Vehicle Headlamp Light Distribution for Reduced Glare
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle headlamps with adaptive front-lighting systems (AFLS) often cause undesirable blinding of drivers due to the concentration of light from approaching traffic and reflections on the roadway, as the light focal point is typically centered in front of the vehicle.
Innovation Solution
The headlamp system is designed to shift the light focal point to the right and/or left edge regions of the light distribution, providing a higher illumination level in these areas compared to the central region. This ensures better illumination of the edge regions, such as sidewalks and cycle paths, while reducing blinding effects from central light sources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If the light focal point is arranged in a central area of the light distribution, then the illumination is concentrated in the center, but this causes undesirable blinding of drivers from approaching traffic and light reflections on the roadway
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by deliberately positioning the light focal point in the upper area of the light distribution rather than in the central area. This asymmetric arrangement shifts the maximum illumination intensity upward, reducing direct glare to approaching drivers while maintaining effective road illumination through the reflected light pattern.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a horizontal/central focal point arrangement to a vertical/upper focal point arrangement. By moving the focal point to the upper area, the light distribution pattern changes dimensionally, creating a different illumination geometry that reduces glare while maintaining road coverage through atmospheric and surface reflections.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the light focal point is shifted to edge regions, then blinding effects are reduced, but the central area illumination may be insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the spatial parameters of the light distribution by positioning the focal point in the upper area rather than centrally. This parameter change alters the entire illumination pattern, allowing the light to distribute more evenly across the road surface through reflections, thereby maintaining sufficient central area illumination while reducing direct glare to approaching drivers.
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 solution effectively enhances edge region illumination, improving object recognition and safety, especially in urban environments, by distributing light more homogeneously beyond the vehicle track, thus reducing the risk of blinding from central light sources.
Implementation Method 1
an imaging unit (1) having a plurality of light sources (4) and collimator lenses (2) assigned to each of them
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a headlamp for vehicles comprising an imaging unit and comprising an optical unit for generating a predefined light distribution, which has a plurality of light spots, the lights each being produced by projection of at least one light pixel of the imaging unit, and comprising a control unit containing a control signal for controlling the light pixels of the imaging unit and/or for controlling optical elements of the optical unit arranged upstream of the light pixels, a light focal point of the light distribution being arranged displaceably depending on the control signal, and the control signal being designed in such a way that the light focal point is arranged in a right edge region and/or left edge region of the light distribution.