Vehicle headlight system having digital beam-forming optics
First Claim
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1. A vehicle headlight system comprising:
- a centralized light source;
digital beam forming optics optically coupled to and receiving transmitted light from the centralized light source;
first and second headlight emitters, one positioned at a front driver'"'"'s side of the vehicle and one positioned at a front passenger'"'"'s side of the vehicle, and wherein at least one of said centralized light source or said digital beam forming optics is remotely located from said first and second headlight emitters;
a memory storing a plurality of light illumination patterns, said memory electrically coupled to said digital beam forming optics, said digital beam forming optics outputting light from said centralized light source in the form of at least one of said light illumination patterns for each of said first and second headlight emitters independent of each other, and in response to at least one vehicle operating condition.
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Abstract
A vehicle headlight system including a light source, digital beam forming optics optically coupled to the light source, and a memory storing a plurality of light illumination patterns. The memory is electrically coupled to the digital beam forming optics. The digital beam forming optics is adapted to output light from the light source in the form of at least one of the light illumination patterns in response to at least one vehicle operating condition.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A vehicle headlight system comprising:
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a centralized light source; digital beam forming optics optically coupled to and receiving transmitted light from the centralized light source; first and second headlight emitters, one positioned at a front driver'"'"'s side of the vehicle and one positioned at a front passenger'"'"'s side of the vehicle, and wherein at least one of said centralized light source or said digital beam forming optics is remotely located from said first and second headlight emitters; a memory storing a plurality of light illumination patterns, said memory electrically coupled to said digital beam forming optics, said digital beam forming optics outputting light from said centralized light source in the form of at least one of said light illumination patterns for each of said first and second headlight emitters independent of each other, and in response to at least one vehicle operating condition. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14)
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10. An illumination system for a vehicle comprising:
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a centralized light source; a digital light processor optically coupled to and receiving transmitted light from the centralized light source; a memory storing a plurality of light illumination patterns, said memory electrically coupled to said digital light processor, said digital light processor outputting light from said centralized light source in the form of at least one of said light illumination patterns in response to at least one vehicle operating condition; and at least one headlight emitter optically coupled to said digital light processor and positioned to emit said light received from said digital light processor in a region forward of said vehicle, said headlight emitter being located remotely from at least one of said centralized light source or said digital light processor; wherein said digital light processor outputs light from said centralized light source in the form of at least one of said light illumination patterns in response to at least one roadway condition; and wherein said at least one roadway condition comprises vehicle absolute positioning data or navigational roadway data including intersections, ramps and roadway surface elevations/depressions. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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11. An illumination system for a vehicle comprising:
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a centralized light source; a digital light processor optically coupled to and receiving transmitted light from the centralized light source; a memory storing a plurality of light illumination patterns, said memory electrically coupled to said digital light processor, said digital light processor outputting light from said centralized light source in the form of at least one of said light illumination patterns in response to at least one vehicle operating condition; at least one headlight emitter optically coupled to said digital light processor and positioned to emit said light received from said digital light processor in a region forward of said vehicle, said headlight emitter being located remotely from at least one of said centralized light source or said digital light processor; and at least one IR sensor for detecting oncoming vehicle headlights, and wherein said plurality of light illumination patterns includes at least one light pattern for output by said digital light processor in response to sensed oncoming vehicle headlights.
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15. A method of operating an illumination system for a vehicle comprising a light source and a digital light processor remotely optically coupled to the light source, the method comprising:
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providing a plurality of light illumination patterns each corresponding to a desired vehicle headlight illumination pattern for a sensed vehicle operating condition; controlling said digital light processor to process transmitted light from said light source to form at least one of said desired vehicle headlight illumination patterns for illumination transmittance from headlights of the vehicle in response to at least one sensed vehicle operating condition; and sensing the presence of oncoming vehicle headlights and, when no oncoming vehicle headlights are sensed, controlling said digital light processor to output a light illumination pattern having substantially symmetrical illumination about a vehicle central axis. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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Specification