Vehicle Headlamp Adjustment Device with Dual-Axis Pivoting

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing headlight adjustment devices are complex, expensive, and require cumbersome mechanisms for adjusting optically relevant components, often necessitating separate adjustment elements for horizontal and vertical axes, making them difficult to use.

Innovation Solution

A compact adjustment device using a main joint for pivoting about two intersecting axes, with a pivoting element articulated on a sliding element via a sliding element joint, allowing independent adjustment using two turning screws, and incorporating a ball joint for mounting the support frame to the headlight housing, eliminating the need for complicated mechanisms like worm gears.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If separate adjustment elements are used for horizontal and vertical axes, then the adjustment function is achieved, but the device complexity increases and ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of adjustmentVSAvoidcomplexity of adjustment mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines two separate adjustment mechanisms into a single integrated device. The support frame is pivotably mounted on the headlight housing via one adjustment device that simultaneously provides both horizontal and vertical adjustment capabilities through integrated adjustment elements, eliminating the need for separate spatially distributed adjustment mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The single adjustment device performs multiple functions by providing both horizontal and vertical adjustment capabilities through its integrated design. The adjustment elements are configured to enable pivoting about both horizontal and vertical axes intersecting at the main joint, making one device universal for both adjustment directions.

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

2Ease of manufacture

If complicated mechanisms with deflections are used, then the adjustment function is achieved, but the manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing costVSAvoidcomplexity of adjustment mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and eliminates unnecessary complicated mechanisms such as worm gears and deflection elements from the adjustment system. By using a simplified pivotable mounting with direct adjustment elements, the design removes extraneous components that increase manufacturing cost and complexity while maintaining the essential adjustment function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of using complex mechanisms with multiple deflections to achieve adjustment, the patent inverts the approach by using a simple pivotable support frame mounted directly on the headlight housing. The adjustment is achieved through direct pivoting action rather than through complicated intermediate mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentEP2436557B1Adjustment device for adjusting an optically relevant component of a vehicle headlamp
Publication Date: 2018.07.04 ZKW GRP GMBH
  • EP2436557B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2436557B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2436557B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

The invention relates to an adjustment device for adjusting at least one optically relevant component of a vehicle headlight (1), such as a reflector, a lens (11) or a light module of the vehicle headlight (1), or for adjusting a support frame (8) accommodating the at least one optically relevant component, wherein: the optically relevant component is pivotably mounted about two normal axes, e.g. a horizontal axis (100) and a vertical axis (101), which intersect at the main joint (9, 9'), for example by means of the support frame (8), by means of a main joint (9, 9'), and wherein the optically relevant component orits support frame (8) is pivotally mounted on a pivoting element (20) by means of a pivoting element joint (21), and wherein the pivoting element (20) is pivotally mounted on a sliding element (14) via a sliding element joint (30), wherein the sliding element joint (30) and the main joint (9, 9') form a pivoting axis (100) for the optically relevant component orits support frame (8), and wherein adjusting means (15, 27) are provided for pivoting the pivoting element (20) in relation to the sliding element (14) about the axis (100) formed by the sliding element joint (30) and the main joint (9, 9'), and wherein sliding element adjusting means (16, 16') are provided for displacing the sliding element (14) in relation to the housing (2) of the vehicle headlight (1), and wherein coupling means (14', 14", 15', 15") (((carrying elements))) are provided which, when the sliding element (14) is displaced, carry the pivoting element (20) along, keeping its position in relation to the sliding element (14) unchanged.