Vehicle Headlight Optics With Transparent Shutter Beam Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional front-lighting systems for vehicles face issues with opaque shutters causing dark areas and non-uniform color in beam patterns due to heat dissipation problems and structural limitations, particularly in bi-function Poly-Ellipsoidal Systems where close proximity of high and low beam light sources leads to inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
A front-lighting system utilizing separate high and low beam light sources with a transparent shutter that employs primary optics for beam shaping and total internal reflection to prevent lower light parts from entering the secondary optics, eliminating the need for opaque shutters and improving heat dissipation by maintaining light sources at a safe distance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a fixed opaque shutter is used to switch between high beam and low beam, then the beam switching function is achieved, but dark areas appear in the projected beam pattern and color non-uniformity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a transparent shutter instead of an opaque one, allowing light to pass through while still achieving beam switching. This transparency eliminates the dark areas and color non-uniformity caused by opaque shutters blocking and dispersing light, while maintaining the functional ability to switch between high and low beams.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a condenser lens as an intermediary element to control and redirect light rays. The condenser works in conjunction with the transparent shutter to precisely manage which light rays reach the projection lens, eliminating the need for opaque blocking and achieving clean beam separation without dark areas or color distortion.
2Volume of moving object
If high beam and low beam light sources are installed back-to-back in one holder, then space is saved, but heat dissipation becomes insufficient due to close proximity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent redistributes the high beam and low beam light sources along the longitudinal axis of the vehicle rather than placing them side-by-side in a compact holder. This spatial arrangement in a different dimension (front-to-back instead of side-to-side) provides adequate heat dissipation space while maintaining a compact overall design.
3Ease of operation
If a moveable shutter with solenoid valve is used for beam switching, then high beam and low beam can be switched, but the system becomes costly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical solenoid valve and moveable shutter system with an optical solution using a transparent shutter and condenser lens. This substitution eliminates complex mechanical moving parts and expensive solenoid actuators, achieving beam switching through optical manipulation that is both simpler and more cost-effective.
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 eliminates dark areas in beam patterns, enhances heat dissipation, and reduces color non-uniformity by using a transparent shutter for beam control and internal reflection, resulting in a more efficient and compact lighting system.
Implementation Method 1
a transparent shutter that employs primary optics for beam shaping and total internal reflection to prevent lower light parts from entering the secondary optics
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~6
Figure 7~9
AI summary
The present invention relates to the field of automotive front- lighting, and particularly to a front- lighting system for a vehicle. The front- lighting system (4, 7, 8, 9, 10) comprises: a first light source (BS1), a second light source (BS2), a first primary optics (411), a second primary optics (412), a transparent shutter (42), and a secondary optics (43). The first primary optics (411) is designed to receive light from the first light source (BS1) and project it onto the transparent shutter (42) and the secondary optics (43). The second primary optics (412) is designed to receive light from the second light source (BS2) and project it onto the transparent shutter (42). The transparent shutter (42) is designed to receive light from the first light source (BS 1) via the first primary optics (411) and prevent a lower part of it from entering the secondary optics (43). The transparent shutter (42) is further designed to receive light from the second light source (BS2) via the second primary optics (412) and project it onto the secondary optics (43). The secondary optics (43) is designed to receive light from the first primary optics (411) and the transparent shutter (42), and project it onto a road in front of the vehicle. The transparent shutter (42) comprises a flat or freeform light out-coupling surface (422) and micro-optical surfaces (423) adjacent to the light out-coupling surface (422).