns and ranges to be achieved through wavelength selection and combination, expanding lighting capabilities without proportionally increasing optical component complexity.
3Use of energy by moving object
If lamp-pumped solid-state lasers are used for visible light, then green and blue laser light is produced, but the wall plug efficiency is only ~1% and the system is large, expensive, and fragile
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses phosphor materials that convert laser light to other wavelengths instead of relying on complex multi-stage laser frequency conversion. The phosphor-based wavelength conversion creates a more robust and efficient system by copying the desired wavelength output through a simpler, more reliable mechanism, achieving high wall plug efficiency and system reliability simultaneously.
4Device complexity
If directly doubled diode lasers are used, then efficiency and size are improved, but specialty diodes and crystals are required making implementation challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs commercially available phosphor materials and standard laser diodes instead of requiring specialty diodes and crystals. This approach uses readily available, cost-effective components that can be easily manufactured and replaced, reducing implementation complexity while maintaining high efficiency through optimized phosphor-laser integration.
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 provides a high-efficiency, compact, and versatile lighting system capable of emitting both visible and infrared light, offering improved range, pattern control, and reduced complexity, suitable for various automotive and non-automotive applications.
Implementation Method 1
a phosphor material configured to interact with the blue laser output beam of the blue laser device to generate a white light output
Implementation Method 2
a lens device operably coupled to the white light output to focus and spread the white light output to cause formation of a white light beam
Implementation Method 3
the laser was demonstrated by Theodore H. Maiman at Hughes Research Laboratories in Malibu. This laser utilized a solid-state flash lamp-pumped synthetic ruby crystal to produce red laser light
Data Source
AI summary
The present techniques include a plurality of laser lamp modules. In an example, the plurality of laser lamp modules includes a high beam wide lamp module, a high beam narrow lamp module, a low beam cut lamp module, and a low beam wide lamp module, each of which has a blue laser, and is sealed from an outside environment for reliability.