Automotive laser illumination module and system

An automotive laser illumination system, comprising:

• an automobile having a front and a rear, which travels upon a ground surface;
• at least two illumination modules, each of the modules having a housing having a front and rear, one module mounted to the automobile at the front, and another module mounted to the automobile at the rear, each module having a mode selection switch mounted on the housing for selecting between a headlight mode and a taillight mode, the module further having a lens at the front of the housing, a laser emitter which creates an initial beam of laser light, and an output mirror such that the initial beam of laser light is incident upon the output mirror which reflects the initial beam of laser light through the lens as an exit beam;
• and
• wherein the output mirror directs the exit beam through the lens outwardly and downwardly so that the exit beam emerging from the module mounted at the automobile rear strikes the ground surface rearwardly of the automobile and create a small cone of light on said ground surface, and the mode selection switch of the module mounted at the automobile front is in the headlight mode so that the exit beam emerging from said module strikes the ground surface forwardly of the automobile and create a large cone of light on said ground surface.

A laser illumination method, for enhancing the visibility of an vehicle having a front and a rear, using at least two modules, each module having a laser emitter and an exit beam of laser light, each module has an output mirror which directs the exit beam and an output motor for selectively rotating the output mirror, each module is selectable between a headlight mode and a taillight mode, one of said modules mounted at the front of the vehicle, and one of said modules mounted at the rear of the vehicle, comprising the steps of:

• selecting the headlight mode on the module located at the front of the vehicle;
• driving the vehicle upon a surface;
• making a small cone of light on the surface behind the vehicle by projecting the exit beam from the module located at the rear of the vehicle rearwardly and downwardly from the vehicle so that the exit beam strikes said surface rearwardly of the vehicle;
• and
• creating a large cone of light on the surface in front of the vehicle by rotating the output mirror and projecting the exit beam from the module located at the front of the vehicle forwardly and downwardly from the vehicle so that the exit beam strikes said surface forwardly of the vehicle.