# Tailoring the V-Model for Optics: A Methodology for Optomechatronic Systems
## 1 Introduction
### Introduction of the Application Example  
An important prerequisite for safe road traffic at night and twilight is optimal illumination of the traffic area without dazzling other road users. Technological advances in ambient sensor technology enable the realization of new safety and comfort functions in the field of vehicle lighting by detecting vehicles and pedestrians [18]. If so-called light modulators are used in the optical path of headlamps, the light distribution can be modulated in individual areas or completely and thus adapted to the current ambient conditions. One function already implemented in the mass segment is glare-free high beam, in which other road users are detected by analyzing the vehicle camera image. Subsequently, the luminous intensity of the high beam in this direction is reduced to such an extent that glare is avoided [19]. By controlling headlamps pixel wise, which is comparable to the image generation of video projectors, additionally, completely new functions can be implemented. With knowl  
Figure 1: Basic functions of optomechatronic systems according to [4]. edge of the exact geometric conditions, the light distribution of a high-resolution headlamp can be modulated to create visible projections on the road in front of the vehicle [20; 21; 22; 23]. With this technological possibility, a variety of functional ideas arise, such as an extension of the driver-vehicle interface to display information or projections to communicate with other road users [24; 25]. A specific example of a projection function is the so-called construction site light. Here, by displaying the real vehicle width on the road, the driver is verifiably enabled to guide the vehicle in narrow places more easily than without the projection function [21; 23; 26]. Different optical concepts and technologies for image modulation can be considered to develop high-resolution vehicle headlamps [15; 27]. With the objective of evaluating the potential of Digital Micromirror Arrays (DMDs) for image modulation in high-resolution vehicle headlamps, various research projects have been carried out at the Institute of Product Development, which are part of the application example in this contribution. A DMD consists of hundreds of thousands to several million individually controllable micromirrors. Depending on the micromirror position, the light focused onto the DMD by the illumination optics is reflected either onto an absorber or into the subsystem for projection into the field of view. Using the projection subsystem, the image modulated by the DMD is projected onto the road so that each micromirror becomes a pixel of the projected image. Due to the reflection-based operating principle of DMDs, an overlap of the light paths for illumination and projection results in a short distance in front of the DMD. To achieve sufficient separation of the two light paths, different system architectures are suitable [28; 29; 30]. One solution, as shown in Figure 2, is to implement a telecentric system architecture using a so-called total internal reflection (TIR) prism, which exploits the phenomenon of total internal reflection. In particular, the challenges outlined in Figure 3 can be derived for a high-resolution lighting system, which must be taken into account in the further development process [16; 22]. * **Efficiency:** High-resolution lighting systems for vehicle front lighting require not only high optical efficiency but also high electrical efficiency, so semiconductor light sources such as LEDs and laser diodes are increasingly being used to generate light. However, compared to conventional light sources, semiconductor light sources differ significantly in terms of operation, radiation characteristics and thermal management [32; 33; 34]. Figure 2: Concept of a high-resolution headlamp according to [31]. * **Image quality:** In optical systems, effects such as diffraction, aberration or distortion, which influence the image quality, have to be taken into account.