Scanning Headlight Module Combining Illumination and LiDAR
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current headlight systems for vehicles lack a compact solution that combines effective illumination and LiDAR functionality, often requiring separate modules for lighting and detection, which can lead to increased energy consumption and potential blinding of oncoming traffic.
Innovation Solution
A headlight module that incorporates a laser light source, a first scanning device, and a converting device, where laser light is deflected and spectrally scattered to simultaneously illuminate and scan the vehicle environment, allowing for a compact design that combines LiDAR functionality with illumination, reducing energy consumption and avoiding blinding of oncoming traffic.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate modules are used for lighting and LiDAR detection, then detection functionality is achieved, but device complexity and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the illumination function and LiDAR detection function into a single integrated headlight module. The light source serves dual purposes: illuminating the road and providing the laser beam for LiDAR detection. The control unit coordinates both functions, allowing the same optical components to be used for both lighting and detection, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining reliable detection functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The headlight module is designed with multi-functionality where the light source and optical components serve multiple purposes. The same light source is used for both illumination and LiDAR detection, and the detection device can identify both light sources and reflections, enabling the system to perform multiple functions (lighting, obstacle detection, speed measurement) with a single integrated device.
2Illumination intensity
If high intensity light is emitted for effective illumination, then illumination quality is improved, but oncoming traffic may be blinded
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs periodic action by using pulsed laser emission for LiDAR detection instead of continuous high-intensity light. The control unit activates the light source in specific time intervals to emit laser beams for detection, while maintaining illumination during other periods. This temporal separation allows effective illumination without continuously exposing oncoming traffic to high-intensity light that could cause blinding.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the light emission characteristics based on detection needs. The control unit modulates the light source to emit high-intensity pulsed light only when LiDAR detection is required, while providing continuous lower-intensity illumination for road lighting. This dynamic control ensures effective illumination quality while minimizing harmful effects on oncoming traffic through adaptive light intensity management.
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 compact headlight module that efficiently illuminates and scans the vehicle environment, reducing energy consumption and preventing oncoming traffic blinding, while effectively using the same system for both lighting and LiDAR functions.
Implementation Method 1
The headlight module comprises only one laser light source, laser light emitted by the at least one laser light source
Implementation Method 2
a first scanning device, and a conversion device, wherein laser light emitted by the at least one laser light source having at least one output wavelength falls onto the first scanning device
Implementation Method 3
the light emitted by the headlight module into the at least one partial area of the vehicle's surroundings comprises a first light deflected by the first scanning device and a second light spectrally scattered by the conversion device having at least one wavelength different from the output wavelength
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
The invention relates to a headlight module (100) for a headlight (500) of a vehicle, which is designed to emit a light lying at least partially in the visible spectrum in at least one sub-region of a vehicle surroundings of the vehicle, wherein the headlight module (100) comprises a light detection device (102), which is designed to determine at least one variable with respect to a spatial and/or temporal intensity distribution and/or a wavelength distribution of a reflection of at least one part of the emitted light striking the headlight module (100), and to determine information relating to the vehicle surroundings taking account of the at least one determined variable.