Vehicle Headlight Swivel Actuator Smooth Direction Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicle headlight swivel mechanisms abruptly change the optical axis when entering dark areas, causing discomfort to drivers due to sudden light direction adjustments, especially when transitioning from bright to dark environments like tunnels.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle headlight apparatus that includes a swivel controlling mechanism driven by an actuator, a dark road section detecting system, and a headlight determining means, which adjusts the headlight direction based on a target swivel angle only when a dark road section is detected ahead and the headlight is determined to be necessary, minimizing sudden light direction changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If the actuator is driven to change the optical axis to the target swivel angle when the headlight is turned on during vehicle travel on a curve, then the viewability in the vehicle drive direction is improved, but the optical axis changes abruptly causing driver discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-positions the optical axis at the target swivel angle corresponding to the steering angle before the driver needs to see the road ahead. By detecting the steering angle in advance and adjusting the optical axis proactively, the system ensures optimal viewability is already in place when the driver looks forward, eliminating the need for abrupt mid-operation adjustments that cause discomfort
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors the steering angle and uses this feedback to dynamically adjust the optical axis position. By establishing a closed-loop control where the steering angle sensor provides real-time feedback to the actuator control, the system maintains the optical axis aligned with the driver's line of sight throughout the steering operation, preventing abrupt changes
2Adaptability or versatility
If the optical axis is changed to the target swivel angle at one stroke when the headlight is automatically turned on in a tunnel, then the lighting direction aligns with the steering direction, but the sudden light direction adjustment causes discomfort to the driver
Solution Approach 1:
The system detects the steering angle in advance and pre-positions the optical axis at the appropriate swivel angle before the headlight is actually turned on in the tunnel. This preliminary adjustment ensures that when the headlight illuminates, the light direction is already properly aligned with the steering direction, avoiding any sudden abrupt changes that would discomfort the driver
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from a static headlight orientation to a dynamic one that continuously adapts to steering input. By making the optical axis position variable and responsive to steering angle changes, the system achieves smooth, continuous adaptation of the lighting direction to match the vehicle's turning motion, eliminating jerky abrupt transitions
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle headlight apparatus includes a headlight and an actuator. The actuator horizontally changes a lighting direction of the headlight. The vehicle headlight apparatus drives the actuator such that the actuator horizontally changes the lighting direction of the headlight based on a target swivel angle that is determined based on a travel condition, upon the occurrence of one of the following conditions: (a) the vehicle headlight apparatus detects a dark road section located on a downstream side of a current position of a vehicle, or (b) the headlight is switched on.