High efficiency digital light processing engine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017192224-A1
Application number	US-201514984850-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 30, 2015
Priority date	Dec 30, 2015
Publication date	Jul 6, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed for a pixelated light source that includes a plurality of pixels; a plurality of digital micromirrors configured to receive input light from the pixelated light source and configured to modify the input light to generate output light; and one or more controllers configured to control both the pixelated light source and the plurality of digital micromirrors to condition the output light.

First claim

1 : A system comprising:
a pixelated light source that includes a plurality of pixels; a plurality of digital micromirrors configured to receive input light from the pixelated light source and configured to modify the input light to generate output light; and one or more controllers configured to control both the pixelated light source and the plurality of digital micromirrors to condition the output light.

2 : The system of claim 1 , wherein the pixelated light source comprises one of a light-emitting diode array and a high-definition pixel engine.

3 : The system of claim 1 , further comprising a projection lens configured to receive the output light from the plurality of digital micromirrors.

4 : The system of claim 3 , wherein each digital micromirror of the plurality of digital micromirrors comprises:
a first state, wherein each of the plurality of digital micromirrors is arranged to direct the output light to the projection lens; and a second state, wherein each of the plurality of digital micromirrors is arranged to direct the output light away from the projection lens.

5 : The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more controllers are configured to generate a map comprising a plurality of bright zones and a plurality of dark zones.

6 : The system of claim 5 , wherein the one or more controllers are further configured to:
activate each of the plurality of pixels corresponding to each of the plurality of bright zones of the map; and deactivate each of the plurality of pixels corresponding to each of the plurality of dark zones of the map.

7 : The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more controllers comprises:
one or more digital light processing controllers configured to control the plurality of digital micromirrors; one or more light-emitting diode controllers configured to control the pixelated light source; and one or more digital signal processors, configured to:
provide a digital light processing frame to the one or more digital light processing controllers; and
provide a light-emitting diode frame to the one or more light-emitting diode controllers.

8 : The system of claim 7 , wherein the one or more digital light processing controllers are configured to control the plurality of digital micromirrors based on the digital light processing frame; and wherein the one or more light-emitting diode controllers are configured to selectively activate the plurality of pixels based on the light-emitting diode frame.

9 : A method comprising:
emitting light from a pixelated light source that includes a plurality of pixels; receiving the light by a plurality of digital micromirrors, wherein each of the plurality of digital micromirrors comprises a first state and a second state; directing, by one of the plurality of digital micromirrors operating in the first state, a portion of the light to a projection lens; and directing, by one of the plurality of digital micromirrors operating in the second state, a portion of the light away from the projection lens.

10 : The method of claim 9 , wherein the pixelated light source comprises one of a light-emitting diode array and a high-definition pixel engine.

11 : The method of claim 9 , further comprising controlling both the pixelated light source and the plurality of digital micromirrors to condition the output light.

12 : The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
selecting, by one or more digital light processing controllers, the first state of at least one of the plurality of digital micromirrors; and selecting, by one or more digital light processing controllers, the second state of at least one of the plurality of digital micromirrors.

13 : The method of claim 12 , further comprising generating, by the one or more digital light processing controllers, a map comprising a plurality of bright zones and a plurality of dark zones.

14 : The method of claim 13 , further comprising receiving, by one or more light-emitting diode controllers, the map.

15 : The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
activating, by the one or more light-emitting diode controllers, each of the plurality of pixels corresponding to each of the plurality of bright zones of the map; and deactivating, by the one or more light-emitting diode controllers, each of the plurality of pixels corresponding to each of the plurality of dark zones of the map.

16 : The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
providing, by one or more digital signal processors, a digital light processing frame to one or more digital light processing controllers; and providing, by one or more digital signal processors, a light-emitting diode frame to one or more light-emitting diode controllers.

17 : The method of claim 16 , further comprising:
selecting, by one or more digital light processing controllers, the first state of at least one of the plurality of digital micromirrors based on the digital light processing frame; selecting, by one or more digital light processing controllers, the second state of at least one of the plurality of digital micromirrors based on the digital light processing frame; selectively activating, by the one or more light-emitting diode controllers, the plurality of pixels based on the light-emitting diode frame.

18 : The system of claim 1 , further comprising a projection lens, and wherein the pixelated light source, the plurality of digital micromirrors, and the projection lens form a vehicle headlamp.

19 : The system of claim 18 , wherein the pixelated light source comprises one of an light-emitting diode array and a high-definition pixel engine.

20 : The system of claim 18 , wherein the state of each of the plurality of digital micromirrors is configured so as to direct the light to the projection lens in the form of an image.

21 : The system of claim 20 , wherein the portion of the light received by the projection lens is conditioned to reduce glare to a driver.

Assignees

• Infineon Technologies Ag

Inventors

• Logiudice Andrea
• Cortigiani Fabrizio

Classifications

• F21S41/153

  arranged in a matrix · CPC title

• F21S41/675

  by moving reflectors · CPC title

• G02B26/0833 Primary

  the reflecting element being a micromechanical device, e.g. a MEMS mirror, DMD (G02B26/0825 takes precedence; micromechanical devices in general B81B) · CPC title

• F21S41/25

  Projection lenses · CPC title

• H05B45/10

  Controlling the intensity of the light · CPC title