Micro-lens array projection device, lighting device and vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2024118597-A1
Application number	US-202118276908-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 6, 2021
Priority date	Feb 12, 2021
Publication date	Apr 11, 2024
Grant date	—

Abstract

A micro-lens array projection device has at least one light source, a field lens array, a projection lens array, and a pattern template arranged in a light beam path coming from the light source between the field lens array and the projection lens array for generating a light pattern from the light emitted by the light source. The pattern template is formed by a microslide array having at least two microslides. At least one microslide can be moved by at least one actuator in a plane located perpendicular to an optical axis between the field lens array and the projection lens array.

First claim

1 - 10 . (canceled)

11 . A micro-lens array projection device, comprising:
at least one light source; a field lens array; a projection lens array; and a pattern template arranged between the field lens array and the projection lens array in a light beam path coming from the at least light source, wherein the pattern template is configured to generate a light pattern from light emitted by the at least light source, and wherein the pattern template is a microslide array comprising at least two microslides, wherein at least one microslide of the at least two microslides is movable by at least one actuator in a plane located perpendicular to an optical axis between the field lens array and the projection lens array.

12 . The micro-lens array projection device of claim 11 , wherein the at least two microslides are movable, perpendicular to one another, in intersecting rows and columns.

13 . The micro-lens array projection device of claim 11 , wherein the at least one actuator is configured to translationally move at least two rows or at least columns of the at least two microslides simultaneously.

14 . The micro-lens array projection device of claim 11 , wherein the at least one actuator is a piezo actuator.

15 . The micro-lens array projection device of claim 11 , wherein the at least one light source comprises lighting configured to emit light with at least one wavelength assigned to infra-red spectrum.

16 . The micro-lens array projection device of claim 11 , wherein the at least two microslides respectively comprise a pattern of transparent and opaque portions for light emitted by the light source, wherein the at least two microslides have a different pattern from each other.

17 . A vehicle, comprising:
a lighting device comprising at least one micro-lens array projection device, which comprises
at least one light source;
a field lens array;
a projection lens array; and
a pattern template arranged between the field lens array and the projection lens array in a light beam path coming from the at least light source,
wherein the pattern template is configured to generate a light pattern from light emitted by the at least light source, and
wherein the pattern template is a microslide array comprising at least two microslides, wherein at least one microslide of the at least two microslides is movable by at least one actuator in a plane located perpendicular to an optical axis between the field lens array and the projection lens array.

18 . A method comprising:
providing a micro-lens array projection device, comprising at least one light source, a field lens array, a projection lens array, and a pattern template arranged between the field lens array and the projection lens array in a light beam path coming from the at least light source, wherein the pattern template is configured to generate a light pattern from light emitted by the at least light source, and wherein the pattern template is a microslide array comprising at least two microslides, wherein at least one microslide of the at least two microslides is movable by at least one actuator in a plane located perpendicular to an optical axis between the field lens array and the projection lens array; moving the at least one microslide in the plane located perpendicular to the optical axis between the field lens array and the projection lens array; and generating, by the pattern template from the light emitted by the at least one light source, the light pattern.

Assignees

• Mercedes Benz Group Ag

Inventors

• Yargeldi Sinan
• Mueller Axel
• Borowski Martin

Classifications

• G03B21/001 Primary

  Slide projectors · CPC title

• F21S41/13

  Ultraviolet light; Infrared light · CPC title

• F21S41/683

  by moving screens · CPC title

• G03B21/208

  Homogenising, shaping of the illumination light · CPC title

• G02B27/0961 Primary

  Lens arrays (lens arrays per se G02B3/0006) · CPC title