Intelligent head lamp assembly for vehicle

• US 8,602,618 B2
• Filed: 06/29/2011
• Issued: 12/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Original Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Inventors: Ahn, Byoung Suk, Cho, Hoo Taek, Oh, Young Sub, Park, Jong Ryoul, Jeong, Myong Guan
• Primary Examiner(s): CARIASO, ALAN B
• Application Number:
  US13/172,436
• Publication Number:
  US 20120127747A1
• Time in Patent Office: 895 Days
• Field of Search: 362464-468, 362/538, 362/539
• US Class Current: 362/538
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2400/50 Projected symbol or information, e.g. onto the road or car body
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/12 characterised by the type of emitted light
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/25 Projection lenses
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/675 by moving reflectors

Abstract

An intelligent head lamp assembly for a vehicle may include a light source to irradiate light, a reflector reflecting the light irradiated from the light source, a beam pattern variable unit having at least a digital micro-mirror device (DMD) that selectively change direction of the light reflected by the reflector to a predetermined angle, and a projection lens optical system irradiating the light selectively reflected by the beam pattern variable unit onto a road surface.

Claims

1. An intelligent head lamp assembly for a vehicle, comprising:

a light source to irradiate light;

a reflector reflecting the light irradiated from the light source;

a beam pattern variable unit having at least a digital micro-mirror device (DMD) that selectively change direction of the light reflected by the reflector to a predetermined angle;

a projection lens optical system irradiating the light selectively reflected by the beam pattern variable unit onto a road surface; and

a prism installed between the reflector and the beam pattern variable unit to reflect the light reflected by the reflector to the at least a digital micro-mirror device;

wherein the prism includes;

a first prism surface that reflects the light reflected by the reflector to at least digital micro-mirror device;

a second prism surface that reflects again the light which is reflected by the first prism surface; and

a third prism surface that reflects again the light reflected by the second prism surface in a front direction of the vehicle such that the light is not incident to the projection lens optical system.

2. The intelligent head lamp assembly according to claim 1, wherein the beam pattern variable unit further includes a driving unit engaged to the at least a digital micro-mirror device to change orientation of the at least a digital micro-mirror device at a predetermined angle around a predetermined axis respectively in accordance with vehicle information.

3. The intelligent head lamp assembly according to claim 2, wherein the vehicle information includes a fuel state or a turn signal.

4. The intelligent head lamp assembly according to claim 2, wherein when an electric signal is activated to the driving unit, the driving unit drives the at least a digital micro-mirror device to make the light reflected by the reflector incident to the projection lens optical system, and when another electric signal is activated to the driving unit, the driving unit drives at least digital micro-mirror device to prevent the light reflected by the reflector from being incident to the projection lens optical system.

5. The intelligent head lamp assembly according to claim 1, further comprising an infrared ray and ultraviolet ray filter installed between the light source and the prism.

6. The intelligent head lamp assembly according to claim 1, wherein the prism has a prism surface that reflects the light reflected by the reflector to the at least digital micro-mirror device.

7. The intelligent head lamp assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a reflective member provided around the projection lens optical system to irradiate the light reflected by the third prism surface in a direction of the vehicle.