Vehicle Headlight Optical Axis Control via Wheel Rotation Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicle headlight systems cannot accurately determine the traveling direction of a vehicle, especially when it is in reverse gear, leading to limitations in adaptive front-lighting systems and increased costs due to the need for additional detection devices.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle headlight apparatus that includes a headlight, an actuator, and a detecting means to determine the rotational state of at least one wheel, allowing the optical axis direction to be adjusted based on the vehicle's forward or non-forward traveling state, thereby enabling accurate headlight operation only when the vehicle is traveling forward.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the shift position signal is used to determine vehicle traveling direction, then the determination can be made based on existing transmission system signals, but the actual traveling direction cannot be accurately detected when the vehicle is in reverse gear or neutral position
Solution Approach 1:
The invention makes the existing wheel speed sensors serve multiple functions: their original function of detecting wheel speed for transmission control is retained, and a new function of determining vehicle traveling direction is added. By monitoring the rotational direction of wheels through these existing sensors, the system can accurately identify whether the vehicle is moving forward or in reverse without adding dedicated direction detection hardware.
Solution Approach 2:
The detection system uses itself to determine traveling direction by analyzing the rotational state of wheels that are already being monitored for transmission control. The wheel speed sensors naturally detect wheel rotation, and this existing detection capability is leveraged to infer vehicle traveling direction, making the system self-sufficient without requiring external direction-specific sensors.
2Measurement precision
If additional devices are installed to detect wheel rotational state, then accurate traveling direction can be determined, but the cost and device complexity will increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention makes the existing wheel speed sensors serve multiple functions: their original function of detecting wheel speed for transmission control is retained, and a new function of determining vehicle traveling direction is added. By monitoring the rotational direction of wheels through these existing sensors, the system can accurately identify whether the vehicle is moving forward or in reverse without adding dedicated direction detection hardware.
Solution Approach 2:
The detection system uses itself to determine traveling direction by analyzing the rotational state of wheels that are already being monitored for transmission control. The wheel speed sensors naturally detect wheel rotation, and this existing detection capability is leveraged to infer vehicle traveling direction, making the system self-sufficient without requiring external direction-specific sensors.
3Ease of operation
If the swivel mechanism is permitted to operate based on shift position, then the headlight can be adjusted during forward driving, but the mechanism cannot operate when the vehicle travels in backward direction due to security constraints
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors wheel rotational direction and uses this feedback to dynamically control swivel mechanism operation. When wheels rotate in the forward direction, the swivel mechanism is enabled for headlight adjustment. When wheels rotate in reverse or remain stationary, the swivel mechanism is disabled. This feedback-based control ensures both operational convenience and security by adapting the system's responsiveness to the actual vehicle state.
Solution Approach 2:
The swivel mechanism's operational state is made dynamic rather than static. Instead of being permanently enabled or disabled based on transmission gear position, the system continuously adapts the swivel mechanism's availability based on real-time wheel rotation detection. This dynamic approach allows the system to respond flexibly to changing vehicle conditions while maintaining security constraints.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle headlight apparatus includes a headlight and an actuator. The actuator horizontally changes a direction of an optical axis of the headlight. The vehicle headlight apparatus detects a rotational state of at least one predetermined wheel. The vehicle headlight apparatus determines whether a vehicle travels in a forward direction or a non-forward direction based on a detection result. A swivel operation, in which the actuator horizontally changes the direction of the optical axis of the headlight based on a steering operation of the vehicle, is performed when the vehicle headlight apparatus determines that the vehicle travels in the forward direction. The swivel operation is cancelled when the vehicle headlight apparatus determines that the vehicle travels in the non-forward direction.