High-Mount Vehicle Headlamp Waveguides for Glare-Controlled Beams

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional vehicle headlamps, especially those on commercial and industrial vehicles with forward-mounted tools and accessories, face challenges in providing effective high and low beam lighting without using unreliable halogen or xenon bulbs and mechanical components, and suffer from light obstruction and dazzling oncoming traffic.

Innovation Solution

A high-mount headlamp assembly using LED light sources and multiple waveguides with refracting surface arrays to form low, high, and extended high beam patterns, minimizing dazzling and ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If halogen or xenon bulbs with parabolic reflectors are used in conventional headlamps, then the illumination intensity and beam directionality are improved, but the system complexity and mechanical failure risk increase due to solenoid activation mechanisms

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebeam intensityVSAvoidmechanical failure risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical solenoid activation system with an optical solution using a single LED light source and waveguide-based beam shaping. The waveguides with total internal reflection surfaces optically separate the high and low beams without mechanical moving parts, eliminating the reliability issues associated with mechanical components while maintaining beam intensity and directionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Adaptability or versatility

If dual-beam headlights with elliptical reflectors and projector lenses are used, then both high and low beams are integrated into a single system, but the device volume and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedual-beam functionalityVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the beam paths optically by introducing waveguide structures that separate high and low beam trajectories using total internal reflection. This allows dual-beam functionality to be achieved through optical path division rather than complex mechanical switching or multiple reflector systems, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining versatility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Productivity

If high-mounted headlamps are used on commercial vehicles with forward-mounted tools, then the lighting path is cleared of obstructions, but the risk of dazzling oncoming traffic increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveillumination effectivenessVSAvoiddazzling effect

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality control through asymmetric waveguide surfaces that direct high and low beams at different angles. The waveguide geometry is specifically designed to angle the high beam upward for long-range illumination while angling the low beam downward to avoid oncoming traffic, allowing effective high-mounted illumination without the harmful dazzling effect.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

4Reliability

If conventional dual-reflector LED systems are used to eliminate mechanical components, then reliability improves, but the occupied volume increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemechanical failure eliminationVSAvoidheadlamp volume

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the high beam and low beam generation into a single LED source rather than using separate dual-reflector systems. The waveguide structures then optically divide and shape the beams, reducing the overall volume required compared to housing two separate LED sources and their associated reflectors, while maintaining the reliability benefits of eliminating mechanical components.

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 system provides compact, efficient, and reliable high and low beam lighting, reducing energy consumption and mechanical failures while maintaining effective illumination and safety standards.

Implementation Method 1

a plurality of waveguides 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

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTotal internal reflection: Total Internal Reflection

Implementation Method 2

multiple waveguides with refracting surface arrays to form low, high, and extended high beam patterns

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRefraction: Refraction

Data Source

PatentUS20250264201A1Vehicle Headlamp for High Mount Applications

Publication Date: 2025.08.21 TYRI INTERNATIONAL INC

AI summary

A lighting system for a vehicle includes an LED light source and first, second and third waveguides, each being configured to receive the light emitted from the light source at a first end and output an intermediate light pattern at an opposing second end. A projection lens is disposed adjected the second end of the waveguides to receive the light pattern and project it in front of the vehicle. At least one of the waveguides may include a refracting surface array configured to shape the light received from the LED light source. The lighting system may be mounted to the vehicle at an elevated location above an implement associated with the vehicle to illuminate areas in front of the implement.