Method and apparatus for determining failure in optical module for vehicle lamp

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016003707-A1
Application number	US-201414549027-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 20, 2014
Priority date	Jul 4, 2014
Publication date	Jan 7, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Disclosed are method and apparatus for determining failure in an optical module for a vehicle lamp. The method may include detecting at least one optical property information value of light generated in a light source, determining whether or not the detected optical property information value is within preset normal range values, determining that failure has occurred if the detected optical property information value deviates from the preset normal range values, and limiting an operation of the light source if it is determined that failure has occurred.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method for determining failure in an optical module for a vehicle lamp, comprising:
detecting at least one optical property information value of light generated in a light source; determining whether or not the detected optical property information value is within preset normal range values; determining that failure has occurred if the detected optical property information value deviates from the preset normal range values; and limiting an operation of the light source if it is determined that failure has occurred.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the optical property information value comprises a chromaticity value.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the preset normal range values are designated by a preset normal state coordinate area of color coordinates prepared in advance.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the detected chromaticity value is a coordinate value corresponding to the color coordinates prepared in advance.

5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the determining whether or not the detected optical property information value is within the preset normal range values comprises:
determining that the optical module is in a normal state if the detected chromaticity value is within the normal state coordinate area of the color coordinates.

6 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the determining that failure has occurred comprises:
determining the optical module is in a state of failure when the detected chromaticity value deviates from the normal state coordinate area of the color coordinates.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the limiting the operation of the light source comprises:
stopping the operation of the light source by blocking power applied to the light source.

8 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the determining that failure has occurred comprises:
outputting a failure alert signal to a driver if it is determined that failure has occurred; and limiting the operation of the light source by blocking power applied to the light source if the detected chromaticity value is within a preset operation limiting range of the color coordinates.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the optical property information value comprises a light quantity value.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the determining that failure has occurred comprises:
determining that failure has occurred if the light quantity value is not within the normal range values.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the determining that failure has occurred comprises:
outputting a failure alert signal to a driver if it is determined that failure has occurred; and limiting the operation of the light source by blocking power applied to the light source if the detected light quantity value is within a preset operation limiting range.

12 . An apparatus for determining failure in an optical module for a vehicle lamp, comprising:
a sensing unit for detecting at least one optical property information value of light generated in a light source; and a control unit for determining whether or not the detected optical property information value is within preset normal range values, determining that failure has occurred if the detected optical property information value deviates from the preset normal range values, and limiting an operation of the light source.

13 . The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the light source comprises:
a laser diode for generating laser light; and a phosphor for receiving the laser light and generating light having a different wavelength from a wavelength of the laser light.

14 . The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein:
the sensing unit detects a chromaticity value of the laser light and light formed by the phosphor, and the control unit determines that the optical module is in a normal state if the detected chromaticity value is within a preset normal state coordinate area.

15 . The apparatus of claim 13 , further comprising:
a filter for blocking the laser light between the sensing unit and the phosphor and passing the light generated in the phosphor, wherein the sensing unit detects quantity of the light passed through the filter.

16 . The apparatus of claim 13 , further comprising a reflection unit for causing the laser light emitted from the laser diode to be reflected and to be incident upon the phosphor on a movement path of the laser light emitted from the laser diode.

Assignees

• Hyundai Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Ahn Byoung Suk

Classifications

• G01J2001/4247

  for testing lamps or other light sources · CPC title

• B60Q11/005

  for lighting devices, e.g. indicating if lamps are burning or not · CPC title

• F21S41/176

  Light sources where the light is generated by photoluminescent material spaced from a primary light generating element · CPC title

• G01J3/505

  measuring the colour produced by lighting fixtures other than screens, monitors, displays or CRTs · CPC title

• G01M11/0285 Primary

  by measuring material or chromatic transmission properties (G01M11/0292 takes precedence) · CPC title