Vehicle Headlight Light Restrictor for Leakage Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Vehicle headlights experience light leakage from low beam light emitting devices into high beam light emitting devices, leading to reduced lighting efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A lighting apparatus with a light restrictor adjacent to the high beam lens body to prevent light from the low beam light emitting device from entering the high beam lens body, utilizing a diffusely reflecting or absorbing surface to minimize leakage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If a lighting apparatus uses separate light emitting devices for low beam and high beam, then each device can illuminate its prescribed area, but light from the low beam light emitting device leaks toward the high beam lens body

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelighting efficiencyVSAvoidlight leakage

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A light restrictor is introduced as an intermediary component between the low beam light emitting device and the high beam lens body. This light restrictor selectively blocks light from the low beam device from entering the high beam lens, while allowing the high beam light to pass through its own lens body. The light restrictor acts as a mediator that separates the light paths of the two beam types, preventing harmful light leakage without interfering with the intended illumination function of either beam.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Illumination intensity

If light restrictor is added to prevent light leakage, then lighting efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelighting efficiencyVSAvoidstructural complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The light restrictor is integrated with the existing housing structure of the lighting apparatus. Rather than being a completely separate component requiring additional mounting and adjustment mechanisms, the light restrictor is merged into the housing, forming a unified structure. This integration reduces the number of discrete parts and simplifies the overall assembly process while maintaining the light-blocking function.

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

The solution effectively reduces light leakage and enhances lighting efficiency by ensuring that light is directed within the intended beam patterns, improving the overall performance of vehicle headlights.

Implementation Method 1

a light restrictor adjacent to the first lens body, the light restrictor restricting light emitted by the second light emitting device from entering the first lens body

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight absorption: Absorption (EM radiation)

Implementation Method 2

utilizing a diffusely reflecting or absorbing surface to minimize leakage

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDiffuse reflection: Reflection

Data Source

PatentUS9909733B2Lighting apparatus and automobile including the same

Publication Date: 2018.03.06 PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO LTD

AI summary

A lighting apparatus for vehicle use that projects light forward includes: a base; a first light emitting device disposed on the base; a second light emitting device disposed on the base; a first lens body disposed in front of the first light emitting device; a second lens body disposed in front of the second light emitting device; and a light restrictor adjacent to the first lens body, the light restrictor restricting light emitted by the second light emitting device from entering the first lens body.