Multi-pattern headlamp assembly and system
First Claim
1. A vehicle headlamp system comprising first and second headlamp assemblies, each headlamp assembly comprising:
- a housing;
a light source that provides light inside the housing; and
an LCD panel at a fixed location relative to the housing, the panel having a light-receiving side positioned to receive light from the light source, wherein the panel includes a liquid crystal element that can be changed between opaque and transparent light-transmission states to selectively allow light to pass through the panel, wherein liquid crystal elements of each headlamp assembly are configured to be activated independently from each other.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicle headlamp system includes a headlamp assembly having a light source and a beam pattern panel. The beam pattern panel includes one or more regions capable of changing between opaque and transparent light-transmission states to selectively allow light from the light source to pass through the panel. The panel may be an LCD panel with a plurality of liquid crystal elements arranged in an array with the ability to provide a plurality of different beam patterns. The beam pattern may be determined and changed in real time based on information received at a system processor about one or more vehicle and/or road conditions. The headlamp system can direct a projected light beam into a curve in the road ahead and/or automatically change the direction of the projected beam to avoid shining light directly at oncoming drivers.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A vehicle headlamp system comprising first and second headlamp assemblies, each headlamp assembly comprising:
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a housing; a light source that provides light inside the housing; and an LCD panel at a fixed location relative to the housing, the panel having a light-receiving side positioned to receive light from the light source, wherein the panel includes a liquid crystal element that can be changed between opaque and transparent light-transmission states to selectively allow light to pass through the panel, wherein liquid crystal elements of each headlamp assembly are configured to be activated independently from each other. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A headlamp assembly for use with a vehicle headlamp system, comprising:
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a housing; a light source that provides light inside the housing; and an LCD panel comprising one or more liquid crystal elements, wherein each of the elements is configured to be activated to allow or prevent transmission of light from the light source through the panel at the activated element(s), wherein the panel is positioned so that at least some of the light from the light source impinges the panel and some of the light from the light source bypasses the panel, and wherein more light passes through the LCD panel when the headlamp assembly is at a high-beam setting than when the headlamp assembly is at a low-beam setting. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of operating a vehicle headlamp system, comprising the steps of:
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(a) directing light from a light source of a headlamp assembly toward an LCD panel so that at least some of the light impinges the panel; (b) receiving information at a headlamp system controller about a desired beam pattern for the panel; and (c) changing the light-transmission state of one or more liquid crystal elements of the LCD panel to provide the desired beam pattern, wherein the desired beam pattern is a first desired beam pattern of a first headlamp assembly and is different from a second desired beam pattern of second headlamp assembly of the headlamp system. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification