Low Luminance Lighting Modules for Vehicle Headlights
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing car headlights produce high glare due to their high-intensity point source design, which can be discomforting and distracting for oncoming drivers, affecting safety and comfort by overwhelming visual information.
Innovation Solution
The development of low-glare lighting modules and systems using multiple layers of efficient optics to spread light from point sources over a larger surface, maintaining directionality and efficiency while reducing glare, utilizing light emitting diodes (LEDs) and optical layers such as TIR and Fresnel lenses to create a uniform luminous surface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If high-intensity point sources are used to achieve required beam spread and light level, then illumination intensity is improved, but glare increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides a single high-intensity point source into multiple lower-intensity point sources arranged in an array. Each point source emits light at a lower intensity, but collectively they provide the required illumination level while reducing glare through distributed emission across multiple locations
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a one-dimensional point source to a two-dimensional array of point sources. This dimensional expansion allows light to be distributed across a larger spatial footprint, maintaining illumination effectiveness while reducing the concentration of intensity that causes glare
2Object-affected harmful factors
If multiple light sources are used to reduce glare, then glare is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple point sources, optical elements, and control systems into an integrated lighting module. This merging approach manages complexity by creating a unified system where components work together as a coordinated whole rather than separate elements
Solution Approach 2:
The lighting module is designed with multi-functional capabilities, including adjustable beam patterns, selectable color temperatures, and various lighting modes. This universality allows a single complex device to replace multiple simpler lighting solutions, justifying the increased complexity through enhanced functionality
3Object-affected harmful factors
If light is spread over a larger surface area, then glare is reduced, but illumination intensity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies optical elements selectively at different locations within the light array to control beam spread and intensity distribution. Each region of the light array can have customized optical characteristics, allowing simultaneous achievement of glare reduction through spreading and intensity maintenance through localized concentration where needed
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts parameters such as beam spread angle, color temperature, and intensity of individual point sources to optimize the balance between glare reduction and illumination effectiveness. By changing these parameters, the system can adapt to different driving conditions and road environments
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
Significantly reduces glare while maintaining visibility and intensity, providing a more comfortable and safer driving experience by distributing light evenly, customizable for various applications including vehicle headlights.
Implementation Method 1
The first optical layer can include, for example, a plurality of lenses
Implementation Method 2
The second optical layer can include, for example, a collimating Fresnel lens
Data Source
AI summary
Novel and advantageous lighting modules and systems are provided. Lighting modules and systems according to embodiments of the subject invention can be low-luminance, high-efficiency, low-glare lighting modules. For example, a lighting system can utilize multiple layers of efficient optics to spread light from multiple light sources (e.g., a grid of point sources) over a larger luminous surface. The larger luminous surface can maintain the controllability, directionality, and efficiency of a single point source, while significantly reducing the glare. The surface can appear uniformly lit, or substantially uniformly lit, and no dark boundaries may be present between the individual light sources.