IP Library Granted Patent US 11,046,248
Granted Patent B2
US 11,046,248 · App. 16/971,152 · Granted Jun 29, 2021

Light module for a motor vehicle headlamp

Inventors: Josef Plank (Purgstall/Erlauf, AT); Martin Lahmer (Münichreith, AT); Josef Pürstinger (Bad Hall, AT); Markus Danner (Ollersdorf, AT)
Assignee: ZKW Group GmbH
B60Q11/005B60Q1/0023B60Q1/04F21S41/16F21S41/176F21S41/255F21S41/36F21S41/40F21S41/675
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,046,248
App. No.
16/971,152
Granted
Jun 29, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

The invention relates to a light module for a motor vehicle headlamp, comprising at least one optoelectronic component ( 300 ), which is arranged in the main emission direction of a first illuminant ( 110 ) and which comprises a controllable arrangement of a plurality of micromirrors ( 310 ), which can be pivoted into a first and a second position. Micromirrors ( 310 ) that are in the first position deflect light beams toward at least one projection optical unit ( 400 ), which is designed to produce a light distribution. Micromirrors ( 310 ) that are in the second position deflect light beams toward a light-beam-absorbing absorber ( 500 ). The light module also comprises at least a control device ( 200 ), a sensor element ( 600 ) and a second illuminant ( 120 ). The control device ( 200 ) is designed to control the sensor element ( 600 ) and the second illuminant ( 120 ). Micromirrors ( 310 ) that are in the first position deflect the light beams that can be emitted by the second illuminant ( 120 ) toward the sensor element ( 600 ). The sensor element ( 600 ) is designed to sense light beams from the second illuminant ( 120 ) in order to obtain a value, and to transmit said value to the control device ( 200 ), which compares the value with a threshold value stored in a memory. Switching on of the first illuminant ( 110 ) is prevented when the threshold value is reached, or the first illuminant ( 110 ) is switched on when the threshold value is fallen below.

Claims (24)

1. A light module for a motor vehicle headlamp, which light module comprises:

at least one optoelectronic component ( 300 ), which is arranged in the main emission direction of a first illuminant ( 110 ), and which has a controllable arrangement of a plurality of micromirrors ( 310 ), which micromirrors ( 310 ) are arranged in the form of a two-dimensional matrix, with rows and columns, and can be pivoted independently of one another into a first and a second position, wherein micromirrors ( 310 ) that are located in the first position, deflect light beams, which are emitted by the first illuminant ( 110 ), onto at least one projection optical unit ( 400 ), which at least one projection optical unit ( 400 ) is designed to produce a light distribution, or part of a light distribution;

at least one control device ( 200 ), which is designed to control the first illuminant ( 110 ) and the micromirrors ( 310 ) of the optoelectronic component ( 300 ); and

a sensor means ( 600 ) and a second illuminant ( 120 ), wherein the control device ( 200 ) is designed to control the sensor means ( 600 ) and the second illuminant ( 120 ),

wherein:

the micromirrors ( 310 ) that are located in the first position deflect the light beams, which can be emitted by the second illuminant ( 120 ), onto the sensor means ( 600 ),

the sensor means ( 600 ) is designed to detect the light beams of the second illuminant ( 120 ) deflected by the micromirrors ( 310 ) onto the sensor means ( 600 ), so as to obtain a value, and to transmit this value to the control device ( 200 ), which control device ( 200 ) compares the value with a predefined threshold value stored in a memory, and

the control device ( 200 ) (i) prevents the first illuminant ( 110 ) from being switched on when the predefined threshold value is reached, or (ii) switches on the first illuminant ( 110 ) when the value falls below the predefined threshold value.

2. The light module according to claim 1 , wherein the micromirrors ( 310 ) that are located in the second position, deflect light beams, which are emitted by the first illuminant ( 110 ), onto a light beams-absorbing absorber ( 500 ).

3. The light module according to claim 1 , wherein the micromirrors ( 310 ) that are located in the second position deflect the light beams, which can be emitted by the second illuminant ( 120 ), onto a light beams-absorbing absorber ( 500 ).

4. The light module according to claim 1 , wherein at least one optical attachment ( 150 ) is arranged in each case in front of the first and second illuminants ( 110 , 120 ) in the main emission direction of the first and the second illuminants ( 110 , 120 ), which optical attachment is designed to collimate the light beams of the respective illuminant ( 110 , 120 ).

5. The light module according to claim 1 , wherein the first and/or the second illuminant has at least one light source, wherein the at least one light source comprises an LED or a laser diode with a light conversion element.

6. The light module according to claim 1 , wherein the optoelectronic component ( 300 ) is designed as a DMD.

7. The light module according to claim 1 , wherein the sensor means ( 600 ) is designed as a light-sensitive CCD sensor.

8. The light module according to claim 1 , wherein the sensor means ( 600 ) is arranged above or below the at least one projection optical unit ( 400 ) in the light module.

9. A motor vehicle headlamp with at least one light module according to claim 1 .

10. A method for the fault checking of the light module of claim 1 , the method comprising:

deflecting the light beams emitted by the second illuminant ( 120 ) onto the sensor means ( 600 );

detecting the light beams of the second illuminant ( 120 ), which light beams are deflected by micromirrors ( 310 ) located in the first position, by means of the sensor means ( 600 ), so as to obtain a value;

transmitting the value detected by the sensor means ( 600 ) to the control device ( 200 ), wherein the control device ( 200 ) compares the transmitted value with a predefined threshold value stored in a memory; and

either (i) switching on the first illuminant ( 110 ) by means of the control device ( 200 ) when the value falls below the predefined threshold value, or (ii) preventing the first illuminant ( 110 ) from being switched on by the control device ( 200 ) when the predefined threshold value is reached.

11. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the micromirrors ( 310 ) that are located in the second position, deflect light beams, which are emitted by the first illuminant ( 110 ), onto a light beams-absorbing absorber ( 500 ).

12. The method according to claim 11 , wherein the micromirrors ( 310 ) that are located in the second position, deflect the light beams emitted by the second illuminant ( 120 ) onto the absorber ( 500 ).

13. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the value is a brightness value.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 19, 2020
From: PLANK, JOSEF; LAHMER, MARTIN; PÜRSTINGER, JOSEF; DANNER, MARKUS
To: ZKW GROUP GMBH
Reel/Frame 053554/0490 →
Priority Claims (1)
EP 18158355 · Feb 23, 2018 · regional
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20210086691A1 · Mar 25, 2021
Cited By (1)
US 12,635,057