Headlight Waveguide Beam Shaping Without Mechanical Reflectors
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle headlight systems rely on high-energy consuming bulbs and mechanical components, are susceptible to mechanical failures, and are complicated in their design, particularly in LED-based systems, which lack a simplified solution for shaping and projecting both low and high beam lights without restrictive reflectors and projectors.
Innovation Solution
An LED receiving waveguide with an integrated lens assembly forms a beam pattern for high and low beam headlights, utilizing a refracting surface array and collector lens to shape and collimate light, eliminating the need for mechanical components and bulky reflectors, and allowing for compact design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional bulbs and mechanical components are used in headlight systems, then illumination function is achieved, but mechanical failures and high energy consumption occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical bulb-based illumination systems with an LED-based optical system using waveguides and refracting surfaces. This substitution eliminates mechanical components prone to failure while reducing energy consumption through LED efficiency. The waveguide system uses optical principles rather than mechanical reflection to achieve beam shaping.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the illumination parameters by using LEDs instead of conventional bulbs, fundamentally altering the energy consumption and reliability characteristics. The refracting surface array modifies light propagation parameters to achieve proper beam patterns without mechanical adjustment components.
2Ease of operation
If LED-based systems with reflectors and projectors are used, then beam shaping is achieved, but design complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functions of reflectors, projectors, and beam shaping elements into a single integrated waveguide structure. The refracting surface array within the waveguide combines multiple optical functions that would traditionally require separate components, significantly simplifying the overall system design while maintaining beam shaping capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and eliminates the need for separate reflectors and projector lenses by integrating their functions directly into the waveguide structure. The refracting surfaces are built into the waveguide itself, removing bulky external components and simplifying the optical train.
3Shape
If restrictive reflectors are used in headlight systems, then light direction is controlled, but mechanical complexity and size increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical reflector systems with an optical waveguide system that uses refracting surfaces to control light direction. This substitution eliminates the need for bulky, precisely positioned mechanical reflectors while achieving the same beam pattern control through optical principles embedded in the waveguide structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from two-dimensional reflector surfaces to a three-dimensional waveguide structure with embedded refracting surfaces. This dimensional change allows light control to be integrated within the volume of the waveguide rather than requiring external mechanical components, reducing overall system complexity.
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 system provides a compact, energy-efficient, and reliable solution for forming both low and high beam patterns, compliant with regulatory requirements, while reducing mechanical complexity and energy consumption.
Implementation Method 1
a light system for use with a vehicle that includes at least one light emitting diode (LED) light source adapted to be mounted to a vehicle that is configured to emit a light upon activation and at least one waveguide configured to receive the light emitted from the at least one LED light source at a first end and output a light pattern at an opposing second end
Implementation Method 2
The refracting surface array being configured to shape the light received from the LED light source to form the light pattern at the second end of the waveguide
Implementation Method 3
The projection lens is configured to receive the light pattern and project the same in front of the vehicle towards a roadway
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4A~4D
AI summary
A lighting system (100) for vehicle includes an LED light source (102), at least one waveguide (104) having at refracting surface array configured to shape light received from the LED light source (102) into a light pattern, and a projection lens (106) configured to receive the light pattern and project it outwardly from the vehicle. A first waveguide (204A) may shape light received from the LED light source (102) into a low beam light pattern. A second waveguide (204B) may shape light received from the LED light source (103) into a high beam light pattern. Generation of the high beam light pattern may include shaping light received from the LED light source (103) through both the first and a second waveguides (204A,204B). The one or more waveguides (104) may also include one or more protrusions (244A,244B) extending from the body of the waveguide (104) that further shape the emitted light pattern.