Circuit Carrier Positioning for Precise Automotive Light Alignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for positioning and aligning semiconductor light sources in automotive lighting systems, such as headlights or taillights, lack the necessary precision and accuracy, requiring optical inspections that complicate the manufacturing process.

Innovation Solution

A device that uses bores and stop elements to precisely position semiconductor light sources relative to an optical system, allowing for precise alignment without optical inspection, by determining the target positions of the light-emitting area relative to the optical system through bores and fixing the circuit carrier in place.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If optical inspection is used to position semiconductor light sources, then positioning accuracy is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning accuracyVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces optical inspection systems with a purely mechanical positioning system using bores, stop elements, and reference points. The mechanical features physically constrain the circuit carrier to achieve precise positioning without requiring complex optical measurement and adjustment equipment.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The positioning features (bores, stop elements, reference points) are pre-installed on the circuit carrier and optical system components during manufacturing. This preliminary preparation enables accurate positioning to be achieved automatically during assembly without requiring subsequent optical inspection or adjustment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Manufacturing precision

If optical inspection is used for alignment, then positioning precision is improved, but productivity decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvealignment precisionVSAvoidassembly speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent eliminates time-consuming optical inspection processes by using mechanical positioning features that automatically ensure accurate alignment during assembly. The bores and stop elements provide immediate mechanical guidance, allowing workers to quickly and accurately position components without prolonged measurement and adjustment cycles.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The positioning system is designed to be self-aligning through the interaction of complementary mechanical features (bores fitting over stop elements, reference points matching reference areas). This self-service mechanism automatically achieves precise alignment without requiring external inspection equipment or skilled adjustment operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Manufacturing precision

If reference points are arranged on circuit carrier, then positioning accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning accuracyVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent integrates multiple functions into the reference points and bores: they serve as positioning references, alignment guides, and mechanical constraints simultaneously. These simple geometric features perform multiple positioning tasks for different components (circuit carrier, optical system, semiconductor light sources) without requiring separate complex positioning mechanisms for each.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The patent combines the reference points, bores, and stop elements into a unified mechanical positioning system that works together as an integrated whole. Rather than using separate positioning mechanisms for different components, all positioning functions are merged into a coordinated system of complementary mechanical features that achieve precise alignment across multiple components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP3452753B1Apparatus for arranging a circuit carrier
Publication Date: 2026.03.04 MARELLI GERMANY GMBH
  • EP3452753B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3452753B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3452753B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for arranging a circuit carrier (30) comprising at least one semiconductor light source (32) in a specified position relative to an optical system (20) of a lighting device of a motor vehicle.