Lean-Activated Sub-Headlight Unit for Curve Illumination

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Solution Overview

Problem

Vehicles that lean into turns face challenges in providing adequate illumination inside curves without increasing size, as existing solutions like JP-A-2008-222178 result in unnecessary power consumption and larger headlight installations due to unsuitable light distribution adjustments.

Innovation Solution

A sub-headlight unit with adjustable light sources that turn on based on lean angle, providing illumination forward and outward, with specific reference values for low-beam and high-beam modes, and a control unit that manages these light sources to optimize illumination within curves while minimizing power consumption and size increase.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If high beam light sources are turned on with low beam light sources when lean angle becomes at or above a predetermined value, then illumination inside of the curve ahead is improved, but power consumption and headlight installation size increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveillumination inside of the curveVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The headlight system is divided into multiple independent light sources: low beam light sources, high beam light sources, and sub headlight light sources. Each segment can be controlled independently based on driving conditions, allowing the system to provide adequate illumination inside curves without activating all light sources simultaneously, thus reducing power consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The sub headlight light sources are specifically positioned and configured to provide illumination in the curve内侧 area, while the main high beam light sources continue to provide forward illumination. This localized approach ensures that only the necessary areas are illuminated, avoiding unnecessary power consumption from illuminating areas that don't require additional light.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Illumination intensity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveillumination inside of the curveVSAvoidheadlight installation size

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The headlight assembly is segmented into multiple functional units with distinct roles. The sub headlight light sources are integrated into the existing headlight housing structure, utilizing available space efficiently without requiring a complete redesign or significant expansion of the headlight installation area.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The sub headlight light sources are nested within the existing headlight unit structure, utilizing the available space inside the headlight housing. This nested arrangement allows additional illumination functionality to be added without significantly increasing the overall headlight installation size.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Illumination intensity

If the light distribution of the high beam light source is adjusted to illuminate inside of a curve, then illumination inside of the curve is improved, but the light distribution becomes unsuitable for providing illumination forward in front of the vehicle

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveillumination inside of the curveVSAvoidlight distribution adaptability

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

Different light sources are assigned different functional roles: the main high beam light sources maintain their original light distribution patterns optimized for forward illumination, while the sub headlight light sources are specifically configured to illuminate the curve内侧 area. This segmentation allows each light source to perform its designated function optimally without compromising the other.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The sub headlight light sources are positioned and configured with specific beam patterns tailored for illuminating the curve内侧 area, while the main high beam light sources maintain their forward-oriented light distribution. This localized optimization ensures that each light source provides appropriate illumination for its specific purpose without interfering with the overall light distribution adaptability of the system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP2676872B1Sub-headlight unit, headlight unit, headlight system for vehicles that lean into turns, a vehicle that leans into turns and a method for controlling a sub-headlight unit for vehicles that lean into turns

Publication Date: 2015.01.07 YAMAHA MOTOR CO LTD

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AI summary

A sub-headlight unit (13L,13R) that can desirably illuminate inside of a curve regardless of whether the low beam or the high beam is on, while suppressing a size increase. The sub-headlight unit (13L,13R) for a vehicle (10) that leans into turns include a sub headlight light source (13La-c,13Ra-c) that provides illumination forward and outward of the width direction of the vehicle (10) on one side of the width direction of the vehicle (10), wherein the sub headlight light source (13La-c,13Ra-c) turns on when the lean angle of the vehicle (10) leaning to the one side of the width direction of the vehicle (10) reaches a low-beam reference value (KL) while a low beam light source (11L) of the vehicle (10) is on, and wherein the sub headlight light source (13La-c,13Ra-c) turns on when the lean angle of the vehicle (10) leaning to the one side of the width direction of the vehicle (10) reaches a high-beam reference value (KH) smaller than the low-beam reference value (KL) while a high beam light source (11H) of the vehicle (10) is on.