EP-4735925-A1 - COLORED PROJECTION BY MULTI-LENS ARRAY PROJECTOR

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a multi-lens optical element (200) including: a plurality of optical channels (202), wherein each optical channel (202) is defined by a corresponding field lens (204) and a corresponding imaging lens (206); a structured layer (212) configured to define for each optical channel (202) a partial projection to be projected via the optical channel (202) to obtain a resulting projection via a superposition of the partial projections from the plurality of optical channels (202); and a light coloring layer (216) disposed in at least one optical channel (202) of the plurality of optical channels (202), wherein the light coloring layer (216) is disposed to cover a first portion of the structured layer (212) in correspondence of the at least one optical channel (202) and leave a remaining portion of the structured layer (212) in correspondence of the at least one optical channel (202) free of the light coloring layer (216), and wherein the light coloring layer (216) is configured to impose a predefined color on light passing through the light coloring layer (216).

Inventors

• KILBURN, Ian
• Gruendling, Vladimir

Assignees

• ams-OSRAM Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd.

Dates

Publication Date

20260506

Application Date

20240619

Claims (1)

1. Claims 1. A multi-lens optical element (200) comprising: a plurality of optical channels (202), wherein each optical channel (202) is defined by a corresponding field lens (204) and a corresponding imaging lens (206); a structured layer (212) configured to define for each optical channel (202) a partial projection to be projected via the optical channel (202) to obtain a resulting projection via a superposition of the partial projections from the plurality of optical channels (202); and a light coloring layer (216) disposed in at least one optical channel (202) of the plurality of optical channels (202), wherein the light coloring layer (216) is disposed to cover a first portion of the structured layer (212) in correspondence of the at least one optical channel (202) and leave a remaining portion of the structured layer (212) in correspondence of the at least one optical channel (202) free of the light coloring layer (216), and wherein the light coloring layer (216) is configured to impose a predefined color on light passing through the light coloring layer (216). The multi-lens optical element (200) according to claim 1, wherein the structured layer (212) in correspondence of the at least one optical channel (202) comprises a plurality of structured features (214) configured to define the partial projection, and wherein the light coloring layer (216) is disposed to cover one or more structured features (214) of the plurality of structured features (214) while leaving one or more other structured features (214) of the plurality of structured features (214) free of the light coloring layer (216). 3. The multi-lens optical element (200) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the structured layer (212) in correspondence of the at least one optical channel (202) comprises one or more structured features (214) configured to define the partial projection, and wherein the light coloring layer (216) is disposed to overlap a portion of one of the structured features (214) while leaving another portion of the structured feature (214) free of the light coloring layer (216). 4. The multi-lens optical element (200) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the light coloring layer (216) is a color filter configured allow light with wavelength in a predefined wavelength range to pass through the light coloring layer (216) while blocking light with wavelength outside of the predefined wavelength range. 5. The multi-lens optical element (200) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a second light coloring layer (310-2) disposed in the at least one optical channel (202), wherein the second light coloring layer (310-2) is disposed to cover a second portion of the structured layer (212) in correspondence of the at least one optical channel (202). 6. The multi-lens optical element (200) according to claim 5, wherein the second light coloring layer (310-2) is configured to impose a second predefined color on light passing through the second light coloring layer (310-2) different from the predefined color defined by the light coloring layer (216, 310-1); or wherein the second light coloring layer (310-2) is configured to impose a second predefined color on light passing through the second light coloring layer (310-2) equal to the predefined color defined by the light coloring layer (216, 310-1). 7. The multi-lens optical element (200) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising: a further light coloring layer (310b) disposed in at least one further optical channel (202, 302-2) of the plurality of optical channels (202), wherein the further light coloring layer (310b) is disposed to cover a further first portion of the structured layer (212, 306) in correspondence of the at least one further optical channel (302-2) and leave a further remaining portion of the structured layer (212, 306) in correspondence of the at least one further optical channel (202, 302-2) free of the further light coloring layer (310b), wherein the further light coloring layer (310b) is configured to impose a further predefined color on light passing through the further light coloring layer (310b). 8. The multi-lens optical element (200) according to claim 7, wherein the predefined color imposed by the light coloring layer (216, 310a) is the same as the further predefined color imposed by the further light coloring layer (310b); or wherein the predefined color imposed by the light coloring layer (216, 310a) is different from the further predefined color imposed by the further light coloring layer (310b). 9. The multi-lens optical element (200) according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the structured layer (212, 306) defines a structured feature (214, 308-1) in correspondence of the at least one optical channel (202, 302-1) and a further structured feature (308-1) in correspondence of the further optical channel (302-2), wherein the structured feature (308-1) and the further structured feature (308-1) correspond to a same projected feature in the resulting projection, wherein the light coloring layer (216, 310a) is disposed to cover a first surface area of the structured feature (308-1) in correspondence of the at least one optical channel (202, 302-1), wherein the further light coloring layer (310b) is disposed to cover a second surface area of the further structured feature (308-1) in correspondence of the further optical channel (302-2), and wherein the first surface area is different from the second surface area. 10. The multi-lens optical element (200) according to claim 9, wherein the light coloring layer (216, 310a) is disposed to fully cover the structured feature (308-1) in correspondence of the at least one optical channel (202, 302-1), and wherein the further light coloring layer (310b) is disposed to cover a portion of the further structured feature (308-1) in correspondence of the further optical channel (302- 2) while leaving another portion of the further structured feature (308-1) free of the further light coloring layer (310b). 11. The multi-lens optical element (200) according to claim 9, wherein the first surface are and the second surface area define complementary portions of a total surface area of the structured feature (308-1). 12. The multi-lens optical element (200) according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the multi-lens optical element (200) comprises a first array of microlenses as field lenses (204); and wherein the multi-lens optical element (200) comprises a second array of microlenses as imaging lenses (206). 13. A projection system (600) comprising: the multi-lens optical element (200, 602) according to any one of examples 1 to 12; and a light source (604) configured to illuminate the multi-lens optical element (200, 602) to obtain the resulting projection via the superposition of the respective partial projections defined by structured layer (212) for the optical channels (202) of the multilens optical element (200, 602). 14. The projection system (600) according to claim 13, wherein the light source (602) is configured to emit white light. 15. The projection system (600) according claim 13 or 14, further comprising: a control circuit (606) configured to control a light emission by the light source (604), and wherein the control circuit (606) is configured to trigger the light emission by the light source (604) in response to a predefined vehicle-related trigger event.

Description

COLORED PROJECTION BY MULTI-LENS ARRAY PROJECTOR Technical Field [0001] The present disclosure relates generally to an optical element including a plurality of lenses and adapted to provide a colored projection, and to a projection system including the adapted optical element. Background [0002] In general, pattern projection is gaining increasing attention in the recent years, in particular for automotive applications. Static or dynamic projections allow displaying various types of information on interior surfaces of the vehicle (e.g., on a windscreen) or on the ground in proximity of the vehicle, e.g. on the street. For example, a symbol may be projected on the road as a warning sign to the vehicles behind, e.g. to indicate a malfunction or an emergency situation. As another example, a so-called “welcome light carpet” may be projected to welcome the driver or the passengers as they reach the vehicle. The projected pattern serves thus as a cosmetic feature and also as a safety feature to illuminate the vicinity of the vehicle and assist the user, e.g. at night or to illuminate an irregular surface. A typical approach relies on arrays of microlenses used as projection lenses in a multi-channel configuration. The projections from each microlens superimpose with one another to create the desired projection in the far-field, e.g. on a projection surface. Improvements in pattern projection, and in particular in pattern projection via multi -lens optical elements, may thus be of particular relevance for the further advancement of several technologies. Brief Description of the Drawings [0003] In the drawings, like reference characters generally refer to the same parts throughout the different views. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead generally being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. In the following description, various aspects of the invention are described with reference to the following drawings, in which: FIG.1A shows a projecting optical element with a microlens array in a schematic representation; FIG. IB shows pattern projection via the projecting optical element in a schematic representation; FIG.2A shows a multi-lens optical element in a schematic representation according to various aspects; FIG.2B shows additional features of the multi-lens optical element in a schematic representation according to various aspects; FIG.2C shows an exemplary arrangement of lenses in the multi-lens optical element in a schematic representation according to various aspects; FIG.2D shows exemplary projected images obtained with the multi -lens optical element according to various aspects; FIG.3A shows exemplary configurations for disposing a light coloring layer in an optical channel of the multi-lens optical element in a schematic representation according to various aspects; FIG.3B shows an exemplary configuration for disposing light coloring layers in different optical channels of the multi-lens optical element in a schematic representation according to various aspects; FIG.4A to FIG.4D show exemplary configurations for disposing light coloring layers in different optical channels of the multi-lens optical element in a schematic representation according to various aspects; FIG.5A and FIG.5B show exemplary configurations for disposing light coloring layers in different optical channels of the multi-lens optical element to obtain a color gradient in a schematic representation according to various aspects; and FIG.6 shows a projection system including the multi-lens optical element in a schematic representation according to various aspects. Description [0004] The following detailed description refers to the accompanying drawings that show, by way of illustration, specific details and aspects in which the invention may be practiced. These aspects are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. Other aspects may be utilized and structural, logical, and electrical changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. The various aspects are not necessarily mutually exclusive, as some aspects may be combined with one or more other aspects to form new aspects. Various aspects are described in connection with methods and various aspects are described in connection with devices (e.g., a multi-lens optical element, a projection system). However, it is understood that aspects described in connection with methods may similarly apply to the devices, and vice versa. [0005] In general, projection systems capable of projecting light according to a predefined pattern are of great importance for a variety of applications. A prominent example is the use of projection systems in the automotive context, e.g. by integrating a projection system in the door of a vehicle, or in the headlamp of the vehicle. A common use of such projection systems is the creation of “welcome light carpets”, in which a cosmetic pattern is projected i