Motor Vehicle Headlight Aperture for Edge Image Quality

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing motor vehicle headlight light modules with matrix LEDs and projection lenses suffer from decreased image quality at the edges due to the use of fewer, cost-effective lens elements, lacking the flexibility to optimize optical imaging properties.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating an aperture between the matrix light source and the first individual lens in the lens system, designed to selectively affect edge regions of the light distribution, reducing light intensity by 30-60% in edge areas while maintaining image quality in the center, and allowing for reduced lens diameter and weight savings.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If the projection lens is constructed from fewer individual lens elements to reduce weight and cost, then manufacturing cost and weight are reduced, but image quality at the edges deteriorates significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing costVSAvoidimage quality at edges
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The aperture is divided into multiple separate aperture elements (first aperture element, second aperture element, third aperture element) that can be independently designed and positioned. This segmentation allows each element to address specific edge region issues without requiring a complete redesign of the entire lens system, thereby improving edge image quality while maintaining cost-effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The aperture elements are strategically positioned to affect only specific edge regions of the light distribution. The first aperture element addresses one edge region while the second and third elements address other edge regions, allowing localized optimization of image quality without compromising the overall system performance or requiring additional lens elements throughout the entire system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Ease of manufacture

If the projection lens is constructed from fewer individual lens elements to reduce weight and cost, then manufacturing cost and weight are reduced, but the optical imaging properties cannot be optimized

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing costVSAvoidoptical imaging properties
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The aperture elements serve as intermediary components between the lens elements and the light distribution. These intermediaries modify the light paths in specific edge regions, enabling optimization of optical imaging properties without requiring additional complex lens elements. The aperture elements act as mediators that provide the necessary optical adjustment to achieve desired imaging properties.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of adding more lens elements in the traditional optical path dimension, the invention introduces aperture elements that operate in a different dimensional approach by controlling light distribution patterns. This allows optimization of optical imaging properties through a different mechanism that does not increase the number of lens elements, thereby maintaining cost-effectiveness while improving adaptability.

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

3Manufacturing precision

If the aperture is designed to reduce light intensity in edge regions, then imaging properties in edge regions are improved, but light intensity in those regions is reduced by 30-60%

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimaging properties in edge regionsVSAvoidlight intensity in edge regions
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The aperture elements are designed with specific geometries and positions that selectively modify light intensity parameters in edge regions. By carefully controlling the size, shape, and positioning of each aperture element, the system achieves improved imaging properties through controlled parameter changes that reduce light intensity only to the extent necessary for optimization, rather than applying uniform reduction across all regions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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

Improves imaging properties in edge regions and overall efficiency, reduces scattered light, and allows for cost-effective integration, maintaining image quality in the center while minimizing material costs.

Implementation Method 1

a diaphragm (24) introduced into the beam path between the matrix light source (12) and a first individual lens (16) of the lens system (14), which diaphragm (24) is designed to have a selective effect on edge regions of the imaged light distribution of the light module (10)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight blocking/Absorption: Absorption (EM radiation)

Implementation Method 2

a lens system (14) for imaging the light points generated by the matrix light source (12) on a roadway in front of the motor vehicle

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRefraction: Refraction

Data Source

PatentEP4194744B1Light module of a motor vehicle headlight and motor vehicle headlight comprising such a light module
Publication Date: 2024.06.12 MARELLI GERMANY GMBH
  • EP4194744B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4194744B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4194744B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The invention relates to a light module (10) of a motor vehicle headlight (100), comprising: - a matrix light source (12) with a plurality of several matrix-like arranged, individually controllable individual light sources, which, depending on their control, each emit more or less light to generate a single light point, and - a lens system (14) for imaging the light points generated by the matrix light source (12) onto a roadway in front of the motor vehicle to generate a resulting light distribution of the light module (12), wherein the lens system (14) comprises several individual lenses (16, 18, 20) arranged one behind the other in a beam path.It is proposed that the light module (12) includes an aperture (24) placed in the beam path between the matrix light source (12) and a first single lens (16) of the lens system (14), which is designed to have a selective effect on edge regions of the imaged light distribution of the light module (12).