Vehicle Headlight Arrangement Dynamic Light Distribution Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional vehicle headlight systems face challenges in providing adequate illumination without blinding other road users, particularly due to the trade-off between high beam's comprehensive illumination and low beam's limited range, which is exacerbated by high traffic densities.

Innovation Solution

A method and headlight arrangement that can dynamically switch between two overall light distributions, adjusting the headlight range based on detected road users and vehicle acceleration, allowing for optimal illumination while preventing glare, through a system that includes a control device and detection mechanisms to manage light distribution asymmetry and range adaptation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If high beam function is used to provide comprehensive illumination, then illumination intensity is improved, but other road users are blinded

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveillumination of surroundingsVSAvoidblinding of other road users
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The headlight arrangement is divided into multiple independently controllable light sources (headlights) that can be individually controlled to generate different light distributions. This allows selective activation of high beam or low beam functions in different spatial zones, enabling comprehensive illumination while avoiding blinding other road users through localized light direction control

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically switches between different overall light distributions (first and second light distributions) based on detected driving behavior and road user positions. The headlight range and light emission direction are continuously adjusted in real-time to adapt to changing traffic conditions, maintaining optimal illumination while preventing glare to moving road users

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Object-affected harmful factors

If low beam function is used to avoid blinding other road users, then harmful factors are reduced, but illumination of surrounding area is much lower

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveblinding of other road usersVSAvoidillumination of surrounding area
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The system merges the advantages of both high beam and low beam functions by combining them into a unified headlight arrangement that can operate in different modes. The first overall light distribution combines high beam and low beam functions, while the second overall light distribution uses only low beam function, allowing the system to achieve comprehensive illumination without blinding other road users through intelligent mode selection and switching

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Illumination intensity

If headlight range is extended to illuminate distant areas, then illumination intensity is improved, but road users at distance are blinded

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheadlight rangeVSAvoidblinding of distant road users
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies different light distribution qualities to different spatial zones. In the first overall light distribution, the headlight range is extended to illuminate distant areas using high beam function. In the second overall light distribution, the headlight range is limited to prevent blinding distant road users. This localized quality adjustment allows the system to provide comprehensive illumination where needed while avoiding harm in other zones

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP2501586B1Method for controlling a headlight arrangement for a vehicle and such a headlight arrangement
Publication Date: 2017.08.02 VOLKSWAGEN AG
  • EP2501586B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2501586B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2501586B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The present invention relates to a method for controlling a headlight arrangement for a vehicle (10), by which at least two overall light distributions (39, 40, 41) can be produced, wherein it is possible to change between said overall light distributions (39, 40, 41), and in which the driving behavior is detected and, when switching from one overall light distribution (39) to the other overall light distribution (40), the time interval (?T) for the transition from the one overall light distribution (39) to the other overall light distribution (40) is determined as a function of the driving behavior.