Liquid Crystal Headlight Beam Control for Corner Illumination
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle headlight beam control technologies that avoid moving parts are inadequate for effectively broadening and adjusting headlight beams to illuminate corners and handle steering directions, particularly as they often fail to provide sufficient beam control for corner navigation and can result in inadequate illumination of road curves.
Innovation Solution
The use of liquid crystal beam broadening devices that can independently adjust the horizontal spread and intensity of vehicle headlight beams based on steering direction signals, allowing for beam broadening in one direction and maintaining or reducing the beam spread accordingly, integrated with a headlight control system that includes a steering angle sensor and control unit to optimize road illumination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If beam broadening control is implemented to illuminate corners during steering, then road illumination in unlit areas is improved, but beam control precision for specific directions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the headlight beam control into multiple independent liquid crystal devices, each responsible for controlling light in specific angular sectors. This segmentation allows the system to broaden the beam for corner illumination while maintaining precise control over which sectors are activated, thus resolving the contradiction between broadening coverage and maintaining beam control precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic beam control by continuously adjusting the liquid crystal devices based on real-time steering angle sensor input. The system dynamically reconfigures the beam pattern from a standard narrow beam during straight driving to a broadened multi-sector beam during turning, allowing the beam control precision to be optimized for each driving condition rather than being fixed.
2Illumination intensity
If liquid crystal beam broadening devices are used to direct light to unlit areas, then visibility during turns is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the liquid crystal beam control devices to perform multiple functions: they can broaden the beam for corner illumination, maintain standard beam patterns during straight driving, and selectively activate different angular sectors based on steering input. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate systems for different driving conditions, thereby managing device complexity while achieving improved visibility during turns.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the vehicle's existing steering angle sensor to automatically control the liquid crystal devices, making the beam adjustment self-regulating based on driver input. This self-service approach eliminates the need for additional sensors or complex control interfaces, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining improved visibility functionality.
3Reliability
If beam broadening is applied to illuminate road curves, then safety during cornering is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic or conditional beam broadening only when steering input is detected, rather than maintaining broadened beams continuously. The system activates the liquid crystal devices to broaden the beam during turning maneuvers and returns to standard beam patterns during straight driving, thereby improving safety during cornering while minimizing unnecessary energy consumption during normal driving conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies beam broadening selectively to specific angular sectors corresponding to the direction of the turn, rather than uniformly broadening the entire beam. This local quality approach concentrates energy in the directions where additional illumination is needed for cornering safety, rather than dispersing energy uniformly in all directions, thus improving safety while reducing overall energy consumption.
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 solution enhances road illumination by directing light to previously unlit areas during turns, improving safety and visibility by dynamically adjusting beam width and intensity in response to steering inputs, while also minimizing glare for oncoming traffic.
Implementation Method 1
a first liquid crystal beam broadening device (14) of said headlight beam control device is controlled to broaden said first headlight beam
Implementation Method 2
modulate a control signal of a liquid crystal beam broadening device
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
For vehicles having left and right headlights, a steering direction signal input indicative of a left or right steering direction is used to modulate a control signal of a liquid crystal beam broadening device to broaden horizontally the vehicle headlight beam when the steering direction signal input is indicative of a selected one of a left or a right steering direction and to maintain or reduce a horizontal spread of the vehicle headlight beam when said steering direction signal input is indicative of one of a left or a right steering direction opposite to the selected steering direction.