Integrated Vehicle Headlamp Merging Lighting and Signaling Functions

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current vehicle lighting and signaling devices are bulky and expensive due to separate components for road illumination and daytime signaling, and they lack a distinctive signature that can identify the vehicle model or brand, with the signaling light differing from the night lighting.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle lighting and signaling device that integrates a main reflector with a secondary reflector and light source, allowing both to perform road illumination and daytime signaling functions within the same cavity, using a secondary light source and reflector to provide a unified lighting and signaling function without increasing bulk or cost.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If separate lighting and signaling devices are used, then road illumination and daytime signaling functions are achieved, but the device bulk and manufacturing cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelighting and signaling functionVSAvoiddevice bulk
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines separate lighting and signaling devices into a single integrated headlamp unit. The signaling device is merged with the road illumination device, sharing common components including the cavity, main reflector, and mounting structure. This merging eliminates the need for separate reflectors and reduces overall device bulk while maintaining both lighting and signaling functions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The integrated headlamp unit performs multiple functions simultaneously - road illumination and daytime signaling - through a unified optical system. The main reflector serves both lighting and signaling purposes, and the single device configuration enables universal application replacing multiple separate components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If separate lighting and signaling devices are used, then specific lighting functions are achieved, but manufacturing time and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelighting and signaling functionVSAvoidmanufacturing time
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines separate lighting and signaling devices into a single integrated headlamp unit. The signaling device is merged with the road illumination device, sharing common components including the cavity, main reflector, and mounting structure. This merging eliminates the need for separate reflectors and reduces overall device bulk while maintaining both lighting and signaling functions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Adaptability or versatility

If separate lighting and signaling devices are used, then lighting functions are achieved, but the vehicle lacks a distinctive recognizable signature

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelighting and signaling functionVSAvoidvehicle identification
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a distinctive lighting signature through specific geometric arrangements of light-emitting elements within the integrated headlamp. Different patterns of LEDs or light sources are positioned to create unique light distributions and signatures that identify the vehicle model or brand. This local quality differentiation maintains functional lighting while adding recognizable aesthetic identification.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 simplifies the device, making it compact and recognizable day and night, while preventing dazzling of oncoming individuals by masking the light sources, and allows for identification of the vehicle model or brand.

Implementation Method 1

the main reflector is shaped to reflect the rays of the main light source below a predominantly horizontal cut-off so as not to dazzle motorists arriving opposite

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectReflection: Reflection

Implementation Method 2

the secondary reflector serves as a mask making it possible to at least partially mask the two light sources from view

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectReflection: Reflection

Data Source

PatentEP2799763B1Vehicle headlamp
Publication Date: 2020.11.18 VALEO VISION SA
  • EP2799763B1 patent drawingFigure 1~4
  • EP2799763B1 patent drawingFigure 5~7

AI summary

The invention relates to a vehicle lighting and signaling device (1), comprising at least one cavity delimited by a main reflector (4) defining an optical axis, said cavity having at least one main light source (2) capable of illuminating a road in combination with said main reflector (4). The main feature of a lighting device according to the invention is that said at least one cavity contains a secondary light source (3) and a secondary reflector (5), said secondary source (3) being positioned in the cavity such that the secondary reflector (5, 105) receives the light flux from said secondary source (3), said two sources (2, 3) and said two reflectors (4, 5) being arranged in the cavity to provide both a lighting and signaling function for the vehicle.