Vehicle Lighting Module Beam Deflection for Higher Perceived Resolution
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle lighting systems are limited by their native resolution and rate of change in light emission, which restricts the ability to achieve high-resolution, time-varying light distributions for adaptive driving scenarios and information displays.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a deflection unit that temporarily increases the perceived resolution of vehicle lighting modules by beam deflection, combined with image conversion and alternating emission of low-resolution images, allowing higher-level control units to send target images exceeding the native resolution, and using conversion rules to achieve a smoother display.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the native resolution of the vehicle lighting module is increased to achieve higher resolution light distribution, then the resolution of the light distribution is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies beam deflection to dynamically change the position of light segments, allowing a fixed-resolution lighting module to effectively display higher resolution patterns by moving light between positions over time. This dynamic approach achieves virtual higher resolution without adding physical light sources or complex static structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces the time dimension to resolve the spatial resolution limitation. By varying beam deflection over time and using temporal sequencing of light segments, the system creates the perception of higher spatial resolution through persistence of vision, effectively trading temporal variation for spatial resolution enhancement.
2Measurement precision
If the number of light segments is increased to improve resolution, then the resolution of the light distribution is improved, but the rate of change of time-varying light emission is limited by predefined interfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically controls beam deflection to move existing light segments between different positions, enabling high-resolution displays without increasing the number of physical light sources. This dynamic repurposing of fixed light segments allows faster effective resolution updates compared to physically switching between numerous static segments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses periodic beam deflection and temporal sequencing of light segments to create the perception of higher resolution. By cycling through different light segment configurations in rapid succession and utilizing persistence of vision, the system achieves high effective resolution at lower actual segment counts, improving the rate of change capability.
3Measurement precision
If beam deflection is used to visually increase resolution, then the perceived resolution is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The beam deflection unit serves multiple functions: it directs light to different positions, creates resolution enhancement, and enables dynamic pattern formation. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components for each function, thereby limiting the increase in overall device complexity despite adding the deflection capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The beam deflection unit acts as an intermediary between the fixed-resolution light source and the desired high-resolution display. Rather than requiring a complex high-resolution light source, the deflection unit mediates by moving light from simple sources to create complex high-resolution patterns, achieving resolution enhancement with relatively simple added complexity.
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
Enhances the resolution and smoothness of time-varying light distributions, enabling improved adaptability to driving conditions and enhanced information display capabilities despite limited native resolution constraints.
Implementation Method 1
a deflection unit with which the native resolution of the vehicle lighting module can be visually increased by at least temporary beam deflection using the deflection unit
Data Source
Figure 1~2c
Figure 3a~3b
Figure 4
AI summary
Method for display-optimizing control of a motor vehicle lighting module (1), wherein the motor vehicle lighting module (1) is configured to emit a segmented light distribution with individually controllable light segments (51, 53), wherein the motor vehicle lighting module (1) comprises a deflection unit (4) with which a native resolution of the motor vehicle lighting module (1) can be visually increased by at least temporary beam deflection using the deflection unit (4), wherein the motor vehicle lighting module (1) is configured to receive target images (S1, S2, S3, Sn, Sn+1) from a higher-level control unit (10), which target images (S1, S2, S3, Sn, Sn+1) each correspond to a light distribution and have a resolution that exceeds the native resolution of the motor vehicle lighting module (1).The methods improve the light emission of a segmented and time-varying light distribution by processing the target images (S1, S2, S3, Sn, Sn+1) in several steps.