Headlamp and dynamic lighting system for vehicles

• US 6,406,172 B1
• Filed: 06/22/2000
• Issued: 06/18/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Harbers, Gerard, Begemann, Simon H. A.
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Shea, Sandra
• Assistant Examiner(s): DELGIZZI, RONALD ERNEST
• Application Number:
  US09/599,792
• Time in Patent Office: 726 Days
• Field of Search: 362/544, 362/545, 362/230, 362/231, 362/251, 362/464, 362/466
• US Class Current: 362/544
• 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 1/18 being additional front lights bracket mounted headlights B60Q1/0483
• 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 2300/112 Vehicle speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/122 Steering angle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/128 Steering dead zone
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/312 Adverse weather
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/00 Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps reversing lights F21S43/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/153 arranged in a matrix
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/663 by switching light sources by switching incandescent light sources F21S41/162
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 45/47 Passive cooling, e.g. using fins, thermal conductive elements or openings
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/89 Metals
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

A headlamp (2; 3) of a vehicle (1) has a light source (4; 5) comprising a plurality of opto-electronic elements (11; 12; 13; 14), preferably light-emitting diodes (LEDs). At least one of these opto-electronic elements (11; 12; 13; 14) has, in operation, a luminous flux of 5 lm or higher. According to the invention, the spatial distribution of the light beam (6, 6′, . . . ; 7, 7′, . . . ) generated by the light source (4; 5) is continuously adjustable. Preferably, the light source (4; 5) comprises opto-electronic elements (11; 12; 13; 14) only. Preferably, the spatial distribution is influenced by the speed of the vehicle (1), the rotational position of the steering wheel of the vehicle (1), the weather conditions, and it can also be influenced by the driver of the vehicle (1). Preferably, the spectral characteristics of the light beam (6, 6′, . . . ; 7, 7′, . . . ) generated by the light source (4; 5) depend on the position in the light beam (6, 6′, . . . ; 7, 7′, . . . ). The light beam comprises at least two light beam segments (6, 6′; 7, 7′) having essentially different spectral characteristics.

Claims

1. A headlamp of a vehicle comprising a light source which includes a plurality of opto-electronic elements, wherein:

a luminous flux of at least one of the opto-electronic elements amounts, in operation, to at least 5 lm,

the opto-electronic elements form an array distributed evenly on a surface of the light source, and

a light beam generated by the light source has a continuously adjustable spatial distribution.

2. A vehicle headlamp as claimed in claim 1, wherein the light source consists of a plurality of opto-electronic elements.

3. A vehicle headlamp as claimed in claim 1, wherein the intensities of the light emitted by the opto-electronic elements are adjustable so that the range of said beam varies directly and the width of said beam varies inversely with the velocity of the vehicle.

4. A vehicle headlamp as claimed in claim 1, wherein the intensities of the light emitted by the opto-electronic elements are adjustable so that the spatial distribution of said beam follows the rotational position of a steering wheel of the vehicle.

5. A vehicle headlamp as claimed in claim 1, wherein the intensities of the light emitted by the opto-electronic elements are adjustable to decrease backscattering of said light beam by fog or snow particles in accordance with weather conditions.

6. A vehicle headlamp as claimed in claim 1, wherein the intensities of the light emitted by the opto-electronic elements are adjustable by a driver of the vehicle to control the distribution of said light beam.

7. A vehicle headlamp as claimed in claim 1, wherein the intensities of the light emitted by the opto-electronic elements are varied on said surface of the light source so that the spectral characteristic of said light beam is different at different points in a plane which is transverse to the light beam.

8. A vehicle headlamp as claimed in claim 7, wherein the light beam comprises at least two beam segments, each having a substantially different spectral characteristic from the other.

9. A vehicle headlamp as claimed in claim 8, wherein a first beam segment has a spectral characteristic which is rich in green-yellow light, and a second beam segment has a spectral characteristic which is rich in blue-green light.

10. A vehicle headlamp as claimed in claim 1, wherein the opto-electronic elements comprise light-emitting diodes.

11. A vehicle headlamp as claimed in claim 1, wherein the surface of the light source is curved.

12. A vehicle headlight comprising a light source comprising a plurality of opto-electronic elements , wherein:

the opto-electronic elements form an array on a surface of the light source, said surface having a periphery, said array not being confined to the periphery of said surface, and

each said opto-electronic element is adjustable to emit light of variable intensity,

whereby a light beam generated by the light source has a continuously adjustable spatial distribution.

13. A headlamp of a vehicle comprising a light source which includes a plurality of opto-electronic elements, wherein

the opto-electronic elements are arrayed in columns and rows, and

the light emitted by each said opto-electric element is capable of being turned on or off separately,

whereby a light source with continuously adjustable spatial distribution is achieved.

14. A vehicle headlamp as claimed in claim 13, wherein the light source consists of a plurality of opto-electronic elements.

15. A vehicle headlamp as claimed in claim 13, wherein the intensities of the light emitted by the opto-electronic elements are varied on said surface of the light source so that the spectral characteristic of said light beam is different at different points in a plane which is transverse to the light beam.

16. A vehicle headlamp as claimed in claim 15, wherein the light beam comprises at least two beam segments, each having a substantially different spectral characteristic from the other.

17. A vehicle headlamp as claimed in claim 16, wherein a first beam segment has a spectral characteristic which is rich in green-yellow light, and a second beam segment has a spectral characteristic which is rich in blue-green light.

18. A vehicle headlamp as claimed in claim 13, wherein the opto-electronic elements comprise light-emitting diodes.

19. A vehicle headlight system comprising:

one or more light sources, each of which comprises a plurality of opto-electronic elements, wherein

the opto-electronic elements form an array on a surface of the light source, and

the opto-electronic-elements are each adjustable to emit light of varying intensity,

whereby light beams generated by the light sources have a continuously adjustable spatial distribution.

20. The vehicle headlight system of claim 19, further comprising a first light source having a first array of opto-electronic elements and a second light source having a second array of opto-electronic elements, said second array being different from said first array.

21. The vehicle headlight system of claim 20, wherein the second array is mirror-inverted with respect to the first array.

22. A headlamp of a vehicle comprising a light source which includes a plurality of opto-electronic elements, wherein:

each said opto-electronic element is adjustable to emit light of variable luminous flux,

whereby a light beam generated by the light source has a continuously adjustable spatial distribution.

23. The headlamp of claim 22 wherein the luminous flux of the opto-electronic elements are varied by turning each element on or off.

24. The headlamp of claim 22 wherein the luminous flux of the opto-electronic elements are varied with respect to each other.