MOTOR VEHICLE ILLUMINATION SYSTEM PROVIDED WITH A LIGHTING MODULE ABLE TO EMIT A PIXELLATED LIGHT BEAM

Abstract

An illumination system of a motor vehicle includes a first lighting module that is able to emit a first light beam with an upper cut-off, a second lighting module that is able to emit a second, pixelated light beam, and a system for mechanically adjusting the vertical orientation of the first and second light beams. A controller is able to receive an emission instruction for a given lighting function and is designed to control the adjusting system in order to bring about a simultaneous modification of the vertical orientation of the first and second light beams on the basis of the instruction and to control the second lighting module to emit a second, pixelated light beam having predetermined characteristics on the basis of said instruction.

Claims

1. A lighting system of a motor vehicle, comprising a first light module which is able to emit a first lighting beam with an upper cutoff, a second light module which is able to emit a second, pixelated lighting beam, a system for mechanically adjusting the vertical orientation of the first and second light beams and a controller which is able to receive an instruction to emit a given light function and arranged to control the adjustment system so as to cause a simultaneous modification of the vertical orientation of the first and second lighting beams depending on said instruction and to control the second light module so as to emit a second, pixelated lighting beam having predetermined characteristics depending on said instruction.

2. The lighting system as claimed in claim 1, in which the first light module and the second light module are mounted on the same support plate, the mechanical adjustment system comprising an actuator which is connected to said support plate and able to cause a movement of the support plate, the controller being arranged to control, depending on said instruction, said actuator so as to cause a movement of the plate causing a simultaneous modification of the vertical orientation of the first and second lighting beams.

3. The lighting system as claimed in claim 1, the mechanical adjustment system comprising a first actuator, which is connected to the first light module and able to cause a movement of the first light module, and a second actuator, which is connected to the second light module and able to cause a movement of the second light module, the controller being arranged to control, depending on said instruction, the first and second actuators so as to cause a simultaneous movement of the first and second light modules causing a simultaneous modification of the vertical orientation of the first and second lighting beams.

4. The lighting system as claimed in claim 1, in which the controller is arranged to control, depending on said instruction, the first light module so as to modify the light intensity of the first lighting beam according to a predetermined setpoint depending on said instruction.

5. The lighting system as claimed in claim 1, in which the second light module is able to emit a second, pixelated lighting beam in an emission area, and in which the controller is arranged to control, depending on said instruction, the second light module so as to emit a pixelated lighting beam, the profile, the photometry and/or the position in the emission area of which is predetermined depending on said instruction.

6. The lighting system as claimed in claim 5, in which the controller is able to selectively receive at least an instruction to emit a non-dazzling high-beam lighting beam, an instruction to emit a low-beam lighting beam and an instruction to emit an urban lighting beam, and in which: a. Upon receipt of an instruction to emit a non-dazzling high-beam lighting beam, the controller is arranged to control the adjustment system so as to cause a simultaneous modification of the vertical orientation of the first and second lighting beams, so that the upper cutoff of the first lighting beam is positioned substantially at an angle of 0.57 with respect to a horizon line; b. Upon receipt of an instruction to emit a low-beam lighting beam, the controller is arranged to control the adjustment system so as to cause a simultaneous modification of the vertical orientation of the first and second lighting beams, so that the upper cutoff of the first lighting beam is positioned substantially at an angle of 1.57 with respect to a horizon line; c. Upon receipt of an instruction to emit an urban lighting beam, the controller is arranged to control the adjustment system so as to cause a simultaneous modification of the vertical orientation of the first and second lighting beams, so that the upper cutoff of the first lighting beam is positioned substantially at an angle of 2.57 with respect to a horizon line.

7. The lighting system as claimed in claim 1, in which, when the controller controls the second light module so as to emit a second, pixelated lighting beam, referred to as initial, having an upper cutoff, and receives an instruction to emit a new given light function, the controller is arranged to control the second light module so as to emit a second, pixelated lighting beam having an upper cutoff, the position of which remains constant and identical to that of the initial second, pixelated lighting beam while it controls the adjustment system so as to cause a simultaneous modification of the vertical orientation of the first and second lighting beams depending on said instruction.

8. The lighting system as claimed in claim 1, in which, when the controller controls the second light module so as to emit a second, pixelated lighting beam, referred to as initial, and receives an instruction to emit a new given light function, the controller is arranged to control the second light module so as to emit a second, pixelated lighting beam on the basis of a digital image (Im.sub.j(F.sub.i-1, F.sub.i) obtained by a morphing and/or a translation of a digital image (Im(F.sub.i-1)) corresponding to the initial second, pixelated lighting beam, while it controls the adjustment system so as to cause a simultaneous modification of the vertical orientation of the first and second lighting beams depending on said instruction.

9. The lighting system as claimed in claim 1, in which, upon receipt of an instruction to emit a given light function, the controller is arranged to control, depending on said instruction, the adjustment system so as to cause a simultaneous modification of the vertical orientation of the first and second lighting beams according to a control law having a variable speed.

10. A method for controlling a lighting system as claimed in claim 1, the method comprising the following steps: a. Receiving an instruction to emit a given light function: b. Controlling the adjustment system so as to cause a simultaneous modification of the vertical orientation of the first and second lighting beams depending on said instruction; c. Controlling the second light module so as to emit a second, pixelated lighting beam having predetermined characteristics depending on said instruction.

11. The lighting system as claimed in claim 2, in which the controller is arranged to control, depending on said instruction, the first light module so as to modify the light intensity of the first lighting beam according to a predetermined setpoint depending on said instruction.

12. The lighting system as claimed in claim 2, in which the second light module is able to emit a second, pixelated lighting beam in an emission area, and in which the controller is arranged to control, depending on said instruction, the second light module so as to emit a pixelated lighting beam, the profile, the photometry and/or the position in the emission area of which is predetermined depending on said instruction.

13. The lighting system as claimed in claim 2, in which, when the controller controls the second light module so as to emit a second, pixelated lighting beam, referred to as initial, having an upper cutoff, and receives an instruction to emit a new given light function, the controller is arranged to control the second light module so as to emit a second, pixelated lighting beam having an upper cutoff, the position of which remains constant and identical to that of the initial second, pixelated lighting beam while it controls the adjustment system so as to cause a simultaneous modification of the vertical orientation of the first and second lighting beams depending on said instruction.

14. The lighting system as claimed in claim 2, in which, when the controller controls the second light module so as to emit a second, pixelated lighting beam, referred to as initial, and receives an instruction to emit a new given light function, the controller is arranged to control the second light module so as to emit a second, pixelated lighting beam on the basis of a digital image (Im.sub.j(F.sub.i-1, F.sub.i) obtained by a morphing and/or a translation of a digital image (Im(F.sub.i-1)) corresponding to the initial second, pixelated lighting beam, while it controls the adjustment system so as to cause a simultaneous modification of the vertical orientation of the first and second lighting beams depending on said instruction.

15. The lighting system as claimed in claim 2, in which, upon receipt of an instruction to emit a given light function, the controller is arranged to control, depending on said instruction, the adjustment system so as to cause a simultaneous modification of the vertical orientation of the first and second lighting beams according to a control law having a variable speed.

16. A method for controlling a lighting system as claimed in claim 2, the method comprising the following steps: a. Receiving an instruction to emit a given light function: b. Controlling the adjustment system so as to cause a simultaneous modification of the vertical orientation of the first and second lighting beams depending on said instruction; c. Controlling the second light module so as to emit a second, pixelated lighting beam having predetermined characteristics depending on said instruction.

17. The lighting system as claimed in claim 3, in which the controller is arranged to control, depending on said instruction, the first light module so as to modify the light intensity of the first lighting beam according to a predetermined setpoint depending on said instruction.

18. The lighting system as claimed in claim 3, in which the second light module is able to emit a second, pixelated lighting beam in an emission area, and in which the controller is arranged to control, depending on said instruction, the second light module so as to emit a pixelated lighting beam, the profile, the photometry and/or the position in the emission area of which is predetermined depending on said instruction.

19. The lighting system as claimed in claim 3, in which, when the controller controls the second light module so as to emit a second, pixelated lighting beam, referred to as initial, having an upper cutoff, and receives an instruction to emit a new given light function, the controller is arranged to control the second light module so as to emit a second, pixelated lighting beam having an upper cutoff, the position of which remains constant and identical to that of the initial second, pixelated lighting beam while it controls the adjustment system so as to cause a simultaneous modification of the vertical orientation of the first and second lighting beams depending on said instruction.

20. The lighting system as claimed in claim 3, in which, when the controller controls the second light module so as to emit a second, pixelated lighting beam, referred to as initial, and receives an instruction to emit a new given light function, the controller is arranged to control the second light module so as to emit a second, pixelated lighting beam on the basis of a digital image (Im.sub.j(F.sub.i-1, F.sub.i) obtained by a morphing and/or a translation of a digital image (Im(F.sub.i-1)) corresponding to the initial second, pixelated lighting beam, while it controls the adjustment system so as to cause a simultaneous modification of the vertical orientation of the first and second lighting beams depending on said instruction.

Description

[0048] The present invention is now described using examples which only illustrate and in no way limit the scope of the invention, and on the basis of the appended drawings, in which drawings the various figures show:

[0049] FIG. 1 schematically and partially shows a lighting system according to one embodiment of the invention;

[0050] FIG. 2 schematically and partially shows a method for controlling the lighting system of FIG. 1;

[0051] FIG. 3 schematically and partially shows a first light function realized by the lighting system of FIG. 1 controlled by means of the method of FIG. 2;

[0052] FIG. 4 schematically and partially shows a second light function realized by the lighting system of FIG. 1 controlled by means of the method of FIG. 2; and

[0053] FIG. 5 schematically and partially shows a second light function realized by the lighting system of FIG. 1 controlled by means of the method of FIG. 2.

[0054] In the following description, elements which are identical in structure or in function and appear in various figures keep the same reference sign, unless otherwise stated.

[0055] FIG. 1 shows a partial view of a lighting system 1 of a motor vehicle according to one embodiment of the invention.

[0056] The lighting system 1 comprises a headlamp 11 in which a first light module 2 comprising a light source 21 and an optical device 22 is arranged, the first module 2 being able to emit a first lighting beam F having a substantially flat cutoff.

[0057] The headlamp 11 comprises a second light module 3. The light module 3 comprises, in particular, a pixelated light source 31 associated with a lens 32. In the example described, the pixelated light source 31 is a monolithic pixelated light-emitting diode, each of the light-emitting elements of which forms an elementary light source 31.sub.i,j which may be activated and controlled selectively by an integrated controller so as to emit light toward the lens 32, which thus projects an elementary light beam HD.sub.i,j onto the road, the light intensity of which is controllable. Each elementary light beam HD.sub.i,j is projected by the lens into a given emission cone, defined by a given emission direction and a given angular aperture. Thus, in the example described, all of the elementary light beams HD.sub.i,j thus form a second, pixelated lighting beam HD having 500 pixels which are distributed over 25 columns and 20 rows, extending in an emission area ZE defined horizontally by an angular range of 7.5 and vertically by an angular vertical range of 6 and each pixel of which is formed by one of these elementary light beams HD.sub.i,j. Each elementary light beam HD.sub.i,j emitted by one of the elementary light sources 31.sub.i,j of the source 31 has a horizontal and vertical aperture of less than 1, for example of 0.3.

[0058] In the example described, the first lighting beam F is a non-pixelated beam, and the first and second light modules 2 and 3 are arranged so that the emission area ZE of the second light beam HD extends below and above the flat cutoff of the first light beam F.

[0059] The first light module 2 and the second light module 3 are mounted on the same support plate 41 mounted so as to be able to rotate in the headlamp 11 about a horizontal axis Y. The headlamp 11 comprises a mechanical adjustment system comprising an actuator 42 which is connected to said support plate 41 and capable of causing a rotation of the support plate 41 about the axis Y. It is understood that, when the support plate 41 pivots about the axis Y, the vertical orientation of the first and second lighting beams F and HD is then modified simultaneously.

[0060] The lighting system 1 comprises a computer 12 of the motor vehicle, receiving various data, in particular originating from various sensor systems of the motor vehicle, such as, in particular, the speed of the motor vehicle or indeed the presence of road users downstream of the motor vehicle. The computer 12 is arranged to issue, depending on these received data, instructions for a given light function to be emitted, by the headlamp 11.

[0061] The headlamp 11 comprises a controller 5, receiving the instructions issued by the computer 12. This controller 5 is arranged to determine, on the basis of an instruction to emit a given light function received from the computer 12, an angular setpoint for the vertical orientation of the lighting beams F and HD and a light intensity setpoint for the first lighting beam F. The controller 5 is also arranged to generate, depending on this received instruction, a digital image realizing a portion of said given light function in a frame, the dimensions and the resolution of which correspond to those of the emission area ZE of the second, pixelated lighting beam HD.

[0062] The controller 5 is thus arranged to control the actuator 42 so as to cause a rotation of the plate 42 according to the determined angular setpoint, so as to cause a simultaneous modification of the vertical orientation of the first and second lighting beams F and HD toward this setpoint.

[0063] The controller 5 is also arranged to control the emission, by the first light module 2, of the first lighting beam F according to the determined light intensity setpoint.

[0064] The controller 5 is also arranged to send the generated digital image to the integrated controller of the pixelated light source 31. This integrated controller then selectively controls each of the elementary light sources 31.sub.i,j so as to turn on, turn off and/or modify the light intensity of the elementary light beam HD.sub.i,j which this source may emit, so that this elementary lighting beam reproduces the pixel of the digital image associated with this source on the road. The second, pixelated lighting beam HD thus reproduces the digital image generated in the emission area ZE.

[0065] FIG. 2 shows a method for controlling the lighting system 1 according to one embodiment of the invention. This method will be described, in connection with FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, which each describe, on the left, a projection onto a screen of the lighting beams F and HD emitted by the headlamp 11 and, on the right, a top view of a road scene, for three different light functions realized upon implementation of the method of FIG. 2.

[0066] In a step E1, the computer 12 generates, on the basis of data received, an instruction to emit a given light function F.sub.i. In the example of FIG. 3, it is a low-beam mode anti-dazzling high-beam lighting function F.sub.1 to be emitted when the speed of the vehicle is greater than 60 km/h and a large number of road users not to be dazzled has been detected. It should be noted that, in the case of FIG. 3, the instruction to emit the function F.sub.1 requires, in addition, the generation, in a ground writing area RW, of two horizontal white bands materializing a warning of a risk of collision with an obstacle located downstream of the motor vehicle. In the example of FIG. 4, it is a low-beam lighting function F.sub.2 to be emitted when the speed of the vehicle is between 30 km/h and 60 km/h and at least one road user not to be dazzled has been detected. The instruction to emit the function F.sub.2 requires, in addition, the generation, in a ground writing area RW, of three horizontal white bands materializing a warning of a risk of collision with an obstacle located downstream of the motor vehicle. Finally, in the case of FIG. 5, it is an urban lighting function F.sub.3 to be emitted when the speed of the vehicle is less than 30 km/h. The instruction to emit the function F.sub.3 requires, in addition, the generation, in a ground writing area RW, of two vertical white bands materializing a size of the motor vehicle making it possible for the driver to realize a maneuver with precision. It should be noted that the functions cited above are listed by way of indication, and that the computer 12 may generate instructions for other types of light functions to be emitted by the headlamp 11.

[0067] The controller 5 determines, in a step E11, on the basis of the instruction to emit the function F.sub.i, an angular setpoint .sub.i for the vertical orientation of the lighting beams F and HD making it possible to realize the function F.sub.i. Then, in a step E21, the controller 5 controls the actuator 42 of the adjustment system so as to cause a rotation of the plate 41 about the axis Y and modify the vertical orientation of the first and second lighting beams F and HD toward this angular setpoint .sub.i. In the examples described, the angular setpoints .sub.i define the position of the substantially flat cutoff FC of the first lighting beam F with respect to a horizon line H-H and are 0.57 for the low-beam mode anti-dazzling high-beam lighting function of FIG. 3, 1.57 for the low-beam lighting function of FIG. 4 and 2.57 for the urban lighting function of FIG. 5, respectively.

[0068] In other words, when the computer 12 requires, for example, the emission of a low-beam lighting function F.sub.2, while the headlamp 11 is emitting the low-beam mode anti-dazzling high-beam lighting function F.sub.1, as shown in FIG. 3, the controller 5 determines the value of the angular setpoint .sub.2, namely 1.57, and controls the actuator 42 so as to cause a modification of the vertical orientation of the lighting beams F and HD by 1. This modification results in a lowering by 1 of the cutoff FC of the first lighting beam F and in a repositioning by 1 of the emission area ZE of the second, pixelated lighting beam HD, as shown in FIG. 4. From the driver's point of view, the emission area ZE thus gets 4 meters closer to the motor vehicle.

[0069] Likewise, when the computer 12 requires, for example, the emission of an urban lighting function F.sub.3, while the headlamp 11 is emitting a low-beam lighting function F.sub.2, as shown in FIG. 4, the controller 5 determines the value of the angular setpoint .sub.3, namely 2.57, and controls the actuator 42 so as to cause a modification of the vertical orientation of the lighting beams F and HD by 1. This modification results in a lowering by 1 of the cutoff FC of the first lighting beam F and in a repositioning by 1 of the emission area ZE of the second, pixelated lighting beam HD. From the driver's point of view, the emission area ZE thus gets 3 meters closer to the motor vehicle.

[0070] In the step E21, the modification of the vertical orientation of the first and second lighting beams is realized according to a control law L() defining a movement speed setpoint for the lighting beams F and HD between their initial vertical orientation .sub.i-1 and said angular setpoint .sub.i. In the example described, the control law L() is such that the plate 41 pivots, at the start of travel, with a gradual acceleration, then with a constant speed, and, at the end of travel, with a gradual deceleration.

[0071] Simultaneously, the controller 5 determines, in a step E12, a light intensity setpoint I.sub.i for the first lighting beam F making it possible to realize the function F.sub.i. Then, in a step E22, the controller 5 controls the first light module 2, and more specifically its light source 21, so that the light intensity of the first lighting beam F is compliant with this setpoint I.sub.i. In the examples described, the light intensity setpoints I.sub.i are determined as a percentage of the nominal light intensity which may be emitted by the light source 21, and are 100% for the low-beam mode anti-dazzling high-beam lighting function of FIG. 3, 75% for the low-beam lighting function of FIG. 4 and 50% for the urban lighting function of FIG. 5, respectively.

[0072] Also simultaneously, in a step E13, the controller 5 generates a sequence of digital images Im.sub.j(F.sub.i-1, F.sub.i) making it possible for the second, pixelated lighting beam HD to transition from the light function F.sub.i-1 previously emitted to the new function F.sub.i.

[0073] More specifically, the sequence of digital images Im.sub.j(F.sub.i-1, F.sub.i) is generated so that, on the one hand, the position of an upper cutoff HDC in the second lighting beam HD defined for the light function F.sub.i-1 remains substantially constant during the modification of the vertical orientation of the first and second lighting beams F and HD of the step E21. To these ends, the position of the cutoff HDC defined in each digital image Im.sub.j(F.sub.i-1, F.sub.i) generated by the controller 5 moves with respect to the position of the cutoff HDC defined in the digital image Im.sub.j(F.sub.i-1, F.sub.i) previously generated, in an opposite direction to that of the modification of the vertical orientation determined in the step E11. In this way, the digital movement of this cutoff HDC counterbalances the mechanical modification of the vertical orientation of the emission area ZE, so that the position of the cutoff HDC remains substantially identical over the course of this mechanical modification.

[0074] In FIG. 3, the second, pixelated lighting beam HD is delimited, in the emission area ZE, by a cutoff HDC having a first, substantially flat portion aligned with the substantially flat cutoff FC of the first lighting beam and a second, substantially flat portion positioned above the substantially flat cutoff, the first and second portions being connected by a, in particular oblique, projection. It may thus be seen, in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, that, although the substantially cutoff FC does indeed undergo a mechanical reorientation, the cutoff HDC, in contrast, remains in the same position, namely 0.57, which makes it possible for the overall beam formed by the meeting of the lighting beams F and HD to remain compliant with the regulatory requirements surrounding the presence of an upper cutoff in a lighting beam, including during this mechanical reorientation.

[0075] On the other hand, the sequence of digital images Im.sub.j(F.sub.i-1, F.sub.i) is generated, by operations of morphing and/or translating the digital image Im(F.sub.i-1) which made it possible to realize the light function F.sub.i-1 previously emitted toward the digital image Im(F.sub.i) which makes it possible to realize the new function F.sub.i.

[0076] It may be seen, for example, that, in FIG. 3, the digital image Im(F.sub.1) defines a second, pixelated lighting beam HD extending horizontally only partially in the emission area ZE, with a specific cutoff HDC, as explained above, and comprising two horizontal bands which are provided in the display area RW. In FIG. 4, the digital image Im(F.sub.2) defines a second, pixelated lighting beam HD extending horizontally entirely in the emission area ZE, with the same specific cutoff HDC, and comprising three horizontal bands which are provided in the display area RW. The sequence of digital images Im.sub.j(F.sub.1, F.sub.2) making the transition of the function F.sub.1 of FIG. 3 toward the function F.sub.2 of FIG. 4 possible is thus generated by an operation of morphing and/or translating the digital image Im(F.sub.1) which made it possible to realize the light function F.sub.1 previously emitted toward the digital image Im(F.sub.2) which makes it possible to realize the new function F.sub.2.

[0077] Similarly, in FIG. 5, the digital image Im(F.sub.3) defines a second, pixelated lighting beam HD extending horizontally entirely in the emission area ZE, with a substantially flat specific cutoff HDC, and comprising two vertical bands which are provided in the display area RW. The sequence of digital images Im.sub.j(F.sub.2, F.sub.3) making the transition of the function F.sub.2 of FIG. 4 toward the function F.sub.3 of FIG. 5 possible is thus generated by an operation of morphing and/or translating the digital image Im(F.sub.2) which made it possible to realize the light function F.sub.2 previously emitted toward the digital image Im(F.sub.3) which makes it possible to realize the new function F.sub.3.

[0078] In a step E23, each of the digital images in the sequence of digital images Im.sub.j(F.sub.i-1, F.sub.i) is transmitted to the integrated controller of the pixelated light source 31, synchronously with the control of the actuator 42 of the step E21, the first image in the sequence being transmitted at the start of the modification of the vertical orientation and the last image in the sequence being transmitted at the end of this modification of the vertical orientation. Thus, the integrated controller then selectively controls each of the elementary light sources 31.sub.i,j so that the second, pixelated lighting beam HD thus reproduces each digital image in the sequence of digital images Im.sub.j(F.sub.i-1, F.sub.i) in the emission area ZE, during the movement of this emission area ZE.

[0079] The foregoing description clearly explains how the invention makes it possible to achieve the objectives it set itself, and in particular by proposing a lighting system of a vehicle integrating a first light module which may emit a lighting beam having a flat upper cutoff and a second light module which may emit a pixelated lighting beam, the vertical orientation of the two beams and the pixelated lighting beam being controlled simultaneously depending on the type of light function which there is a desire to emit, so that it is possible to adjust the vertical orientation while at the same time maintaining the ability of the lighting system to emit regulatory light functions.

[0080] In any event, the invention should not be regarded as being limited to the embodiments specifically described in this document, and extends, in particular, to any equivalent means and to any technically operative combination of these means. In particular, types of light module other than that described may be envisaged, and in particular a light module comprising a combination of a light source and a grid of micromirrors which may be activated selectively. It is also possible to envisage controlling the lighting system so as to emit light functions other than those which have been described, and in particular highway or unfavorable meteorological condition lighting functions, or indeed light functions in which other types of pictogram or ground markings are provided. It is also possible to envisage arranging the modules on two different plates, each equipped with a dedicated adjustment actuator.