Leaning Vehicle Sub Headlight Illumination Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Vehicles that lean into turns experience discomfort due to significant changes in illumination range as sub headlights are sequentially turned on and off with varying lean angles, causing uneven light emission and brightness, especially when navigating curves with different radii at different speeds.

Innovation Solution

A sub headlight system where light sources are arranged to turn on from the upper and inner side of the vehicle's width direction as the lean angle increases, with the light source for larger lean angles positioned lower and outer, maintaining higher positions and reducing height differences, and optionally arranged in a circular arc centered at the front wheel for improved stability and reduced discomfort.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If sub headlights are sequentially turned on and off with varying lean angles, then the illumination range adapts to different turning conditions, but the illumination range changes significantly causing rider discomfort

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveillumination range adaptationVSAvoidillumination range stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The sub headlights are pre-positioned at different heights and locations before the vehicle leans. When the vehicle leans into a turn, the appropriate sub headlight is already in position to provide immediate illumination without significant change in illumination range, thus adapting to turning conditions while maintaining stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Different sub headlights are positioned at different locations (upper/inner side vs. lower/outer side) to provide localized illumination for different lean angles. This allows the system to adapt to various turning conditions by activating specific local light sources while maintaining overall illumination stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Stability of the object's composition

If sub headlights are arranged to turn on from upper and inner side as lean angle increases, then illumination consistency is improved, but the arrangement complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveillumination consistencyVSAvoidlight source arrangement

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The sub headlights are arranged in a circular arc pattern rather than a straight line. This curved arrangement naturally positions lights at different heights and angles, providing consistent illumination across varying lean angles while the arc geometry simplifies the structural mounting compared to complex mechanical adjustment mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple sub headlights are positioned at different heights and locations, then illumination coverage for various lean angles is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveillumination coverageVSAvoidnumber of light sources

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The headlight system is segmented into multiple independent sub headlights positioned at different heights and locations. Each sub headlight can be independently controlled based on the vehicle's lean angle, providing comprehensive illumination coverage for various turning conditions while allowing for modular design and control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP2669163B1Sub headlight unit and sub headlight system for use in vehicle that leans into turns, vehicle that leans into turns and method for controlling such sub headlight unit

Publication Date: 2016.03.16 YAMAHA MOTOR CO LTD

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AI summary

A sub headlight unit (13L,13R) for use in a vehicle (10) that leans into turns, the sub headlight unit (13L,13R) including a plurality of sub headlight light sources (13La-c,13Ra-c) that illuminate, at the same side (e.g. left) as the side (left) to which the vehicle (10) is leaning, an area ahead and outward of the vehicle (10) with respect to a width direction of the vehicle (10). The plurality of sub headlight light sources (13La-c,13Ra-c) are arranged such that, under a state where the vehicle (10) is upright, each of them is positioned at the side (right) opposite to the side (left) to which the vehicle (10) is leaning. The plurality of sub headlight light sources (13La-c,13Ra-c) are configured to be turned on in accordance with different lean angles of the vehicle (10). The sub headlight light source (13Lc,13Rc) configured to be turned on upon a large lean angle of the vehicle (10) is located lower and outer at the side (right) opposite to the side (left) to which the vehicle (10) is leaning with respect to the width direction of the vehicle (10) than the sub headlight light source (13La,13Ra) configured to be turned on upon a small lean angle of the vehicle (10).