Vehicle Headlamp Modular Lighting Device Beam Transition

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle lighting devices struggle to generate a smooth transition from dipped/low beam to high beam, resulting in illumination discontinuities and driver annoyance, while also failing to provide optimal illumination performance for both beam types.

Innovation Solution

A modular lighting device with a main module and secondary modules that rotate around perpendicular axes, controlled by a unit to overlap and adjust light projections, ensuring a smooth transition and improved high beam illumination by rotating secondary modules around multiple axes to create a combined beam configuration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a fixed lighting device is used to generate dipped/low beam, then the beam shape is stable and controllable, but the transition to high beam creates discontinuity and driver annoyance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebeam generation stabilityVSAvoidbeam transition smoothness
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the secondary lighting modules rotatable around a vertical axis rather than fixed. This allows the light beams from secondary modules to dynamically adjust their projection positions, enabling smooth transition between dipped/low beam and high beam configurations without abrupt changes that would annoy drivers.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a vertical rotation dimension for the secondary lighting modules. By rotating around a vertical axis in addition to the horizontal axis, the system adds a new degree of freedom that enables continuous adjustment of beam projections, creating smooth transitions between different beam modes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Manufacturing precision

If secondary lighting modules rotate only around a horizontal axis, then dipped/low beam shape is controlled, but high beam generation is not satisfactory

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedipped/low beam shape controlVSAvoidhigh beam generation quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent adds rotation around a vertical axis perpendicular to the horizontal axis. This second rotational dimension allows the secondary lighting modules to adjust their orientation in three-dimensional space, enabling both precise dipped/low beam shaping and effective high beam generation by positioning light sources at appropriate angles.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The secondary lighting modules are designed with dual rotation capabilities to perform multiple functions: shaping dipped/low beams through horizontal rotation and generating high beams through vertical rotation. This multi-functionality allows a single module configuration to satisfy both beam generation requirements.

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

3Illumination intensity

If multiple lighting modules are used to generate both dipped/low beam and high beam, then illumination performance is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveforward illumination qualityVSAvoidlighting module configuration
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The secondary lighting modules are designed to serve dual purposes: contributing to dipped/low beam formation through horizontal rotation and enabling high beam generation through vertical rotation. This multi-functionality allows the same modules to provide optimal illumination for both beam types without requiring separate dedicated modules for each function.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses dynamic rotation of secondary lighting modules around perpendicular axes to achieve different beam configurations. Instead of requiring fixed modules for each beam type, the system dynamically repositions the same modules to create either dipped/low beam or high beam, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining high illumination performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3434967B1Modular lighting device for vehicle headlamp
Publication Date: 2023.03.08 MARELLI AUTOMOTIVE LIGHTING ITAL SPA
  • EP3434967B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3434967B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3434967B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

Vehicle lighting device (1) including a main lighting module (7), secondary lighting modules (8) carried rotatable in relation to the main lighting module, each around a first axis (A,B,C), which are arranged parallel to each other, and around at least a second axis (D) arranged perpendicular to the first axes, and a control unit (13); the main lighting module being designed to generate a first light beam (DB) configured for a dipped beam function and a second light beam (HB) configured for a high beam function, forming on a test screen a first and second light projections (LP1,LP2); the secondary lighting modules (8) being designed to generate each a third light beam (LB) forming on the test screen a third light projections (T1-T3); the control unit (13) being configured to rotate the secondary lighting modules (8) to overlap all the third light projections (T1-T3) onto one another and onto the second light projection (LP2), substantially at the center thereof.