Vehicle Headlight Compensator Homogeneous High Beam Distribution

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Solution Overview

Problem

Headlights with a common secondary lens for both low and high beam distributions face inhomogeneities in the high beam mode due to legal requirements, resulting in undesirable 'dark holes' at specific test points, which are difficult to compensate effectively.

Innovation Solution

The low beam primary lens features a recess to reduce illuminance at specific test points, and the high beam primary lens includes a compensator projection to redirect light and enhance illuminance at these points in high beam mode, ensuring homogeneous distribution.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a common secondary lens is used for both low beam and high beam distributions, then device complexity is reduced, but inhomogeneities and dark holes appear in the high beam distribution

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprojection module structureVSAvoidhigh beam distribution uniformity

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a compensator with specific local optical properties into the projection module. This compensator has a light-guiding portion and a light-deflecting portion that are strategically positioned to address local inhomogeneities in the high beam distribution without affecting the overall low beam distribution, thus resolving the contradiction between using a common secondary lens and maintaining high beam uniformity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The compensator acts as an intermediary optical element between the secondary lens and the road surface. It mediates the light distribution by redirecting light bundles to specific regions, thereby compensating for the dark holes created by the common secondary lens design while maintaining the simplicity of the overall projection module structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Illumination intensity

If legal requirements for low beam distribution are enforced, then low beam illuminance at test points is reduced, but inhomogeneities are created in the high beam distribution

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelow beam test point illuminanceVSAvoidhigh beam distribution homogeneity

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the optical system into distinct functional portions: the low beam primary lens, high beam primary lens, secondary lens, and compensator. The compensator is further divided into a light-guiding portion and a light-deflecting portion. This segmentation allows independent optimization of low beam and high beam distributions, enabling compliance with low beam illuminance requirements while simultaneously achieving homogeneous high beam distribution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the optical parameters of light propagation by introducing the compensator with specific refractive indices and geometric configurations. This allows the system to maintain different illuminance parameters for low beam and high beam modes, satisfying legal requirements for low beam while achieving uniformity in high beam distribution.

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

This configuration effectively eliminates inhomogeneities in the high beam distribution by adjusting illuminance levels to match adjacent regions, providing a homogeneous transition and meeting legal photometric standards.

Implementation Method 1

an optical face of the low beam primary lens has a recess, so that in the low beam mode, a test point region of the low beam distribution has an illuminance that is lower in comparison to an adjacent region

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight redirection through lens recess: Refraction

Implementation Method 2

the high beam primary lens has a compensator, such that in the high beam mode, a part of the second light bundle is guided so that the test point region of the high beam distribution has an illuminance which is higher in comparison to the low beam mode

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight guidance through projection: Refraction

Data Source

PatentUS11248766B2Headlight for vehicles

Publication Date: 2022.02.15 HELLA GMBH & CO KGAA

AI summary

A headlight for vehicles having a projection module containing a low beam primary lens and a first light source, a high beam primary lens and a second light source, a secondary lens arranged in the main beam direction in front of the low beam primary lens and the high beam primary lens, a secondary lens by means of which, in a low beam mode, in which only the first light source is activated, a first light bundle emitted from the low beam primary lens is mapped according to a specified low beam distribution and, in a high beam mode, in which the first light source and the second light source are activated, the first light bundle is mapped together with the second light bundle emitted from the high beam primary lens in order to produce the high beam distribution, wherein the high beam primary lens has compensator.