VEHICLE INTERIOR LIGHTING AND ILLUMINATION
A vehicle lighting system having a microLED array and a controller. The vehicle lighting system configured to provide illumination in the interior of a vehicle and which may follow a moving object, a moving occupant, or a portion of a moving occupant. The vehicle lighting system may also be configured to emit light of different colors.
1 . A vehicle lighting system comprising:
a microLED array comprising a plurality of semiconductor light emitters, each semiconductor light emitter less than 500 microns in size, and a spacing between semiconductor light emitters less than 50 microns; and
a controller configured to control one or more of the semiconductor light emitters of the microLED array to provide illumination in a vehicle interior.
2 . The vehicle lighting system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to control the one or more semiconductor light emitters to provide layer spot illumination within the vehicle interior.
3 . The vehicle lighting system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to control the one or more semiconductor light emitters to provide beam steering.
4 . The vehicle lighting system of claim 1 , wherein the microLED array comprises an M×N rectangular matrix.
5 . The vehicle lighting system of claim 1 , wherein the microLED array comprising more than 10 semiconductor light emitters.
6 . The vehicle lighting system of claim 1 , wherein the microLED array is disposed in a vehicle.
7 . The vehicle lighting system of claim 1 , wherein a spacing between semiconductor light emitters is less than 5 microns.
8 . The vehicle lighting system of claim 1 , wherein each semiconductor light emitter less than 50 microns in size.
9 . The vehicle lighting system of claim 1 , wherein the microLED is mounted on and electrically connected to a silicon backplane.
10 . The vehicle lighting system of claim 1 , wherein the microLED array is circular or semicircular in shape.
11 . The vehicle lighting system of claim 1 , wherein the microLED array is configured to provide lighting on the driver side of the vehicle and comprising a second microLED array configured to provide lighting on the passenger side of the vehicle.
12 . A vehicle lighting system comprising:
a microLED array comprising a plurality of semiconductor light emitters, each semiconductor light emitter less than 500 microns in size, a spacing between semiconductor light emitters less than 50 microns, and a plurality of wavelength converters, each wavelength converter disposed on a corresponding one of the semiconductor light emitters; and
a controller configured to control one or more semiconductor light emitting layers of the microLED array to provide illumination in a vehicle interior.
13 . The vehicle lighting system of claim 12 , wherein each semiconductor light emitter has a corresponding separate wavelength converter.
14 . The vehicle lighting system of claim 12 , wherein the microLED is configured to emit light of a red color.
15 . The vehicle lighting system of claim 12 , wherein the light emitted by the microLED is color adjustable.
16 . The vehicle lighting system of claim 12 , wherein the microLED is configured to emit warm white light.
17 . The vehicle lighting system of claim 12 , wherein the microLED array is disposed in a vehicle.
18 . The vehicle lighting system of claim 12 , wherein the microLED is configured to emit infrared light.
19 . The vehicle lighting system of claim 12 , wherein the microLED is configured to project an image on a headliner area of the vehicle.
20 . The vehicle lighting system of claim 12 , wherein the microLED is disposed within a vehicle dashboard.