PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-11879610-B2
Application Number: US-202217890872-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B2

Title: Multi-mode lights

Abstract:
A system may have lights. A light may include a first light source and a first reflector configured to provide lighting for a high-beam mode and for a low-beam mode. The light may include a second light source and a second reflector configured to provide lighting for a cornering light mode. The lighting provided by the first light source and the lighting provided by the second light source may pass through the same headlight lens aperture. A light blocking structure may provide a cutoff pattern that define the illumination pattern of the low-beam lighting and the cornering lighting. One or more additional light sources may be provided to boost the intensity of a hot spot for high-beam lighting.

Claims:
What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A vehicle headlight, comprising:
 a housing; 
 a lens mounted to the housing; 
 a first light source disposed in the housing and configured to emit first light that passes through a central portion of the lens for a first mode; 
 a second light source disposed in the housing and configured to emit second light that passes through the central portion of the lens for a second mode; 
 a light blocker configured to define a cutoff pattern for the first light and a cutoff pattern for the second light when the light blocker is in a position that overlaps the central portion of the lens, wherein the first light comprises cornering light; and 
 wherein the second light comprises low beam light. 
 
     
     
       2. The vehicle headlight defined in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a support structure to which the first and second light sources are mounted; 
 a first reflector mounted to the support structure and configured to reflect the emitted first light to pass through the central portion of the lens; and 
 a second reflector mounted to the support structure and configured to reflect the emitted second light to pass through the central portion of the lens. 
 
     
     
       3. The vehicle headlight defined in  claim 2 , wherein the first mode is a cornering light mode and the first light provides cornering light illumination. 
     
     
       4. The vehicle headlight defined in  claim 3 , wherein the second mode is a high-beam mode and the second light provides high-beam illumination. 
     
     
       5. The vehicle headlight defined in  claim 4 , wherein
 the light blocker, when in the position, is configured to block a portion of the emitted second light for a low-beam mode and an unblocked portion of the emitted second light provides low-beam illumination. 
 
     
     
       6. The vehicle headlight defined in  claim 2 , wherein the support structure comprises a heat sink. 
     
     
       7. The vehicle headlight defined in  claim 2 , wherein the first light source and the first reflector are mounted on a first surface of the support structure, and the second light source and the second reflector are mounted on a second surface of the support structure, the first surface being elevated above the second surface. 
     
     
       8. The vehicle headlight defined in  claim 2 , wherein the lens comprises first and second lens components, the first lens component has the central portion of the lens and is aligned with the second lens component, and the central portion of the first lens component and the second lens component define an aperture of the lens. 
     
     
       9. The vehicle headlight defined in  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a lens support structure that overlaps a peripheral portion of the first lens component and that has an opening that overlaps the central portion of the first lens component, wherein the second lens component is disposed in the opening. 
 
     
     
       10. The vehicle headlight defined in  claim 9 , further comprising:
 one or more additional light sources mounted to the lens support structure and configured to emit light through the peripheral portion of the first lens component. 
 
     
     
       11. The vehicle headlight defined in  claim 10 , further comprising:
 one or more light collimator structures each overlapping a corresponding one of the one or more additional light sources. 
 
     
     
       12. The vehicle headlight defined in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a third light source disposed in the housing; and 
 a reflector mounted to the housing and configured to reflect light emitted by the third light source to pass through a peripheral portion of the lens surrounding the central portion of the lens. 
 
     
     
       13. The vehicle headlight defined in  claim 1 , wherein
 the light blocker is configured to block a portion of the first light emitted by the first light source and to block a portion of the second light emitted by the second light source when in the position. 
 
     
     
       14. The vehicle headlight defined in  claim 13 , further comprising:
 an electrically adjustable positioner coupled to the light blocker and configured to switch the light blocker between the position and an additional position that unblocks the portion of the first light emitted by the first light source and unblocks the portion of the second light emitted by the second light source. 
 
     
     
       15. A vehicle, comprising:
 a vehicle body; and 
 a headlight on the vehicle body that has first and second light sources and a lens having a concave portion, wherein the headlight is configured to emit low-beam light using first light emitted by the first light source that passes through the concave portion of the lens and is configured to emit cornering light using second light emitted by the second light source that passes through the concave portion of the lens and wherein the headlight has an adjustable light blocker configured to define a cutoff pattern for the low-beam light and a cutoff pattern for the cornering light. 
 
     
     
       16. The vehicle defined in  claim 15 , wherein the headlight has a first reflector configured to receive the first light and to reflect the first light to pass through the concave portion of the lens and a second reflector configured to receive the second light and to reflect the second light to pass through the concave portion of the lens. 
     
     
       17. The vehicle defined in  claim 16 , wherein the adjustable light blocker is between the first reflector and the concave portion of the lens and between the second reflector and the concave portion of the lens. 
     
     
       18. A vehicle light, comprising:
 a first light-emitting device; 
 a first reflector for the first light-emitting device; 
 a second light-emitting device; 
 a second reflector for the second light-emitting device; 
 a lens; and 
 an adjustable light blocker between the first reflector and the lens and between the second reflector and the lens, wherein the adjustable light blocker, when in a first position, is configured to block a portion of light reflected off of the first reflector and is configured to block a portion of light reflected off of the second reflector, wherein an unblocked portion of the light reflected off of the first reflector pass through the lens as cornering light, and wherein an unblocked portion of the light reflected off of the second reflector passes through the lens as low-beam light. 
 
     
     
       19. The vehicle light defined in  claim 18 , wherein the adjustable light blocker, when in a second position, is configured to unblock light reflected off of the second reflector, and the unblocked light reflected off of the second reflector passes through the lens as high-beam light. 
     
     
       20. The vehicle headlight defined in  claim 1 , wherein the central portion of the lens comprises a concave portion of the lens.

Description:
This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application No. 63/246,209, filed Sep. 20, 2021, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     This relates generally to systems that have lights. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Automobiles and other vehicles have lights such as headlights. To accommodate different driving conditions, headlights are sometimes provided with low-beam and high-beam settings. Sometimes, vehicles are also provided with cornering light capabilities. 
     SUMMARY 
     A vehicle may have lights such as headlights. Headlights may provide visible illumination in front of the vehicle using a high-beam mode or a low-beam mode. To improve visibility in other areas surrounding the vehicle such as on the outboard sides of the vehicle, the vehicle may also be provided with cornering light capabilities. 
     A headlight may include a housing, a first light source for the high-beam mode and the low-beam mode within the housing, and a second light source for cornering light within the housing. The first light source may be backed by a first reflector and may provide light through a projection lens onto the exterior of the vehicle. A shutter (e.g., actuated by a solenoid) may provide a cutoff pattern when in a first position to block a portion of the light emitted from the first light source for the low-beam mode and may be folded down (e.g., removed from the optical path of the portion of light emitted by the first light source) to a second position for the high-beam mode. The second light source may be backed by a second reflector and may provide light through the projection lens onto the exterior of the vehicle. The position of the second light source within the headlight may allow the light emitted from the second light source to be provided as cornering light output from the side of the projection lens. The shutter may also provide a cutoff pattern that defines the illumination pattern of the cornering light. Configured in this manner, the headlight provides a compact headlight having high-beam, low-beam, and cornering light functionalities. 
     To enhance the illumination of the first light source in the high-beam mode (e.g., to provide an enhanced illumination hot spot), the headlight may include additional light sources placed along the peripheral portion of the projection lens. The light emitted by the first and second light sources may pass through a central portion of the projection lens (defining the lens aperture for the first and second light sources). 
     If desired, the illumination of the first light source in the high-beam mode may be enhanced by a light source configured to emit light toward a reflector at a rear side of the headlight. The reflected light may pass through the peripheral portion of the projection lens. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a top view of an illustrative vehicle in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG.  2    is a side view of an illustrative adjustable headlight in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG.  3    is a top view of an illustrative headlight providing cornering light in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG.  4    is a cross-sectional side view of a portion of an illustrative headlight having light sources that enhance the illumination of the headlight in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG.  5    is a perspective view of a portion of an illustrative headlight configured to provide high-beam light, low-beam light, and cornering light in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG.  6    is a graph showing illustrative illumination patterns provided by a headlight of the type shown in  FIG.  5    when operating in different modes in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG.  7    is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative headlight having a light source and a rear reflector configured to enhance the illumination of the headlight in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG.  8    is a flow chart of illustrative operations involved in using a vehicle with headlights in accordance with an embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     A system such as a vehicle or other system may have components that emit light such as headlights and other lights. Headlights may provide visible light illumination in front of the vehicle to illuminate roadways and other objects. In order to illuminate roadways and other objects on the outboard sides (e.g., in the vicinity of the left and right sides flanking the front side) of the vehicle, headlights may also provide visible cornering light illumination. The illumination provided by the headlights allows vehicle occupants to view objects at night or in other dim ambient lighting conditions. In particular, the cornering light illumination may be selectively provided in scenarios warranting illumination of an outboard side such as when the vehicle is turning, when the vehicle is changing to a different lane, or in other scenarios. 
     To provide a compact headlight with front illumination (e.g., having high-beam and low-beam modes) and cornering light illumination, a light source and a reflector for the front illumination and a light source and a reflector for the cornering light illumination may be housed in the same headlight housing and may emit light through a shared aperture of a projection lens. To further enhance the (front) illumination (e.g., in the high-beam mode) of the headlight, one or more additional light sources may also be provided within the headlight housing. 
       FIG.  1    is a top view of a portion of an illustrative vehicle. In the example of  FIG.  1   , vehicle  10  is the type of vehicle that may carry passengers (e.g., an automobile, truck, or other automotive vehicle). Configurations in which vehicle  10  is a robot (e.g., an autonomous robot) or other vehicle that does not carry human passengers may also be used. Vehicles such as automobiles may sometimes be described herein as an example. As shown in  FIG.  1   , vehicle  10  may be operated on roads such as roadway  14 . Objects such as object  26  may be located on or near other structures in the vicinity of vehicle  10  such as roadway  14 . 
     Vehicle  10  may be manually driven (e.g., by a human driver), may be operated via remote control, and/or may be autonomously operated (e.g., by an autonomous driving system or other autonomous propulsion system). Using vehicle sensors such as lidar, radar, visible and/or infrared cameras (e.g., two-dimensional and/or three-dimensional cameras), proximity (distance) sensors, and/or other sensors, an autonomous driving system and/or driver-assistance system in vehicle  10  may perform automatic braking, steering, and/or other operations to help avoid pedestrians, inanimate objects, and/or other external structures such as illustrative obstacle  26  on roadway  14 . 
     Vehicle  10  may include a body such as vehicle body  12 . Body  12  may include vehicle structures such as body panels formed from metal and/or other materials, may include doors, a hood, a trunk, fenders, a chassis to which wheels are mounted, a roof, etc. Windows may be formed in doors  18  (e.g., on the sides of vehicle body  12 , on the roof of vehicle  10 , and/or in other portions of vehicle  10 ). Windows, doors  18 , and other portions of body  12  may separate the interior of vehicle  10  from the exterior environment that is surrounding vehicle  10 . Doors  18  may be opened and closed to allow people to enter and exit vehicle  10 . Seats and other structures may be formed in the interior of vehicle body  12 . 
     Vehicle  10  may have automotive lighting such as one or more headlights (sometimes referred to as headlamps), driving lights, fog lights, daytime running lights, turn signals, brake lights, and/or other lights. As shown in  FIG.  1   , for example, vehicle  10  may have lights such as lights  16 . In general, lights  16  may be mounted on front F of vehicle  10 , on rear R of vehicle  10 , on left and/or right sides W of vehicle  10 , and/or other portions of body  12 . In an illustrative configuration, which may sometimes be described herein as an example, lights  16  are headlights and are mounted to front F of body  12 . There may be, as an example, left and right headlights  16  located respectively on the left and right of vehicle  10  to provide illumination  20  in the forward direction (e.g., in the +Y direction in which vehicle  10  moves when driven forward in the example of  FIG.  1   ). By shining headlights  16  on external surfaces such as roadway  14  and object  26  in front of vehicle  10 , occupants of vehicle  10  may view external surfaces even in dim ambient lighting conditions (e.g., at night). The operation of sensors in vehicle  10  such as image sensors and other sensors that use light may also be supported by providing external surfaces with illumination. 
     Vehicle  10  may have components  24 . Components  24  may include propulsion and steering systems (e.g., manually adjustable driving systems and/or autonomous driving systems having wheels coupled to body  12 , steering controls, one or more motors for driving the wheels, etc.), and other vehicle systems. Components  24  may include control circuitry and input-output devices. Control circuitry in components  24  may be configured to run an autonomous driving application, a navigation application (e.g., an application for displaying maps on a display), and software for controlling vehicle climate control devices, lighting, media playback, window movement, door operations, sensor operations, and/or other vehicle operations. For example, the control system may form part of an autonomous driving system that drives vehicle  10  on roadways such as roadway  14  autonomously using data such as sensor data. The control circuitry may include processing circuitry and storage and may be configured to perform operations in vehicle  10  using hardware (e.g., dedicated hardware or circuitry), firmware and/or software. Software code for performing operations in vehicle  10  and other data is stored on non-transitory computer readable storage media (e.g., tangible computer readable storage media) in the control circuitry. The software code may sometimes be referred to as software, data, program instructions, computer instructions, instructions, or code. The non-transitory computer readable storage media may include non-volatile memory such as non-volatile random-access memory, one or more hard drives (e.g., magnetic drives or solid state drives), one or more removable flash drives or other removable media, or other storage. Software stored on the non-transitory computer readable storage media may be executed on the processing circuitry of components  24 . The processing circuitry may include application-specific integrated circuits with processing circuitry, one or more microprocessors, a central processing unit (CPU) or other processing circuitry. 
     The input-output devices of components  24  may include displays, sensors, buttons, light-emitting diodes and other light-emitting devices, haptic devices, speakers, and/or other devices for gathering environmental measurements, information on vehicle operations, and/or user input and for providing output. The sensors in components  24  may include ambient light sensors, touch sensors, force sensors, proximity sensors, optical sensors such as cameras operating at visible, infrared, and/or ultraviolet wavelengths (e.g., fisheye cameras, two-dimensional cameras, three-dimensional cameras, and/or other cameras), capacitive sensors, resistive sensors, ultrasonic sensors (e.g., ultrasonic distance sensors), microphones, radio-frequency sensors such as radar sensors, lidar (light detection and ranging) sensors, door open/close sensors, seat pressure sensors and other vehicle occupant sensors, window sensors, position sensors for monitoring location, orientation, and movement, speedometers, satellite positioning system sensors, and/or other sensors. Output devices in components  24  may be used to provide vehicle occupants and others with haptic output, audio output, visual output (e.g., displayed content, light, etc.), and/or other suitable output. 
     Three-dimensional sensors in components  24  may be formed from pairs of two-dimensional image sensors operating together as a stereoscopic depth sensor (e.g., a binocular camera pair forming at three-dimensional camera). Three-dimensional sensors may also be formed using image sensor systems that emit structured light (e.g., arrays of dots, lines, grids, and/or other structured light patterns at infrared and/or visible wavelengths) and that capture images (e.g., two-dimensional images) for analysis. The captured images reveal how the structured light patterns have been distorted by the three-dimensional surfaces illuminated by the structured light patterns. By analyzing the distortion of the structured light, the three-dimensional shape of the surfaces can be reconstructed. If desired, three-dimensional sensors for vehicle  10  may include one or more time-of-flight sensors. For example, time-of-flight measurements may be made using light (e.g., lidar sensor measurements) and radio-frequency signals (e.g., three-dimensional radar). 
     During operation, the control circuitry of components  24  may gather information from sensors and/or other input-output devices such as lidar data, camera data (e.g., two-dimensional images), radar data, and/or other sensor data. For example, three-dimensional image data may be captured using three-dimensional image sensor(s). Two-dimensional images (e.g., images of headlight illumination on one or more external surfaces associated with object  26  and/or roadway  14 ) may also be gathered. 
     A vehicle occupant or other user of vehicle  10  may provide user input to the control circuitry of vehicle  10 . Cameras, touch sensors, physical controls, and other input devices may be used to gather the user input. Using wireless communications with vehicle  10 , remote data sources may provide the control circuitry of components  24  with database information. Displays, speakers, and other output devices may be used to provide users with content such as interactive on-screen menu options and audio. A user may interact with this interactive content by supplying touch input to a touch sensor in a display and/or by providing user input with other input devices. If desired, the control circuitry of vehicle  10  may use sensor data, user input, information from remote databases, and/or other information in providing a driver with driver assistance information (e.g., information on nearby obstacles on a roadway and/or other environment surrounding vehicle  10 ) and/or in autonomously driving vehicle  10 . 
     Components  24  may include forward-facing sensor circuitry, as shown by forward-facing sensor(s)  24 F of  FIG.  1   . The forward-facing sensor circuitry may include one or more sensors facing a surface in front of vehicle  10  (e.g., one or more sensors that are directed in the +Y direction of  FIG.  1    to detect surfaces of structures in front of vehicle  10  such as obstacle  26  and roadway  14 ). Sensors  24 F and/or other sensors in vehicle  10  may include lidar, radar, visible and/or infrared cameras, and/or other sensors. For example, sensors  24 F may include two-dimensional image sensors and/or three-dimensional image sensors operating using structured light, binocular vision, time-of-flight (e.g., lidar or radar), and/or other three-dimensional imaging arrangements. Sensors  24 F may include a three-dimensional sensor that measures the three-dimensional shape of one or more external surfaces and that optionally measures the pattern of headlight illumination from headlights  16  on one or more external surfaces. If desired, a two-dimensional image sensor may be used to measure the headlight illumination pattern on one or more external surfaces (e.g., the forward-facing sensor circuitry of vehicle  10  may use three-dimensional and two-dimensional sensors to respectively measure surface shapes and headlight illumination intensity or both of these sensors may be used in gathering information on surface shape and/or surface illumination). 
     To provide visible light illumination for objects such as objects  28  on the (outboard) sides of vehicle  10 , headlights  16  may be provided with cornering light illumination such as illumination  22  in  FIG.  1   . In the illustrative configuration of left and right headlights  16  being located respectively on the left and right of vehicle  10  as shown in  FIG.  1   , left headlight  16  may provide illumination to the left outboard side of vehicle  10  (e.g., at an angle between the +Y direction and the −X direction, an azimuth angle from the +Y direction toward the −X direction of greater than 20 degrees, greater than 30 degrees, greater than 35 degrees, less than 90 degrees, etc.), while right headlight  16  may provide illumination to the right outboard side of vehicle  10  (e.g., at an angle between the +Y direction and the +X direction, an azimuth angle from the +Y direction toward the +X direction of greater than 20 degrees, greater than 30 degrees, greater than 35 degrees, less than 90 degrees, etc.). 
     By shining headlights  16  on external surfaces on the outboard sides of vehicle  10  such as object  28  and other roadways to the side of vehicle  10 , occupants of vehicle  10  may view external surfaces even in dim ambient lighting conditions (e.g., at night). If desired, cornering light illumination  22  may be selectively (conditionally) provided in dim ambient lighting conditions such as when vehicle is turning or moving off of a given roadway  14  at night, or changing to a difference lane on a given roadway  14  at night, or in other scenarios. If desired, the operation of sensors in vehicle  10  such as image sensors and other sensors that use light may also be supported by providing these peripheral external surfaces with cornering light illumination. 
     In additional to providing cornering light illumination  22 , headlights  16  may also provide front illumination  20  in a high-beam mode (e.g., providing high-beam front illumination) and a low-beam mode (e.g., providing low-beam front illumination), as examples. To provide compact headlights  16  that provide these and other functionalities, multiple light sources and reflectors for different functionalities or modes may be mounted to a shared platform that is disposed in the same housing, may share the use of other headlight components (e.g., a shutter, a heat sink, etc.), and may emit light through the same lens aperture. 
       FIG.  2    is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative adjustable headlight for vehicle  10 . Vehicle  10  may have any suitable number of headlights (e.g., at least one, at least two, at least three, etc.). In an illustrative arrangement, vehicle  10  has left and right headlights  16  on front F of vehicle  10 , as described in connection with  FIG.  1   . As shown in  FIG.  2   , headlight  16  may include headlight housing  60  and a headlight lens including lens elements  48  and  50  (sometimes referred to as lens  48  and lens  50 ). Housing  60  may include support structures and enclosure structures for supporting the components of headlight  16 . These structures may facilitate mounting of headlight  16  to body  12 . Housing  60  may include polymer, metal, carbon-fiber composites and other fiber composites, glass, ceramic, other materials, and/or combinations of these materials. 
     Lens  48  and lens  50  may include polymer, glass, transparent ceramic, and/or other materials that are transparent to visible light (and, if desired, infrared light such as near infrared light at one or more wavelengths from 800 to 2500 nm or other infrared light). Lens  48  and  50  may be used to help collimate light  56  and direct light  56  from headlight  16  in desired directions (e.g., to produce illumination such as illumination  20  of  FIG.  1   ). While the headlight lens is shown to include two lens elements, this is merely illustrative. If desired, the headlight lens may include a single lens element or three or more lens elements. In the example of  FIG.  2   , lens  50  may include central portion  52  aligned with lens  48 . Lens  48  and portion  52  of lens  50  may form the headlight lens aperture through which light  56  passes. 
     In illustrative configurations described herein as an illustrative example, the headlight lens may form a projection lens. The projection lens may be implemented using two aspherical lens components such as lens  48  and lens  50 . The projection lens may be configured to have a wide field of view such as a field of view greater than 60 degrees, greater than 75 degrees, greater than 80 degrees, etc. 
     Light  56  may include visible light (e.g., light from 400 nm to 750 nm). Headlight  16  may be operated in a high-beam mode and a low-beam mode (as examples). In the high-beam mode, emitted light  56  includes light  58 - 2  that is directed forward horizontally (along the +Y axis of  FIG.  2   ) as well as light  58 - 1  that is angled down slightly from the +Y axis). In the low-beam mode, some of the forward-directed light (e.g., light  58 - 2 ) is suppressed, so that only downwardly angled light such as light  58 - 1  is emitted. 
     Headlight  16  includes a light source such as light source  42 - 1 . Light source  42 - 1  emits (visible) light such as light  44 - 1  and  44 - 2 . Light  44 - 1  and  44 - 2  may be reflected in forward direction +Y by reflector  46  to produce corresponding reflected light  44 - 1  and  44 - 2 . Reflector  46 , which may be formed from metal, polymer, glass, and/or other materials, may have a parabolic profile or other curved cross-sectional profile (as an example). Metal coatings, dielectric thin-film coatings, and/or other coatings may be provided on reflector  46  to enhance reflectivity at visible wavelengths. 
     Reflected light  44 - 1  and  44 - 2  from reflector  46  may be controlled using an adjustable component such as adjustable light blocker  54 . Light blocker  54  may be formed from an electrically adjustable light modulator layer, a physically adjusted shutter (e.g., a shutter that slides, rotates, and/or is otherwise moved by a positioner in a physical light-blocking device), or other device that can be electrically adjusted by control signals from control circuitry in components  24 . 
     Adjustable light blocker  54  of  FIG.  2    may be placed first and second positions relative to the optical path of light such as reflected light  44 - 2  using a positioner. The positioner may be an electrically adjustable positioner such as a motor, solenoid, and/or other actuator that moves one or more portions of light blocker  54  in response to commands from control circuitry in components  24 . As an illustrative example, the positioner may have a hinge and an actuator that rotates light blocker  54  about a hinge axis associated with the hinge. 
     The control circuitry in components  24  can adjust light blocker  54  to adjust the amount and component of reflected light from reflector  46  that passes through the headlight lens. In a first mode (e.g., a low-beam mode), light blocker  54  is positioned as shown in  FIG.  2   . In this first mode, rays of light such as light  44 - 2  are blocked by light blocker  54 . As a result, low-beam light  58 - 1  is present and high-beam light  58 - 2  is blocked and is not present. This visible light low-beam pattern may be used when vehicle  10  is facing oncoming traffic. In a second mode (e.g., a high-beam mode), light blocker  54  may be rotated or folded down about an axis of rotation associated with the positioner for light blocker  54 . When light blocker  54  is moved downwards in this way (e.g., removed from the position shown in  FIG.  2    and removed from the optical path of light  44 - 2 ), more rays of reflected light such as reflected light  44 - 2  are allowed to pass the headlight lens. As a result, a high-beam pattern of emitted light is present (e.g., high-beam light that includes both light  58 - 1  and light  58 - 2  is emitted). This visible high-beam pattern may be used when vehicle  10  is not facing oncoming traffic. 
     To provide a compact implementation of headlight  16  while providing additional functionalities such as cornering light in addition to high-beam light and low-beam light (as described in  FIG.  2   ), headlight  16  may include an additional light source and an additional reflector that share the use of other components in headlight  16 .  FIG.  3    is a cross-sectional top view of an illustrative adjustable headlight for vehicle  10  (e.g., the same adjustable headlight shown in  FIG.  2   ). Headlight  16  may be operated in a cornering light mode, as an example (in addition to the high-beam mode and the low-beam mode). In the cornering light mode, emitted light  56  includes light  66  that is directed to a peripheral direction (e.g., toward the −X direction in the example of  FIG.  3   , at an angle between the +X and −Y directions, off-axis from the Y-axis toward the X-axis, etc.). While  FIG.  3    shows a top view of headlight  16  providing light  66  relative to the X-Y plane, in a side view, light  66  may be angled down slightly from the +Y direction toward the −Z direction (similar to light  58 - 1  in  FIG.  2   ). 
     Configured in this manner, headlight  16  may provide a cornering light pattern that illuminates the outboard side of vehicle  10 . In the illustrative example of  FIG.  3    where the left outboard side (in the −X direction) of vehicle  10  is illuminated, headlight  16  may be mounted to body  12  as the left headlight. A mirrored version of the headlight of  FIG.  2    (providing illumination to the right outboard side (in the +X direction)) may be provided and mounted to body  12  as the right headlight. 
     To operate in the cornering light mode, as shown in  FIG.  3   , headlight  16  include an additional light source  42 - 2  and an additional reflector  64  (in addition to light source  42 - 1  and reflector  46  in  FIG.  2   ) enclosed and/or supported by housing  60 . Light source  42 - 1  and reflector  46  ( FIG.  2   ) may be provided within the same housing  60  and operate as described in  FIG.  2   , but are now shown in  FIG.  3    for the sake of clarity. 
     Light source  42 - 1  may emits (visible) light such as light  62 . Light  62  may be reflected in forward direction +Y by reflector  64  to produce corresponding reflected light  62 . Reflector  64 , which may be formed from metal, polymer, glass, and/or other materials, may have a parabolic profile or other curved cross-sectional profile (as an example). Metal coatings, dielectric thin-film coatings, and/or other coatings may be provided on reflector  64  to enhance reflectivity at visible wavelengths. 
     Reflected light  62  (in addition to reflected light  44 - 1  and  44 - 2  in  FIG.  2   ) may be controlled using the same adjustable light blocker  54 . The control circuitry in components  24  can adjust light blocker  54  to adjust the amount and component of reflected light  62  from reflector  64  that passes through the headlight lens (lens  48  and lens  50 ). In a third mode (e.g., the cornering light mode) in which headlight  16  can be operated, light blocker  54  may be positioned as shown in  FIG.  3    (e.g., in the same position as the position for low-beam mode). In this mode, some rays of light (e.g., a portion of the reflected light from reflector  64 ) are blocked by light blocker  54 . As a result, cornering light  66  forming a desired cornering light pattern is present in emitted light  56 . In particular, light blocker  54  may help define the horizontal cutoff pattern (across the X-Y plane) such that light  66  is angled down slightly from the +Y direction (similar to what is done for the low-beam mode), and if desired may help define the vertical cutoff pattern (across the Y-Z plane) such that light  66  is angled to a peripheral side (e.g., to a left or right side) away from the +Y direction. 
     As shown in  FIGS.  2  and  3   , light source  42 - 1  and reflector  46  for high-beam and low-beam modes, and light source  42 - 2  and reflector  64  for a cornering light mode may be enclosed in the same housing  60 , may share the use of light blocker  54 , may pass through the same headlight lens aperture (defined by lens  48  and central portion  52  of lens  50 ). Configured in this manner, headlight  16  may provide a compact implementation for emitting different types of light exhibiting different patterns (e.g., light  44 - 1 ,  44 - 2 , and  66 ). While headlight  16  may operate in the high-beam mode and the low-beam mode in a mutually exclusive manner, headlight  16  may operate in the cornering light mode while operating in either the high-beam mode or the low-beam mode. In other words, headlight  16  may emit cornering light (with or without a horizontal cutoff) along with high-beam light, and/or may emit cornering light (with a horizontal cutoff) along with low-beam light. 
     In some illustrative configurations, headlight  16  when operating in the high-beam mode may exhibit an illumination pattern having insufficient intensity one or more areas.  FIG.  4    is an illustrative cross-sectional side view of a portion of headlight  16  provided with additional light sources for increasing the illumination intensity for headlight  16  such as when operating in the high-beam mode. 
     As shown in  FIG.  4   , the headlight lens (e.g., lens  48  and lens  50 ) may be provided in a lens assembly. The lens assembly includes a lens supporting structure  70  having a central opening configured to receive and support lens  48 . Lens  48  may be aligned (using lens supporting structure  70 ) with a central portion  52  of lens  50 . Lens  48  and central portion  52  of lens  50  may form the aperture of the headlight lens. In particular, light such as light  44 - 1  and  44 - 2  (associated with high-beam light and low-beam light) and light associated with cornering light (light  62  in  FIG.  3   ) may pass through lens  48  and central portion  52  of lens to be emitted by headlight  16  as light  58 - 1  and  58 - 2  and cornering light (light  66  in  FIG.  3   ). 
     While the central portion of lens  50  is used as part of the headlight lens aperture, the peripheral operation surrounding central portion  52  may be unused (e.g., in the configurations of  FIGS.  2  and  3   ). As such, one or more additional light sources  42 - 3  may be mounted to lens supporting structure  70  and aligned with peripheral portion  74  of lens  50 . Each light source  42 - 3  on structure  70  may be covered by a light collimator structure  72  such as a total internal reflection collimator or optics structure that collimate light from light source  42 - 3  to pass through peripheral portion  74  of lens  50 . As an example, the inner and outer surfaces of portion  74 , through which collimated light from light sources  42 - 3  pass, may be parallel (e.g., portion  74  of lens  50  may have uniform thickness). Accordingly, light emitted from light sources  42 - 3  may ultimately be emitted as light  76  from the same peripheral portion  74  of lens  50  (e.g., without any lensing effecting). Because light sources  42 - 3  may be distributed along the circular periphery of lens  50 , light  76  may exhibit a ring of light. 
     Configured in this manner, headlight  16  may emit light  56  including light  76  to increase the illumination intensity (e.g., in the high-beam mode). In other words, high-beam light emitted by headlight  16  may include light  58 - 1 ,  58 - 2 , and  76 . Whereas light  58 - 1  and  58 - 2  is produced from light source  42 - 1  ( FIG.  2   ) via reflector  46  producing reflected light  44 - 1  and  44 - 2 , light  76  is produced from one or more light sources  42 - 3 . 
       FIG.  5    is a perspective view of a portion of an illustrative adjustable headlight such as the headlight described in connection with  FIGS.  2 - 4   . As shown in  FIG.  5   , headlight  16  may include a support structure or platform  80  to which light sources  42 - 1  and  42 - 2 , and reflectors  46  and  64  are mounted. Configurations in which support structure  80  is a heat sink are described herein as an illustrative example. In particular, support structure  80  when implemented as a heat sink may be formed from heat conducting material (e.g., metal) and may include fins that help dissipate heat away from the heat sink. By mounting light sources  42 - 1  and  42 - 2 , and reflectors  46  and  64  to the heat sink, the heat sink can directly dissipate the light-source-generated heat and heat generated from the reflectors. 
     Light sources  42 - 1  and  42 - 2  (and one or more light sources  42 - 3 ) may each include one or more light-emitting devices such as light-emitting diodes, lasers, lamps, or other components that emit light. Reflectors  46  and  64  may be formed by depositing (e.g., sputtering) reflective material such as aluminum on an underlying molded support structure such as a molded plastic. Reflectors  46  and  64  may be freeform reflectors. 
     Light source  42 - 1  and reflector  46  for high-beam and low-beam light may be mounted to a first surface  82  of support structure  80 . The geometry of the inner reflective surface of reflector  46  facing light source  42 - 1  may be configured to reflect light toward the headlight lens aperture and provide high-beam light with a suitable illumination pattern. To switch between high-beam and low-beam modes, light blocker  54  such as an adjustable shutter may be adjusted between two or more positions by positioner  86  having an actuator with a solenoid. In a particular position (that provides a horizontal cutoff pattern for the low-beam mode), light blocker  54  may block some of the light reflected from reflector  46  from reaching the lens aperture (e.g., lens  48  and a central portion of lens  50 ), and the unblocked light from reflector  46  may provide the low-beam light. 
     Light source  42 - 2  and reflector  64  for cornering light may be mounted to a second surface  84  of support structure  80  elevated above surface  82 . The geometry of the inner reflective surface of reflector  46  facing light source  42 - 2  may be configured to reflect light toward the headlight lens aperture and provide cornering light with a suitable illumination pattern. Light blocker  54  adjusted to a particular position (e.g., the same position for low-beam mode), may block some of the light reflected from reflector  64  from reach the lens aperture, and the unblocked light from reflector  64  may provide the cornering light. Light blocker  54  may therefore be disposed between reflector  46  and the headlight lens, and between reflector  64  and the headlight lens. 
     In the example of  FIG.  5   , headlight  16  may have a circular outline when viewed along the Y-axis. Accordingly, lens  50  may have a circular outline when viewed along Y-axis. The central portion (portion  52  in  FIG.  4   ) defining the headlight lens aperture may be an inner circular portion, while the peripheral portion through which light sources  42 - 3  emit light may be a ring portion surrounding the inner circular portion. Lens  48  may also have a circular outline when viewed along the Y-axis and may align with the central portion of lens  50  (along the Y-axis) when mounted in lens support structure  70 . Lens support structure  70  may form a ring-shaped structure that overlaps the peripheral portion of lens  50  and that has an opening overlapping the central portion of lens  50  for receiving lens  48 . 
     Light sources  42 - 3  (e.g., for boosting illumination intensity in the high-beam mode) may be mounted on the ring-shaped lens support structure  70  and may be distributed around a central axis of headlight  16 . Configured in this manner, light sources  42 - 3  may emit light through the peripheral ring portion of lens  50 . Light collimators  72  may have individual cells (separate collimators) that each overlap a corresponding one of light sources  42 - 3 . 
     One or more components in headlight  16  such as lens  50  and  48 , lens support structure  70 , platform  80 , etc., may be mounted to and enclosed by housing  60 . One or more components in headlight  16  may be mounted to other components via any suitable attachment or biasing structures such as adhesive, screws or other fastener, welds, etc. If desired, lens  50  may form a front face of headlight  16 , while housing  60  may form all other sides and the rear face of headlight  16 . In some illustrative configurations, when headlight  16  is mounted to body  12 , lens  50  may form an exterior surface of vehicle  10 . If desired, one or more (protective) coating layers may be deposited on lens  50 . In some illustrative configurations, when headlight  16  is mounted to body  12 , lens  50  may further be overlapped by a cover layer through which light emitted by headlight  16  passes to reach an exterior of vehicle  10 . 
     Configured in the manner described in connection with  FIGS.  2 - 5   , headlight  16  may provide a compact implementation of a headlight operable in multiple modes (e.g., a high-beam mode, a low-beam mode, and a cornering light mode) to emit light in different directions and having different illumination patterns such that, when mounted in vehicle  10 , the headlight can selectively illuminate one or more different areas (associated with roadways and/or objects in the vicinity of vehicle  10 ). 
       FIG.  6    is a graph showing illustrative illumination patterns for different modes of operating headlight  16 . In  FIG.  6   , (projected) illumination patterns  90 ,  92 , and  94  are shown with respect to an azimuth angle along a horizontal plane (e.g., along the X-Y plane in  FIG.  5   ) and an inclination angle along a vertical plane (e.g., along the Y-Z plane in  FIG.  5   ) with the 0 degrees azimuth angle and 0 degrees inclination angle being light emitted exactly in the +Y direction ( FIG.  5   ). The illumination patterns in  FIG.  6    are illustrative and serve to clarify one or more characteristics of the different illumination patterns. The illumination patterns emitted by headlight  16  may vary from what is shown in  FIG.  6   . 
     As shown in  FIG.  6   , headlight  16  operated in a low-beam mode (e.g., using light source  42 - 1 , and a shutter in a low-beam mode position that blocks the high-beam light portion and defines a horizontal cutoff pattern) may exhibit illumination pattern  90 . Illumination pattern as a cutoff pattern that cuts off light above a certain inclination angle shown by line  98 . Headlight  16  operated in a high-beam mode (e.g., using light source  42 - 1 , and a shutter in a high-beam mode position that unblocks the high-beam light portion, and additionally using supplemental light sources  42 - 3 ) may be exhibit illumination pattern  92  (that includes the unblocked high-beam light portion above line  98 ). The supplemental light sources  92 - 3  may help increase the intensity of the high-beam light directly in front of headlight  16  to generate hot spot  94  having a desired intensity. Headlight  16  operated in a cornering light mode (e.g., using light source  42 - 2  and the shutter in the low-beam mode position defining the horizontal cutoff pattern) may exhibit illumination pattern  96  (e.g., to the left outboard side of vehicle  10 ). If desired, a vertical cutoff pattern shown by line  100  separating illumination pattern  96  from illumination patterns  90  and  94  may be defined by the relative placement of the light sources and reflectors, and/or by light blocker or shutter structures (e.g., the shutter used to define the horizontal cutoff pattern). 
       FIG.  7    is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative adjustable headlight. In particular, to boost the hot spot illumination intensity in the high-beam light, headlight  16  may include a light source  42 - 4  (e.g., in place of the light sources  42 - 3  in  FIGS.  4  and  5   ). Light source  42 - 4  (e.g., one or more light-emitting devices such as light-emitting diodes, lasers, lamps, or other components that emit light) may emit light  108  toward reflector  102 . Reflector may be mounted to housing  60  and/or may be formed from a portion of housing  60  having reflective interior surfaces. In the example of  FIG.  7   , reflector  102  may form a rear face of headlight  16 . 
     Reflector  102  may include a first parabolic surface  104  and a second planar surface  106 . Light  108  emitted by light source  42 - 4  may be reflected first by surface  104  and then by surface  106  toward the front of headlight  16 . Light  108  reflected by reflector  102  may be passed through the peripheral portion  74  of lens  50  as light  76 ′. Light  76 ′ (forming a portion of the high-beam illumination) may be emitted by headlight  16  operating in the high-beam mode to boost the light intensity directly in front of headlight  16  to generate an intensity hot spot (e.g., hot spot  94  in  FIG.  6   ). While only light  108  provided to the top half of reflector  102  is shown in  FIG.  7   , light source  42 - 4  may emit light toward reflector  102  in additional directions (e.g., to the bottom half of reflector  102 ). In fact, reflector  102 , when viewed along the Y-axis, may have a circular outline, and light source- 42 - 4  may emit light toward surface  104  of reflector  102  in a conical pattern. Accordingly, light  76 ′ may be provided all along the peripheral portion  74  of lens  50  (e.g., as a ring of light). 
     In the configuration of  FIG.  7   , the main light source assembly such as assembly  110  (e.g., including light sources  42 - 1  and  42 - 2 , reflectors  46  and  64 , light blocker  54 , positioner  86 , platform  80 , etc., in  FIG.  5   ) may still be included to emit light such as light  44 - 1 ,  44 - 2 , and  62  through the headlight lens aperture (e.g., lens  48  and portion  52  of lens  50 ) to generate the other portions of high-beam light, low-beam light, and cornering light. Because light  108  reflected from reflector  102  is provided all around the internal periphery of headlight  16 , bulky components such as a heat sink, positioner  86 , or other bulky components in assembly  110  may block a substantial portion of the reflected light  108 . As such, these bulky components may be miniaturized and/or moved to an extended housing portion of headlight  16  not overlapping reflector  102 . 
     Illustrative operations involved in using vehicle  10  are shown in  FIG.  8   . 
     During the operations of block  112 , control circuitry (e.g., implemented by one or more components  24 ) of vehicle  10  may gather sensor data from one or more sensors, may gather user data (e.g., a user input), and/or may gather other inputs. 
     During the operations of block  114 , the control circuitry may operate one or more headlights of vehicle  10  based on the inputs gathered in block  112 . As examples, based on the gathered inputs, the control circuitry may operate a headlight such as headlight  16  in  FIGS.  1 - 5  and  7    in one or more modes (e.g., a high-beam mode, a low-beam mode, and a cornering light mode). As examples, the control circuitry may operate headlight  16  to emit only high-beam light, only low-beam light, low-beam light and cornering light, high-beam light and cornering light. In particular, configurations in which control circuitry perform the operations of block  114  to determine when to operate headlight  16  to emit cornering light and/or stop emitting cornering light are described herein as an illustrative example. 
     In an illustrative configuration, during the operations of block  112 , the control circuitry may identify a speed of vehicle  10 , a steering angle of vehicle  10 , a turning signal status of vehicle  10 , a location of vehicle  10 , and/or other data on vehicle  10 , may identify external objects (e.g., pedestrians, street signs, street lights, etc.) or roadways in the vicinity of vehicle  10  (e.g., using lidar), and/or may identify other inputs. As examples, during the operation of block  114 , the control circuitry may operate headlight  16  to emit cornering light in response to the speed of vehicle  10  slowing to below a threshold value, a steering angle of vehicle  10  being greater than a threshold value, a turning signal of vehicle  10  being on, a location of vehicle  10  being at an intersection, external objects being on the outboard side on vehicle  10 , multiple of these conditions being satisfied, and/or in response to other conditions being satisfied, and may stop emitting cornering light when one or more of these conditions are no longer satisfied. 
     The foregoing is merely illustrative and various modifications can be made to the described embodiments. The foregoing embodiments may be implemented individually or in any combination.

Metadata:
Filing Date: 20220818
Publication Date: 20240123
Grant Date: 20240123
Priority Date: 20210920
Inventors: TANG, XIAOFENG
CHILD, CHRISTOPHER P
MAZUIR, Clarisse
STIEHL, KURT R
WALLIS, BRYCE E
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "F21S41/36", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B60Q1/076", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B60Q1/16", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "F21S41/285", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "F21S41/47", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "F21S41/663", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "F21S41/683", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "F21S41/148", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "F21S41/36", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "F21S41/255", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "F21S41/28", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "F21S41/295", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "F21S41/143", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "F21S41/321", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "F21S41/68", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "F21S45/47", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "F21W2102/13", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "F21W2102/19", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "F21S41/365", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "F21S41/145", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "F21S41/151", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B60Q1/16", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B60Q1/076", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "F21S41/47", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "F21S41/663", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "F21S41/683", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "F21S41/285", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 85572808