LIGHTING SYSTEM AND A LIGHTING METHOD

Abstract

The invention provides a lighting system for generating patterned phosphor-converted output beams for projection onto a pixelated display unit (24). A phosphor screen arrangement (18) comprises a plurality of separate light-receiving surface regions (34), each region (34) illuminated by an individually addressable laser source arrangement. By controlling the relative intensity of light directed to each of the surface regions (34), a broad range of different output beam patterns can be created from the phosphor screen arrangement (18). The generated beam pattern may be controlled so as to correspond with the pixel configuration of the display unit (24), such that light is directed only toward pixels (26) which are active, rather than inactive. This enables significant improvements in optical efficiency, since light need not be wasted through propagation toward pixels (26) which are configured simply to discard it.

Claims

1. A lighting system comprising: a plurality of laser source arrangements for generating a plurality of laser output beams, wherein each laser source arrangement is individually addressable; a phosphor screen arrangement to which the laser output beams are directed for generating a combined phosphor-converted output beam pattern, wherein the phosphor screen arrangement comprises a plurality of surface regions, each surface region arranged for receiving light from one of the plurality of laser source arrangements; and a controller for selectively addressing the plurality of laser source arrangements in order to generate from the phosphor screen arrangement a phosphor-converted output beam pattern having a pre-determined output pattern, the phosphor-converted output beam pattern being formed of a plurality of co-operating component beam portions, each generated from a respective one of the plurality of surface regions (34) of the phosphor screen arrangement, wherein the phosphor-converted output beam pattern is projected via one or more optical elements from the phosphor screen arrangement onto a pixelated display unit, the optical elements being arranged between the phosphor screen arrangement and the pixelated display unit and adapted to project the phosphor-converted output beam pattern onto the pixelated display unit in such a way that each of the component beam portions is imaged onto a respective receiving portion of the pixelated display unit.

2. The lighting system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the phosphor screen arrangement comprises a plurality of spatially separated phosphor screen elements, each providing a respective one or more of the plurality of surface regions.

3. The lighting system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pixelated display unit is adapted to receive as input the phosphor-converted output beam pattern, and to generate as output a secondary output beam having a second predetermined output pattern.

4. The lighting system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the pixelated display unit comprises an array of pixels, each pixel being individually switchable between a high light-output mode state and a low light-output mode state, and wherein the second pre-determined output pattern is dependent upon the output mode states of the pixels.

5. The lighting system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the pre-determined output pattern of the phosphor converted output beam pattern is determined by the controller in dependence upon the output mode states of the array of pixels.

6. The lighting system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the predetermined output pattern of the phosphor converted output beam pattern is determined by the controller so as to minimize the amount of light received at pixels of the array of pixels which are in a low output mode state.

7. The lighting system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pixelated display unit comprises an array of pixels, and wherein the pixels are each individually adjustable across a range of output mode states.

8. The lighting system as claimed in claim 1, wherein each laser source arrangement has an individually controllable light output intensity.

9. The lighting system as claimed in claim 1, wherein two or more of the laser output beams are arranged to overlap at the phosphor screen arrangement.

10. The lighting system as claimed in claim 1, wherein each laser source arrangement comprises one or more laser diodes.

11. The lighting system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pixelated display unit is a digital mirror display, a digital mirror device or a reflective or transmissive LCD.

12. The lighting system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the respective receiving portions of the pixelated display unit, onto which the component beam portions are imaged, overlap, and wherein the pixelated display unit is adapted for compensating brightness effects caused by such overlap.

13. A vehicle headlight comprising the lighting system as claimed in claim 1.

14. A method of generating a light beam, comprising: controlling a plurality of laser source arrangements to generate a plurality of laser output beams in a pre-determined pattern; directing the plurality of laser output beams toward a plurality of surface regions of a receiving phosphor screen arrangement, to thereby generate from the phosphor screen arrangement a phosphor-converted output beam pattern having a predetermined output pattern, the phosphor-converted output beam pattern being formed of a plurality of cooperating component beam portions, each generated from a respective one of the plurality of surface regions of the phosphor screen arrangement; and projecting the phosphor-converted output beam pattern, via one or more optical elements, onto a pixelated display unit, the optical elements being arranged between the phosphor screen arrangement and the pixelated display unit and adapted to project the phosphor-converted output beam pattern onto the pixelated display unit in such a way that each of the component beam portions is imaged onto a respective receiving portion of the pixelated display unit.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0046] Examples of the invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0047] FIG. 1 shows a known micro-display based laser-source lighting system;

[0048] FIG. 2 shows the phosphor screen arrangement for a known micro-display based laser-source lighting system;

[0049] FIG. 3 shows an improved phosphor screen arrangement for a micro-display based laser-source lighting system;

[0050] FIG. 4 shows a second view of the improved phosphor screen arrangement;

[0051] FIG. 5 illustrates a first example micro-display based laser-source lighting system comprising the improved phosphor screen arrangement;

[0052] FIG. 6 illustrates a second example micro-display based laser-source lighting system comprising the improved phosphor screen arrangement;

[0053] FIG. 7 illustrates a first example micro-display based laser-source lighting system comprising a phosphor screen arrangement formed of a plurality of spatially separated phosphor screen elements;

[0054] FIG. 8 illustrates a second example micro-display based laser-source lighting system comprising a phosphor screen arrangement formed of a plurality of spatially separated phosphor screen elements;

[0055] FIG. 9 illustrates a first example laser diode arrangement for generating laser beams to be directed toward a phosphor screen;

[0056] FIG. 10 illustrates a first example irradiance pattern for illuminating a phosphor screen;

[0057] FIG. 11 illustrates a second example irradiance pattern for illuminating a phosphor screen;

[0058] FIG. 12 illustrates a second example laser diode arrangement for generating laser beams to be directed toward a phosphor screen;

[0059] FIG. 13 illustrates a third example laser diode arrangement for generating laser beams to be directed toward a phosphor screen;

[0060] FIG. 14 illustrates a first example micro-display configuration, for producing alternately a low and high beam headlight output;

[0061] FIG. 15 illustrates a second example micro-display configuration, for producing a high beam headlight output

[0062] FIG. 16 illustrates a third example micro-display configuration, for producing a horizontally adjustable high beam headlight output; and

[0063] FIG. 17 illustrates a fourth example micro-display configuration, for producing a horizontally adjustable high beam headlight output.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0064] The invention provides a lighting system for generating patterned phosphor-converted output beams for projection onto a pixelated display unit. A phosphor screen arrangement comprises a plurality of separate light-receiving surface regions, each region illuminated by an individually addressable laser source arrangement. By controlling the relative intensity of light directed to each of the surface regions, a broad range of different output beam patterns can be created from the phosphor screen arrangement. The generated beam pattern may be controlled so as to correspond with the pixel configuration of the display unit, such that light is directed only toward pixels which are active, rather than inactive. This enables significant improvements in optical efficiency, since light need not be wasted through propagation toward pixels which are configured simply to discard it.

[0065] The principle of the invention is illustrated by FIGS. 2 and 3, wherein FIG. 2 shows a conventional phosphor screen arrangement 18 in which a plurality of blue laser beams 12 are directed toward a common target area 16 on the phosphor screen 18. The plurality of laser beams combine at the target area to generate a high intensity white light spot, which is then directed, via a TIR collimator 19, towards imaging optics (in this case an imaging lens) 20 for propagation toward a micro-display unit (not shown). The path of an example light ray 21 from the phosphor screen 18 to the imaging optics 20, via the collimator 19, is shown.

[0066] An improved phosphor screen arrangement 18, as embodied by aspects of the present invention, is illustrated schematically in FIG. 3. The surface of the phosphor 18 is divided into an array of distinct surface sections or regions 34, in the example shown each region being illuminated by a separate one of an array of laser beams 12. As will be clear from the discussion above, there may be multiple laser beams of a laser source arrangement associated with each phosphor region. For ease of explanation, individual laser beams are considered in the examples below. Each laser beam may be switched on or off independently, and hence the light directed to each of the array of surface sections 34 may be individually controlled.

[0067] When projected, via collimator bundle 31, and imaging optics 20, onto a receiving micro-display, each region of the phosphor screen illuminates a different corresponding region on the display. By selectively controlling the illumination across the different phosphor regions 34, the distribution of light across the micro-display 24 may be varied to generate a broad range of different desired patterns.

[0068] The collimator bundle 31 is provided to prevent the individual light outputs of each of the respective surface regions 34 of the phosphor screen 18 from spreading and inter-mixing on their journey toward the micro-displayin which case the output pattern generated by phosphor 18 would become blurred or lost, and consequently would not be properly mapped onto the receiving regions of the micro-display. The collimator bundle 31 is formed of a set of individual collimator units 32, each optically isolated from one another, and together arranged such that their respective light input windows and light output windows co-operate to form common light input and light output areas 33 of the collimator bundle 31.

[0069] Each of the surface regions 34 of the phosphor is aligned with the light input window of a respective one of the collimator units 32. Light emitted by each surface region is collimated in isolation from the light outputs of the other surface regions before being emitted from the common light exit area 33 from which it propagates toward the imaging optic 20 and further towards the micro-display (not shown). The individual collimation of light outputs ensures that the collective light output pattern generated by the phosphor screen arrangement 18 as a whole is faithfully imaged onto the surface of the micro-display 24.

[0070] It should be noted that although the particular example system illustrated in FIG. 3 comprises a reflective micro-display unit, the invention is not limited to such embodiments, and alternative examples may instead make use of transmissive-type displays, such as a transmissive LCD display.

[0071] The operation of an example lighting system in accordance with the principles described above is schematically illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5. FIG. 4 depicts a close-up view of the phosphor screen 18 of FIG. 3, the array of surface regions 34 shown illuminated by individual laser beams 12. In FIG. 5, the example phosphor screen is shown as comprised within an example lighting system arrangement, wherein white light generated by the phosphor 18 is propagated via collimator bundle 31 and display optics 20 onto the surface of the pixelated micro-display unit 24.

[0072] A sample surface region 34a of the phosphor 18 is indicated in FIG. 4. As shown in FIG. 5, on stimulation of the region 34a by a laser source, a corresponding (inverted) image 36a of the illuminated region 34a is projected via a respective collimator unit of collimator bundle 31 and via imaging optics 20 onto the surface of micro-display 24. The projected image 36a of region 34a on the display is shown highlighted in FIG. 5. As will be appreciated, each of the array of phosphor regions 34, on illumination by a laser source, will map onto its own corresponding region of the micro-display. By adjusting the light delivered to each of the phosphor regions, therefore, a range of different light patterns may be created across the surface of the micro-display 24.

[0073] The micro-display 24 comprises an array of individually addressable pixels 26, each controllable to either reflect the light which falls incident at them, or to absorb or otherwise discard the incident light. By adjusting the reflectivity modes across the array of pixels, the micro-display may be controlled so as to generate from its surface output beams of variable shapes and patterns. Bright regions of the output pattern are created by pixels in high reflectivity mode. Dark regions of the output pattern are created by pixels in low-reflectivity mode.

[0074] Note that by low-reflectivity mode is meant a mode in which the pixel is configured to discard or deflect some or all of the light falling incident on it, and is not to be interpreted as meaning that the intrinsic reflectivity of the pixel itself is changed.

[0075] Light directed onto pixels which are switched into a low-reflectivity mode is discarded by for example absorption. This light is therefore wasted. The efficiency of the lighting system is therefore significantly improved if light is only generated and directed onto pixels which are in a high reflectivity mode. The segmented phosphor screen of embodiments of the present invention allows for such functionality, since, by stimulating different regions 34 of the phosphor screen, different regions may correspondingly be illuminated on the surface of the micro-display. By only stimulating those regions of the phosphor 18 which image onto regions of the micro-display in which pixels 26 are switched into high-reflectivity mode, much light may be conserved. This in turn leads to reductions in the power consumption of the system, and also lessens overall heat generation by the lasers, mitigating consequent cooling issues.

[0076] Note that although in the example shown, a collimator bundle is used to image the light output pattern of the phosphor screen 18 onto the micro-display 24 (via optics 20), in alternative examples, other imaging means might alternatively be used. For example, a bundle of tapered optical fibres may be used in a similar way to the collimator bundle to provide optically isolated collimation of each of the outputs of the surface regions. Alternatively, a collimating lens may instead be employed, for example a Fresnel lens, adapted to project input light rays along a common parallel output axis.

[0077] The number of unique surface regions required for significant improvements in efficiency is not large. Indeed, as few as two segments may realise significant benefits. This may be the case for example where the lighting system is used within a headlight module to generate high beam and low beam light output modes. In most cases, eight distinct surface segments 34 may be sufficient.

[0078] The display unit may typically comprise many more pixels 26 (e.g. 100000 or more) than the number of surface regions comprised by the phosphor screen 18. The display unit 24 allows for generation of a high-resolution output beam, having sharply defined features and sharp light cut off between bright and dark regions. A high density of pixels may therefore be provided.

[0079] The density of phosphor screen surface regions may be significantly lower than the density of micro-display pixels, since it is not necessary that the initial phosphor screen output beam be patterned to a high resolution. Substantial improvements in efficiency may be achieved even where single phosphor surface portions map onto relatively large areas of the micro-display surface, containing a sizeable number of individual pixels.

[0080] FIG. 6 shows an example system comprising a phosphor screen having only three distinct surface regions for example. Here, as in the example of FIG. 3, a TIR collimator bundle is provided, with one distinct collimator for each of the three surface regions.

[0081] In examples, the pixels of the display unit may be adjustable between a range of different reflectivity modes, in order to generate reflected pixel outputs across a range of intensities. This may be achieved for example through controlling the pixels to execute suitable duty cycles of low and high reflectivity modes, the intensity being adjustable by means of controlling the frequency of such cycles. This would allow more subtle and sophisticated output beam patterns to be generated from the display. In this case, it may be desirable that the intensity of light directed to different receiving regions of the display is adjustable between a range of values.

[0082] In these or other examples, laser sources may be provided which are operable across a range of output intensities. In this way the individual surface regions of the phosphor 18 are not only controllable between a binary ON and OFF state, but may also be dimmed across a range of brightnesses. This in turn allows that corresponding receiving regions of the micro-display 24 may be supplied with light of differing intensities.

[0083] In examples, the surface portions need not be separated or otherwise distinguished from one another in any physically tangible way. In many cases, the regions may simply be notional regions, in the sense that they are defined and distinguished only in virtue of the source of their incident illumination.

[0084] The plurality of surface regions 34 may, as in the example of FIG. 4, comprise a contiguous array of regions. However, in other examples, the surface regions may together comprise a less ordered arrangement, for example a random distribution of regions across the phosphor surface. The surface regions may furthermore be either contiguous or non-contiguous with respect to one another.

[0085] One or more of the surface regions may in some cases overlap with one another, where the laser beams 12 are arranged to coincide to some extent at the surface of the phosphor.

[0086] The surface regions may form a grid pattern, as in the example of FIG. 4, but may in alternative examples form different regular or irregular shaped arrangements, including but not limited to a circular pattern, triangular pattern or hexagonal pattern.

[0087] The surface regions may be oblong in shape, as in FIG. 4, or may alternatively comprise any other desired shape, for example triangular, circular, elliptical or hexagonal.

[0088] The surface regions may all be of a uniform size and/or shape, or may comprise different shapes and/or sizes.

[0089] The boundaries between the phosphor surface regions 34 need not be sharp; the phosphor need not generate a high contrast light source. High contrast in the phosphor-converted output beam is not necessary, since any fine tuning of the beam shape or distribution may be performed subsequently by the display unit. This may allow for simplification in certain design aspects of the laser sources and phosphor target, since the required tolerances for the light beams can be partially relaxed.

[0090] In the examples described above, the phosphor regions comprise sections or segments of a single, integral phosphor screen element. However, this is not essential. According to an alternative set of examples, the phosphor regions may instead be regions or surfaces of a plurality of distinct phosphor elements, being for example spatially separated from one another.

[0091] FIG. 7 shows a first example of a system comprising such a phosphor screen arrangement. The system comprises four distinct phosphor screen elements 35, each providing a single phosphor screen surface portion 34, and each illuminated by a separate, individually controllable laser beam 12. The phosphor screen elements 35 are spatially separated from one another, and arranged in an array formation across a common plane. Each phosphor screen element is aligned with the optical input window of a respective collimator unit 32, the collimators together forming a collimator bundle 31 having a light output area 33 formed of the contiguous arrangement of the light output windows of each of the individual collimators 32.

[0092] A second example is shown in FIG. 8. The system of this example comprises the same set of phosphor elements 35 as the example of FIG. 7 described above, but wherein two of the phosphor elements have been displaced out of the common plane containing the remaining elements, and disposed at respective points on either side. The surfaces of the two displaced phosphor elements do not face in the direction of micro-display 24, but are provided with curved collimator elements 32 which channel and redirect their respective light outputs back into the same light exit plane as the remaining phosphor screen elements.

[0093] Such an embodiment provides greater flexibility in the configuration and arrangement of the system. For example, it allows that the laser sources may be arranged across a greater area, improving heat dissipation.

[0094] Also note that examples of the system are able to provide high resolution output with improved optical efficiency, but without the requirement for moving parts. In some alternative systems, for example, optical efficiency may be targeted through use of a laser scanning approach, which allows light output across different regions of a micro-display to be varied. However, such laser scanning approaches require the implementation of fragile micromechanical scanning mirrors, which increase complexity in both design and operation, and reduce reliability of the system over the long term. Embodiments of the present system are able to achieve the same improvement in efficiency, but with a fundamentally solid state design.

[0095] The micro-display unit may, according to examples, be a digital mirror display, a digital mirror device or reflective or transmissive LCD.

[0096] Various options exist for the generation and arrangement of the plurality of individually addressable laser sources 12.

[0097] A first example arrangement is shown in FIG. 9. An assembled array of blue laser diodes 40 generates a plurality of blue laser light beams 12, which are directed, via a correspondingly arranged array of focussing optics 44 onto respective surface regions 34 of the phosphor screen 18. The array of diodes is arranged having greater spacing or pitch than the receiving surface regions, i.e. the focussing optics provide at the phosphor a de-magnified image of the array.

[0098] The irradiance of the phosphor 18 surface by the various laser sources may be uniform, as illustrated in FIG. 10, wherein the array of laser beams 12 are directed to respective points on the surface of the phosphor which are evenly distributed. In alternative examples, however, the laser beams may be arranged so as to create a non-uniform irradiance pattern. An example of such an arrangement is shown in FIG. 11. A non-uniform irradiance pattern has the advantage that the irradiance pattern across the micro-display can be to some extent pre-shaped in order to match the desired output beam pattern (from the micro-display) as best as possible.

[0099] As shown in FIG. 12, the phosphor target may be pixelated, each pixel arranged to receive light from one of an array of spatially displaced laser diodes 40. However, in alternative examples (as illustrated in FIG. 13), the phosphor may not be illuminated by means of spatially separated laser diodes, but may rather consist of an array of phosphor segments 34, each of which is close-pumped by an integrated laser diode 48.

[0100] It should be noted that although in examples described above, phosphor targets (i.e. surface regions of phosphor screen arrangements) are provided or shown operating in transmissive mode, wherein phosphor-converted light is emitted from the side of the phosphor target opposite to the side which is illuminated by the laser source, embodiments of the invention are not limited to this configuration. In alternative examples, the phosphor screen arrangements may instead be configured or provided operating in reflective mode wherein phosphor converted light is emitted from the same side of the phosphor target as is being illuminated by the laser sources.

[0101] The invention is of particular interest for automotive headlighting applications. FIGS. 14-17 illustrate example applications of an embodiment of the system for producing a range of different output headlight configurations. Each figure schematically depicts a pixel configuration of the micro-display unit for generating a reflected output distribution suitable for producing a headlight beam having a particular beam profile.

[0102] FIG. 14 shows a first example micro-display configuration, for producing alternately a low beam headlight, having an angled upper cut off, or a high beam headlight. The micro-display 24 is a digital mirror display (DMD), comprising an array of reflector pixels, each switchable between a high reflectivity (on) mode and a low reflectivity (off) mode. The grey checked regions of the display indicate regions which are being illuminated by the output beam pattern of the phosphor arrangement, but in which the pixels are switched to low-reflectivity off mode. The white regions indicate regions which are being illuminated and in which the pixels are switched to high reflectivity on mode. The black checked regions indicate regions which are not being illuminated by the phosphor screen arrangement.

[0103] In this simple example, there are only two regions established, a first 52 for generating the low beam and a second 54 for generating the high beam. The solid lines indicate the shape of the beam as it would be projected forward from a headlight unit comprising the system.

[0104] When the first segment 52 only is switched on, then just the low beam is produced. The pixels of the first segment 52 are configured so as to produce the characteristic angled kink of a low-beam headlight profilewith this kink designed to angle the beam downwards on one side so as to avoid causing glare to oncoming vehicles on the other side of the road.

[0105] When just the low-beam is to be generated, the system is configured such that only the surface region of the phosphor screen arrangement (not shown) which maps onto the first segment 52 of the micro-display is illuminated by its respective laser source, and remaining laser sources are switched off. In this way, significant energy is conserved through not providing illumination across the second segment, which is configured in this beam mode to discard all incident light.

[0106] The system furthermore allows the specific shape of the low beam to be dynamically modified via the display (see arrows in FIG. 14). For example, the upper cut off line may be moved upwards/downwards or left/right, or even re-shaped such that the angle of the cut off is rendered more acute or less acute for instance. These changes may be made in real time in response to certain driving scenariosfor example to provide super-fast levelling of the upper cut off line in response to rapid acceleration or driving over a bump for instance. Depending upon the resolution achievable by the segmented phosphor screen arrangement, these adjustments may also be accompanied by adjustments to the output pattern of the phosphor screen arrangement.

[0107] Note that the low beam output generated by this display 24 may not form the full low-beam distribution, but may for example form only the centre-most portion of a full low-beam distribution. The full low beam pattern may, in virtue of its large size, be difficult to create (in any practical way) by just a micro-display alone, so that in practical applications, the micro-display system may be supplemented by one or more LED illumination units, configured to provide the outer extended wings of the low beam profile.

[0108] When the high beam is to be generated, both the first segment 52 and the second segment 54 of the micro-display are switched on. In this case, the system is configured such that surface regions of the phosphor screen arrangement which map onto both the first 52 and second 54 segment are illuminated by their respective laser sources.

[0109] FIG. 15 schematically shows the DMD when configured for such a high beam-mode. In this example, the DMD has been used to clip the upper corners of the high beam (making the pattern semi-trapezoidal), by switching pixels occupying said corners into low-reflectivity mode. In addition, a dynamically moveable dark region 56 near the centre of the beam has been created (to allow prevention of glare to oncoming traffic) and also a similar dark region 58 nearer the side of the beam (to prevent full illumination of an oncoming road-sign which would otherwise cause glare to the driver himself).

[0110] In FIG. 16 is illustrated a second example micro-display configuration, for producing in this case a high beam only, having dynamically adjustable total width and/or side-wise shape. The micro-display is shown divided into four different illumination segments 60, 62, 64, 66. Checked regions of the display indicate regions in which the pixels are switched to low-reflectivity off mode, while white or grey regions indicate regions in which the pixels are switched to high reflectivity on mode.

[0111] Furthermore, white regions indicate in particular regions which are being illuminated by the phosphor screen arrangement with full intensity light, while grey regions indicate regions which are being illuminated by the phosphor screen arrangement with half-intensity light. This embodiment requires that the laser sources illuminating the surface regions of the phosphor screen arrangement are configured to produce light of variable intensity, such that, depending upon the desired intensity distribution across the micro-display, the intensities of light provided to the phosphor surface regions may be modified.

[0112] In FIG. 16 is shown a configuration in which all four segments are switched on. The second 62 and third 64 segments are being illuminated with full intensity light (to provide a bright centre to the beam pattern), while the first 60 and fourth 66 segments are being illuminated at only half intensity light to provide a tapered outer edge to the beam pattern. In addition, the upper left corner has been rounded via the DMD. Furthermore, as in the previous example, the DMD is configured to produce two movable dark zones 56, 58.

[0113] FIG. 17 shows the configuration of FIG. 16, but wherein the illumination pattern has been re-configured in response to changing road conditions (for example a sharp bend in the road to the left). More intensity is required to the left of the beam, and hence the first segment 60 is switched to full intensity, while segment three 64 is switched to half intensity. Segment four 66 is dimmed even further. The result is that the whole high-beam pattern is shifted left-ward.

[0114] Note that in alternative examples, the differing intensities of illumination across the different segments of the display 24 may be created, not through varying the intensity of the light provided to the respective phosphor surface regions, but instead through providing a DMD having pixels capable of switching between a range of different reflectivity modes. In this case, a uniform level of light may be provided to each of the segments of the display which are to at least reflect some light, and the differing output intensities generated through selectively controlling the reflectivity levels of the corresponding pixels.

[0115] In this case, the different intensity levels of the illumination sections will not create sudden steps in the output pattern, since intensity-tuning of the DMD may be used to smooth the changes in intensity between neighbouring segments.

[0116] Note further that the illumination sections of the micro-display may, in examples, overlap. Such an overlap however can be compensated for through suitable control of the DMD: excess brightness caused by any such overlap may be repaired or removed by simply adjusting the reflectivity intensities of the corresponding display pixels.

[0117] Although applications of embodiments of the invention have been described in particular relating to automotive headlighting, it should be understood that the invention has more general applicability to any other micro-display projection applications that combine laser light (e.g. blue) with phosphor wavelength conversion.

[0118] Other variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by those skilled in the art in practicing the claimed invention, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims. In the claims, the word comprising does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article a or an does not exclude a plurality. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage. Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope.