Vehicle Front Lighting with Transparent Shutter to Eliminate Beam Gaps
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional automotive front-lighting systems using transparent shutters face issues with light refraction and intensity due to small light source sizes, leading to dark areas between high and low beam patterns, which affect visibility.
Innovation Solution
A front-lighting system utilizing two separate light sources with primary optics, a transparent shutter, and secondary optics, incorporating an air-exposed slit in the shutter to redirect and concentrate light, allowing larger light sources and minimizing light loss.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If an opaque shutter is used to switch between high beam and low beam, then beam switching is achieved, but a dark area exists between the high beam and low beam patterns
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the opaque shutter component entirely and replaces it with a transparent shutter that uses refraction to control beam direction. This extraction of the problematic opaque element eliminates the dark area while preserving beam switching functionality through the transparent shutter's refractive properties
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical opaque shutter system with an optical refraction-based transparent shutter system. This substitution uses light refraction instead of mechanical blockage to achieve beam switching, eliminating the shadowing effect inherent in opaque mechanisms
2Illumination intensity
If a transparent shutter is used to avoid dark areas, then beam pattern quality improves, but light refraction loss occurs at edges
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different optical properties to different regions of the shutter system. The transparent shutter is designed with specific curvature and material properties that optimize refraction at critical locations while minimizing edge effects. The housing and mounting structure are also optimized to control light paths and reduce refraction losses at the periphery
3Loss of energy
If small light sources are used with transparent shutter, then refraction loss is reduced, but light intensity becomes insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from point-source illumination to line-source illumination arranged in an array. This dimensional change allows the system to maintain small lateral dimensions (reducing refraction loss) while achieving sufficient total light intensity through the collective output of multiple light sources arranged in a linear array
4Device complexity
If a single light source is used, then system simplicity is maintained, but beam pattern separation and intensity are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the light source into multiple discrete light-emitting elements arranged in a linear array. Each element can be independently controlled or optimized, allowing the system to achieve superior beam pattern separation and intensity while maintaining relative system simplicity through modular architecture
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 eliminates dark areas between beam patterns, enhances light intensity, and enables the use of larger light sources, improving visibility and reducing system size.
Implementation Method 1
due to limitations in size of optical elements, such as of the transparent shutter itself, the light beam input from the light source, such as the low-beam light source and the high-beam light source, shall be narrow enough such that undesired refraction out of the transparent shutter is avoided
Implementation Method 2
the air-exposed slit is configured to redirect the light received by the transparent shutter from the second light source towards a middle axis of the transparent shutter
Implementation Method 3
the first primary optics can be selected as a first reflector and/or comprise a reflective light in-coupling surface
Implementation Method 4
a refractive light in-coupling surface may be comprised in the first primary optics
Implementation Method 5
the second primary optics can be chosen as a second reflector
Implementation Method 6
the second collimator is arranged for collimating the light emitted by the second light source towards the transparent shutter
Implementation Method 7
the secondary optics is designed to receive light from both the first primary optics and the transparent shutter, and project it onto the road
Data Source
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Figure 3(a)~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The present invention relates to the field of automotive front-lighting, and particularly to a front-lighting system for a vehicle. The front-lighting system (10, 60, 70) comprises: a first light source (BS1), a second light source (BS2), a first primary optics (11, 61, 71), a second primary optics (12, 72), a transparent shutter (14, 74), and a secondary optics (13, 63, 73). The first primary optics (11, 61, 71) is designed to receive light from the first light source (BS1) and project it onto the transparent shutter (14, 74) and the secondary optics (13, 63, 73). The second primary optics (12, 72) is designed to receive light from the second light source (BS2) and project it onto the transparent shutter (14, 74). The transparent shutter (14, 74) is designed to receive light from the first light source (BS1) via the first primary optics (11, 61, 71) and prevent a lower part of it from entering the secondary optics (13, 63, 73). The transparent shutter (14, 74) is further designed to receive light from the second light source (BS2) via the second primary optics (12, 72) and project it onto the secondary optics (13, 63, 73). The secondary optics (13, 63, 73) is designed to receive light from the first primary optics (11, 61, 71) and the transparent shutter (14, 74), and project it onto a road in front of the vehicle. The transparent shutter (14, 74) comprises an air-exposed slit (15, 65, 75) designed to redirect the light received by the transparent shutter (14, 74) from the second light source (BS2) towards a middle axis (X) of the transparent shutter (14, 74).