Headlamp Capture System with Variable Field of View

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing headlamps with dynamic brightness regulation mechanisms are prone to interference from light echoes, especially in situations requiring narrow or wide beams, limiting their versatility across various applications, including sports and industrial use.

Innovation Solution

A headlamp design featuring a capture system with a single sensor and an electrically controllable optical system, allowing for servo-control of the angle of capture and generation of control signals to adjust the light beam geometry, combined with a control unit that selects the appropriate sensor based on predetermined profiles for optimal light beam adjustment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a dynamic brightness regulation mechanism is implemented using a light sensor, then automatic adaptation to environment is achieved, but light echoes and interference occur that disturb the regulation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautomatic adaptation to environmentVSAvoidregulation stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the sensor's field of view adjustable rather than fixed. The sensor can dynamically change its capture angle to match the current beam configuration (wide or narrow), allowing the system to adapt its sensing characteristics to different operating modes and avoid interference from light echoes while maintaining reliable automatic regulation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter of the sensor's field of view angle based on the operating conditions. When the beam is configured narrowly for distant vision, the sensor adopts a narrow field of view; when the beam is wide for close vision, the sensor adopts a wide field of view. This parameter adaptation resolves the contradiction by making the regulation system reliable across different scenarios.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple LEDs with distinct beams are arranged, then flexibility for different vision distances is improved, but complexity of the lamp structure increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflexibility for different vision distancesVSAvoidlamp structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the control of multiple LEDs into a unified system where a single control unit manages both the LED configuration (wide or narrow beam) and the sensor field of view. This integration maintains flexibility for different vision distances while reducing overall system complexity by coordinating components rather than operating them independently.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The control unit serves multiple functions: it controls the LED current to produce different beam geometries, it receives signals from the light sensor, and it adjusts the sensor's field of view accordingly. This multi-functionality maintains versatility while managing structural complexity through a centralized control architecture.

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

3Ease of manufacture

If a fixed field of view sensor is used, then the regulation mechanism is simple to implement, but it cannot adapt to different beam geometries (wide or narrow)

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveregulation mechanism implementationVSAvoidadaptation to beam geometry
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The sensor's field of view is made dynamic rather than fixed, allowing it to adjust its capture angle according to the active beam geometry. This dynamic capability enables the system to adapt to both wide and narrow beams while maintaining a relatively simple implementation through electronic control of the sensor orientation or focal length.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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 design minimizes light interference and enhances the dynamic regulation mechanism's flexibility, enabling effective use in multiple sectors by adapting to different light beam types and environments, providing improved comfort and reduced luminosity variations.

Implementation Method 1

Each LED is equipped with its own focal optical system

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOptical focusing: Focusing

Implementation Method 2

a sensor of the light reflected by an object illuminated by the lamp for regulating the light intensity

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhotoelectric detection: Photoelectric Effect

Data Source

PatentEP3145280B1LED lamp provided with a brightness control device
Publication Date: 2018.09.19 ZEDEL CORP
  • EP3145280B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3145280B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3145280B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A lamp comprising: - a light source (300) including one or more LED diodes; - means (100, 110, 230) for controlling the brightness and/or geometry of the light beam from the light source in response to a control signal or information; - a capture system associated with an optical system for generating an electrical signal representing the light intensity reflected from the area illuminated by the light beam onto an illuminated object; - a control unit (230) for generating the control signal or information from the information generated by the capture system. The lamp is characterized in that the capture system includes a focal system with a variable field controlled by the control unit.Preferably, the capture system includes at least two sensors with fixed focal lengths or, alternatively, a single sensor may be combined with an electrically controllable single focal length system.