Compact Headlight Unit with Overlapping Drive Lens
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing headlight systems fail to maintain optimal light distribution and visibility due to vehicle body tilting, leading to reduced driver visibility and potential dazzling of oncoming vehicles, as they require large actuator and drive mechanisms to adjust beam directions.
Innovation Solution
A headlight unit with a light source, light guide member, and projection lens, where the drive unit changes the positional relationship between the light guide member and projection lens, positioned to overlap with the projection lens in the optical axis direction, allowing for compact adjustment of the projection direction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the lamp unit including reflector, discharge lamp, projection lens, and shade is moved to change beam direction, then the headlight can adjust projection direction, but the actuator and drive mechanism become large
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the headlight system into separate functional components: a stationary lamp unit (reflector, discharge lamp) and a movable projection lens. Only the projection lens is moved by the actuator to change beam direction, rather than moving the entire lamp unit. This segmentation reduces the size and complexity of the actuator and drive mechanism while maintaining beam direction adjustment capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The projection lens is extracted from the lamp unit and made independently movable. By separating the projection lens from the reflector and discharge lamp assembly, the system can adjust beam direction by moving only the lens, significantly reducing the required actuator size and drive mechanism complexity compared to moving the entire lamp unit.
2Volume of moving object
If the drive unit is positioned to overlap with the projection lens in the optical axis direction, then the headlight unit size is reduced, but the optical path may be obstructed
Solution Approach 1:
The drive unit is positioned in a different spatial dimension (perpendicular to the optical axis) rather than directly in the optical path. By placing the drive unit to overlap with the projection lens in the direction perpendicular to the optical axis, the system achieves compact size while avoiding optical path obstruction. The drive unit operates in a dimension that does not interfere with light transmission.
Solution Approach 2:
The positioning of the drive unit is optimized for its specific function without compromising the optical path. The drive unit is located in the region overlapping the projection lens perpendicular to the optical axis, where it can effectively adjust the lens position while its structure and operation do not interfere with the primary light path from the reflector through the lens to the projection screen.
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
Enables downsized headlight units capable of adjusting the projection direction effectively, maintaining optimal light distribution and preventing dazzling, even with vehicle body tilts, while reducing the size and complexity of the drive mechanisms.
Implementation Method 1
a light guide member that receives the light beam and emits planar light having a divergence angle
Implementation Method 2
a projection lens that receives the planar light and projects the planar light forward
Data Source
AI summary
A headlight unit includes: a light source that emits a light beam for irradiating a forward area in a traveling direction; a light guide portion that receives the light beam and forms planar light having a divergence angle; a projection lens portion that projects the planar light forward; and a drive unit that changes a position of the projection lens portion. The drive unit is disposed in a region overlapping with the projection lens portion, as optically viewed from an optical axis direction of the light guide portion or the projection lens portion.