Vehicle Headlamp Liquid Crystal Element Wiring Layout

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing vehicle headlamp systems using liquid crystal elements face difficulties in managing the increased number of individual electrodes, which complicates the lead wiring layout and affects the light distribution pattern resolution and switching speed.

Innovation Solution

The vehicle headlamp system incorporates a liquid crystal element with a segmented and common electrode configuration, where the electrodes are patterned to correspond with the light distribution regions, and the lead wiring layout is optimized to reduce voltage unevenness and simplify the circuit configuration, allowing for finer control over light irradiation and non-irradiation areas.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If the number of individual electrodes is increased to increase the number of light modulating regions, then the resolution and light distribution control capability are improved, but the lead wiring layout becomes more difficult and complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight distribution control resolutionVSAvoidlead wiring layout complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple electrode connections by having multiple individual electrodes share common lead wiring paths. Instead of providing separate lead wirings for each individual electrode, the patent combines the wiring paths, allowing electrodes to be grouped and connected through shared leads, thereby simplifying the overall wiring layout while maintaining the ability to independently control multiple light modulating regions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The lead wirings are designed to serve multiple functions by being shared across multiple individual electrodes. A single lead wiring can connect to multiple electrodes, allowing the same wiring path to control multiple light modulating regions, thus reducing the total number of lead wirings required while maintaining high-resolution control capability

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

2Manufacturing precision

If the number of individual electrodes is increased to achieve high quality light distribution pattern, then the light distribution quality is improved, but the pattern switching speed may be reduced due to increased circuit complexity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight distribution pattern qualityVSAvoidpattern switching speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

By merging the lead wiring paths for multiple individual electrodes, the patent reduces the total number of electrical connections that need to be managed. This consolidation simplifies the circuit architecture, allowing for faster signal propagation and reduced capacitive loading, thereby maintaining high pattern switching speed even with a large number of individually controllable electrodes

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the electrode control into groups that share common lead wirings, allowing for efficient multiplexed control. This segmentation strategy enables the system to manage high-resolution electrode arrays without requiring proportionally increased wiring complexity, thus preserving fast switching performance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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 facilitates a more efficient lead wiring layout, enabling higher resolution light distribution control and faster pattern switching, while maintaining the high contrast and responsiveness of the liquid crystal element, thus enhancing the overall light distribution efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

a liquid crystal element (16) having a first substrate (21) and a second substrate (22) which are arranged in opposition to each other, a liquid crystal layer (27) arranged between the first substrate (21) and the second substrate (22), and an electrode (23, 24) for selectively applying voltage to at least a part of a region pinched by the first substrate (21) and the second substrate (22)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLiquid crystal light modulation: Liquid Crystals

Implementation Method 2

a polarization conversion element (17a, 17b) arranged at a position where light from the light source (12) can enter, the liquid crystal element (16) being arranged in front of the polarization conversion element (17a, 17b), and a polarizing plate (17a, 17b) arranged in front of the liquid crystal element (16)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPolarization: Polarisation

Data Source

PatentEP3447368B1Vehicle headlamp system
Publication Date: 2022.07.20 STANLEY ELECTRIC CO LTD
  • EP3447368B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3447368B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3C
  • EP3447368B1 patent drawingFigure 4A~4B

AI summary

To facilitate lead wiring layout corresponding to an increase in the number of individual electrodes of the liquid crystal element (16) in a vehicle headlamp system. The vehicle headlamp system that selectively performs light irradiation towards the periphery of its own vehicle includes a light source, a liquid crystal element (16), and a lens (19). The liquid crystal element (16) includes a plurality of first individual electrode parts (131a-131d), a plurality of second individual electrode parts (132a-132d), and a first lead wiring part (52a, 52b). The first lead wiring part (52a, 52b) includes a plurality of first individual wirings (231a-231c) each of which is connected to one of the plurality of first individual electrode parts (131a-131d), and a plurality of second individual wirings (232a-232c) each of which is connected to one of the plurality of second individual electrode parts (132a-132d) and arranged through a gap formed between the adjacent first individual electrode parts (131a-131d) in the first direction.