Car Headlight Lighting Assembly for Seamless Mini-LED Pitch Matching

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing lighting systems in car light clusters face issues with uneven rendering and discontinuity between mini-LED array displays and conventional LED lighting elements, leading to perceptible interruptions in light effects, which are unacceptable in premium vehicles seeking distinctive and defined lighting.

Innovation Solution

The lighting assembly ensures uniformity by aligning the distance between adjacent light-emitting points of optical elements with the pitch of the mini-LED array, using optical structures like lenses or light guides to create a seamless and homogeneous light effect.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If mini-LED array display and conventional LED lighting elements are placed side-by-side, then lighting functions are achieved, but uneven rendering and discontinuity occur between the two light effects

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelighting functionVSAvoiduniformity of light effect
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

A light guide is introduced as an intermediary component between the conventional LED lighting element and the mini-LED array display. The light guide receives light from the conventional LED and redistributes it through its lateral surface to create additional light-emitting points that bridge the gap between the two lighting technologies, achieving uniform rendering across the entire lighting assembly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The lighting assembly is segmented into distinct functional zones: the conventional LED lighting element, the light guide with multiple light-emitting points, and the mini-LED array display. Each segment is designed with specific pitch dimensions that are coordinated to ensure continuous and uniform light emission across all segments, eliminating perceived discontinuities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If different lighting devices are used alongside the display, then lighting and signal light functions are generated, but interruption between light effects is perceived

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelighting effectVSAvoidcontinuity of light effect
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The light guide acts as a mediator that transitions light from the conventional LED source into multiple distributed light-emitting points. This intermediary structure ensures that the light effect appears continuous and stable across the boundary between conventional LED lighting and mini-LED display, eliminating perceived interruptions and maintaining visual stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The pitch of light-emitting points on the light guide's lateral surface is carefully designed to match or coordinate with the pitch of mini-LEDs in the display. By adjusting and matching these spatial parameters, the light effect maintains consistent density and distribution, creating a stable and continuous visual appearance without interruptions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 achieves a continuous and uniform overall light effect by aligning the distances between light-emitting points to match the mini-LED pitch, resulting in a visually seamless combination of different lighting technologies.

Implementation Method 1

an optical structure (18) coupled to the at least a second light source (16) and configured to form a plurality of light-emitting points (20)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRefraction: Refraction

Data Source

PatentEP4578731A1Lighting assembly
Publication Date: 2025.07.02 MARELLI AUTOMOTIVE LIGHTING ITAL SPA
  • EP4578731A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4578731A1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP4578731A1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A lighting assembly, in particular for a car headlight (40), comprises a display (10), an array of first point light sources (12) suitable for generating a first light effect on the display (10), and at least one optical element (14) placed alongside the display (10) and suitable for generating a second light effect. The optical element (14) comprises at least a second light source (16) and at least one optical structure (18) coupled to the at least a second light source (16) and configured to form a plurality of light-emitting points (20) which, when the second light source (16) is activated, generate the second light effect in combination. The distance (D1; D2) between adjacent light-emitting points (20) of at least one portion of said plurality of light-emitting points is substantially uniform and substantially equal to the distance (P1; P2) between the first point light sources (12).