Vehicle Headlamp Aiming Tool Using Laser Centerline Projection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for aiming vehicle headlamps, particularly halogen types, are cumbersome and inadequate, as most automobile repair shops lack the necessary tools and equipment for optimal alignment, and many states no longer require headlamp aiming checks, leading to guesswork in ensuring proper alignment.
Innovation Solution
A headlamp aiming tool and method that involves determining the vehicle centerline, measuring headlamp positions relative to the centerline, calculating beam offsets, and using a laser pointer to project the centerline onto a screen for precise alignment, allowing for adjustments to maximize roadway lighting while minimizing glare.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional headlamp aiming methods are used, then the process is simple, but the alignment precision is poor leading to guesswork
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a screen as an intermediary element placed in front of the vehicle to visualize headlamp beam patterns. The screen displays vertical and horizontal reference lines that serve as mediators between the headlamp beams and the technician's judgment, enabling precise alignment assessment without complex electronic equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the visual property of light dispersion patterns on the screen to indicate alignment status. The headlamp beams create visible patterns on the screen that change position and intensity based on alignment accuracy, allowing technicians to visually detect and correct misalignment without complex measurement devices.
2Use of energy by moving object
If halogen bulbs are used, then energy efficiency is improved, but beam dispersion increases making alignment more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The screen acts as a mediator that captures and displays the dispersed halogen beam patterns. By projecting the beams onto the screen with reference lines, the system transforms the difficult-to-assess dispersed light into visible, measurable patterns that show exactly where the beams are pointing relative to the vehicle centerline.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds a visual dimension to headlamp alignment by projecting beam patterns onto a two-dimensional screen. This transforms the three-dimensional light dispersion problem into a two-dimensional visual assessment problem, making it easier to evaluate and adjust alignment in both vertical and horizontal planes simultaneously.
3Measurement precision
If no aiming tool is used, then the device complexity is low, but the alignment accuracy deteriorates leading to random adjustments
Solution Approach 1:
The screen with reference lines serves as a simple intermediary that provides immediate visual feedback on headlamp alignment. Technicians can see at a glance whether beams are properly aligned by checking their position relative to the vertical and horizontal lines on the screen, eliminating the need for complex measurement procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The aiming system is self-explanatory and self-adjusting. The screen automatically displays the beam patterns and reference lines, allowing technicians to visually determine alignment status and make adjustments without requiring training on complex equipment operation or interpretation of numerical data.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If state inspection requirements are removed, then regulatory burden is reduced, but headlamp alignment control is lost leading to glare issues
Solution Approach 1:
The screen with centerline markings serves as a mediator that objectively verifies proper headlamp alignment before the vehicle leaves the shop. This visual verification system ensures beams are correctly aimed to minimize glare, replacing the need for mandatory state inspection while maintaining alignment quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides immediate visual feedback on headlamp alignment through the beam patterns displayed on the screen. Technicians can see the effect of their adjustments in real-time and make corrections until the beams align properly with the reference lines, ensuring minimal glare is produced.
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
Enables accurate and efficient alignment of vehicle headlamps, ensuring optimal performance and reduced glare for oncoming motorists, suitable for various vehicle types including modified ones like trucks and SUVs.
Implementation Method 1
a laser pointer to project the centerline onto a screen for precise alignment
Data Source
AI summary
A headlamp aiming tool includes a linear member and four legs. The first and second legs are used to measure the distance between the headlamps of a vehicle and the height of the headlamps relative to the ground or floor. The tool may also be mounted on the vehicle via the first and second legs and a fastener connected with the third leg arranged between first and second legs. A laser device is connected with the fourth leg and aligned with a centerline of the vehicle to direct a laser beam against a screen in front of the vehicle to indicate the vehicle centerline on the screen. The headlamp light and spacing measurements are used to provide headlamp center points on the screen and to determine the horizontal and vertical offset of the low beam light which is used to adjust the aim of the headlamps.