Auxiliary Headlight Unit Reduces Illuminance Ripples
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Solution Overview
Problem
Matrix headlight units in motor vehicles exhibit undesirable illuminance ripples and hard gradients due to spatial distances between light cones, leading to uneven illumination and potential dazzling of oncoming traffic.
Innovation Solution
An additional headlight unit emitting three light cones with double the dimensions of the matrix headlight unit's cones is integrated to reduce hard gradients and ensure homogeneous illumination, with the ability to switch to an inactive state when necessary to avoid dazzling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a matrix headlight unit with spatially spaced light cones is used to illuminate different spatial segments, then the ability to independently control light distribution is improved, but illuminance uniformity deteriorates due to ripple and hard gradients
Solution Approach 1:
An auxiliary headlight unit is introduced as an intermediary component between the matrix headlight unit and the road surface. This auxiliary unit emits overlapping light cones that act as a mediator to soften the hard gradients and fill the dark streaks created by the spatially spaced light cones of the matrix headlight unit, thereby improving illuminance uniformity without compromising the independent control capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the matrix headlight unit and the auxiliary headlight unit into a single headlight device. The light cones from both units overlap and merge on the road surface, creating a composite illumination pattern that maintains the adaptability of the matrix unit while adding the uniformity provided by the auxiliary unit's broader light distribution
2Area of stationary object
If light cones are spatially spaced to cover different segments, then coverage area is improved, but illuminance homogeneity deteriorates with ripple greater than 10 percent
Solution Approach 1:
The auxiliary headlight unit introduces an additional dimensional layer of light distribution. While the matrix headlight unit provides segment-specific illumination in a discrete pattern, the auxiliary unit adds a continuous overlay dimension that spans across multiple segments, filling in the gaps and reducing ripple effects through its broader, less focused light cones
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 combination of matrix and additional headlight units achieves a more uniform illuminance distribution, reducing hard gradients and maintaining illuminance within predetermined limits, thereby enhancing visibility and safety by minimizing distracting light fluctuations.
Implementation Method 1
a matrix headlight unit (16) designed to emit a light cone (26) into different spatial segments (22) of an area (24) surrounding the vehicle
Implementation Method 2
an auxiliary headlight unit (18) designed to emit three auxiliary light cones (44)
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
The invention relates to a headlamp device (12) for a motor vehicle (10), comprising a matrix headlamp unit (16), which is designed to a emit a light cone (26) in each of different spatial segments (22) of a surrounding region (24) of the motor vehicle (10) and to switch each of the light cones (26) between an active and an inactive state independently of the other light cones (26) in dependence on a control signal, wherein each light cone (26) has a cone dimension (38, 40) in a predetermined direction in a plane perpendicular to the vehicle longitudinal axis (32), wherein the headlamp device (12) comprises an additional headlamp unit (18), which is designed to emit at least one additional light cone (44) having at least a doubled cone dimension (38, 40) measured in the same direction and the same plane as the cone dimension (38, 40), such that a total oscillation of the illuminance of the headlamp device is less than the oscillation caused by the matrix headlamp unit alone.