ILLUMINATION APPARATUS FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE

Abstract

A lighting device for a motor vehicle, in particular a headlamp device for a motor vehicle, comprising a first headlamp, which includes a first light module for generating a first light distribution as well as a second light module for generating a second light distribution, the first light distribution of the first headlamp having a higher resolution than the second light distribution of the first headlamp, as well as comprising a second headlamp, which includes a first light module for generating a first light distribution as well as a second light module for generating a second light distribution, the first light distribution of the first headlamp having a higher resolution than the first light distribution of the second headlamp and than the second light distribution of the second headlamp.

Claims

1. A lighting device for a motor vehicle, in particular a headlamp device for a motor vehicle, the lighting device comprising: a first headlamp which include a first light module to generate a first light distribution as well as a second light module to generate a second light distribution, the first light distribution of the first headlamp having a higher resolution than the second light distribution of the first headlamp; and a second headlamp, which includes a first light module to generate a first light distribution as well as a second light module to generate a second light distribution, wherein the first light distribution of the first headlamp has a higher resolution than the first light distribution of the second headlamp and than the second light distribution of the second headlamp.

2. The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the first light distribution of the second headlamp has a higher resolution than the second light distribution of the second headlamp.

3. The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the first light module of the first headlamp and/or the first light module of the second headlamp comprise(s) a light source, preferably a high-resolution light source, in particular the light source including a solid-state LED array or a high-resolution LED matrix or elements for the high-resolution light modulation, such as a digital micromirror device or an LCoS or an LC display.

4. The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the first light module of the first headlamp and the first light module of the second headlamp each generate a plurality of individually controllable light points.

5. The lighting device according to claim 4, wherein a number of light points individually controllable by the first light module of the first headlamp is greater than 2,000, greater than 5,000, approximately equal to 10,000, or greater than 10,000.

6. The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the first light module of the first headlamp comprises a solid-state LED array, which generates 10,000 or more individually controllable light points.

7. The lighting device according to claim 4, wherein a number of light points individually controllable by the first light module of the second headlamp is less than 1,000, less than 200, approximately equal to 100. or less than 100.

8. The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the first light module of the second headlamp comprises an LED matrix, which includes two rows of light-emitting diodes, the LED matrix comprising 84 or 100 individual light-emitting diodes, which generate 84 or 100 individually controllable light points.

9. The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the second light module of the first headlamp and the second light module of the second headlamp have the same design or comprise light sources of the same design.

10. The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the second light module of the first headlamp and/or the second light module of the second headlamp comprise(s) an LED module, which includes fewer than 20, or fewer than 10 light-emitting diodes, or wherein the second light module of the first headlamp and/or the second light module of the second headlamp comprise(s) an LED matrix module or another high-resolution light source.

11. A lighting device for a motor vehicle, in particular a headlamp device for a motor vehicle, the lighting device comprising: a first projector device, in particular a first headlamp, the first projector device including a light module for generating a first light distribution, the light module or the first light distribution having a function which deviates from the illumination of the roadway in front of the motor vehicle or a function which goes beyond the illumination of the roadway in front of the motor vehicle; and a second projector device, in particular a second headlamp, the second projector device including a light module for generating a second light distribution, the light module or the second light distribution having a function which deviates from the illumination of the roadway in front of the motor vehicle or a function which goes beyond the illumination of the roadway in front of the motor vehicle, wherein the light module or the first light distribution of the first projector device performs a function which is different than the function of the light module or the second light distribution of the second projector device.

12. The lighting device according to claim 11, wherein, in the non-operating state of the projector devices, the outer appearances of the projector devices correspond to each other or are symmetrical with respect to a symmetry plane situated therebetween, and/or that, in the operating state of the projector devices, and wherein the outer appearances of the projector devices correspond to each other or are symmetrical with respect to a symmetry plane situated therebetween.

13. The lighting device according to claim 11, wherein the illumination range of the first light distribution is different than the illumination range of the second light distribution.

14. The lighting device according to claim 11, wherein the light module or the first light distribution of the first projector device performs a driver assistance function and/or that the light module or the second light distribution of the second projector device performs the function of a near-field projection.

15. The lighting device according to claim 11, wherein the light module of the first projector device and/or the light module of the second projector device comprise(s) an imaging element, a solid-state LED array or an LED matrix or a digital micromirror device or an LCoS or an LC display.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus, are not limitive of the present invention, and wherein:

[0027] FIG. 1 shows a schematic front view of a motor vehicle, including a first specific embodiment of a lighting device according to the invention; and

[0028] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a front of a motor vehicle, including a specific embodiment of a lighting device according to the invention, from which the light distributions emanate with different illumination ranges.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0029] A specific embodiment of a lighting device designed as a headlamp device of a motor vehicle is illustrated in FIG. 1. The headlamp device comprises a first headlamp 1 and a second headlamp 2. In the illustrated specific embodiment, first headlamp 1 is arranged on the left side of the vehicle front and second headlamp 2 is arranged on the right side thereof. However, it is entirely possible that first headlamp 1 is arranged on the right side of the vehicle front and second headlamp 2 is arranged on the left side thereof.

[0030] First headlamp 1 includes a first light module 3 and a second light module 4. Second headlamp 2 also includes a first light module 5 and a second light module 6. The two second light modules 4, 6 are of the same design in the illustrated exemplary embodiment and are designed, in particular, as so-called bi-LED modules. The bi-LED module may include, for example, two light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and a corresponding optical element. The optical element may comprise, in particular, two light conductors for the light of the two light-emitting diodes.

[0031] First light module 3 of first headlamp 1 comprises a light source, which is designed as a solid-state LED array. It is an LED chip having 10,000 or possibly even more individual light sources, which are all individually controllable. Light module 3 or the light source furthermore comprises a suitable optical system.

[0032] First light module 5 of second headlamp 2 also comprises a light source, which, however, has a lower resolution than the light source of first headlamp 1 and is designed as a two-row LED matrix having 100 individual light-emitting diodes. Light module 5 or light source furthermore comprises a suitable optical system.

[0033] First light modules 3, 5 of headlamps 1, 2 illuminate the middle to far area in front of the vehicle, while second light modules 4, 6 illuminate the area in front of the vehicle. On the whole, the light distributions overlap, the overall higher-resolution light distribution of first light module 3 of first headlamp 1 overlaps the lower-resolution light distribution of first light module 5 of second headlamp 2.

[0034] A specific embodiment of a lighting device designed as a headlamp device of a motor vehicle is also illustrated in FIG. 2. The headlamp device comprises a first headlamp 1 used as a projector device and a second headlamp 2 used as a projector device. In the illustrated specific embodiment, first headlamp 1 is arranged on the left side of the vehicle front and second headlamp 2 is arranged on the right side thereof. However, it is entirely possible that first headlamp 1 is arranged on the right side of the vehicle front and second headlamp 2 is arranged on the left side thereof.

[0035] First headlamp 1 comprises a light module, which is not illustrated and which generates a first light distribution 7. Second headlamp 2 comprises a light module, which is also not illustrated and which generates a second light distribution 8. It is apparent that the illumination range of first light distribution 7 is significantly larger than the illumination range of second light distribution 8.

[0036] The light module or first light distribution 7 of first headlamp 1 performs a driver assistance function and may, in particular, form the headlamp light distribution during vehicle operation, which may take place, for example, by symbols or hot spots or the like.

[0037] The light module or second light distribution 8 of second headlamp 2 performs the function of a near-field projection and may project, in particular, vehicle- or user-specific information into the area directly in front of the vehicle. This may preferably be welcome scenarios or announcements of next maneuvers during automated operation, for example maneuvers for leaving a parking space. The illumination range of second light distribution 8 is therefore not necessarily in the field of vision of the driver or the occupants of the motor vehicle.

[0038] It is entirely possible that the light modules of headlamps 1, 2 perform functions other than the aforementioned ones, the other possible functions also being able to be functions deviating form the illumination of the roadway in front of the motor vehicle or functions which go beyond the illumination of the roadway in front of the motor vehicle.

[0039] Despite the significantly different functions of the two light modules in headlamps 1, 2, it may be ensured during the operating state as well as the non-operating state of the headlamp device that the outer appearances of the headlamps correspond to each other or are symmetrical with respect to a symmetry plane situated therebetween.

[0040] The two light modules of the two headlamps 1, 2 may be operated entirely independently of each other, the light modules, in particular, generally not being operated simultaneously.

[0041] It is entirely possible that headlamps 1, 2 comprise further light module in addition to the light modules described, which may be designed, for example, as high-beam light modules and/or as low-beam light modules and be used to illuminate the roadway.

[0042] The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are to be included within the scope of the following claims.