Vehicle Lighting Apparatus Using Overlapping LED Images
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle lighting systems using LEDs struggle to achieve high-resolution images while minimizing light intensity loss and maintaining affordable manufacturing costs, as increasing the number of LEDs leads to higher costs and significant light leakage.
Innovation Solution
A lighting apparatus for vehicles projects two overlapping images with relatively-low resolution using two optical systems with 256 LEDs each, tilted at specific angles to create a high-resolution image on the road, reducing the total number of LEDs needed from 1024 to 512 and minimizing light loss.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a large number of LED light sources (1024 LEDs) are used to realize a high-resolution image, then the image resolution is improved, but the manufacturing cost significantly increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the optical system into two separate optical systems (first optical system with 256 LEDs and second optical system with 256 LEDs) instead of using one system with 1024 LEDs. Each optical system projects an image with relatively low resolution, and these two images overlap on the road to form a final high-resolution image. This segmentation reduces the number of LEDs per optical system while achieving the same overall resolution through image superposition.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the output of two separate optical systems by having their projected images overlap on the road surface. The first image from the first optical system and the second image from the second optical system combine to form a third image with high resolution. This merging approach allows the system to achieve high resolution without requiring each individual optical system to have high resolution, thereby reducing the total number of LEDs needed.
2Measurement precision
If a large number of LED light sources (1024 LEDs) are used to realize a high-resolution image, then the image resolution is improved, but the light intensity is significantly lost due to increased ribs
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the system into two optical systems with fewer LEDs each (256 LEDs per system), the patent reduces the number of ribs required in each light source module. Fewer ribs mean less light blocking and reduced light intensity loss. The segmentation allows each module to be more efficient while the combined output achieves the desired resolution.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a single-dimensional approach (one optical system with many LEDs) to a two-dimensional approach (two optical systems with fewer LEDs each, projecting overlapping images). This dimensional change in the system architecture allows for reduced light loss in each individual system while maintaining or improving overall image resolution through the superposition of images.
3Ease of manufacture
If the number of LED light sources is reduced to minimize cost and light loss, then manufacturing cost and light intensity are improved, but the image resolution deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the projected images from two separate optical systems to achieve high resolution. Each optical system uses fewer LEDs (256 per system) which reduces manufacturing cost and light loss, but when their images overlap on the road, the combined image (third image) achieves high resolution equivalent to what would require 1024 LEDs in a single system. This merging of image outputs resolves the contradiction between using fewer LEDs and achieving high resolution.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an additional dimension to the imaging process by using two separate optical systems projecting at different angles. The first optical system projects an image at a first angle and the second optical system projects an image at a second angle, and these images overlap to create the final high-resolution image. This multi-dimensional approach allows resolution enhancement without proportionally increasing the number of LEDs.
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
This approach allows for a high-resolution image of 1024 pixels to be achieved with reduced manufacturing costs and minimized light intensity loss, effectively halving the number of LEDs required compared to traditional methods.
Implementation Method 1
a first light source module realizing a predetermined level of resolution using a plurality of individual light-emitting diode (LED) chips
Implementation Method 2
a first image-forming lens module forming an image; a second image-forming lens module forming an image
Data Source
AI summary
A lighting apparatus for a vehicle may include a first optical system including a first light source module realizing a predetermined level of resolution using a plurality of individual light-emitting diode chips disposed in a lattice pattern and a first image-forming lens module forming an image; a second optical system including a second light source module having a same configuration as the first light source module and a second image-forming lens module forming an image; a first image projected by the first optical system and a second image projected by the second optical system have different angles of departure; and the first image and the second image are projected onto a road as a third image having an overlapping shape of the first image and the second image.