Vehicle Headlight Laser Scanning with Shutter Glasses
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing light functions in motor vehicle headlights can distract other road users due to perceived changes in low and high beam light distributions, and are limited by regulatory requirements, which hampers road safety and functionality.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a deflection device and optical system that time-controls the emission of light beams to create patterns visible only to vehicle occupants, using a pivotable mirror and shutter glasses or a switchable windshield pane to block light transmission at specific points, ensuring the pattern is not visible to external users.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If light functions are implemented in vehicle headlights to support the driver, then road safety is improved, but other road users are distracted and hazards may arise
Solution Approach 1:
The illumination is segmented into two separate systems: a first illumination system (headlights) that provides standard illumination visible to all road users, and a second illumination system (laser scanning system) that projects light patterns visible only to the driver through synchronization with shutter glasses. This segmentation allows each system to serve its specific function without interfering with others.
Solution Approach 2:
The light patterns are projected at specific locations in the surrounding area (e.g., on the road surface) rather than uniformly. The illumination is localized to where the driver needs information, and the shutter glasses ensure this localized illumination is only perceived by the driver, not by other road users in different locations.
2Adaptability or versatility
If light functions are implemented to provide additional information to the driver, then functionality is improved, but the system is limited by regulatory requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The illumination system is divided into a first illumination system that complies with standard regulations (headlights visible to all) and a second illumination system (driver-only visible patterns) that operates independently. This allows the patent to implement versatile light functions while maintaining compliance with existing regulations for public road illumination.
Solution Approach 2:
Shutter glasses serve as an intermediary device between the second illumination system and the driver's eyes. They control which light patterns are transmitted to the driver, enabling versatile information display without requiring changes to external illumination regulations, since the additional patterns are selectively blocked from external view.
3Loss of information
If standard headlights are used to illuminate the surrounding area, then all road users can perceive the illumination, but the driver cannot receive targeted information without distracting others
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments information transmission into two channels: general illumination through standard headlights visible to all road users, and targeted information through laser-projected patterns visible only to the driver when synchronized with shutter glasses. This eliminates the need to choose between informing the driver and avoiding distraction of others.
Solution Approach 2:
The second illumination system operates periodically by scanning light patterns across the surrounding area and synchronizing with periodic opening/closing of the shutter glasses. This periodic action ensures that light patterns are only visible to the driver during specific time windows when the shutters are open, preventing distraction of other road users.
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 allows for enhanced light functions that support drivers without distracting other road users, as only the vehicle occupants perceive the illumination patterns, while adhering to legal requirements by maintaining a standard illumination appearance for external observers.
Implementation Method 1
emission of at least one light beam from the vehicle onto a deflection device of the motor vehicle and time-controlled deflection of the light beam into the area surrounding the motor vehicle using the deflection device
Implementation Method 2
the optical device stops the transmission of the part of the light beam reflected at the predetermined points to the vehicle occupant
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for illuminating a surrounding region (18) of a motor vehicle (10) by vehicle-side emission of at least one light beam (16, 16', 16") onto a deflecting device of the motor vehicle (10) and time-controlled deflection of the light beam (16, 16', 16") into the surrounding region (18) of the motor vehicle (10) by means of the deflecting device in order to illuminate the entire surrounding region (18), wherein the deflecting device deflects the light beam (16, 16', 16") toward a predetermined point (s) of the surrounding region (18) at each of predetermined times (t), wherein an optical device (24) provided between the surrounding region (18) and a vehicle occupant (12) for producing a predetermined illumination pattern (22) visible only to the vehicle occupant (12) in the surrounding region (18) at at least one of the times (t1, t2) blocks transmission of a part of the light beam (16, 16', 16") reflected back to the vehicle occupant (12) from the surrounding region (18) such that each associated point (s1, s2) appears unilluminated to the vehicle occupant (12) and the remaining points appear illuminated.