Headlamp road-writing systems

• US 10,295,139 B2
• Filed: 08/23/2017
• Issued: 05/21/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Valeo North America Incorporated (Valeo SE)
• Original Assignee: Valeo North America Incorporated (Valeo SE)
• Inventors: Potter, Brant
• Primary Examiner(s): Savusdiphol, Paultep
• Application Number:
  US15/684,513
• Publication Number:
  US 20190063717A1
• Time in Patent Office: 636 Days
• Field of Search: 362507, 362514, 362466
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/1415 Dimming circuits
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/64 using wavelength conversion means distinct or spaced from the light-generating element, e.g. a remote phosphor layer
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/14 characterised by the type of light source
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/148 the main emission direction of the LED being perpendicular to the optical axis
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/153 arranged in a matrix
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/16 Laser light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/18 Combination of light sources of different types or shapes
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/285 Refractors, transparent cover plates, light guides or filters not provided in groups F21S41/24-F21S41/28
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/321 the reflector being a surface of revolution or a planar surface, e.g. truncated
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/663 by switching light sources by switching incandescent light sources F21S41/162
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/675 by moving reflectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/30 Semiconductor lasers

Abstract

A headlamp assembly has a low beam assembly configured to generate a low-beam distribution including a plurality of flat luminous segments configured to produce a composite flat beam pattern when activated; a kink module having a first light source and a second light source; a near-field road-writing segment located about a central vertical position of the low-beam distribution; a far-field road-writing segment located above the near-field road-writing segment of the low-beam distribution; and circuitry configured to inactivate one or more of the flat luminous segments located within the near-field road-writing segment of the low-beam distribution and inactivate the first light source when the near-field road-writing segment and the far-field road-writing segment are activated. The headlamp assembly also has a high beam assembly configured to generate a high-beam distribution.

Claims

1. A headlamp assembly, comprising:

a low beam assembly configured to generate a low-beam distribution including

a plurality of flat luminous segments configured to produce a composite flat beam pattern when activated;

a kink module having a first light source and a second light source;

a near-field road-writing segment located about a central vertical position of the low-beam distribution;

a far-field road-writing segment located above the near-field road-writing segment of the low-beam distribution; and

circuitry configured to inactivate one or more of the flat luminous segments located within the near-field road-writing segment of the low-beam distribution and inactivate the first light source when the near-field road-writing segment and the far-field road-writing segment are activated; and

a high beam assembly configured to generate a high-beam distribution.

2. The headlamp assembly of claim 1, wherein the near-field road-writing segment includes a digital micro-mirror device (DMD) near-field road-writing segment and the far-field road-writing segment includes a DMD far-field road-writing segment.

3. The headlamp assembly of claim 1, wherein the circuitry is further configured to keep the second light source activated when the near-field road-writing segment and the far-field road-writing segment are activated.

4. The headlamp assembly of claim 1, wherein a first power level of a first group of flat luminous segments differs from a second power level of a second group of flat luminous segments.

5. The headlamp assembly of claim 1, wherein the plurality of flat luminous segments includes a range of seven to thirty two individual flat luminous segments.

6. The headlamp assembly of claim 1, wherein the plurality of flat luminous segments includes a first row and a second row of individual flat luminous segments.

7. The headlamp assembly of claim 6, wherein a first power level of the first row of individual flat luminous segments differs from a second power level of the second row of individual flat luminous segments.

8. The headlamp assembly of claim 1, wherein the first light source includes a laser diode light source.

9. A low beam headlamp assembly, comprising:

a plurality of flat luminous segments configured to produce a composite flat beam pattern of a low-beam distribution when activated;

a kink module having a first light source and a second light source;

a near-field road-writing segment located about a central vertical position of the low-beam distribution;

a far-field road-writing segment located above the near-field road-writing segment of the low-beam distribution; and

circuitry configured to inactivate one or more of the flat luminous segments located within the near-field road-writing segment of the low-beam distribution and inactivate the first light source when the near-field road-writing segment and the far-field road-writing segment are activated.

10. The low beam headlamp assembly of claim 9, wherein the near-field road-writing segment includes a digital micro-mirror device (DMD) near-field road-writing segment and the far-field road-writing segment includes a DMD far-field road-writing segment.

11. The low beam headlamp assembly of claim 9, wherein the circuitry is further configured to keep the second light source activated when the near-field road-writing segment and the far-field road-writing segment are activated.

12. The low beam headlamp assembly of claim 9, wherein a first power level of a first group of flat luminous segments differs from a second power level of a second group of flat luminous segments.

13. The low beam headlamp assembly of claim 9, wherein the plurality of flat luminous segments includes a range of seven to thirty two individual flat luminous segments.

14. The low beam headlamp assembly of claim 9, wherein the plurality of flat luminous segments includes a first row and a second row of individual flat luminous segments.

15. The low beam headlamp assembly of claim 14, wherein a first power level of the first row of individual flat luminous segments differs from a second power level of the second row of individual flat luminous segments.

16. The low beam headlamp assembly of claim 9, wherein the first light source includes a laser diode light source.