Reliability of an in-vehicle headlight is improved by changing a light distribution pattern without using any mechanical configuration. The in-vehicle headlight includes a laser light source 1, a spatial light modulator 3, a spatial-light-modulator controller, and a projection lens 5. The laser light source 1 emits a laser light beam 10. The spatial light modulator 3 modulates a phase distribution of the laser light beam 10 emitted by the laser light source 1. The spatial-light-modulator controller is provided in a headlight controller 36, and controls the spatial light modulator 3. The spatial-light-modulator controller controls the spatial light modulator 3 so as to modulate the phase distribution of the laser light beam 10, and changes the light distribution pattern projected from the projection lens 5.

To prevent a decrease in luminance of the flashed high-beam headlights caused by ambient temperature in a vehicle headlight system using a liquid crystal element. The vehicle headlight system for selectively irradiating light in front of an own vehicle includes: a light source; a liquid crystal element for forming an image using light from the light source where the liquid crystal element is a normally closed liquid crystal element having a relatively low transmittance when no voltage is applied thereto; a driving circuit for driving the liquid crystal element; and a control part that determines whether or not the light source is in a light-off state and controls the driving circuit to set the liquid crystal element to a transmission state when the light source is in the light-off state.

To prevent a decrease in luminance of the flashed high-beam headlights caused by ambient temperature in a vehicle headlight system using a liquid crystal element. The vehicle headlight system for selectively irradiating light in front of an own vehicle includes: a light source; a liquid crystal element for forming an image using light from the light source where the liquid crystal element is a normally closed liquid crystal element having a relatively low transmittance when no voltage is applied thereto; a driving circuit for driving the liquid crystal element; and a control part that determines whether or not the light source is in a light-off state and controls the driving circuit to set the liquid crystal element to a transmission state when the light source is in the light-off state.

A light module for a motor vehicle configured to produce an output beam, including a light source, a pixelated and digital imaging system, and an optical device that is interposed between the light source and the pixelated and digital imaging system so as to transmit at least part of the light rays originating from the light source to an impact surface of the pixelated and digital imaging surface. The optical device includes a first portion configured to process a first part of the light rays originating from the light source and a second portion configured to process a second part of the light rays originating from the light source. The first portion is configured to produce a first output beam having a first distribution of light on the impact surface and the second portion is configured to produce a second output beam having a second distribution of light on the impact surface.

For vehicles having left and right headlights, a steering direction signal input indicative of a left or right steering direction is used to modulate a control signal of a liquid crystal beam broadening device to broaden horizontally the vehicle headlight beam when the steering direction signal input is indicative of a selected one of a left or a right steering direction and to maintain or reduce a horizontal spread of the vehicle headlight beam when said steering direction signal input is indicative of one of a left or a right steering direction opposite to the selected steering direction.

A light module of a motor vehicle lighting device. The light module includes a light source intended to perform at least one photometric function, and an electrochromic device including at least one portion arranged downstream of the light source and capable of optionally having a diffusing appearance or a transparent appearance. A controller is arranged to receive an emission instruction from the photometric function and to control, in accordance with the instruction, the emission of light by the light source and the appearance of the electrochromic device.

There is provided a lighting device arranged to produce a controllable light beam for illuminating a scene. The device comprises an addressable spatial light modulator arranged to provide a selectable phase delay distribution to a beam of incident light. The device further comprises Fourier optics arranged to receive phase-modulated light from the spatial light modulator and form a light distribution. The device further comprises projection optics arranged to project the light distribution to form a pattern of illumination as said controllable light beam.

A lighting device comprises a light-emitting module with light-emitting elements, wherein the light-emitting elements are arranged adjacent to each other and are configured to emit light towards a light-emitting side. The light-emitting module is configured such that the light-emitting elements can be addressed partially independently of each other, such that some may be brought into a switched-on state while others are brought into a switched-off state. A top layer is disposed on the light-emitting module at the light-emitting side. Further comprising a switching material capable of a reversible change in transmittance for the light emitted by changing to a higher transmittance in regions where the top layer situated on light-emitting elements in the switched-on state or to a lower transmittance in regions of the top layer situated in the switched-off state. The invention further refers to methods for producing and operating a lighting device and using a lighting device.

An illumination module including a light emitting unit and a first liquid crystal lens is provided. The light emitting unit emits illumination light. The first liquid crystal lens is arranged corresponding to the light emitting unit and receives the illumination light. The first liquid crystal lens is configured to converge, diverge or deflect the illumination light. An illumination device, a vehicle, and a driving method for the illumination device are also provided.

A light bar has a circuit board positioned within a housing and having a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) or a thin-film-transistor liquid-crystal display (TFT LCD) is configured to transmit light. The housing has wiring electrically connected to a controller. The controller is configured to receive signals from the electrical system of the vehicle, interpret the signals received from the electrical system of the vehicle, and in response automatically control illumination of independently controllable segments of the vehicle light bar. The controller is initially programmed to perform specific function(s) and/or strobe according to specific patterns and is thereafter at least partially restricted from being reprogrammed by a user to serve other function(s), either by restricting the emission of light in at least one color and/or preventing specific strobing pattern(s).