Vehicle Headlight Design Pins for Coming Home Animation

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing motor vehicle 'Coming Home' and 'Leaving Home' functions lack emotional appeal and visual effect, as they only switch on exterior lighting without additional animations that signify the vehicle's wake-up or goodbye process.

Innovation Solution

The motor vehicle headlight incorporates design pins on its lower frame, which are equipped with light sources and an electronic control device to create a light animation effect, synchronizing with the Coming Home and Leaving Home functions, allowing the pins to gradually switch on and off, mimicking the vehicle's awakening or farewell.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If the Coming Home and Leaving Home functions only switch on exterior lighting, then the basic lighting function is achieved, but the emotional appeal and visual effect are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelighting effectVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The headlight assembly is segmented into multiple independent design pins (2-17) arranged in specific patterns, each capable of being controlled individually or in groups. This segmentation allows for complex animation sequences while maintaining modular control architecture, resolving the contradiction between visual effect and system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The design pins are configured to create dynamic light animation effects including sequential lighting, waving patterns, and pulsing sequences. The electronic control device enables these pins to change states dynamically during the Coming Home and Leaving Home functions, transforming static lighting into emotive visual displays that enhance emotional appeal without requiring complete system redesign.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If design pins are added to create light animation effects, then emotional appeal is enhanced, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelighting animation capabilityVSAvoidheadlight structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The design pins serve multiple functions: they create light animation effects for emotional appeal, provide additional parking lighting capability, and can be controlled through existing vehicle control systems. This multi-functionality allows the headlight system to achieve enhanced adaptability while minimizing the need for separate dedicated components for each function.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The design pin animation system is integrated with the existing Coming Home and Leaving Home control architecture. The electronic control device for the design pins communicates with the same control unit that manages exterior lighting functions, merging control pathways and reducing overall system complexity despite the addition of animation capabilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Loss of information

If multiple design pins are controlled separately for animation effects, then visual emotionality is improved, but control system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevisual feedbackVSAvoidcontrol system
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The design pins execute periodic animation sequences including sequential lighting patterns, waving motions, and pulsing effects during the Coming Home and Leaving Home functions. These periodic actions create rich visual feedback that communicates vehicle state changes emotionally, while the repetitive nature of the sequences simplifies control logic compared to arbitrary individual pin control.

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 solution enhances the emotional appeal of the vehicle's lighting by creating a visual effect that represents the vehicle waking up when unlocked or saying goodbye when locked, providing a more engaging and emotive experience.

Implementation Method 1

each fed by a light source, which is usually an LED integrated into the circuit board

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight Emitting Diode: Light Emitting Diode

Implementation Method 2

The design pin is a needle or tube-shaped device made of clear material and functions as a light guide, emitting light along its entire length

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight guide: Optical Fibre

Data Source

PatentEP3494009B1Vehicle headlight and method for activating the headlight
Publication Date: 2022.05.18 SKODA AUTO AS
  • EP3494009B1 patent drawingFigure 1

AI summary

The invention relates to a headlight (2) of a motor vehicle (1), installed in the front end of the body, in which one or more light sources (100, 101) are arranged and which comprises a bottom frame (2) and a glass cover (3). The system having the function of light animation (5) is arranged on the bottom frame (2) of the headlight (1). The system having the function of light animation consists of one or more design pins (10, 11) and a circuit board (4) having light sources for each of the design pins (10, 11) and an electronic control device for separate lighting of the individual design pins.