Vehicle headlight

• US 20020196639A1
• Filed: 06/20/2002
• Published: 12/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Daimler AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Original Assignee: Daimler Chrysler Company LLC (Stellantis NV)
• Inventors: Weidel, Edgar
• Granted Patent: US 7,150,552 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/521
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/085 due to special conditions, e.g. adverse weather, type of road, badly illuminated road signs or potential dangers B60Q1/10, B60Q1/12, B60Q1/1423 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/10 due to vehicle inclination, e.g. due to load distribution
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/14 having dimming means
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/054 Variable non-standard intensity, i.e. emission of various beam intensities different from standard intensities, e.g. continuous or stepped transitions of intensity
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/132 Pitch
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/136 Roll
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/13 Ultraviolet light; Infrared light
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/143 the main emission direction of the LED being parallel to the optical axis of the illuminating device
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/151 arranged in one or more lines
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/275 Lens surfaces, e.g. coatings or surface structures
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/28 Cover glass
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/663 by switching light sources by switching incandescent light sources F21S41/162
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/002 using microoptical elements for redirecting or diffusing light
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2105/10 comprising a two-dimensional array of point-like light-generating elements
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/30 Semiconductor lasers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode

Abstract

The invention concerns a vehicle headlight, comprising a two-dimensional array (2) of a plurality of electronic light emitter elements (4), which are arranged for emitting a plurality of parallel light beams (6), a collection lens (8), which is provided one focal length away essentially parallel to the two-dimensional array and positioned for receiving the light emitted by the array, and a control electronic for the light emitter elements operatively associated for energizing the light emitter elements (4) individually or in groups. This results in a headlight with variable light emission characteristics, which is mechanically particularly simple to construct, is operationally reliable, and is rapid to react.

Claims

1. Vehicle headlight, comprising a two-dimensional array (2) of a plurality of electronic light emitter elements (4), which are arranged for emitting a plurality of parallel light beams (6), a collection lens (8), which is provided one focal length away essentially parallel to the two-dimensional array and positioned for receiving the light emitted by the array, and a control electronic for the light emitter elements operatively associated for energizing the light emitter elements (4) individually or in groups.

2. Vehicle headlight according to claim 1, wherein the light emitters (4) emit infrared light.

3. Vehicle headlight according to claim 1, wherein the light emitters (4) emit visible light.

4. Vehicle headlight according to claim 1, wherein some of the light emitters (4) emit infrared light and the remaining light emitters emit visible light.

5. Vehicle headlight according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the light emitters (4) are laser diodes.

6. Vehicle headlight according to one of claims 1 through 4, wherein the light emitters (4) are LEDs.

10. Vehicle headlight according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a diffuser (10) is positioned in the path of the light beams (6) of one or more of the light emitters (4).

11. Vehicle headlight according to claim 10, wherein the light diffuser (10) is positioned in close proximity to the collection lens (8).

12. Vehicle headlight according to claim 10, wherein the light diffuser (10) is integrated in the collection lens (8).

13. Vehicle headlight according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the control electronics is designed for selectively energizing light elements (4) in response to data received from sensors regarding the traffic or environmental conditions.

14. Vehicle headlight according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the control electronics is designed to produce in some or all of the light emitters (4) light intensities, which is enhanced or reduced than the normal light intensity of the light emitters.

15. Vehicle headlight according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the headlight is a front headlight.

7. Vehicle headlight, comprising multiple two-dimensional arrays (12, 12′

), which respectively comprise a plurality of electronic light emitting elements (14, 14′

), which are arranged for emitting a plurality of parallel light beams (16. 16′

), wherein the light emitted by each array has a wavelength which is different from the wavelength of the other arrays, and wherein the multiple arrays are so arranged, that their respective light beams meet in a light combiner (20), which directs the light bundles of all arrays in parallel to a common collection lens (18), and a control electronic for the light emitter elements operatively associated for energizing the light emitter elements (14, 14′

) individually or in groups.

8. Vehicle headlight according to claim 7, wherein some of the arrays (12) emit infrared light and the remaining arrays (12′

) emit visible light.

9. Vehicle headlight according to claim 7 or 8, wherein two or more arrays 912, 12′

) emit visible monochromic light with respective different wavelengths, which when combined produce white light.