Motor Vehicle Headlamp Overlapping Light Distribution

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing motor vehicle lighting systems face challenges in providing efficient and safe light distribution, particularly in ensuring flicker-free high beam displays and adequate illumination of roadways, which can be improved by overlapping the light distributions of multiple headlights.

Innovation Solution

The system comprises two headlights with overlapping light distributions, each equipped with semiconductor lasers and deflection devices like micromirrors or acousto-optical deflectors, allowing for simultaneous illumination of a predetermined area with a time offset to reduce scanning speed and increase effective pulse time, and adjustable illuminance through pulse modulation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a single headlight provides light distribution, then the scanning speed must be high to achieve flicker-free display, but this increases energy consumption and reduces effective pulse time

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflicker-free displayVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The lighting system is divided into two independent headlights, each covering a portion of the total illumination area. By segmenting the scanning task across two headlights with overlapping fields of view, each headlight can operate at a lower scanning speed while still providing continuous coverage, thereby reducing energy consumption and increasing effective pulse time while maintaining flicker-free display.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If the scanning speed is increased to provide flicker-free high beam display, then the refresh rate must be increased, but this reduces the effective pulse time for each light distribution

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflicker-free displayVSAvoideffective pulse time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The total illumination area is segmented between two headlights, allowing each to scan at a lower speed. This segmentation enables the refresh rate to be halved while maintaining continuous coverage, thereby doubling the effective pulse time for each light distribution while still achieving flicker-free display through the overlapping fields of view.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Area of stationary object

If the light distribution area is expanded to cover more roadway, then the scanning speed must be increased, but this increases energy consumption

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveilluminated areaVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Two headlights are merged to provide combined illumination coverage, with their fields of view overlapping in a predetermined area. This merging allows the system to cover a larger total area by distributing the scanning load across both headlights, enabling each to operate at lower scanning speeds and reducing overall energy consumption while expanding the illuminated roadway area.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Illumination intensity

If the illuminance is increased to improve visibility, then the energy consumption increases, but this reduces operational efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovevisibilityVSAvoidoperational efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses periodic scanning with pulse width modulation to control the illuminance output. By distributing the illumination duty cycle across two headlights with overlapping fields of view, each headlight can use lower energy pulses while maintaining adequate visibility through the combined and overlapping light distributions, thereby improving operational efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

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 enhances safety and efficiency by doubling the illuminated area, reducing the refresh rate, and allowing for lower energy pulses, thereby improving the operational safety and effectiveness of the lighting system.

Implementation Method 1

Each of the light distributions has an opening area. In the case of conventional headlights, the opening areas do not overlap

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight emission from semiconductor laser: Light Emitting Diode

Implementation Method 2

each equipped with semiconductor lasers and deflection devices like micromirrors or acousto-optical deflectors

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOptical deflection using micromirrors: Reflection

Implementation Method 3

deflection devices like micromirrors or acousto-optical deflectors

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAcousto-optical deflection: Acousto-optic Effect

Data Source

PatentEP3108175B1Illuminating device for a motor vehicle, and associated method

Publication Date: 2017.10.11 AUDI AG

Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4

AI summary

The present invention relates to an illuminating device (34) for a motor vehicle (10), comprising a first headlamp (12) for providing a first light distribution (36) having a first opening range (40), and a second headlamp (14) for providing a second light distribution (38) having a second opening range (42), wherein the first and the second headlamp (12, 14) are designed in such a way that the first opening range (40) and the second opening range (42) completely overlap in a predetermined area, and wherein the first and the second headlamp (12, 14) each have at least one light source for emitting radiation and a deflecting device for deflecting the radiation emitted by the at least one light source.