Patent Description:
Compared with incandescent lamps, LEDs have the advantages of small size, high brightness, long service life and power saving. LEDs have been used in automotive headlamps to produce high brightness white light, which can achieve good lighting effects under normal conditions. However, the color temperature of the white light generated by LED automotive headlamps is relatively high and often does not achieve the desired lighting effect in bad weather conditions, such as rainy weather, snowy weather or foggy weather. The white light may also affect the driver's vision, which in turn affects the safety of driving.

Therefore, in bad weather, drivers often need to turn on the fog lights and illuminate with the white light from the LED vehicle lamp set to increase the safety of driving. However, the fog lights are installed in a low position and irradiated at a close distance, which usually only have the effect of warning and do not provide good lighting effect. In addition, fog lights are mostly stand-alone, not even standard equipment when the car is sold. Additional retrofitting also increases installation costs. <CIT> discloses a vehicular lamp such as a fog lamp for an automobile including: an optical system including white and yellow LEDs serving as a light source and an inner lens for performing light distribution control of light emitted from the LEDs. <CIT> discloses a lighting unit of an automotive headlamp comprising: a series of two or more reflectors arranged side by side and coincident with each other; at least two light sources are arranged per reflector and disposed such that each light source provides light rays to the reflector targeted immediately adjacent to a focal point of the corresponding reflector and on opposing sides of the focal point; and the at least two light sources for each reflector are rotationally arranged at a set positional angle relative to the at least two light sources of the coincident reflector to produce a centered output beam. <CIT> discloses a car lamp lighting device wherein a lighting chamber is formed in the device, wherein at least one reflecting mirror unit, and at least two different color LED light sources which are arranged in front of each reflecting mirror unit are arranged in the lighting chamber; each reflecting mirror unit is formed by joining a plurality of reflecting surfaces in a matrix form; each reflecting surface is treated as a reflecting focus of the LED light source with one color. The car lamp lighting device has different lighting functions; a plurality of reflecting mirror units can be distributed as requirement so as to meet the demand of a large area on lighting. <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, and <CIT> disclose further examples of known vehicular lamps.

In order to improve the shortcomings of the traditional LED headlamp in the art, this invention further proposes to set up a multiple color light sources in the vehicle lamp, which can generate different color lights at the same time and can significantly improve the problem of poor lighting effect of the LED headlamp in bad weather.

To achieve the object, this invention provides in particular an illumination module with multi light sources, which comprises at least one first optical adjustment unit; at least one first light source configured to generate a first color light, and projects the first color light to the first optical adjustment unit, wherein the first optical adjustment unit is configured to project the first color light to a front of the illumination module with multi light sources; at least one second optical adjustment unit; at least one second light source configured to generate a second color light, and projects the second color light to the second optical adjustment unit, wherein the second optical adjustment unit is configured to project the second color light to the front of the illumination module with multi light sources, and the first color light and the second color light partially or fully overlap.

This disclosure further provides a vehicle lamp, which comprises the above-mentioned plurality of illumination modules integrated into a lamp housing.

In practical application, an ordinary headlamp can be directly replaced by the illumination module with multi light sources described in this disclosure, and the light control lever in the vehicle can be adjusted to enable the vehicle to emit a bad weather light source. In other words, the headlamp described in the present disclosure can be quickly and conveniently installed on an ordinary vehicle and improve the safety of the vehicle.

This invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given herein below for illustration only, and thus not limitative of this invention, wherein:.

<FIG> is a schematic structural diagram of a vehicle lamp with an illumination module according to an example of this disclosure. The vehicle lamp <NUM> comprises a plurality of illumination modules <NUM> with multi light sources, wherein illumination modules <NUM> are integrated into a lamp housing la. In one specific example, the vehicle lamp <NUM> may be a headlight for vehicle. In practical application, an ordinary headlamp can be directly replaced by the vehicle lamp <NUM> described in this disclosure, so as to improve the lighting effect and safety of the vehicle.

In one specific example, the vehicle lamp <NUM> may further includes an auxiliary illumination module 100a integrated in the lamp housing la. In one example of this disclosure, the illumination module <NUM> may be a low beam module, and the auxiliary illumination module 100a may be a high beam module. In another example of this disclosure, the illumination module <NUM> may be the high beam module, and the auxiliary illumination module 100a may be the low beam module.

As shown in <FIG>, the illumination module <NUM> with multi light sources includes at least one first optical adjustment unit <NUM>, at least one first light source <NUM>, at least one second optical adjustment unit <NUM> and at least one second light source <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the first light source <NUM> is configured to generate a first color light L1, and projects the first color light L1 to the first optical adjustment unit <NUM>, such that the first optical adjustment unit <NUM> projects the first color light L1 to the front of the illumination module <NUM> with multi light sources. The second light source <NUM> is configured to generate a second color light L2, and projects the second color light L2 to the second optical adjustment unit <NUM>, such that the second optical adjustment unit <NUM> projects the second color light L2 to the front of the illumination module <NUM> with multi light sources, wherein the first color light L1 and the second color light L2 partially or fully overlap.

The first light source <NUM> and the second light source <NUM> are respectively configured to generate the first color light L1 and the second color light L2. The first color light L1 and the second color light L2 are light with different wavelengths, colors or color temperature. For example, the first color light L1 is white light, and the second color light L2 is yellow light. In one specific example, the first light source <NUM> and the second light source <NUM> are LEDs, but other type of light sources is not excluded in this disclosure.

The first optical adjustment unit <NUM> and the second optical adjustment unit <NUM> may be a reflecting cup or a lens.

As shown in <FIG>, the first optical adjustment unit <NUM> and the second optical adjustment unit <NUM> are reflecting cups. The first optical adjustment unit <NUM> and the second optical adjustment unit <NUM> are disposed on the lamp housing la and spaced from each other. The first light source <NUM> and the second light source <NUM> are also disposed on the lamp housing la. The first light source <NUM> and the second light source <NUM> respectively project the first color light L1 and the second color light L2 to the first optical adjustment unit <NUM> and the second optical adjustment unit <NUM>. The first optical adjustment unit <NUM> and the second optical adjustment unit <NUM> respectively reflect the first color light L1 and the second color light L2, and the first color light L1 and the second color light L2 are projected to the front of the illumination module <NUM> with multi light sources, wherein the reflected first color light L1 and reflected the second color light L2 project to approximately overlapping angular ranges. The first optical adjustment unit <NUM> and the second optical adjustment unit <NUM> shown in <FIG> may be two independent elements, which are respectively assembled to the lamp housing la.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the first optical adjustment unit <NUM> and the second optical adjustment unit <NUM> are reflecting cups, and the edges of them are fitted together to form a single component. Further, the single component is disposed in the lamp housing la, which is convenient for production assembly. The difference between <FIG> and <FIG> is that, in the example of <FIG>, there is a distance between two adjacent reflecting cups, so two adjacent reflecting cups are connected to each other through a horizontal extension. In the example of <FIG>, the edges of two reflecting cups are connected to each other.

In addition, as shown in <FIG>, the first light source <NUM> and the second light source <NUM> are adjacent to each other. Plural first light sources <NUM> and plural second light sources <NUM> are closely arranged into a light source array <NUM>. Each of the first light sources <NUM> and each of the second light sources <NUM> may face or correspond to the first optical adjustment unit <NUM> and the second optical adjustment unit <NUM> to reflect the first color light L1 and the second color light L2 toward different angle range.

As shown in <FIG>, the first light source <NUM> and the second light source <NUM> may be fitted together as the light source array <NUM>, and the first light source <NUM> and the second light source <NUM> face or correspond to the first optical adjustment unit <NUM> and the second optical adjustment unit <NUM>. The first optical adjustment unit <NUM> is configured to reflect the first color light L1 generated by the firs light source <NUM>, and the second optical adjustment unit <NUM> is configured to reflect the second color light L2 generate by the second light source <NUM>. In practical application, the first optical adjustment unit <NUM> may reflect part of the second color light L2, and the second optical adjustment unit <NUM> may reflect part of the first color light L1. The reflected first color light L1 and the reflected second color light L2 are projected in the front of the illumination module <NUM> with multi light sources, wherein the first color light L1 and the second color light L2 partially or completely overlap.

As shown in <FIG>, the first light source <NUM> and the second light source <NUM> may be combined into a single variable color light module <NUM>. For example, the variable color light module <NUM> may include two LED dies, and the two LED dies are packaged to form a LED device and can be used to generate color light of diverse colors. The variable color light module <NUM> is configured to generate the first color light L1 and the second color light L2. For example, the first color light L1 and the second color light L2 project to the first optical adjustment unit <NUM> and the second optical adjustment unit <NUM>, and then are projected to the front of the illumination module <NUM> with multi light sources through a similar optical path, such that the reflected first color light L1 and the reflected second color light L2 project to approximately overlapping angular ranges.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, <FIG> is a top cross-sectional view of the illumination module <NUM> with multi light sources, and <FIG> is a side cross-sectional view of the illumination module <NUM> with multi light sources. The first optical adjustment unit <NUM> and the second optical adjustment unit <NUM> may be combined into a single reflecting cup <NUM> with a continuous surface, and the first light source <NUM> and the second light source <NUM> are located in the reflecting cup <NUM>. Specifically, the first optical adjustment unit <NUM> and the second optical adjustment unit <NUM> may be obtained by cutting a single reflecting cup into two parts. Further, the second light source <NUM> is blocked by the first light source <NUM>, so only the first light source <NUM> is shown in <FIG>.

As shown in <FIG>, in another example, the first optical adjustment unit <NUM> is a reflecting cup, and the second optical adjustment unit <NUM> is a lens. The first light source <NUM> faces the first adjustment unit <NUM>, and the first adjustment unit <NUM> is configured to reflect the first color light L1 generated by the first light source <NUM>. The second adjustment unit <NUM> is configured to refract the second color light L2 generated by the second light source <NUM>, and the reflected first color light L1 and the refracted second color light L2 partially or fully overlap.

According to the invention, as shown in <FIG>, a third optical adjustment unit <NUM> is arranged on the optical path of the first color light L1. The first color light L1 reflected by the first optical adjustment unit <NUM> is projected to the third optical adjustment unit <NUM>, and then the first color light L1 is projected to the front of the illumination module <NUM> with multi light sources through the third optical adjustment unit <NUM>. For example, the third optical adjustment unit <NUM> may be a projection lens.

In addition, the third optical adjustment unit <NUM> may be connected to the second optical adjustment unit <NUM>, and is the extension member of the second optical adjustment unit <NUM>. For example, the first light source <NUM> may be located on both sides of the second light source <NUM>, and the third optical adjustment units <NUM> may be located on both sides of the second optical adjustment unit <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, in another example, the first optical adjustment unit <NUM> and the second optical adjustment unit <NUM> are lens spaced from each other.

As shown in <FIG>, the vehicle lamp <NUM> may include the illumination module <NUM> with multi light sources and an auxiliary illumination module 100a, and both are integrated in the lamp housing la, wherein the illumination module <NUM> with multi light sources includes a first optical adjustment unit <NUM>, a first light source <NUM>, a second optical adjustment unit <NUM> and a second light source <NUM>. For example, the illumination module <NUM> may be a low beam module, and the auxiliary illumination module 100a may be a high beam module.

In one example of this disclosure, the first optical adjustment unit <NUM> and the first light source <NUM> may be combined into a lighting unit, while the second optical adjustment unit <NUM> and the second light source <NUM> may be combined into another light unit. In another example of this disclosure, the second optical adjustment unit <NUM> and the second light source <NUM> may be integrated into the auxiliary illumination module 100a.

As shown in <FIG>, the illumination module <NUM> with multi light sources includes a first optical adjustment unit <NUM>, a first light source <NUM>, two second optical adjustment units <NUM> and two second light sources <NUM>. The first optical adjustment unit <NUM> and the second optical adjustment unit <NUM> are not limited to lenses with a single optical axis. The first optical adjustment unit <NUM> may be a lens with a single optical axis, and is disposed on the optical path of the first color light L1 generated by the first light source <NUM>. The second optical adjustment unit <NUM> may be an optical diffusion element with a diffusing function, such as a diffuser plate, and the surface of the second optical adjustment unit <NUM> may have concave or convex pattern, wherein the second optical adjustment unit <NUM> is disposed on the optical path of the second color light L2 generated by the second light source <NUM>. In other example, the second optical adjustment unit <NUM> may be a reflective diffusion element, which is configured to reflect the second color light L2 generated by the second light source <NUM> to a predetermined direction or area.

As shown in <FIG>, the illumination module <NUM> with multi light sources further includes a control circuit <NUM> and a switch <NUM>. The control circuit <NUM> is configured to control tum-on/turn-off of the first light source <NUM> and the second light source <NUM>. For example, the control circuit <NUM> may be a multistage toggle switch. The switch <NUM> may be a high beam switch or an overtaking light switch of the vehicle. The switch <NUM> is configured to transmit a trigger signal to the control circuit <NUM>, and the control circuit <NUM> turns on or turns off the first light source <NUM> and the second light source <NUM> according to the trigger signal.

When the first light source <NUM> is turned on, the control circuit <NUM> turns on or off the second light source <NUM> by accepting the trigger signal for a specific number of times as a cycle of triggering. For example, the switch <NUM> turns on the second light source <NUM> every three times it is triggered, and then turns off the second light source <NUM> when it is triggered again, until switch <NUM> is triggered another three times and turns on the second light source <NUM> again.

Specifically, the illumination module <NUM> with multi light sources of this disclosure may have three operation modes. The first operation mode is the first light source <NUM> and the second light source <NUM> are not emitting light, which is usually applied in the daytime or a well-lit driving environment.

The second operation mode is that the first light source <NUM> and the second light source <NUM> of the illumination module <NUM> emit light simultaneously. The first light source <NUM> is turned on at first to emit the first color light L1, while the second light source <NUM> is turned off and emits no light. The control circuit <NUM> receives the trigger signal for the specific number of times when the first light source <NUM> is turned on, and turns on the second light source <NUM> to emit the second color light L2 according to the cycle of triggering, and the first light source <NUM> remains to emit the first color light L1, so that the illumination module <NUM> with light sources emits the first color light L1 and the second color light L2 simultaneously. The second operation mode is usually used in the night or under-illuminated vehicle environment.

As shown in <FIG>, in this case, the first light source <NUM> and the second light source <NUM> may need be turned on simultaneously, such as in the second operation mode. Therefore, the control circuit <NUM> may further include a first driver <NUM> and a second driver <NUM>. The first driver <NUM> is configured to provide power to the first light source <NUM>, and the second driver <NUM> is configured to provide power to the second light source <NUM>. The two drivers provide sufficient total electrical power to the first light source <NUM> and the second light source <NUM>, so as to avoid insufficient luminosity of the first color.

The first driver <NUM> and the second driver <NUM> integrated into the control circuit <NUM> shown in <FIG> is only one example of this disclosure, and is not intended to limit the scope of the patent application of the present invention. In other examples, the first driver <NUM> and the second driver <NUM> may be located outside the control circuit <NUM> and be connected to the control circuit <NUM>. For example, the first driver <NUM> is located between the control circuit <NUM> and the first light source <NUM>, and the second driver <NUM> is located between the control circuit <NUM> and the second light source <NUM>.

The third operation mode is that only one of the first light source <NUM> and the second light source <NUM> of the illumination module <NUM> with multiple light sources is turned on. In this case, if the first light source <NUM> is turned off, the control circuit <NUM> receives the trigger signal for the specific number of times, and turns on the second light source <NUM> to emit the second color light L2 according to the cycle of triggering and turns off the first light source <NUM>. If the first light source <NUM> is turned on and the low beam group is turned on, the control circuit <NUM> receives the trigger signal for the specific number of times, turns on the second light source <NUM> according to the cycle of triggering, and turns off the first light source <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, in this case, the first light source <NUM> and the second light source <NUM> will not be turned on at the same time. Thus, the control circuit <NUM> only includes a driver <NUM> and a switching unit <NUM>, wherein the driver <NUM> is configured to provide power to the switching unit <NUM>, and then the switching unit <NUM> provides power to the first light source <NUM> or the second light source <NUM> depending on demand.

The driver <NUM> integrated into the control circuit <NUM> shown in <FIG> is only one example of this disclosure, and is not intended to limit the scope of the patent application of the present invention. In other examples, the driver <NUM> may be located outside the control circuit, and be connected to the control circuit <NUM>.

In practical application, the ordinary headlamp can be directly replaced by the illumination module <NUM> described in this disclosure, and the light control lever in the vehicle can be adjusted, so that the vehicle is able to emit a lighting for bad weather. In other words, the vehicle lamp described in thus disclosure can be quickly and conveniently installed on the general vehicle, so as to improve the safety of the vehicle.

Claim 1:
An illumination module (<NUM>) for a vehicle lamp (<NUM>) with multi light sources, characterized by comprising:
at least one first optical adjustment unit (<NUM>);
at least one first light source (<NUM>) configured to generate a first color light (L1), and projects the first color light (L1) to the first optical adjustment unit (<NUM>), wherein the first optical adjustment unit (<NUM>) is configured to project the first color light (L1) to a front of the illumination module (<NUM>) for the vehicle lamp (<NUM>) with multi light sources; at least one second optical adjustment unit (<NUM>); and
at least one second light source (<NUM>) configured to generate a second color light (L2), and projects the second color light (L2) to the second optical adjustment unit (<NUM>), wherein the second optical adjustment unit (<NUM>) is configured to project the second color light (L2) to the front of the illumination module (<NUM>) for the vehicle lamp (<NUM>) with multi light sources, and the first color light (L1) and the second color light (L2) partially or fully overlap;
characterized in that:
the first optical adjustment unit (<NUM>) is a reflecting cup (<NUM>), and the second optical adjustment unit (<NUM>) is a lens, and the illumination module (<NUM>) for the vehicle lamp (<NUM>) with multi light sources further comprises a third optical adjustment unit (<NUM>) connected to the second optical adjustment unit (<NUM>), wherein the third optical adjustment unit (<NUM>) is located on an optical path of the first color light (L1), the first color light (L1) reflected by the first optical adjustment unit (<NUM>) projects to the third optical adjustment unit (<NUM>), and projects to the front of the illumination module (<NUM>) for the vehicle lamp (<NUM>) with multi light sources via the third optical adjustment unit (<NUM>); and
the illumination module (<NUM>) for the vehicle lamp (<NUM>) with multi light sources further comprises a control circuit (<NUM>) being configured to turn-on or turn-off the first light source (<NUM>) and the second light source (<NUM>), and a switch (<NUM>) being configured to transmit a trigger signal to the control circuit (<NUM>), wherein the control circuit (<NUM>) turns on or off the second light source (<NUM>) by accepting the trigger signal for a specific number of times as a cycle of triggering.