MOTOR VEHICLE LIGHTING MODULE CONFIGURED TO PROJECT A LIGHT BEAM FORMING A PIXELIZED IMAGE

• US 20180312104A1
• Filed: 04/27/2018
• Published: 11/01/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Valeo Vision (Valeo SE)
• Original Assignee: Valeo Vision (Valeo SE)
• Inventors: ALBOU, Pierre, GODBILLON, Vincent
• Granted Patent: US 10,501,010 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/38 using immovably-mounted light sources, e.g. fixed flashing lamps
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2400/50 Projected symbol or information, e.g. onto the road or car body
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/153 arranged in a matrix
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/155 Surface emitters, e.g. organic light emitting diodes [OLED]
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/25 Projection lenses
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/645 by electro-optic means, e.g. liquid crystal or electrochromic devices
• 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: G01C 21/365 Guidance using head up displays or projectors, e.g. virtual vehicles or arrows projected on the windscreen or on the road itself
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2300/023 Display panel composed of stacked panels
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/0457 Improvement of perceived resolution by subpixel rendering
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/3426 the different display panel areas being distributed in two dimensions, e.g. matrix
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/346 based on modulation of the reflection angle, e.g. micromirrors micromirrors devices per se G02B26/0833
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/364 with use of subpixels
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3126 for spatial light modulators in series
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3138 using arrays of modulated light sources electroluminescent display devices G09G3/30
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3188 Scale or resolution adjustment scaling in general G06T3/40; resolution modifying circuits for displays in general G09G5/391

Abstract

A lighting module for a motor vehicle, configured to project a light beam forming a pixelized image. The lighting module includes a light source and a device for processing the light emitted by the light source includes a matrix of active elements configured to process at least a portion of the light beam emitted by the light source in such a manner as to form the pixelized image. The light source includes a matrix of emissive elements of which at least two emissive elements can be activated selectively and the matrix of emissive elements and of active elements are offset relative to one another in such a manner that each active element is arranged across a portion of the light beam emitted by an emissive element.

Claims

1. Lighting module for a motor vehicle, configured to project a light beam forming a pixelized image, comprising a light source and a device for processing the light emitted by the light source, the processing device including a matrix of active elements configured to process at least a portion of the light beam emitted by the light source in such a manner as to form the pixelized image, wherein the light source includes a matrix of emissive elements of which at least two emissive elements can be activated selectively and wherein the matrix of emissive elements and the matrix of active elements are offset relative to one another in such a manner that each active element is arranged across a portion of the light beam emitted by an emissive element.

2. Motor vehicle lighting module according to claim 1, wherein each emissive element is configured to light at least two adjacent active elements.

3. Motor vehicle lighting module according to claim 1, wherein the surface area of the matrix of emissive elements is greater than the surface area of the matrix of active elements.

4. Motor vehicle lighting module according to claim 1, wherein the surface area of at least one emissive element is equal to the surface area of at least one active element.

5. Motor vehicle lighting module according to claim 1, wherein the surface area projected onto the processing device, of a light beam emitted by an emissive element is equal to the surface area of at least one active element.

6. Motor vehicle lighting module according to claim 1, wherein the lighting module comprises a first projection optic arranged facing the matrix of active elements, in such a manner as to project the pixelized image outside the device.

7. Motor vehicle lighting module according to claim 1, wherein at least one active element reflects a portion of the light beam emitted by an emissive element.

8. Motor vehicle lighting module according to claim 1, wherein at least one active element is configured to refract a portion of the light beam emitted by an emissive element.

9. Motor vehicle lighting module according to claim 1, wherein the lighting module comprises a second projection optic arranged between the light source and the processing device, in such a manner as to project onto the matrix of active elements at least a portion of the light emitted by the light source.

10. Motor vehicle lighting module according to claim 1, wherein the lighting module comprises a control module configured to control simultaneously the lighting and/or the extinction of the emissive elements and to activate and/or deactivate the active elements of the processing device.

11. Motor vehicle lighting module according to claim 1, wherein each emissive element comprises a plurality of submillimetre electroluminescent rods for emitting a light beam.

12. Motor vehicle lighting module according to claim 11, wherein the electroluminescent rods project from a substrate, and may be formed directly on that substrate.

13. Motor vehicle lighting device including a lighting module according to claim 1.

14. Motor vehicle lighting module according to claim 2, wherein the surface area of the matrix of emissive elements is greater than the surface area of the matrix of active elements.

15. Motor vehicle lighting module according to claim 2, wherein the surface area of at least one emissive element is equal to the surface area of at least one active element.

16. Motor vehicle lighting module according to claim 2, wherein the surface area projected onto the processing device, of a light beam emitted by an emissive element is equal to the surface area of at least one active element.

17. Motor vehicle lighting module according to claim 2, wherein the lighting module comprises a first projection optic arranged facing the matrix of active elements, in such a manner as to project the pixelized image outside the device.

18. Motor vehicle lighting module according to claim 2, wherein at least one active element reflects a portion of the light beam emitted by an emissive element.

19. Motor vehicle lighting module according to claim 2, wherein at least one active element is configured to refract a portion of the light beam emitted by an emissive element.

20. Motor vehicle lighting module according to claim 2, wherein the lighting module comprises a second projection optic arranged between the light source and the processing device, in such a manner as to project onto the matrix of active elements at least a portion of the light emitted by the light source.