Leaning Vehicle Subheadlight Dynamic Illumination Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicles that lean into turns face challenges in maintaining effective illumination while minimizing size and weight, particularly in ensuring visibility and preventing glare, as existing subheadlight systems are not optimized for varying lean angles and running conditions.
Innovation Solution
A subheadlight system that adjusts its light emission based on the vehicle's lean angle, using a configuration where the subheadlight light source is turned on or flashed with reduced intensity when the vehicle is upright or running straight, ensuring illumination above the horizontal plane to prevent glare and serve multiple functions without increasing device size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If the sub headlight light source is turned on with high intensity to ensure visibility and illumination, then the illumination intensity and visibility are improved, but glare to surrounding vehicles and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The sub headlight light source dynamically adjusts its emission state based on vehicle operating conditions. When the vehicle is upright or running straight, the light source is turned on or flashed with reduced intensity. When the vehicle leans into a turn, the light source is turned on with high intensity to illuminate the curve interior. This dynamic state switching resolves the contradiction by providing high illumination only when necessary for safety while reducing glare and energy consumption during straight running.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the emission parameters (intensity, duration, frequency) of the sub headlight light source based on vehicle lean angle and running state. By adjusting these parameters, the system achieves high visibility when needed while minimizing glare to surrounding vehicles and reducing energy consumption during normal straight-line operation.
2Illumination intensity
If multiple light sources are added to provide comprehensive illumination for straight running and curving, then the illumination coverage is improved, but the device size and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The sub headlight light source is designed to serve multiple functions: it provides position indication during straight running, illuminates the curve interior during turns, and supplements the main headlight coverage. By making this single light source multi-functional through intelligent control based on vehicle lean angle, the patent avoids the need for separate dedicated lights for each function, thereby preventing increases in device size and weight.
3Reliability
If the sub headlight light source is always on to ensure continuous visibility, then the visibility and conspicuity are improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
During straight running, the sub headlight light source is turned on or flashed periodically rather than continuously, reducing energy consumption while maintaining visibility and conspicuity. During curving, the light source is turned on continuously to ensure adequate illumination of the curve interior, prioritizing safety over energy savings when necessary.
Data Source
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AI summary
A sub headlight unit (13L, 13R) for use in a vehicle (10) that leans into turns includes a sub headlight light source (13La, 13Lb, 13Lc, 13Ra, 13Rb, 13Rc) that illuminates an area ahead and outward of the vehicle with respect to a width direction of the vehicle. The sub headlight light source is configured to, when the vehicle is in an upright state, produce an illumination range including a space above a horizontal plane. The sub headlight light source is turned on in accordance with a lean angle of the vehicle. At a time of parking or stopping or at a time of running straight ahead, the sub headlight light source is turned on or caused to flash with the amount of light per unit time being reduced as compared with the amount of light per unit time emitted when the sub headlight light source is turned on in accordance with the lean angle of the vehicle.