Variable Aperture Headlamp Module for Intensity Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing motor vehicle headlamp lighting modules require multiple light sources to achieve varying light intensities and beam directions, increasing costs without efficiently adjusting beam intensity without multiplying light sources.
Innovation Solution
A lighting module with means to control the angular aperture of the exit beam, using a movable reflecting device and a matrix array of micro-mirrors to adjust the beam's width and intensity, allowing for two aperture settings that adjust light intensity based on traffic conditions, and optionally incorporating a second light source for secondary beams.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If multiple light sources are used to achieve varying light intensities, then the light intensity can be adjusted, but the cost of the module increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a variable aperture mechanism that dynamically adjusts the angular aperture of the exit beam. By changing the aperture size, the system can concentrate or disperse the light from a single light source to achieve different intensity levels. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction by providing intensity variation without requiring multiple light sources, thereby reducing cost while maintaining adjustable illumination intensity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the angular aperture parameter of the beam to control light intensity. By adjusting the aperture angle between a first aperture (wider angle) and a second aperture (narrower angle), the system varies the light concentration and thus the intensity. This parameter change approach allows intensity control using a single light source, avoiding the need to multiply light sources and reducing module cost.
2Illumination intensity
If multiple light sources are combined to form a more intense exit beam, then the light intensity increases, but the number of components increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the beam control function into separate aperture settings (first aperture and second aperture) rather than using multiple light sources. Each aperture setting provides a different beam width and intensity level. This segmentation of the control function allows intensity variation through optical geometry changes rather than component multiplication, reducing the number of components while achieving the desired intensity range.
Solution Approach 2:
The single light source is designed to serve multiple intensity requirements through the variable aperture mechanism. The same light source can produce both wide-angle low-intensity beams and narrow-angle high-intensity beams by adjusting the aperture. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction by making one component perform the work that would otherwise require multiple specialized light sources.
3Illumination intensity
If the angular aperture is reduced to increase light intensity, then the intensity increases, but the beam coverage area decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically switches between different aperture settings based on lighting requirements. The variable aperture mechanism allows the beam to be concentrated (narrow angle, high intensity) or dispersed (wide angle, lower intensity) as needed. This dynamic adaptability resolves the contradiction by allowing the system to optimize between intensity and coverage area depending on the specific operating conditions, rather than being fixed in one configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The angular aperture parameter is changed between a first aperture (wider angle for broader coverage) and a second aperture (narrower angle for higher intensity). This parameter change allows the system to adjust the trade-off between beam coverage area and light intensity based on environmental conditions and lighting requirements, resolving the contradiction between these two opposing objectives.
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
Enables adjustable light intensity and beam direction without increasing the number of light sources, providing more intense lighting when needed while maintaining efficiency and reducing costs.
Implementation Method 1
The at least one processing device comprises: a movable reflecting device, able to deviate the light radiation in an angular scan
Implementation Method 2
a device for converting the wavelength of said deviated light radiation, able to generate a light flux in the direction of the imaging optical system
Implementation Method 3
the at least one processing device comprises a matrix array of micro-mirrors that are orientable independently of one another, said matrix array of micro-mirrors being able to generate a light flux in the direction of the imaging optical system
Implementation Method 4
said imaging optical system comprising a variable focal length objective, the means for controlling an angular aperture of the exit beam comprising means for controlling the focal length of said variable focal length objective
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a lighting module for a motor vehicle headlamp module including a light source able to emit light radiation, a processing device able to generate a light flux from said light radiation, and an imaging optical system able to project an exit beam from said light flux. The lighting module includes means for controlling an angular aperture of the exit beam, the angular aperture being chosen from a first aperture and a second aperture, the first aperture corresponding to a wider angle than the second aperture, so that, for a given intensity of the light radiation of the light source, the exit beam corresponding to the second aperture has a higher light intensity than the exit beam corresponding to the first aperture.