Patent Publication Number: US-11378249-B2

Title: Head lamp for vehicle

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a) of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2020-0094298 filed on Jul. 29, 2020 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference for all purposes. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Field 
     Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a head lamp for a vehicle, and more particularly, to a head lamp for a vehicle, which includes a flip-dot unit installed in a lamp housing in order to prevent overheat and moisture in the lamp housing and to effectively inform an oncoming vehicle or pedestrian of notice information on the state of a vehicle or notice information related to the driving of the vehicle. 
     Discussion of the Background 
     In general, when a vehicle travels on the road through a tunnel or in the nighttime, a head lamp of the vehicle emits light to the forward area of the vehicle such that a driver can easily check and identify an object ahead of vehicle. The head lamp is typically installed on either side of the front of the vehicle. 
     The head lamp of the vehicle uses two light sources to adjust the brightness of light, when illuminating the forward area of the vehicle. Any one of the light sources is used as a low beam capable of illuminating an area at a relatively small distance, and the other of the light sources is used as a high beam capable of illustrating an area at a relatively large distance. 
     In such a head lamp for a vehicle, an incandescent lamp or halogen lamp is typically used as the light source for emitting light. Recently, the case in which an LED having low power consumption and excellent light straightness is used as a light source is increasing. 
     According to the recent trend in which a head lamp for a vehicle is designed to have a small size, a lamp housing may lack in an air flow space. In this case, the humidity inside the lamp housing may be increased to cause condensation. 
     Furthermore, when the head lamp for a vehicle is exposed to sunlight for a long time, the surface of a bezel part of the lamp housing may be corrupted or deformed as the temperature of the bezel part increases. 
     With the recent development of autonomous driving technology, technologies related to full-scale driving of autonomous vehicles are being developed. Furthermore, research is being conducted on an apparatus and method capable of effectively transferring notice information on the state of an autonomous vehicle or notice information related to the driving of the autonomous vehicle to an oncoming vehicle or pedestrian, among the technologies related to autonomous vehicles. Besides, there is a need for developing an apparatus and method which can display notice information related to an autonomous vehicle to the outside of the vehicle more effectively with lower power consumption, and minimize damage to a pedestrian. 
     The related art of the present disclosure is disclosed in Korean Patent No. 10-1487904 registered on Jan. 23, 2015 and entitled “Flip Dot Display Element using Electromagnet and Assembly Module Thereof”. 
     SUMMARY 
     This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. 
     In one general aspect, a head lamp for a vehicle includes: a lamp housing; a light source disposed in the lamp housing and configured to emit light to a forward area of a vehicle; a bezel disposed on the lamp housing, spaced apart from the light source, and shaped to cover the light source; and a plurality of flip-dot units disposed in the bezel. Each flip-dot unit among the plurality of flip-dot units includes: a housing having an opening formed on one side the housing, and a space formed in the housing; and a flip disk rotatably installed in the housing and configured to selectively open and close the opening. 
     The housing may include: a first side portion having a plate shape, and having an air flow hole in communication with the opening; a second side portion bent and extended from the first side portion, and configured to form the space with the first side portion; and a third side portion bent and extended from the second side portion, disposed to face the first side portion, and having the flip disk installed thereon. 
     The flip disk may be configured to rotate about a rotation axis passing through a center of the third side portion. 
     The flip disk may have a symmetrical shape with respect to a center axis. 
     The head lamp may further include: a sensor unit disposed in the bezel and configured to measure an internal temperature and internal humidity of the lamp housing; and a control unit configured to transmit a flip disk operation signal to the flip-dot unit to rotate the flip disk. 
     The control unit may be further configured to transmit the flip disk operation signal to the flip-dot unit to rotate and invert the flip disk according to the internal temperature of the lamp housing, as measured by the sensor unit. 
     The control unit may be further configured to transmit the flip disk operation signal to the flip-dot unit to repeatedly rotate the flip disk according to the internal humidity of the lamp housing, as measured by the sensor unit. 
     The control unit may be further configured to transmit the flip disk operation signal to the flip-dot unit to display a character or sign for warning an oncoming vehicle or pedestrian. 
     The head lamp may further include a control unit configured to control the flip disk to rotate such that a heated surface of the flip disk faces the bezel, in response to an internal temperature of the lamp being determined to be equal to or greater than a preset value. 
     The head lamp may further include a control unit configured to control the flip disk to repeatedly rotate such that moisture is removed from the lamp housing, in response to an internal humidity of the lamp housing being determined to be equal to or greater than a preset value. 
     Other features and aspects will be apparent from the following detailed description, the drawings, and the claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a diagram schematically illustrating a head lamp for a vehicle in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a diagram schematically illustrating a flip-dot unit applied to the head lamp for a vehicle in accordance with the embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  is a diagram illustrating an example of the case in which the temperature of a lamp housing applied to the head lamp for a vehicle in accordance with the embodiment of the present disclosure rises. 
         FIG. 4  is a diagram illustrating an operation state of the flip-dot unit to lower the temperature of the lamp housing applied to the head lamp for a vehicle in accordance with the embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 5  is a diagram illustrating an operation state of the flip-dot unit to lower the humidity of the lamp housing applied to the head lamp for a vehicle in accordance with the embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 6  is a diagram illustrating the state in which the air of the lamp housing is circulated to remove humidity through an operation of the flip-dot unit applied to the head lamp for a vehicle in accordance with the embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 7  is a diagram schematically illustrating the head lamp for a vehicle in accordance with the embodiment of the present disclosure, showing an example of the case in which the lamp housing is formed in a hemispherical shape. 
         FIG. 8  is a diagram illustrating an example of the case in which notice information on the state of the vehicle is displayed through the operation of the flip-dot unit applied to the head lamp for a vehicle in accordance with the embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 9  is a diagram illustrating an example of the case in which notice information on the driving of a vehicle is displayed through the operation of the flip-dot unit applied to the head lamp for a vehicle in accordance with the embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 10  is a diagram illustrating another example of the case in which notice information on the driving of the vehicle is displayed through the operation of the flip-dot unit applied to the head lamp for a vehicle in accordance with the embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS 
     Hereinafter, a head lamp for a vehicle will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings through various exemplary embodiments. It should be noted that the drawings are not to precise scale and may be exaggerated in thickness of lines or sizes of components for descriptive convenience and clarity only. Furthermore, the terms as used herein are defined by taking functions of the invention into account and can be changed according to the custom or intention of users or operators. Therefore, definition of the terms should be made according to the overall disclosures set forth herein. 
       FIG. 1  is a diagram schematically illustrating a head lamp for a vehicle in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure,  FIG. 2  is a diagram schematically illustrating a flip-dot unit applied to the head lamp for a vehicle in accordance with the embodiment of the present disclosure,  FIG. 3  is a diagram illustrating an example of the case in which the temperature of a lamp housing applied to the head lamp for a vehicle in accordance with the embodiment of the present disclosure rises,  FIG. 4  is a diagram illustrating an operation state of the flip-dot unit to lower the temperature of the lamp housing applied to the head lamp for a vehicle in accordance with the embodiment of the present disclosure,  FIG. 5  is a diagram illustrating an operation state of the flip-dot unit to lower the humidity of the lamp housing applied to the head lamp for a vehicle in accordance with the embodiment of the present disclosure,  FIG. 6  is a diagram illustrating the state in which the air of the lamp housing is circulated to remove humidity through an operation of the flip-dot unit applied to the head lamp for a vehicle in accordance with the embodiment of the present disclosure,  FIG. 7  is a diagram schematically illustrating the head lamp for a vehicle in accordance with the embodiment of the present disclosure, showing an example of the case in which the lamp housing is formed in a hemispherical shape,  FIG. 8  is a diagram illustrating an example of the case in which notice information on the state of the vehicle is displayed through the operation of the flip-dot unit applied to the head lamp for a vehicle in accordance with the embodiment of the present disclosure,  FIG. 9  is a diagram illustrating an example of the case in which notice information on the driving of a vehicle is displayed through the operation of the flip-dot unit applied to the head lamp for a vehicle in accordance with the embodiment of the present disclosure, and  FIG. 10  is a diagram illustrating another example of the case in which notice information on the driving of the vehicle is displayed through the operation of the flip-dot unit applied to the head lamp for a vehicle in accordance with the embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 10 , the head lamp for a vehicle in accordance with the embodiment of the present disclosure includes a lamp housing  100 , a bezel  200  and a plurality of flip-dot units  300 . The lamp housing  100  has a light source  110  installed therein, the light source  110  serving to emit light to a forward area of the vehicle. The bezel  200  is installed on the lamp housing  100 , spaced by a predetermined distance apart from the light source  110 , and disposed in a shape to cover the light source  110 . The plurality of flip-dot units  300  are installed in the bezel  200 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the flip-dot unit  300  includes a housing  310  and a flip disk  320 . The housing  310  has an opening S formed on one side thereof and a space formed therein, and the flip disk  320  is rotatably installed in the housing  310  so as to open or close the opening S. 
     The housing  310  of the flip-dot unit  300  is formed in an approximately rectangular parallelepiped shape as a whole, and has the opening S formed on one side thereof and the space formed therein. When the opening S is closed by the flip disk  320 , the housing  310  has a rectangular parallelepiped shape. 
     The housing  310  of the flip-dot unit  300  includes a first side portion  311 , a second side portion  312  and a third side portion  313 . The first side portion  311  is formed in a plate shape with an air flow hole H which communicates with the opening S, the second side portion  312  is bent and extended from the first side portion  311  so as to form the space with the first side portion  311 , and the third side portion  313  is bent and extended from the second side portion  312 , disposed to face the first side portion  311 , and having the flip disk  320  installed thereon. 
     Outside the housing  310 , an air flow duct (not illustrated) may be installed to communicate with the air flow hole H formed in the first side portion  311 . The air flow duct may have an opening/closing member (not illustrated) installed to open/close the air flow duct. The opening/closing member may be operated to close or open the air flow duct according to the operation of the flip disk  320  to close or open the opening S. 
     The plurality of flip-dot units  300  may be installed in the bezel  200  of the head lamp for a vehicle in accordance with the embodiment of the present disclosure. Furthermore, a sensor unit  400  for measuring the internal temperature and humidity of the lamp housing  100  may be installed in the bezel  200 . 
     Furthermore, the head lamp for a vehicle in accordance with the embodiment of the present disclosure may further include a control unit  500  configured to transmit a flip disk operation signal to the flip-dot unit  300  to rotate the flip disk  320 . 
     The flip-dot unit  300  may rotate the flip disk  320  installed therein, in order to prevent overheat and humidity in the lamp housing  100 . 
     Furthermore, each of the flip-dot units  300  may serve as a pixel of a general display device, and visualize and display notice information on the state of the vehicle or notice information related to the driving of the vehicle as figures, characters or signs, thereby calling an oncoming vehicle or pedestrian&#39;s attention. 
     The notice information on the state of the vehicle is information displayed by visualizing information on whether the vehicle is turned on/off, whether the vehicle is being stopped or traveling, or whether the vehicle is in an autonomous driving mode, and the notice information related to the driving of the vehicle is information displayed by visualizing the acceleration, deceleration or turn of the vehicle. 
     The flip disk  320  is referred to as a flip dot, formed in a polygonal or circular plate shape, and rotatably installed in the third side portion  313  of the housing  310  to open or close the opening S formed in the third side portion  313  of the housing  310 . 
     The flip disk  320  has one surface and the other surface which have different colors, and is rotated to invert the color of the flip disk  320  which appears through the bezel  200 . 
     The flip disk  320  may be rotated by an electromagnetic actuator (not illustrated), and the opening degree of the opening S may be changed according to the rotation angle of the flip disk  320 , such that the amount of air circulated through the opening S is changed. 
     The flip disk  320  is installed to rotate about a rotation axis  321  passing through the center of the third side portion, and has a symmetrical shape with respect to the rotation axis  321 . Therefore, the flip disk  320  is configured in such a manner that portions disposed on both sides of the rotation axis  321  have the same shape and cross-sectional area. 
     When the internal temperature of the lamp housing  100 , measured by the sensor unit  400 , is equal to or higher than a preset value, the control unit  500  may transmit a flip disk operation signal to the flip-dot unit  300  to rotate and invert the flip disk  320 . This process may lower the internal temperature of the lamp housing  100  overheated by direct sunlight or the like. 
     Furthermore, when the internal humidity of the lamp housing  100 , measured by the sensor unit  400 , is equal to or higher than a preset value, the control unit  500  may transmit the flip disk operation signal to the flip-dot unit  300  to repeatedly rotate the flip disk  320 . This process may circulate the air inside the lamp housing  100 , thereby removing the humidity of the lamp housing  100 . 
     Furthermore, the control unit  500  may transmit the flip disk operation signal to the flip-dot unit  300  to display a character or sign which can warn an oncoming vehicle or pedestrian. Through this process, the notice information on the state of the vehicle or the notice information related to the driving of the vehicle may be effectively transferred to an oncoming vehicle or pedestrian, which makes it possible to improve a traffic flow and to prevent an accident. 
     Hereafter, the operation of the head lamp for a vehicle in accordance with the embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3 to 4 , an overheat prevention function of the head lamp for a vehicle in accordance with the embodiment of the present disclosure will be described as follows. 
       FIG. 3  is a diagram illustrating an example of the case in which the temperature of the lamp housing applied to the head lamp for a vehicle in accordance with the embodiment of the present disclosure rises, and  FIG. 4  is a diagram illustrating an operation state of the flip-dot unit to lower the temperature of the lamp housing applied to the head lamp for a vehicle in accordance with the embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the internal temperature of the lamp housing  100  may be excessively raised by direct sunlight. In particular, the temperature of the bezel  200  inside the lamp housing  100 , which is directly exposed to direct sunlight, may rapidly rise. 
     When the internal temperature of the lamp housing  100  excessively rises, the control unit  500  may control the operation of the flip-dot unit  300  according to the temperature information measured by the sensor unit  400  installed in the bezel  200 . 
     That is, when the internal temperature of the lamp housing  100  is equal to or higher than the preset value, the control unit  500  may rotate the flip disks  320  in the state illustrated in  FIG. 3 , such that the heated surfaces of the flip disks  320  are turned to face the inside of the bezel  200 , and the opposite surfaces of the flip disks  320 , which are not heated, are turned to appear through the bezel  200 , as illustrated in  FIG. 4 . Then, the internal temperature of the lamp housing  100  may be lowered. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 5 to 6 , a humidity prevention function of the head lamp for a vehicle in accordance with the embodiment of the present disclosure will be described as follows. 
       FIG. 5  is a diagram illustrating an operation state of the flip-dot unit to lower the humidity of the lamp housing applied to the head lamp for a vehicle in accordance with the embodiment of the present disclosure, and  FIG. 6  is a diagram illustrating that the air of the lamp housing is circulated to remove humidity according to the operation of the flip-dot unit applied to the head lamp for a vehicle in accordance with the embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , moisture m may be generated in the lamp housing  100  by a temperature difference between the outside and the inside of the lamp housing  100 . 
     When the moisture m is generated in the lamp housing  100 , the control unit  500  may control the operation of the flip-dot unit  300  according to the humidity measured by the sensor unit  400  installed in the bezel  200 . 
     That is, when the internal humidity of the lamp housing  100  is equal to or higher than a preset value, the control unit  500  may operate the flip disk  320  to repeatedly rotate as illustrated in  FIG. 5 . Then, as illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the air inside the lamp housing  100  may be circulated (e.g. circulation indicated by an arrow C), thereby removing the moisture generated in the lamp housing  100 . 
     Furthermore, while the air inside the lamp housing  100  is circulated, the air inside the lamp housing  100  and the air outside the lamp housing  100  may be exchanged. In this case, the air inside the lamp housing  100  and the air outside the lamp housing  100  may be exchanged through the opening S and the air flow hole H which are formed in the housing  310  of the flip-dot unit  300 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 7 to 10 , the function of displaying the notice information on the state of the vehicle and the notice information related to the driving of the vehicle through the head lamp for a vehicle in accordance with the embodiment of the present disclosure will be described as follows. 
       FIG. 7  is a diagram schematically illustrating the head lamp for a vehicle in accordance with the embodiment of the present disclosure, showing an example of the case in which the lamp housing is formed in a semispherical shape. 
     When the lamp housing  100  has a hemispherical shape illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the function of displaying the notice information on the state of the vehicle or the notice information related to the driving of the vehicle may be exhibited more effectively than when the lamp housing  100  has the shape illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
     When the hemispherical lamp housing  100  is applied as illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the flip-dot units  300  may be arranged in a circular shape along the bezel  200 . In this case, the flip-dot units  300  may be arranged in two or more lines in order to display various pieces of notice information. 
     Even when the hemispherical lamp housing  100  is applied, the flip disks  320  of the flip-dot units  300  may be rotated to prevent overheat and moisture in the lamp housing  100 , as described above. 
       FIG. 8  is a diagram illustrating an example of how the notice information on the state of the vehicle may be displayed through the head lamp for a vehicle in accordance with the embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     For example, when the vehicle is turned on, the flip disks  320  of the flip-dot units  300  may be operated to generate a flow (i.e. a flow indicated by an arrow D) from the edge of the lamp housing  10  to the center of the lamp housing  100  where the light source  110  is located, as illustrated in  FIG. 8 . In this way, the flip-dot unit  300  may inform an oncoming vehicle or pedestrian that the vehicle is turned on. 
       FIG. 9  is a diagram illustrating an example of how the notice information related to the driving of the vehicle may be displayed through the head lamp for a vehicle in accordance with the embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     For example, when the vehicle enters the autonomous driving mode, the entire flip disks  320  of the flip-dot units  300  may be repeatedly operated so that the surfaces of the flip disks  320  having the same color appear, thereby informing an oncoming vehicle or pedestrian that the vehicle is in the autonomous driving mode, as illustrated in  FIG. 9 . 
       FIG. 10  is a diagram illustrating another example of how the notice information related to the driving of the vehicle may be displayed through the head lamp for a vehicle in accordance with the embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     For example, when the vehicle makes a turn, the flip disks  320  of the flip-dot units  300  may be operated to generate a flow in which the flip disks  320  are sequentially rotated along an arrow E, as illustrated in  FIG. 10 , thereby informing an oncoming vehicle or pedestrian of the vehicle&#39;s turn. 
     In the head lamp for a vehicle in accordance with the embodiment of the present disclosure, the flip-dot unit may be installed in the lamp housing to prevent overheat and moisture in the lamp housing, and effectively transfer the notice information on the state of the vehicle or the notice information related to the driving of the vehicle to an oncoming vehicle or pedestrian. 
     Although exemplary embodiments of the disclosure have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the disclosure as defined in the accompanying claims. Thus, the true technical scope of the disclosure should be defined by the following claims.