Adaptive Low-Beam Headlamp Control for Urban Glare Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing headlamp systems are ineffective in improving visibility in urban areas using low beam mode, as they do not adequately control light distribution to reduce glare and enhance visibility in situations where high beam is not frequently used.
Innovation Solution
A headlamp system that switches between two low beam distribution states, allowing for increased illumination of specific areas such as the width-direction intermediate and end portions, enhancing light distribution based on direction and external conditions like weather, using a control system that adjusts light emission from multiple LED parts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If the amount of light of headlamps is reduced in urban areas to prevent glare, then glare to opposing drivers is reduced, but visibility for the own vehicle driver deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by dividing the illumination area into multiple regions (central region, intermediate regions, end regions) and controlling the light intensity independently for each region. The control unit increases light intensity in specific regions (intermediate and/or end regions) while maintaining or reducing intensity in the central region, thereby improving visibility without causing excessive glare to opposing drivers.
Solution Approach 2:
The headlamp illumination is segmented into multiple distinct regions: a central region, intermediate regions on both sides of the central region, and end regions at the width-direction ends. Each region can be controlled independently by the control unit, allowing selective enhancement of visibility in critical areas while managing glare in other areas.
2Illumination intensity
If high beam is used to improve visibility, then visibility is improved, but glare to opposing drivers increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides a low beam distribution mode with enhanced visibility by selectively increasing light intensity in intermediate and/or end regions while keeping the central region intensity controlled. This creates a balanced illumination pattern that improves visibility without reaching the glare-causing intensity levels of high beam.
3Illumination intensity
If light intensity is increased in all areas to improve visibility, then visibility is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit selectively increases light intensity only in specific regions (intermediate and/or end regions) that require enhanced visibility, while maintaining appropriate intensity levels in other regions. This targeted approach improves visibility where needed while minimizing overall power consumption compared to uniformly increasing light intensity across all areas.
Data Source
AI summary
A headlamp is configured to emit a low beam toward a forward direction of a vehicle. The headlamp is switchable between a first low beam distribution state and a second low beam distribution state. The headlamp is configured to, in the first low beam distribution state, illuminate a low area straight ahead of the vehicle, and in the second low beam distribution state, illuminate at least one of: a width-direction intermediate portion of the low area, one width-direction end portion of the low area, and the other width-direction end portion of the low area, even brighter than the first low beam distribution state.