Vehicle Headlight Control Units with Emergency Light Distribution

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current motor vehicle headlight lighting devices fail to maintain legally compliant light distribution when there is a connection breakdown between the control device and at least one control unit, potentially leading to unsafe light emission.

Innovation Solution

The lighting device is designed with multiple groups of light sources and control units, where each group generates either an apron light distribution or a partial light distribution, with emergency controls stored in the units to ensure a compliant light distribution is maintained in case of a connection loss, using a bus-connected control device to manage and transmit control data for individual LED control.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a control device with multiple control units is used to enable flexible and adaptable lighting scenarios, then adaptability is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to potential connection breakdowns between the control device and control units

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelighting scenario flexibilityVSAvoidconnection stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The control units are pre-loaded with emergency control data that defines a legally compliant light distribution pattern. This preliminary preparation ensures that when a connection breakdown occurs, the control units can immediately switch to emergency mode without requiring real-time communication with the control device, thus maintaining reliability while preserving adaptability during normal operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system incorporates redundant emergency control functionality within each control unit as a protective measure against connection failures. This beforehand cushioning ensures that even if the connection between the control device and control units is lost, the lighting system continues to operate in a legally compliant manner, cushioning the impact of the connection breakdown on overall system reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

2Manufacturing precision

If individual LED control with multiple control units is implemented for precise luminosity adjustment, then manufacturing precision is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveluminosity control precisionVSAvoidcontrol system structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The lighting system is divided into multiple independent control units, each managing a specific group of LEDs. This segmentation allows for precise control of luminosity in different regions while simplifying the overall control architecture, as each control unit operates independently with its own emergency control capability, reducing the complexity of centralized control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Each control unit is equipped with embedded emergency control data and can autonomously switch to emergency mode without external intervention. This self-service capability eliminates the need for complex communication protocols and centralized control mechanisms, simplifying the device structure while maintaining precise luminosity control through distributed intelligence.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If emergency control is stored in each control unit to ensure compliance during connection breakdown, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompliance maintenanceVSAvoidcontrol unit structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The emergency control functionality is merged directly into each control unit, combining the normal control operations with the emergency backup capability in a single integrated component. This merging approach ensures reliability during connection breakdowns while avoiding the complexity of separate emergency control systems, as the emergency functionality is seamlessly integrated into the existing control unit architecture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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

Ensures legally compliant light distribution is maintained even in the event of a connection breakdown, allowing for flexible and adaptable lighting scenarios such as glare-free high beam or low beam distributions, with independent control of LEDs for precise luminosity adjustment and fault diagnosis.

Implementation Method 1

a plurality of light sources arranged in rows next to one another, which are provided for generating at least one overall light distribution

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight-emitting diode: Light Emitting Diode

Implementation Method 2

the light sources being arranged in at least a first and a second group

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectroluminescence: Electroluminescence

Data Source

PatentEP3584118B1Lighting device for a motor vehicle headlight
Publication Date: 2022.01.19 ZKW GRP GMBH
  • EP3584118B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3584118B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3584118B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

Lighting device for a motor vehicle headlight, comprising the following: - a plurality of light sources (100) arranged in rows next to each other, wherein the light sources (100) are divided into at least a first and a second group (110, 120), wherein the at least one first group (110) is provided for generating a front light distribution (FW) or at least a total light distribution (GLF, GLA), - wherein each of the at least one first and second group (110, 120) is assigned a control unit (210, 220) which is configured to control the light sources (100) individually, - a control unit (400) which is connected to the control units (210, 220) and is configured to receive control data (450) and transmit it to the control units (210, 220), which control the light sources depending on the received control data (450).- wherein in the event of a connection failure between the control unit (400) and at least one control unit (210, 220) an emergency control of the control units can be activated, whereby only a front-area light distribution (VF) can be generated via the corresponding group of light sources provided for this purpose.