Vehicle Headlight Optic Position Holder and Stabilizing Lens

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Solution Overview

Problem

Complex optical geometries in motor vehicle headlights require materials stronger than glass to maintain precise light alignment and stability, as glass is unsuitable for intricate designs, leading to light losses and misalignment issues, especially with light-emitting diodes.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a position holder to precisely position the light entry surfaces of the light guide bodies relative to the light sources and using a transparent, rigid lens to stabilize the light exit surface of the attachment optics, potentially overmolded with a temperature-resistant thermoplastic, to prevent vibrations and stray light, thereby minimizing light losses and maintaining desired light distribution.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Shape

If glass is used for auxiliary optics, then simple geometries can be implemented, but complex geometries are unsuitable

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegeometric complexityVSAvoidmanufacturing suitability
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the material parameter from glass to plastic, enabling complex geometries to be manufactured through injection molding and other plastic-forming techniques that cannot achieve the same geometric complexity with glass

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses plastic material with specific optical properties (refractive index, transparency) to replace glass, creating a composite solution that achieves both complex geometry and optical functionality

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Shape

If plastic is used for optical attachment, then complex geometries can be produced, but strength and stability are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegeometric complexityVSAvoidstructural strength
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a lens with curved surfaces to provide structural reinforcement to the plastic optical attachment, compensating for the inherent weakness of plastic while maintaining complex geometry

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite structure combining plastic (for geometric complexity) with a lens material (for strength), achieving both complex shape and structural integrity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Shape

If plastic is used for optical attachment, then complex geometries can be produced, but shape stability is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegeometric complexityVSAvoidshape stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a lens with curved surfaces that provides rigid structural support to the plastic optical attachment, preventing deformation and maintaining shape stability while allowing complex geometry

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent divides the optical attachment into separate functional elements (plastic body for complexity, lens for stability), allowing each component to optimize its specific function

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

4Loss of energy

If light sources are positioned precisely, then light losses are minimized, but positioning precision is difficult to maintain

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight lossVSAvoidpositioning precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent incorporates positioning features directly into the mold during manufacturing, establishing precise light source positions before assembly to ensure optimal alignment and minimize light losses

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces mechanical adjustment systems with integrated positioning features molded into the plastic body, achieving precise positioning through the manufacturing process rather than post-assembly adjustment

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

5Stability of the object's composition

If vibration is prevented, then alignment stability is improved, but additional structural elements are required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvealignment stabilityVSAvoidstructural complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the vibration prevention function with the existing lens and housing structures, eliminating the need for separate vibration damping components while maintaining alignment stability

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 ensures precise light alignment, reduces light losses, and stabilizes the optical attachment, preventing undesirable optical effects and ensuring consistent light distribution, even under vehicle vibrations.

Implementation Method 1

each light guide body having a light entry surface into which at least one light source provides light feeds, and wherein the fiber optics open into the common light exit surface

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTotal internal reflection: Total Internal Reflection

Data Source

PatentEP3001099B2Lighting device for a motor vehicle headlight
Publication Date: 2019.09.04 ZKW GRP GMBH
  • EP3001099B2 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3001099B2 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3001099B2 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The invention relates to a lighting device (100) for a motor vehicle headlight, comprising a number of light sources (1), at least one optic attachment (2) with a light entry surface (2a) and a light exit surface (2b), wherein the at least one optic attachment (2) comprises several light guide elements (3), and wherein each light guide element (3) has a light entry surface (3a) into which at least one light source (1) feeds light, and wherein the light guide elements (3) open into the common light exit surface (2b). According to the invention, at least one, preferably exactly one, position holder (4) is provided by means of which the light entry surfaces (3a) of the light guide elements (3) of the at least one optic attachment (2) are held in position relative to the light sources (1).Alternatively or additionally, it may be provided that the light exit surface (2b) of the at least one front optic (2) is provided with a transparent light disc (5) for shape stabilization of the at least one front optic (2).