A sensing system for a vehicle includes a sensor disposed at a vehicle and a control that includes a processor for processing sensor data captured by the sensor. A first polarizer is disposed in a light emitting path of at least one light source of the vehicle and a second polarizer is disposed in a light receiving path of the sensor. The second polarizer has an opposite-handed polarization configuration relative to the first polarizer. Some of the polarized light as polarized by the first polarizer impinges precipitation present in the field of sensing of the sensor and returns toward the sensor as refracted-reflected light. The second polarizer attenuates the refracted-reflected light and allows light reflected from objects present in the sensor's field of sensing to pass through to the sensor. The control, responsive to processing of captured sensor data, detects objects in the field of sensing of the sensor.

A sensing system for a vehicle includes a sensor disposed at a vehicle and a control that includes a processor for processing sensor data captured by the sensor. A first polarizer is disposed in a light emitting path of at least one light source of the vehicle and a second polarizer is disposed in a light receiving path of the sensor. The second polarizer has an opposite-handed polarization configuration relative to the first polarizer. Some of the polarized light as polarized by the first polarizer impinges precipitation present in the field of sensing of the sensor and returns toward the sensor as refracted-reflected light. The second polarizer attenuates the refracted-reflected light and allows light reflected from objects present in the sensor's field of sensing to pass through to the sensor. The control, responsive to processing of captured sensor data, detects objects in the field of sensing of the sensor.

The invention relates to an illumination device (51, 52, 53) for a motor vehicle headlight, which illumination device comprises: an illumination means (100) wherein the light beams thereof can be collimated by at least one lens system (200); a polarising beam splitter (300), which divides the collimated light beams into a first and a second linearly polarised beam path (310, 320); a first means for polarisation rotation (400) which is configured to rotate the polarisation direction of the second beam path (320), such that the second beam path (320) has the polarisation direction of the first beam path (310); a reflective means (350) which is configured to deflect the first beam path (310); a single second means for polarisation rotation (600), having at least one segment which can be placed in an active and an inactive state by means of electrical signals; a polarisation filter means (610) which is configured to transmit or block the light beams that have been rotated in terms of their polarisation by the second means for polarisation rotation (600); and at least one projection lens (700) which is provided to generate a light distribution or a partial light distribution of a lighting function in front of a motor vehicle.

The invention relates to an illumination device (51, 52, 53) for a motor vehicle headlight, which illumination device comprises: an illumination means (100) wherein the light beams thereof can be collimated by at least one lens system (200); a polarising beam splitter (300), which divides the collimated light beams into a first and a second linearly polarised beam path (310, 320); a first means for polarisation rotation (400) which is configured to rotate the polarisation direction of the second beam path (320), such that the second beam path (320) has the polarisation direction of the first beam path (310); a reflective means (350) which is configured to deflect the first beam path (310); a single second means for polarisation rotation (600), having at least one segment which can be placed in an active and an inactive state by means of electrical signals; a polarisation filter means (610) which is configured to transmit or block the light beams that have been rotated in terms of their polarisation by the second means for polarisation rotation (600); and at least one projection lens (700) which is provided to generate a light distribution or a partial light distribution of a lighting function in front of a motor vehicle.

A vehicle headlight apparatus, on a vehicle applies illumination light to a road surface, comprises: a light source device to generate the illumination light; and a lens on a light axis of the light source device and projects the illumination light from the light source device to form a desired light distribution, wherein the light source device includes: one or more semiconductor light source elements to emit light; a collimator unit having one or more collimators disposed on a light emission axis of each of the semiconductor light source elements and converts light emitted from a solid light source into substantially parallel light; and a polarization conversion element provided on an emission surface side of the collimator unit and converts incident light into predetermined polarized light, and the illumination light emitted from the polarization conversion element of the light source device is applied in a predetermined direction through the lens.

A vehicle headlight apparatus, on a vehicle applies illumination light to a road surface, comprises: a light source device to generate the illumination light; and a lens on a light axis of the light source device and projects the illumination light from the light source device to form a desired light distribution, wherein the light source device includes: one or more semiconductor light source elements to emit light; a collimator unit having one or more collimators disposed on a light emission axis of each of the semiconductor light source elements and converts light emitted from a solid light source into substantially parallel light; and a polarization conversion element provided on an emission surface side of the collimator unit and converts incident light into predetermined polarized light, and the illumination light emitted from the polarization conversion element of the light source device is applied in a predetermined direction through the lens.

The present invention relates to a vehicle headlight that ensures maintaining usage efficiency of a light of the vehicle headlight while improving visibility of an irradiation target on a road by a headlight light from a host vehicle. A vehicle headlight 1 having a headlight unit 4 forming a light distribution pattern by projecting a light B1 from a light source 9 ahead includes a polarized light generator 8, a first headlight unit 5, and a second type headlight unit 6. The polarized light generator 8 generates a first and a second polarized lights (B11, B12) by the light B1 from the light source 9. The first headlight unit 5 indicates main light distribution patterns (La1, Lb1) by a first polarized light B11 ahead. The second type headlight unit 6 scans with a second polarized light B12 using a scanning mechanism 13, and indicates ahead auxiliary light distribution patterns (La2, Lb2) irradiating a range narrower than the main light distribution patterns (La1, Lb1).

The present invention relates to a vehicle headlight that ensures maintaining usage efficiency of a light of the vehicle headlight while improving visibility of an irradiation target on a road by a headlight light from a host vehicle. A vehicle headlight 1 having a headlight unit 4 forming a light distribution pattern by projecting a light B1 from a light source 9 ahead includes a polarized light generator 8, a first headlight unit 5, and a second type headlight unit 6. The polarized light generator 8 generates a first and a second polarized lights (B11, B12) by the light B1 from the light source 9. The first headlight unit 5 indicates main light distribution patterns (La1, Lb1) by a first polarized light B11 ahead. The second type headlight unit 6 scans with a second polarized light B12 using a scanning mechanism 13, and indicates ahead auxiliary light distribution patterns (La2, Lb2) irradiating a range narrower than the main light distribution patterns (La1, Lb1).

A vehicular lamp includes: a light source; a projection optical system that projects light emitted from the light source forward; a liquid crystal element arranged at a rear focal point of the projection optical system; a first polarizing plate disposed in an optical path between the liquid crystal element and the projection optical system, for transmitting light of a specific polarization component; a condensing optical system that condenses the light toward the liquid crystal element; a polarizing beam splitter that transmits first light with one polarization component and reflects and separates second light with the other polarization component; a reflecting optical system that reflects the first light toward the liquid crystal element; and a polarization rotation element that rotates a polarization direction of one of the first light and the second light to coincide with the other light in terms of a polarization direction thereof.

A vehicular lamp includes: a light source; a projection optical system that projects light emitted from the light source forward; a liquid crystal element arranged at a rear focal point of the projection optical system; a first polarizing plate disposed in an optical path between the liquid crystal element and the projection optical system, for transmitting light of a specific polarization component; a condensing optical system that condenses the light toward the liquid crystal element; a polarizing beam splitter that transmits first light with one polarization component and reflects and separates second light with the other polarization component; a reflecting optical system that reflects the first light toward the liquid crystal element; and a polarization rotation element that rotates a polarization direction of one of the first light and the second light to coincide with the other light in terms of a polarization direction thereof.