Apparatus for spatially and spectrally adaptable dichromatic white light source using spatial light modulator

An illumination system, comprising:

• a dichroic mirror having first and second surfaces;
• a digital micromirror device configured to reflect illumination light as a patterned light beam;
• projection optics optically coupled to the digital micromirror device, the projection optics configured to receive the patterned light beam, and to project an output light beam in response to the patterned light beam;
• a first illumination source optically coupled to the dichroic mirror, the first illumination source configured to output a first color light, and the first illumination source including:
• laser diodes configured to illuminate the first surface of the dichroic mirror;
• and a phosphor configured to emit the first color light in response to light reflected from the first surface of the dichroic mirror;
• a second illumination source optically coupled to the dichroic mirror, the second illumination source configured to output a second color light to illuminate the second surface of the dichroic mirror, the second color light having a color different from the first color light;
• illumination optics optically coupled to the digital micromirror device, the illumination optics configured to:
• receive the second color light reflected from the second surface of the dichroic mirror;
• receive the first color light from the phosphor via the dichroic mirror;
• and transmit the received first color light and the received second color light to a surface of the digital micromirror device;
• and
• a controller coupled to the digital micromirror device and to the first and second illumination sources, the controller configured to:
• control intensity and duration of the first color light;
• control intensity and duration of the second color light;
• and
• control a pattern of the patterned light beam reflected from the digital micromirror device, including by controlling a first pattern for simultaneously receiving the first color light and the second color light at the digital micromirror device, controlling a second pattern different from the first pattern for receiving the first color light at the digital micromirror device in absence of the second color light, and controlling a third pattern different from the first and second patterns for receiving the second color light at the digital micromirror device in absence of the first color light, the reflected patterned light representing over time a color that is a combination of the first and second color lights;
• the output light beam having a visibly white color that is a combination of the first and second color lights.

A headlamp, comprising:

• a dichroic mirror having first and second surfaces;
• a digital micromirror device configured to reflect illumination light as a patterned light beam;
• projection optics optically coupled to the digital micromirror device, the projection optics configured to receive the patterned light beam, and to project an output light beam in response to the patterned light beam;
• a first illumination source optically coupled to the dichroic mirror, the first illumination source configured to output a first color light, and the first illumination source including:
• laser diodes configured to illuminate the first surface of the dichroic mirror;
• and a phosphor configured to emit the first color light in response to light reflected from the first surface of the dichroic mirror;
• a second illumination source optically coupled to the dichroic mirror, the second illumination source configured to output a second color light to illuminate the second surface of the dichroic mirror, the second color light having a color different from the first color light;
• illumination optics optically coupled to the digital micromirror device, the illumination optics configured to:
• receive the second color light reflected from the second surface of the dichroic mirror;
• receive the first color light from the phosphor via the dichroic mirror;
• and transmit the received first color light and the received second color light to a surface of the digital micromirror device;
• and
• a controller coupled to the digital micromirror device and to the first and second illumination sources, the controller configured to:
• control intensity and duration of the first color light;
• control intensity and duration of the second color light;
• and
• control a pattern of the patterned light beam reflected from the digital micromirror device, including by controlling a first pattern for simultaneously receiving the first color light and the second color light at the digital micromirror device and outputting a first reflected light pattern for a first portion of a frame time, controlling a second pattern different from the first pattern for receiving the first color light at the digital micromirror device in absence of the second color light and outputting a second reflected light pattern for a second portion of the frame time, and controlling a third pattern different from the first and second patterns for receiving the second color light at the digital micromirror device in absence of the first color light and outputting a third reflected light pattern for a third portion of the frame time, the reflected patterned light representing over time a color that is a combination of the first and second color lights;
• the output light beam having a visibly white color that is a combination of the first and second color lights.