Adaptive Automotive Lighting Using Laser Wavelength Conversion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current automotive lighting systems fail to adapt optimally to varying traffic conditions, leading to inadequate road illumination and potential dazzling of other drivers, while also facing issues with thermal efficiency and bulkiness in existing designs.

Innovation Solution

An adaptive lighting system utilizing a primary light source, a scanning system, and a wavelength conversion device with adjustable intensity and scanning speed, where the wavelength conversion device is located near the focal plane of an imaging optical system, and the scanning system consists of mirrors oscillating around orthogonal axes, ensuring compliance with regulations and optimal illumination without disturbing other drivers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If conventional dipped beam lighting is used to avoid dazzling other drivers, then other drivers are not disturbed, but the driver's visibility of the road scene is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedazzling of other driversVSAvoiddriver's visibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the illumination function into multiple independent light sources with different beam characteristics (road lighting, dipped beam, fog lighting) that can be activated selectively based on traffic conditions, allowing simultaneous optimization of visibility and anti-dazzling performance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts the activation and intensity of different lighting functions based on real-time detection of traffic conditions, vehicle speed, and environmental factors, enabling adaptive optimization of the contradiction between visibility and anti-dazzling

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Illumination intensity

If road lighting is used to provide long-distance visibility, then the driver has optimal view of the road, but the light beam may dazzle other drivers

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedriver's view distanceVSAvoiddazzling of other drivers
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies different lighting characteristics to different spatial zones: road lighting provides long-range illumination where needed, while dipped beam with cut-off plane controls illumination in zones where other drivers may be present, creating locally optimized lighting quality

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Adaptability or versatility

If advanced lighting functions (BL, Town Light, Motorway Light) are implemented to adapt to specific conditions, then lighting performance is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelighting adaptation to conditionsVSAvoidheadlamp system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent integrates multiple lighting functions (road lighting, dipped beam, fog lighting, and advanced functions like BL and Town Light) into a single headlamp device with unified control, allowing one system to perform multiple functions based on detected conditions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Reliability

If vehicle attitude variations are corrected using range corrector to maintain beam orientation, then lighting compliance is maintained, but device complexity and bulkiness increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelighting complianceVSAvoidcorrector system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical range correctors with electronic control of light source intensity and positioning, using sensors and processors to detect vehicle attitude and dynamically adjust lighting parameters without mechanical moving parts

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The system provides adaptive and efficient illumination that complies with regulations, offering optimal road visibility while avoiding dazzling other drivers, with improved thermal efficiency and reduced bulkiness, enabling precise control over light distribution and intensity.

Implementation Method 1

a wavelength conversion device (20) receiving the light radiation from the primary source and re-emitting white light radiation

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectWavelength conversion: Photoluminescence

Implementation Method 2

a scanning system receiving the light radiation from the primary light source and spatially distributing it over the surface of a wavelength conversion device

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight reflection and spatial distribution: Reflection

Implementation Method 3

an imaging optical system receiving the white light re-emitted by the wavelength conversion device and projecting this light in front of the vehicle to form an illuminating beam

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight projection and imaging: Lens

Data Source

PatentEP2690352B1Adaptive lighting system for an automobile
Publication Date: 2020.12.16 VALEO VISION SA
  • EP2690352B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2690352B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2690352B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The system has a wavelength conversion device (20) receiving a laser radiation (L) from a laser source (12), and re-emitting a white light (B). An optical imaging system (30) receives and projects the white light in front of a car to form a lighting beam, where the conversion device is located close to a focal plane of the optical imaging system. A scanning system (16) and the optical system are situated on the same side of the conversion device, where an intensity of the white light is modulated between a minimum value and a maximum value, and scanning is performed at variable speed.