Optical design of automotive headlight system incorporating digital micromirror device

Appl Opt. 2010 Aug 1;49(22):4182-7. doi: 10.1364/AO.49.004182.

Abstract

In recent years, the popular adaptive front-lighting automobile headlight system has become a main emphasis of research that manufacturers will continue to focus great efforts on in the future. In this research we propose a new integral optical design for an automotive headlight system with an advanced light-emitting diode and digital micromirror device (DMD). Traditionally, automobile headlights have all been designed as a low beam light module, whereas the high beam light module still requires using accessory lamps. In anticipation of this new concept of integral optical design, we have researched and designed a single optical system with high and low beam capabilities. To switch on and off the beams, a DMD is typically used. Because DMDs have the capability of redirecting incident light into a specific angle, they also determine the shape of the high or low light beam in order to match the standard of headlight illumination. With collocation of the multicurvature reflection lens design, a DMD can control the light energy distribution and thereby reinforce the resolution of the light beam.

MeSH terms

  • Equipment Design / instrumentation
  • Humans
  • Light
  • Lighting / instrumentation
  • Optics and Photonics*
  • Software
  • Transportation*
  • Vision, Ocular