Vehicle Headlight Beam Control Using Shared Pitch-Angle Inputs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automatic headlight adjustment systems for motor vehicles are complex and costly, making them unsuitable for mass production and lower category vehicles, necessitating a simpler and more affordable solution that is still reliable and efficient.
Innovation Solution
A system that calculates the pitch angle of a motor vehicle based on longitudinal acceleration, speed, and road slope using existing airbag and braking system control units, eliminating the need for dedicated sensors and controllers, and generates a control signal to adjust the headlight beam direction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a dedicated control unit and dedicated sensors are used for headlight adjustment, then the reliability and precision of headlight direction control is improved, but the device complexity and production cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent reuses existing control units (airbag control unit, braking system control unit) and sensors (acceleration sensors, speed sensors, slope sensors) that serve multiple functions in the vehicle. The airbag control unit's acceleration sensors are repurposed for pitch angle calculation, the braking system's speed and slope sensors are reused, eliminating the need for dedicated headlight adjustment sensors and control units, thus reducing complexity while maintaining reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The existing control units and sensors in the vehicle perform self-service by providing data for multiple purposes. The acceleration, speed, and slope data collected for vehicle safety and control functions are simultaneously used for headlight adjustment, making the system self-sufficient and eliminating redundant components
2Measurement precision
If multiple dedicated sensors and control units are installed for headlight adjustment, then the measurement precision of pitch angle is improved, but the manufacturing cost and assembly complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes existing sensors that measure acceleration, speed, and road slope for multiple purposes. These sensors are already calibrated and integrated into the vehicle's control systems, providing sufficient measurement precision for pitch angle calculation without requiring additional dedicated sensors, thereby reducing manufacturing costs while maintaining adequate precision
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs cost-effective approaches by using existing standard sensors and control units rather than expensive dedicated components. The solution leverages readily available data from standard vehicle systems, avoiding the need for specialized expensive hardware while achieving the required functional performance
3Device complexity
If existing control units and sensors are reused for pitch angle calculation, then the device complexity and production cost are reduced, but the availability of accurate pitch angle data may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the main control unit continuously receives acceleration, speed, and slope data from existing control units, calculates the pitch angle in real-time, and uses this calculated pitch angle to dynamically adjust the headlight direction. This closed-loop feedback ensures accurate and up-to-date headlight positioning despite using shared sensors
Solution Approach 2:
The control system performs preliminary calculations of the pitch angle based on available sensor data before generating headlight adjustment commands. By pre-calculating the pitch angle from acceleration, speed, and slope measurements, the system ensures accurate data is ready for immediate headlight control without delay or information loss
Data Source
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AI summary
In a motor vehicle comprising a main electronic control unit (E), an airbag electronic control unit (E1), and a braking-system electronic control unit (E2), the direction of emission of a headlight unit is controlled by said main control unit (E) on the basis of a calculation of the value of the pitch angle (PitchAngle) of the motor vehicle, defined as inclination of the longitudinal axis (X) of the motor vehicle with respect to the road (6). This calculation is made exclusively on the basis of the values of the longitudinal acceleration (Long) of the motor vehicle, of the speed (V) of the motor vehicle, and of the angle of slope (Slope) of the road. The information on the value of the longitudinal acceleration (Long) of the motor vehicle is supplied by the airbag control unit (E1), whereas the information on the values of the speed of the motor vehicle (V) and of the angle of slope (Slope) of the road is supplied by the control unit of the motor-vehicle braking system (E2).