Vehicle Light System With Spatial Light Modulator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicle lights that project patterns to improve visibility at night lead to increased energy consumption and heat generation, reducing their service life due to unused light being trapped inside the system.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle light system comprising a light source with independently controllable modules and a spatial light modulator that maximizes light transmission rates in each modulation region, reducing energy consumption and heat generation by optimizing light output and distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If the vehicle light projects a pattern with a certain light distribution, then the visibility and information communication are improved, but the energy consumption and heat generation increase
Solution Approach 1:
The light source is divided into multiple independently controllable light-emitting modules, and the spatial light modulator is divided into multiple modulation regions with light modulation units. This segmentation allows selective activation of only the necessary light-emitting modules and modulation units to form the required light distribution pattern, rather than using all components at full capacity, thereby reducing overall energy consumption while maintaining the desired light distribution quality.
2Illumination intensity
If the vehicle light projects a pattern with a certain light distribution, then the visibility and information communication are improved, but the heat generation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the potentially harmful effect of trapped light (which causes heat generation) into a beneficial outcome by using the spatial light modulator to precisely control light transmission. By maximizing light transmission rates in necessary regions and minimizing it in others, the system reduces the amount of light trapped and converted to heat, thereby reducing heat generation while maintaining effective light distribution for visibility and communication.
3Illumination intensity
If the vehicle light projects a pattern with a certain light distribution, then the visibility and information communication are improved, but the service time decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs independent control of multiple light-emitting modules and modulation units, enabling periodic or intermittent activation of specific components based on the required light distribution pattern. This allows the system to activate only necessary components for short durations to achieve the desired light distribution, rather than continuously operating all components at high power, thereby extending service time while maintaining visibility and communication effectiveness.
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 reduces energy consumption and heat generation while maintaining effective light distribution, thereby prolonging the service life of the vehicle lights without increasing total output power.
Implementation Method 1
The light emitted by the light source is modulated by the spatial light modulator to form patterned light with a certain light distribution
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle light system including a light source, a spatial light modulator and a projection device; the light source includes a plurality of light-emitting modules which may be independently controlled; the spatial light modulator includes a plurality of modulation regions in one-to-one correspondence with the light-emitting modules; light emitted by a light-emitting module is incident on a modulation region corresponding thereto; each modulation region includes a plurality of light modulation units; the vehicle light system further includes a control device; according to an input signal, the control device generates a light source control signal, which is used for controlling the light output intensity of each light-emitting module of the light source, and a light modulation signal, which is used for controlling the spatial light modulator, such that the light transmission rate of at least one light modulation unit in any one of the modulation regions reaches an upper limit value.