Pixelated Vehicle Lighting Non-Linear Optical Projection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lighting systems for vehicles struggle to achieve a satisfactory light intensity for a wide visual field while minimizing the number of pixels, which affects cost and complexity.
Innovation Solution
A lighting system with a pixelated light source and an optical device that projects images with a width dimension increasing non-linearly from the optical axis, allowing for spatial modulation of intensity and surface spread to achieve a wider visual field with fewer pixels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If the number of pixels is increased to widen the visual field and maintain light intensity, then the light intensity and visual field coverage are improved, but the device complexity and cost price increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the optical parameters by using a non-linear projection function that varies the magnification factor across the field of view. This allows the same pixel array to produce different image sizes at different positions, effectively widening the visual field without adding more pixels. The projection function transforms the uniform pixel grid into a non-uniform image distribution where peripheral images are larger than central images.
2Device complexity
If the number of pixels is reduced to lower cost and complexity, then the device complexity is reduced, but the visual field coverage and light intensity decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the projection characteristics through a non-linear optical system. This system creates variable magnification across the field, allowing fewer pixels to cover a larger visual field area. The non-linear projection function ensures that peripheral regions, which require larger image areas for adequate coverage, receive proportionally larger image projections from the same pixel elements.
3Ease of manufacture
If uniform image width is maintained across all pixels, then the manufacturing is simplified, but the visual field coverage is limited for a given number of pixels
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements local quality by making the image width vary according to position in the field of view. Instead of uniform projection, the optical system creates location-dependent image sizes where peripheral images are larger than central images. This local variation in projection quality optimizes the visual field coverage for each region, allowing the same pixel array to effectively cover a wider overall area.
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 system provides a wider visual field with maintained light intensity, particularly in the main region of interest near the optical axis, by increasing image width non-linearly towards the periphery, thus compensating for a reduced number of pixels.
Implementation Method 1
an optical device having an optical axis and configured to project an image of each of the emissive elements
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a lighting system including a pixelated light source provided with a plurality of selectively activatable emissive elements, each having a rectangular shape with a height dimension and a width dimension, the width dimension being the same for all the emissive elements, and an optical device having an optical axis and configured to project an image of each of the emissive elements. The optical device configured such that the images have a width dimension that increases non-linearly moving away from the optical axis.