Light Module With Overlapping LED Images

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing motor vehicle headlight systems face challenges in achieving a homogeneous light beam distribution and glare-free high beam while being cost-effective, requiring complex coordination and adjustment of multiple light modules, which increases manufacturing costs and complicates integration of additional lighting functions.

Innovation Solution

A light module design where two semiconductor light sources with associated primary optics devices share a common secondary optics device, allowing for independent control of LEDs to generate a high-intensity, glare-free light beam with overlapping light segments, enabling flexible design and integration of various lighting functions without the need for complex alignment of multiple modules.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If multiple light modules are combined and coordinated to provide homogeneous light distribution and glare-free high beam, then the light distribution quality is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight distribution homogeneityVSAvoidcoordination complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple semiconductor light sources (first and second light sources, each with multiple LEDs) into a single light module that shares common secondary optics. This merging approach achieves homogeneous light distribution through overlapping light segments while reducing the number of separate modules that need coordination, thereby lowering device complexity and manufacturing cost.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent divides the light distribution into multiple segments from different LED groups (first semiconductor light source with first LEDs, second semiconductor light source with second LEDs) that are projected as separate light segments and then overlap to form a homogeneous distribution. This segmentation allows independent control of each segment for glare-free high beam while maintaining overall homogeneity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Illumination intensity

If multiple light modules are combined and coordinated to achieve homogeneous light distribution, then the light distribution quality is improved, but the manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight distribution homogeneityVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple semiconductor light sources into a single module that shares common secondary optics and housing, eliminating the need to manufacture and coordinate multiple separate modules. This reduces manufacturing complexity and cost while achieving homogeneous light distribution through the overlapping segments from different LED groups within the same module.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Adaptability or versatility

If additional lighting functions are integrated into complex multi-module arrangements, then the functionality is improved, but the device complexity and integration difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelighting function integrationVSAvoidintegration complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent designs a universal light module structure that can accommodate multiple semiconductor light sources with different functions (high beam LEDs, daytime running light LEDs, turn signal LEDs) within a single housing that shares common secondary optics. This multi-functional design allows easy integration of additional lighting functions without increasing overall device complexity, as all functions are coordinated through the single module architecture rather than requiring coordination between multiple separate modules.

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

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

This design simplifies the production and integration of light modules, reduces manufacturing costs, and allows for a flexible, glare-free high beam with continuous transitions between light areas, effectively addressing the challenges of homogeneous light distribution and glare prevention.

Implementation Method 1

the first and second primary optics are configured such that each LED (light-emitting diode) can be projected into an associated real intermediate image in an intermediate image area

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOptical imaging: Lens

Implementation Method 2

the secondary optics are configured as a common secondary optics unit for the first and second primary optics and are arranged such that the intermediate images of LEDs emitting a source light segment can be projected as corresponding emission light segments

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOptical projection: Lens

Data Source

PatentEP2682671B1Light module
Publication Date: 2019.09.18 MARELLI GERMANY GMBH
  • EP2682671B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2682671B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2682671B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

In a light module, to achieve a homogeneous beam distribution and glare-free high beam, it is proposed that a first and a second primary optical device are designed such that the individual LEDs of a first and a second semiconductor light source can be imaged as real intermediate images in an intermediate image surface, wherein an intermediate image assigned to the first semiconductor light source overlaps with at least one intermediate image assigned to the second semiconductor light source, and that a secondary optical device is arranged such that the intermediate images can be projected as beam segments of the beam distribution.