Adaptive Vehicle Headlamp Beam Control for Dark Valley Suppression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicle headlights with electronic swivel functionality face reduced visibility issues when the steering angle is large, causing the hot zone of one light distribution pattern to shift outside the other, resulting in a darker valley area that can discomfort drivers and impair visibility on the turning side.
Innovation Solution
The vehicle headlights are equipped with a control unit that adjusts the power supplied to light-emitting parts on both sides, ensuring the hot zone of one light distribution pattern remains within the overlapping area while the other is in the non-overlapping area, maintaining a higher intensity in the first area than the sum of the second and third areas, thus preventing the formation of a dark valley and enhancing visibility on the turning side.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If electronic swivel is performed by tracking steering angle to brighten the turning side, then visibility on the turning side is enhanced, but a dark valley area is formed between two peaks causing driver discomfort and reduced visibility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating the light intensity distribution across different spatial regions. Specifically, it creates a first light distribution pattern with a first area (highest intensity) positioned in the non-overlapping area, and a second light distribution pattern with a second area (highest intensity) positioned in the overlapping area. This localized differentiation ensures that each region contributes appropriately to overall visibility without creating harmful dark valleys.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs asymmetry by intentionally positioning the hot zones of the left and right light distribution patterns at different locations relative to their respective distribution patterns. The first hot zone is positioned in the non-overlapping area while the second hot zone is positioned in the overlapping area, creating an asymmetric arrangement that prevents the formation of a dark valley between peaks and eliminates driver discomfort.
2Illumination intensity
If hot zone is shifted to track steering angle for large steering angles, then the turning side is brightened, but two peaks are formed creating a darker valley portion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the light distribution pattern adaptive to steering conditions. The control unit dynamically adjusts the positioning of hot zones based on steering angle: for small steering angles, both hot zones are positioned in overlapping areas to maintain uniform distribution, while for large steering angles, the first hot zone is positioned in the non-overlapping area to enhance turning side visibility without creating dark valleys.
3Stability of the object's composition
If both hot zones are positioned in overlapping area, then uniform light distribution is maintained, but visibility on the turning side is reduced for large steering angles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the light distribution pattern adaptive to steering conditions. The control unit dynamically adjusts the positioning of hot zones based on steering angle: for small steering angles, both hot zones are positioned in overlapping areas to maintain uniform distribution, while for large steering angles, the first hot zone is positioned in the non-overlapping area to enhance turning side visibility without creating dark valleys.
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
This configuration suppresses reduced visibility on the turning side by maintaining a consistent and higher intensity in the critical areas, preventing discomfort and improving recognition of the turning side, even at larger steering angles.
Implementation Method 1
A plurality of light-emitting parts such as LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) or LD (Laser Diodes) are sometimes used in a lamp of vehicle headlights
Implementation Method 2
A plurality of light-emitting parts such as LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) or LD (Laser Diodes) are sometimes used in a lamp of vehicle headlights
Data Source
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AI summary
Vehicle headlights (20) are equipped with a right-side lamp (40), a left-side lamp (40), and a control unit (110). A right-side light distribution pattern (430) and a left-side light distribution pattern (450) include an overlapping area (471) and a non-overlapping area (473). In a case where the steering angle is greater than the prescribed angle, the control unit (110) controls power supplied to respective light-emitting parts of the right-side lamp and power supplied to respective light-emitting parts of the left-side lamp such that: a first area of a first light distribution pattern is located in the non-overlapping area (473) of the first light distribution pattern; a second area of a second light distribution pattern is located in the overlapping area (471); and a first intensity of the light in the first area becomes greater than the sum of a second intensity of the light in the second area and a third intensity of the light in the area overlapping the second area within the first light distribution pattern.