Vehicle lamp using fluid lens and control method of the vehicle lamp

• US 9,260,057 B2
• Filed: 01/17/2014
• Issued: 02/16/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SL Corporation
• Original Assignee: SL Corporation
• Inventors: Kim, Seon Tae
• Primary Examiner(s): Lau, Hoi
• Application Number:
  US14/158,315
• Publication Number:
  US 20150203028A1
• Time in Patent Office: 760 Days
• Field of Search: 340/479, 340/467, 340/469, 340/431, 340/463, 340/464, 340/432, 348/745, 348/148, 362/84, 362/278, 362/101, 362/512, 362/239, 359/666, 359/665, 359/620
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/444 with indication of the braking strength or speed changes, e.g. by changing shape or intensity of the indication B60Q1/1407, B60Q1/442, B60Q1/447 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/26 Refractors, transparent cover plates, light guides or filters not provided in groups F21S43/235 - F21S43/255
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 3/12 Fluid-filled or evacuated lenses
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 3/14 of variable focal length

Abstract

A vehicle lamp using a fluid lens and a control method of the vehicle lamp are provided. The vehicle lamp notifies the driving status of a vehicle to the drivers of following vehicles via a tail lamp. In particular the vehicle lamp includes a light source and a fluid lens that changes a curvature shape of the fluid lens based on an input current and generates a light emission image that corresponds to a driving status of a vehicle to the exterior of the vehicle lamp. Additionally, the input current varies based on the driving status of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A vehicle lamp using a fluid lens, comprising:

a light source;

a fluid lens configured to receive an input current, change a curvature shape of the fluid lens based on the input current, and generate a light emission image that corresponds to a driving status of a vehicle to the exterior of the vehicle lamp;

a switch configured to detect the driving status of the vehicle and output a switch output signal; and

a power supply configured to adjust the input current based on the switch output signal,

wherein the input current varies based on the driving status of the vehicle.

2. The vehicle lamp of claim 1, wherein the fluid lens is further configured to change the curvature shape of the fluid lens into a lower curvature shape in response to the input current being lower than a predetermined threshold.

3. The vehicle lamp of claim 2, wherein a first predetermined threshold for the input current for changing the curvature shape of the fluid lens into the lower curvature shape is set in advance.

4. The vehicle lamp of claim 1, wherein the fluid lens is further configured to change the curvature shape of the fluid lens into a higher curvature shape in response to the input current being greater than the predetermined threshold.

5. The vehicle lamp of claim 4, wherein a second predetermined threshold for the input current for changing the curvature shape of the fluid lens into the higher curvature shape is set in advance.

6. The vehicle lamp of claim 1, wherein the input current is determined based on one or more vehicle-related factors that indicate the driving status of the vehicle, the vehicle-related factors including a breaking operation, a stopping operation, an acceleration operation, or any combination thereof.

7. The vehicle lamp of claim 1, wherein the power supply is further configured to set the input current to a level that corresponds to the driving status of the vehicle.

8. The vehicle lamp of claim 1, wherein the power supply is further configured to set the input current to vary between one or more levels in a predetermined pattern.

9. The vehicle lamp of claim 1, wherein the power supply is further configured to adjust a current to be applied to the light source in response to receiving the switch output signal.

10. The vehicle lamp of claim 9, wherein the power supply is further configured to set the current to be applied to the light source to an inverted level of the input current.

11. A vehicle lamp using a fluid lens, comprising:

a light source;

a fluid lens configured to receive an input current, change a curvature shape of the fluid lens based on the input current, and generate a light emission image that corresponds to a driving status of a vehicle to the exterior of the vehicle lamp;

a sensor configured to detect the driving status of the vehicle and output a sensor signal;

a controller configured to analyze the sensor signal and generate a current control signal based on results of the analysis; and

a power supply configured to adjust the input current based on the current control signal,

wherein the input current varies based on the driving status of the vehicle.

12. The vehicle lamp of claim 11, wherein the controller is further configured to generate the current control signal to set the input current based on a switch output signal.

13. The vehicle lamp of claim 11, wherein the controller is further configured to generate the current control signal to set the input current to vary between one or more levels in a predetermined pattern.

14. The vehicle lamp of claim 11, wherein the controller is further configured to adjust a current to be applied to the light source in response to receiving the sensor signal.

15. The vehicle lamp of claim 14, wherein the controller is further configured to set the current to be applied to the light source to an inverted level of the input current.

17. The vehicle lamp of claim 11, wherein the fluid lens is further configured to change the curvature shape of the fluid lens into a lower curvature shape in response to the input current being lower than a predetermined threshold.

18. The vehicle lamp of claim 17, wherein a first predetermined threshold for the input current for changing the curvature shape of the fluid lens into the lower curvature shape is set in advance.

19. The vehicle lamp of claim 11, wherein the fluid lens is further configured to change the curvature shape of the fluid lens into a higher curvature shape in response to the input current being greater than the predetermined threshold.

20. The vehicle lamp of claim 19, wherein a second predetermined threshold for the input current for changing the curvature shape of the fluid lens into the higher curvature shape is set in advance.

21. The vehicle lamp of claim 11, wherein the input current is determined based on one or more vehicle-related factors that indicate the driving status of the vehicle, the vehicle-related factors including a breaking operation, a stopping operation, an acceleration operation, or any combination thereof.

16. A method of controlling a current based on a driving status of a vehicle, the method comprising:

detecting, by a sensor, the driving status of a vehicle;

outputting, by the sensor, a sensor signal;

analyzing, by a controller, the sensor signal;

generating, by the controller, a current control signal based on results of the analysis;

adjusting, by the controller, an input current to be applied to a fluid lens based on the current control signal,

wherein the fluid lens changes a curvature shape of the fluid lens based on the input current and generates a light emission image or a light emission region that corresponds to the driving status of the vehicle to the exterior of the vehicle; and

generating, by the controller, the light emission image or the light emission region in the shape of a narrow spot by applying a highest input current to the fluid lens within a predefined amount of time in response to the results of the analysis that indicate that the vehicle is in a rapid acceleration mode.

22. A method of controlling a current based on a driving status of a vehicle, the method comprising:

detecting, by a sensor, the driving status of a vehicle;

outputting, by the sensor, a sensor signal;

analyzing, by a controller, the sensor signal;

generating, by the controller, a current control signal based on results of the analysis;

adjusting, by the controller, an input current to be applied to a fluid lens based on the current control signal,

wherein the fluid lens changes a curvature shape of the fluid lens based on the input current and generates a light emission image or a light emission region that corresponds to the driving status of the vehicle to the exterior of the vehicle; and

,

adjusting, by the controller the input current to sequentially vary from a highest level to a lowest level in a predetermined pattern within a predefined amount of time in response to the results of the analysis that indicate that the vehicle is in a rapid acceleration mode.

23. A method of controlling a current based on a driving status of a vehicle, the method comprising:

detecting, by a sensor, the driving status of a vehicle;

outputting, by the sensor, a sensor signal;

analyzing, by a controller, the sensor signal;

generating, by the controller, a current control signal based on results of the analysis;

adjusting, by the controller, an input current to be applied to a fluid lens based on the current control signal,

wherein the fluid lens changes a curvature shape of the fluid lens based on the input current and generates a light emission image or a light emission region that corresponds to the driving status of the vehicle to the exterior of the vehicle; and

generating, by the controller, the light emission image or the light emission region in a circular shape with a predetermined size by applying a lowest input current to the fluid lens within a predefined amount of time in response to the results of the analysis that indicate that the vehicle is in a rapid braking mode.

24. A method of controlling a current based on a driving status of a vehicle, the method comprising:

detecting, by a sensor, the driving status of a vehicle;

outputting, by the sensor, a sensor signal;

analyzing, by a controller, the sensor signal;

generating, by the controller, a current control signal based on results of the analysis;

adjusting, by the controller, an input current to be applied to a fluid lens based on the current control signal,

wherein the fluid lens changes a curvature shape of the fluid lens based on the input current and generates a light emission image or a light emission region that corresponds to the driving status of the vehicle to the exterior of the vehicle; and

adjusting, by the controller, the input current to sequentially vary from a lowest level to a highest level in a predetermined pattern within a predefined amount of time in response to the results of the analysis that indicate that the vehicle is in a quick braking mode.