Motor Vehicle Headlight Adjustment Device with Threaded Guide Parts

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing adjustment devices for motor vehicle headlights lack the ability to provide a robust and finely adjustable mechanism for aligning optically relevant structural units, such as light sources and reflectors, which limits their adaptability to specific light image requirements.

Innovation Solution

The adjustment device converts rotational movement into a sliding movement along a displacement axis, utilizing a threaded actuating element and a guide part with stop projections to achieve precise alignment of optically relevant structural units, allowing for variable fine adjustments by exchanging guide parts without altering other components.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a threaded actuating element with guide parts is used to convert rotational movement into sliding movement, then fine adjustment precision is improved, but device complexity increases due to multiple exchangeable components

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvealignment precisionVSAvoidadjustment mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The adjustment device is segmented into modular components: a base unit with the actuating element and exchangeable guide parts. Each guide part can be independently replaced to achieve different adjustment ranges and precisions, allowing the system to provide fine adjustment capability without requiring a completely complex integrated mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The device allows changing adjustment parameters by exchanging guide parts with different thread pitches or geometric characteristics. This enables the same actuating element to provide different fine adjustment characteristics depending on which guide part is installed, achieving high precision without increasing the complexity of the core actuation mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple optically relevant structural units are adjusted using separate adjustment mechanisms, then adaptability to different light image requirements is improved, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight image adaptabilityVSAvoidadjustment device complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The adjustment device employs a universal actuating element design that can adjust multiple optically relevant structural units (such as reflectors and lenses) through a single standardized mechanism. Exchangeable guide parts allow the same basic mechanism to adapt to different adjustment requirements for different optical components, providing multi-functionality without requiring separate complex mechanisms for each component.

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

3Adaptability or versatility

If exchangeable guide parts are used to achieve variable fine adjustment, then adaptability is improved, but ease of manufacture deteriorates due to multiple component variants

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadjustment variabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The guide parts are designed as standardized segmented components that can be manufactured independently using common machining processes. Each guide part is a discrete element with standardized interfaces, allowing them to be produced separately and assembled into the adjustment device, simplifying manufacturing compared to creating fully customized integrated adjustment mechanisms for each application.

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 solution provides a robust, cost-effective, and highly adjustable mechanism for aligning headlight components, enabling precise adaptation of the light image to meet specific requirements without the need for extensive component changes.

Implementation Method 1

one with the transmission element actuating element mechanically engaged by means of a connection, where the actuator a threaded section has and is further set up to the optically relevant structural units by means of a first and a second coupling element attack on this, and on the holding element attachable guide part with a threaded section corresponding mating thread

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThreaded mechanism: Screw

Data Source

PatentEP3616992B1Adjusting device for a motor vehicle headlight
Publication Date: 2021.03.10 ZKW GRP GMBH
  • EP3616992B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3616992B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

Adjustment device for adjusting two optically relevant components of a motor vehicle headlight, comprising: - a drive device (150) with a transmission element (200) rotatably mounted on a holding element (500) about a displacement axis (X); - an actuating element (300) mechanically engaged with the transmission element (200) by means of a connection, wherein the actuating element (300) has a threaded section (350) and is further configured to engage the optically relevant components by means of a first and a second coupling element (361, 362); - a guide part (400) attachable to the holding element (500) with a mating thread corresponding to the threaded section (350), wherein the actuating element (300) is connected by means of the guide part (400) attachable to the threaded section (350), which in combination with the threaded section (350) is configured toto convert a rotary movement of the transmission element (200) into a sliding movement along the displacement axis (X), in which the guide part (400) is mounted so as to be rotatable and slidable.