Vehicle Headlamp Lighting Unit With Segmented Reflector And Lens
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current motor vehicle headlight lighting units struggle to achieve compact designs with high efficiency while effectively generating multiple light distributions, such as high beam, partial high beam, daytime running lights, and direction indicators, often requiring complex designs and insufficient illuminance with single units.
Innovation Solution
A lighting unit design featuring separate reflector surface areas for distinct light sources and exit lens areas to independently control and optimize each light distribution, allowing for compact and efficient generation of multiple light distributions, including combinations like high beam and daytime running lights, using LEDs and structured reflector surfaces for precise light beam manipulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a lighting unit uses a single reflector and exit lens for multiple light sources, then the design remains compact, but the ability to independently optimize each light distribution is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The reflector is divided into multiple reflector surface areas (first reflector surface area, second reflector surface area, etc.), each receiving light exclusively from a specific light source. The exit lens is segmented into corresponding exit lens areas (first exit lens area, second exit lens area), where each area receives light exclusively from its corresponding reflector surface area. This segmentation enables independent optimization of each light distribution while maintaining a compact single-unit design.
2Illumination intensity
If multiple lighting units are combined to achieve necessary illuminance, then the required light intensity is sufficient, but the overall design complexity and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple light sources (first light source, second light source, etc.) and their corresponding optical systems are merged into a single lighting unit. Each light source has its dedicated reflector surface area and exit lens area, allowing multiple light distributions to be generated simultaneously within one compact unit, thereby achieving necessary illuminance without increasing the number of separate lighting units.
3Volume of moving object
If a lighting unit generates multiple light distributions with shared optical surfaces, then the design is compact, but cross-interference between light sources occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The optical surfaces are segmented into exclusive zones: the first reflector surface area receives light exclusively from the first light source, and the second reflector surface area receives light exclusively from the second light source. Similarly, the first exit lens area receives light exclusively from the first reflector surface area, and the second exit lens area receives light exclusively from the second reflector surface area. This exclusive zoning eliminates cross-interference while maintaining a compact design.
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 optimal adjustment and independent control of light distributions, achieving the necessary illuminance and light intensity for various applications, including segmented distributions, while maintaining a compact and efficient design.
Implementation Method 1
the reflector has a first reflector surface area which receives light exclusively from the at least one first light source, and the reflector has a second reflector surface area which receives light exclusively from the at least one second light source
Implementation Method 2
the exit lens has a first exit lens area which receives light exclusively from the first reflector surface area, and the exit lens has a second exit lens area which receives light exclusively from the second reflector surface area
Implementation Method 3
light emitted via the first exit lens area is imaged as the first light distribution and light emitted via the second exit lens area is imaged as the second light distribution
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4
AI summary
The invention relates to a lighting unit for a motor vehicle headlight for generating at least two light distributions, wherein the lighting unit comprises: a first light source (1) for generating a first light distribution, a second light source (2) for generating a second light distribution, a reflector (3), an exit lens (4) and collimators (5, 6; 5, 6a, 6b, 6c) into which the light sources (1, 2) can feed light, wherein the reflector (3) deflects, in the direction of the exit lens (4), the light rays of the light beams (S1, S2) exiting the collimators (5, 6; 5, 6a, 6b, 6c), the reflector (3), exit lens (4) and collimators (5, 6; 5, 6a, 6b, 6c) are formed from a translucent body (100) in which light rays (S1, S2) propagate by means of total reflection, the reflector (3) has a first reflector surface region (30) which receives light exclusively from the at least one first light source (1), and the reflector (3) has a second reflector surface region (31) which receives light exclusively from the at least one second light source (2), and wherein the exit lens (4) has a first exit lens region (40) which receives light exclusively from the first reflector surface region (30), and the exit lens (4) has a second exit lens region (4) which receives light exclusively from the second reflector surface region (31), and wherein light irradiated via the first exit lens region (40) is imaged as a first light distribution and light irradiated as a first light distribution via the second exit lens region (4) is imaged as a second light distribution.