Methods and Apparatus for Light Efficient Programmable Headlamp with Anamorphic Optics

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016347237-A1
Application number	US-201615144170-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 2, 2016
Priority date	May 28, 2015
Publication date	Dec 1, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

In described examples of a headlamp to project a beam of light from a lens, the headlamp includes: an illumination module to output a light beam to an illumination path; and illumination optics to receive the light beam and to provide illumination to a programmable spatial light modulator. The programmable spatial light modulator is arranged to receive the illumination and to output non-uniform illumination as patterned light to projection optics. The projection optics are arranged to receive the patterned light and to output the patterned light through the lens. At least one of the illumination optics and the projection optics includes an anamorphic lens to shape the light beam.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A headlamp to project a beam of light from a lens, the headlamp comprising:
an illumination module to output a light beam to an illumination path; illumination optics to receive the light beam and to provide illumination to a programmable spatial light modulator; the programmable spatial light modulator being arranged to receive the illumination and to output non-uniform illumination as patterned light to projection optics; and the projection optics being arranged to receive the patterned light and to output the patterned light through the lens; wherein at least one of the illumination optics and the projection optics includes an anamorphic lens to shape the light beam.

2 . The headlamp of claim 1 , wherein the illumination optics includes at least one anamorphic element, and wherein respective focal lengths along a vertical axis and a horizontal axis of the anamorphic element are different.

3 . The headlamp of claim 1 , wherein the projection optics include at least one anamorphic element, and wherein respective focal lengths along a vertical axis and a horizontal axis of the anamorphic element are different.

4 . The headlamp of claim 3 , wherein the projection optics have a vertical and horizontal F-number in a range of about 1.2 to about 2.8.

5 . The headlamp of claim 1 , wherein the programmable spatial light modulator includes at least one of: a digital micro-mirror device (DMD), a liquid crystal on silicon (LCoS) device, and a liquid crystal display (LCD).

6 . The headlamp of claim 1 , wherein the illumination module is arranged to output a light beam with an aspect ratio greater than or equal to an aspect ratio of the spatial light modulator.

7 . The headlamp of claim 1 , wherein the projection optics are arranged to output a light beam with an aspect ratio greater than or equal to an aspect ratio of the spatial light modulator.

8 . The headlamp of claim 1 , wherein the illumination module is arranged to supply light that includes at least one of: white light, non-white light, and infrared light.

9 . The headlamp of claim 1 , wherein the headlamp is arranged to output light having a non-uniform light beam profile with a light intensity that is center peaked, and which decreases monotonically away from center.

10 . The headlamp of claim 1 , wherein the illumination module is arranged to output the light beam with an aspect ratio that approximates an aspect ratio for the spatial light modulator.

11 . The headlamp of claim 1 , wherein the illumination module includes at least one light source that is at least one of: an LED, a laser, a laser to illuminate a phosphor, and an incandescent light.

12 . The headlamp of claim 1 , wherein the spatial light modulator includes a digital micro-mirror device (DMD).

13 . The headlamp of claim 12 , wherein a tilt angle of the DMD is 12 degrees.

14 . The headlamp of claim 12 , wherein a tilt angle of the DMD is 17 degrees.

15 . The headlamp of claim 1 , wherein the illumination provided by the illumination optics is non-uniform illumination, and wherein the programmable spatial light modulator is arranged to receive the non-uniform illumination and to output the non-uniform illumination by reflecting the non-uniform illumination as patterned light to projection optics

16 . The headlamp of claim 1 , wherein the headlamp is an automotive headlamp.

17 . A method of projecting light from a spatial light modulator, comprising:
receiving a light beam with an aspect ratio greater than an aspect ratio of the spatial light modulator; outputting a non-uniform light beam with an aspect ratio that is approximately equal to the aspect ratio of the spatial light modulator; receiving the non-uniform light beam at the spatial light modulator, pixelating the non-uniform light beam with the spatial light modulator, and reflecting the pixelated non-uniform light beam from the spatial light modulator; receiving the reflected pixelated non-uniform light beam from the spatial light modulator into projection optics; and outputting the reflected pixelated non-uniform light beam from the projection optics, wherein the outputted light beam has an aspect ratio greater than the aspect ratio of the spatial light modulator.

18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein pixelating the non-uniform light beam includes using patterns placed on pixel elements of the spatial light modulator to pattern the non-uniform light beam.

19 . The method of claim 17 , wherein outputting the non-uniform light beam includes operating an anamorphic optical element between a light source and the spatial light modulator.

20 . The method of claim 17 , wherein outputting the pixelated light beam from the projection optics includes operating an anamorphic optical element within the projection optics.

Assignees

• Texas Instruments Inc

Inventors

• Bhakta Vikrant R
• Lyubarsky Alexander

Classifications

• F21S41/255

  Lenses with a front view of circular or truncated circular outline · CPC title

• B60Q2400/50

  Projected symbol or information, e.g. onto the road or car body · CPC title

• F21S41/645

  by electro-optic means, e.g. liquid crystal or electrochromic devices · CPC title

• F21S41/265

  Composite lenses; Lenses with a patch-like shape · CPC title

• F21S41/285

  Refractors, transparent cover plates, light guides or filters not provided in groups F21S41/24 - F21S41/2805 · CPC title