Linear LED Headlamp Optics for High Flux Without Glare

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing LED headlamps face challenges in achieving sufficient luminous flux, heat dissipation, and light utilization efficiency while meeting brightness and glare reduction requirements, particularly in low and high beam configurations, leading to reduced visual width and increased power consumption.

Innovation Solution

A lighting system integrating high and low beams with a linear light source, linear focus reflector, and condenser lens, utilizing multiple LED modules, anti-glare elements, and optimized reflector designs to enhance luminous flux, heat dissipation, and light utilization efficiency, while ensuring adaptability to different traffic rules and reducing power consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If LED current is increased to increase luminous flux, then brightness is improved, but heat generation increases and life is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveluminous fluxVSAvoidheat generation
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the lighting system into separate low beam and high beam modules, each with its own LED array and optical system. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each module's luminous flux and heat management, enabling the system to achieve high overall brightness without requiring excessive current in a single module, thereby reducing heat generation per module and extending operational life.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Illumination intensity

If LED current is increased to increase luminous flux, then brightness is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveluminous fluxVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs optical elements with spatially varying properties, including freeform surfaces and asymmetric designs, to optimize light distribution locally. This allows efficient light extraction and directionality that maximizes luminous flux per unit power consumed, improving overall energy efficiency without requiring increased current.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Illumination intensity

If traditional light sources are used, then 360° illumination is achieved, but light utilization efficiency is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight utilization efficiencyVSAvoidlight waste
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent utilizes asymmetric optical elements including freeform reflectors and asymmetric lenses that are specifically designed to direct light in predetermined patterns. These asymmetric structures efficiently channel light from the LED source into the desired beam patterns, maximizing light utilization efficiency by directing nearly all emitted light toward the target area rather than allowing 360° omnidirectional emission, thereby minimizing light waste.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

4Illumination intensity

If LED headlamps are designed to meet brightness standards, then illumination is improved, but visual width is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovebrightnessVSAvoidvisual width
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs freeform optical surfaces and complex curved reflector geometries that manipulate light in multiple dimensions simultaneously. These advanced optical designs can concentrate light vertically to achieve high brightness while maintaining horizontal spread for adequate visual width, effectively decoupling the trade-off between brightness and illumination area through multi-dimensional optical control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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 system achieves enhanced illumination distance and width, high light utilization efficiency, and reduced power consumption, while preventing glare and ensuring safe vehicle illumination in various traffic conditions.

Implementation Method 1

at least a linear light source, wherein a lighting axis of the linear light source and an optic axis of the headlamp are mounted and arranged in the same direction or have an included angle to the optic axis

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight emission: Light Emitting Diode

Implementation Method 2

at least a reflective device... the reflective device comprises two horizontal linear reflecting surfaces respectively arranged on top and bottom sides

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectReflection: Reflection

Implementation Method 3

at least a condenser lens provided and arranged in front of the linear focus F2... the condenser lens is adapted for refracting the light

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRefraction: Refraction

Implementation Method 4

a cut-off screen mounted on the linear focus reflector and arranged along the linear focus F2... the cut-off screen is adapted for shading light above the cut-off line

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight blocking: Absorption (EM radiation)

Implementation Method 5

an anti-glare board provided and positioned at the linear focus F2... the anti-glare board is adapted for blocking or weakening light in an anti-glare zone

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight blocking: Absorption (EM radiation)

Data Source

PatentEP3567308B1Lighting system integrating high and low beams, low beam headlamp, and high beam headlamp
Publication Date: 2025.11.26 SHANGHAI CATA SIGNAL CO LTD
  • EP3567308B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~2
  • EP3567308B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~6B
  • EP3567308B1 patent drawingFigure 7A~10

AI summary

A lighting system integrating high and low beams, a low beam headlamp, and a high beam headlamp. The lighting system integrating high and low beams comprises a low beam system (10, 10', and 10") and a high beam system (20, 20', and 20"). The low beam system (10, 10', and 10") and the high beam system (20, 20', and 20") respectively emit a light via a linear LED light source; a light funnel linear focus reflector converges the light on a linear focus; and, with the converging effect of a condenser lens (13, 13"', 13"", 23, and 413), a low beam and a high beam can be provided respectively. The low beam headlamp attains sufficient light intensity to illuminate the road ahead without producing glare, thus ensuring effective and safe use; the high beam headlamp attains sufficient light intensity to illuminate the road ahead. Because the focus is linear, LEDs (111, 211, and 4111) can be linearly arranged, the number of the LEDs (111, 211, and 4111) is not limited, light density is high, the total luminous flux of the light is high, the current of individual LEDs (111, 211, and 4111) can be reduced, and the luminous efficiency of the LEDs (111, 211, and 4111) is increased.