Patent Application
20250116387
This present disclosure generally relates to automotive modules.
Previous light-emitting modules for vehicles and automobiles include light-emitting diode (LED) modules include heat sinks and have designs centering on heat-removal from the LEDs on the heat module or directing heat flow onto headlight optics to defog and/or deice.
However, previous light-emitting or LED modules do not allow scalable methods of aligning LEDs with imaging optics.
In the drawings, like reference characters generally refer to the same parts throughout the different views. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead generally being placed upon illustrating the principles of the disclosure. In the following description, various aspects of the disclosure are described with reference to the following drawings, in which:
The following detailed description refers to the accompanying drawings that show, by way of illustration, specific details and aspects in which the disclosure may be practiced. One or more aspects are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the disclosure. Other aspects may be utilized and structural, logical, and electrical changes may be made without departing from the scope of the disclosure. The various aspects described herein are not necessarily mutually exclusive, as some aspects can be combined with one or more other aspects to form new aspects. Various aspects are described in connection with methods and various aspects are described in connection with devices. However, it may be understood that aspects described in connection with methods may similarly apply to the devices, and vice versa. Throughout the drawings, it should be noted that like reference numbers are used to depict the same or similar elements, features, and structures. Throughout the drawings, it should be noted that proportions are not necessary to scale and that the size of features may be emphasized for ease of illustration.
The automotive lighting apparatus 100 can include a heat sink 110, a lighting module 120, a collimating assembly 130, and one or more microlens arrays 140. In these views, the lighting module 120 is not shown. An example of a lighting module 120 is shown in
As shown in
As shown in
In addition to the light sources 125, other elements, components, modules, or circuitries may be included and mounted on the circuit board 125.
In the example of
The light sources described in the automotive lighting apparatus herein may be individually addressable. While a controller can be included in the lighting module or automotive lighting apparatus to control operation of the light sources, in other examples, control or communications can be external to the lighting module and automotive lighting apparatus. That is the light sources may be in communication with an external control source, e.g., a controller external to the automotive lighting apparatus. The external controller can send signals to control the light sources as described herein.
The light sources 125 and others described herein may be any suitable type light sources including light-emitting diodes (LEDs), lasers, VCSELs, etc.
While
Similar to the examples of
The circuit board and light sources 325 can form part of a lighting module, such as the lighting module 120 of
In the example of
The collimators 335 can narrow and/or direct light emitted from the light sources 325 to produce parallel rays of light. The collimating assembly 330 can arranged so that collimators are aligned and appropriately above the light sources 325.
In the example of
Further, the collimator assembly 330 can include a microlens array slot 338. The slot can be used to hold the microlens array as shown in
As described, herein, fastening or securing mechanisms may include, without limitation, screws and bolts, nails, rivets, welding, adhesives, clips, clamps, hooks, velcro, hook and loop fasteners, magnetic fasteners, form fitting, etc.
Further, the lighting apparatus 300 of the
Further, in
In the automotive lighting apparatus examples described herein, the microlens arrays is configured to project an image using light it received from the light source. In particular, light from the light sources is collimated by the collimators and before reaching the microlens array.
For example, each light source of the automotive lighting apparatuses described herein may correspond respectively with one collimator or vice versa. Said differently, there may be a plurality of light sources and a plurality of collimators having a one-to-one correspondence. Further, each collimator can be aligned with the respective light source along a light path extending from the light source to one or more microlens arrays. Moreover, in the case where the microlens array includes multiple sections, each light source may correspond respectively to one collimator and to one microlens array section. That is the light sources can have a one to correspondence with collimator a one-to-one and correspondence with the microlens array sections.
Further, in the automotive lighting apparatus examples described herein, the microlens arrays may be sectioned. That is, each microlens array may have a plurality of sections. In one example, each section may project a same or different image compared to the other sections of the microlens array.
In the automotive lighting apparatus examples described herein, the light sources may be controlled by a controller (internal or external). For example, a controller may be included in the lighting module in the automotive lighting apparatus. For example, in the context of the automotive lighting apparatus 100, the processor/controller 126 of
For the automotive lighting apparatuses described herein, a controller can be configured to control or cause the light source(s) to emit selectively in a variety of ways or manners, especially when there is a plurality of light sources. For example, a controller can be configured to cause light sources to selectively emit light to one or more of the microlens array sections.
In another example, a controller can be configured to cause a plurality of light sources to emit light at a same time to the at least one microlens array so as to form a single projected image, wherein each microlens array section projects an image that forms a part of the single projected image.
For example,
However, in other examples where there is a plurality of light sources, a controller can be configured to cause the plurality of light sources to respectively emit light at different times. Moreover, the controller can accomplish this in a manner so that the microlens array respectively projects a plurality of images at the different times. That is, each microlens array section may project one of the plurality of projected images at the different times.
For example, referring to
Further, other possibilities for controlling the light sources to selectively emit light are possible. In another example, a controller can be configured to cause the one or more light sources to selectively emit light in a sequence so that projected image from the at least one microlens array is an animated projection. In such a case, each microlens array section can project an individual frame of the animated projection, e.g., in each sequence.
Other possibilities include a controller (e.g., external or controller) can be configured to cause the one or more light sources to selectively emit light in a sequence of variable brightness. For example, a controller can be configured to cause the one or more light source to selectively emit light using pulse-width modulation (PWM) signal to control the one or more light sources.
The light sources described herein may be configured to emit a plurality of colors or in other cases, may be configured to emit a single color.
The automotive lighting apparatus described herein are configured to be implemented in various vehicles and automobiles. In example, shown in
The method 600 includes at 610, selectively emitting light from the one or more light sources to selectively emit light to one or more of the microlens array sections.
The selectively emitting light at 610 can occur in a variety of ways. For example, at 620a, the selectively emitting light from the one or more light sources includes a plurality of light sources emitting light at a same time to the at least one microlens array so as to form a single projected image and so that each microlens array section projects an image that forms a part of the single projected image.
At 620b, the selectively emitting light from the one or more light sources includes a plurality light of sources respectively emitting light at different times so that the at least one microlens array respectively projects a plurality of images at the different times and so that each microlens array section projects one of the plurality of projected images at the different times.
At 620c, the selectively emitting light from the one or more light sources includes a plurality of light sources selectively emitting light in a sequence so that a projected image from the at least one microlens array is an animated projection.
While automotive lighting apparatuses have been described herein, other similar apparatuses can be realized with the same or similar configuration and components. That is, instead of automotive lighting apparatuses, automotive sensor apparatuses can be realized.
In one case, the automotive sensor apparatus can be realized with sensors instead of light sources. For example, in the context of at least the apparatus 100 of
In the following some non-limiting examples are described, which relate to what is described herein and shown in the figures. The Examples may be combined with each other in any appropriates manner.
Example 1 is an automotive lighting apparatus including: a heatsink; a lighting module coupled to the heat sink, the lighting module comprising one or more light sources, a light source driver for driving the one or more light sources; at least one microlens array including a plurality of microlenses comprising a plurality of sections, wherein each microlens array section is configured to project an image using light from the one or more light sources; a collimating assembly arranged between the lighting module and the at least one microlens array comprising: one or more collimators corresponding respectively to the one or more light sources, wherein each of the one or more collimators is aligned in a light path from a corresponding one of the one or more light source and the at least one microlens array.
Example 2 is the subject matter of Example, wherein the one or more light sources may include a plurality of light sources, and wherein the one or more collimators may include a plurality of collimators, wherein each light source corresponds to one of the plurality of collimators and one of the microlens array sections.
Example 3 is the subject matter of Example 2, which may further include a controller configured to control operation of the one or more light sources,
wherein the controller is configured to cause the each of the plurality of light sources to selectively emit light to one or more of the microlens array sections.
Example 4 is the subject matter of Example 3,
wherein the is controller may be configured to cause the plurality of light sources to emit light at a same time to the at least one microlens array so as to form a single projected image, wherein each microlens array section projects an image that forms a part of the single projected image.
Example 5 is the subject matter of Example 3,
wherein the is controller may be configured to cause the plurality of light sources to respectively emit light at different times so that the at least one microlens array respectively projects a plurality of images at the different times, wherein each microlens array section projects one of the plurality of projected images at the different times.
Example 6 is the subject matter of Example 3,
wherein the controller may be configured to cause the one or more light sources to selectively emit light in a sequence so that projected image from the at least one microlens array is an animated projection, wherein each microlens array section projects an individual frame of the animated projection.
Example 7 is the subject matter of Example of any of Examples 3 to 6,
wherein the controller may be configured to cause the one or more light sources to selectively emit light in a sequence of variable brightness.
Example 8 is the subject matter of Example 3,
wherein the controller may be configured to cause the one or more light source to selectively emit light using pulse-width modulation (PWM) signal to control the one or more light sources.
Example 9 is the subject matter of Example 2,
wherein the plurality of light sources may be configured to emit a plurality of colors.
Example 10 is the subject matter of Example 9,
wherein each the plurality of light sources may be configured to emit a single color.
Example 11 is the subject matter of any of Examples 1 to 10,
wherein the one or more light sources may include one or more light-emitting diodes.
Example 12 is the subject matter of any of Examples 1 to 10,
wherein the one or more light sources may include one or more lasers.
Example 13 is the subject matter of any of Examples 1 to 10,
wherein the one or more light sources may include one or more vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs).
Example 14 is the subject matter of any of Examples 1 to 13,
wherein the collimating assembly may include a housing, wherein the one or more collimators reside in the housing.
Example 15 is the subject matter of Example 14,
wherein the collimating assembly may include a mount or a slot, wherein the at least one microlens array may be coupled to the mount or may reside within the slot of the collimating assembly so that each light source of the lighting module aligns with a corresponding collimator and a corresponding microlens array section.
Example 16 is the subject matter of any of Examples 1 to 15,
wherein the at least one microlens array may be removably attachable to or removable from the collimating assembly.
Example 17 is the subject matter of any of Examples 1 to 16,
wherein the lighting module may include a printed circuit board (PCB), and wherein the one or more light sources are disposed on a first side of the PCB.
Example 18 is the subject matter of Example 17,
wherein the light source driver and/or the controller may be disposed on the first side of the PCB.
Example 19 is the subject matter of Example 17 or 18,
wherein the collimating assembly may be coupled to the first side of the PCB.
Example 20 is the subject matter of Example 1,
wherein the light sources may be individually addressable in response to communication to the light sources.
Example 21 is the subject matter of Example 20,
wherein the communications to the light sources may originate from a source external to the automotive lighting apparatus.
Example 1A is a method for operating an automotive lighting apparatus that includes: a heatsink; a lighting module coupled to the heat sink, the lighting module comprising one or more light sources, a light source driver for driving the one or more light sources; at least one microlens array comprising a plurality of microlenses comprising a plurality of sections, wherein each microlens array section is configured to project an image using light from the one or more light sources; a collimating assembly arranged between the lighting module and the at least one microlens array including one or more collimators corresponding respectively to the one or more light sources, wherein each of the one or more collimators is aligned in a light path from a corresponding one of the one or more light source and the at least one microlens array,
wherein the method includes:
selectively emitting light from the one or more light sources to selectively emit light to one or more of the microlens array sections.
Example 2A is the subject matter of Example 1A,
wherein the one or more light sources may include a plurality of light sources, and wherein the one or more collimators comprise a plurality of collimators, and
wherein each light source corresponds to one of the plurality of collimators and one of the microlens array sections.
Example 3A is the subject matter of Example 2A,
wherein selectively emitting light plurality of light sources may include the plurality of light sources emitting light at a same time to the at least one microlens array so as to form a single projected image and so that each microlens array section projects an image that forms a part of the single projected image.
Example 4A is the subject matter of Example 2A,
wherein selectively emitting light from the plurality of light sources comprises the plurality of light sources respectively emitting light at different times so that the at least one microlens array respectively projects a plurality of images at the different times and so that each microlens array section projects one of the plurality of projected images at the different times.
Example 5A is the subject matter of Example 2A,
wherein selectively emitting light from the plurality of light sources may include the plurality of light sources selectively emitting light in a sequence so that a projected image from the at least one microlens array is an animated projection.
Example 6A is the subject matter of any of Examples 2A to 5A,
wherein selectively emitting light from the plurality of light sources may include the plurality of light selectively emitting light in a sequence of variable brightness.
Example 7A is the subject matter of Example 2A,
wherein the plurality of light sources may be configured to emit a plurality of colors.
Example 8A is the subject matter of Example 7A,
wherein each the plurality of light sources may be configured to emit a single color.
Example 9A is the subject matter of any of Example 1A to 8A,
wherein the one or more light sources comprise one or more light-emitting diodes.
Example 10A is the subject matter of any of Examples 1A to 8A,
wherein the one or more light sources may include one or more lasers.
Example 11A is the subject matter of any of Examples 1A to 8A,
wherein the one or more light sources may include one or more vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs).
Example 1B is an automotive apparatus including: a heatsink; a module coupled to the heat sink, the module including one or more light/radiation sources and/or one or more sensors, at least one driver for driving the one or more light/radiation sources and/or sensors; at least one microlens array comprising a plurality of microlenses comprising a plurality of sections, wherein each microlens array section can be configured to project an image or pattern using light/radiation from the one or more light/radiation sources; a collimating assembly arranged between the lighting module and the at least one microlens array including: one or more collimators corresponding respectively to the one or more light/radiation sources, wherein each of the one or more collimators is aligned in a path from a corresponding one of the one or more light/radiation source and the at least one microlens array.
The word “exemplary” is used herein to mean “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any example or design described herein as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other examples or designs.
For the purposes of the present disclosure, the phrase “A and/or B” means (A), (B), or (A and B). For the purposes of the present disclosure, the phrase “A, B, and/or C” means (A), (B), (C), (A and B), (A and C), (B and C), or (A, B, and C). Reference to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” in the present disclosure means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” or “in an embodiment” are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. The appearances of the phrase “for example,” “in an example,” or “in some examples” are not necessarily all referring to the same example.
The words “plurality” and “multiple” in the description or the claims expressly refer to a quantity greater than one. The terms “group (of)”, “set [of]”, “collection (of)”, “series (of)”, “sequence (of)”, “grouping (of)”, etc., and the like in the description or in the claims refer to a quantity equal to or greater than one, i.e. one or more. Any term expressed in plural form that does not expressly state “plurality” or “multiple” likewise refers to a quantity equal to or greater than one.
The term “connected” or “coupled” can be understood in the sense of a (e.g. mechanical, optical and/or electrical), e.g. direct or indirect, connection and/or interaction. For example, several elements can be connected together mechanically such that they are physically retained (e.g., a plug connected to a socket) and electrically such that they have an electrically conductive path (e.g., signal paths exist along a communicative chain).
As used herein, unless otherwise specified the use of the ordinal adjectives “first”, “second”, “third” etc., to describe a common object, merely indicate that different instances of like objects are being referred to, and are not intended to imply that the objects so described must be in a given sequence, either temporally, spatially, in ranking, or in any other manner.
As utilized herein, terms “module”, “component,” “system,” “circuit,” “element,” “slice,” “circuitry,” and the like are intended to refer to a set of one or more electronic components, a computer-related entity, hardware, software (e.g., in execution), and/or firmware. For example, circuitry or a similar term can be a processor, a process running on a processor, a controller, an object, an executable program, a storage device, and/or a computer with a processing device. By way of illustration, an application running on a server and the server can also be circuitry. One or more circuits can reside within the same circuitry, and circuitry can be localized on one computer and/or distributed between two or more computers. A set of elements or a set of other circuits can be described herein, in which the term “set” can be interpreted as “one or more.”
Such electric or electronic circuitry can be operated by a software application or a firmware application executed by one or more processors. The one or more processors can be internal or external to the apparatus and can execute at least a part of the software or firmware application. As yet another example, circuitry can be an apparatus that provides specific functionality through electronic components without mechanical parts; the electronic components can include one or more processors therein to execute executable instructions stored in computer readable storage medium and/or firmware that confer(s), at least in part, the functionality of the electronic components. As another example, circuitry or similar term can be implemented in hardware such as application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), programmable gate array (PGA), discrete digital circuits, etc.) or in a combination of hardware and software (e.g., a software model executed by a corresponding processor).
The term “data” as used herein may be understood to include information in any suitable analog or digital form, e.g., provided as a file, a portion of a file, a set of files, a signal or stream, a portion of a signal or stream, a set of signals or streams, and the like. Further, the term “data” may also be used to mean a reference to information, e.g., in form of a pointer. The term data, however, is not limited to the aforementioned examples and may take various forms and represent any information as understood in the art.
As used herein, a signal that is “indicative of” a value or other information may be a digital or analog signal that encodes or otherwise communicates the value or other information in a manner that can be decoded by and/or cause a responsive action in a component receiving the signal. The signal may be stored or buffered in computer readable storage medium prior to its receipt by the receiving component and the receiving component may retrieve the signal from the storage medium. Further, a “value” that is “indicative of” some quantity, state, or parameter may be physically embodied as a digital signal, an analog signal, or stored bits that encode or otherwise communicate the value.
As used herein, a signal may be transmitted or conducted through a signal chain in which the signal is processed to change characteristics such as phase, amplitude, frequency, and so on. The signal may be referred to as the same signal even as such characteristics are adapted. In general, so long as a signal continues to encode the same information, the signal may be considered as the same signal. For example, a transmit signal may be considered as referring to the transmit signal in baseband, intermediate, and radio frequencies.
While the above descriptions and connected figures may depict device components as separate elements, skilled persons will appreciate the various possibilities to combine or integrate discrete features, functions into a single element. Such may include combining two or more components into a single component. Conversely, skilled persons will recognize the possibility to separate a single element into two or more discrete elements, such as splitting a single component into two or more separate components.
It is appreciated that implementations of methods detailed herein are exemplary in nature, and are thus understood as capable of being implemented in a corresponding device. Likewise, it is appreciated that implementations of devices detailed herein are understood as capable of being implemented as a corresponding method. It is thus understood that a device corresponding to a method detailed herein may include one or more components configured to perform each aspect of the related method.
All acronyms defined in the above description additionally hold in all claims included herein.
While the disclosure has been particularly shown and described with reference to specific embodiments, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure as defined by the appended claims. The scope of the disclosure is thus indicated by the appended claims and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced.
