Motorcycle Adaptive Headlighting for Lean-Angle Road Illumination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicles, particularly motorcycles, face challenges in maintaining optimal lighting and sensor orientation during turns due to the frame leaning, causing headlights and sensors to misdirect light and information, which affects driver awareness of the road curvature and surrounding objects.
Innovation Solution
A lighting system for vehicles with a headlight housing containing primary and secondary high beam elements, controlled by a lean angle sensor and controller, adjusts light output based on the vehicle's lean angle to ensure optimal illumination and minimize distractions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the vehicle frame leans during turns, then the vehicle can navigate curves more effectively, but the headlights and sensors become misdirected and illuminate sub-optimum positions
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting system dynamically adjusts the beam direction based on the vehicle's lean angle. The controller receives lean angle signals from the lean angle sensor and actuates the light assembly to tilt in the same direction as the vehicle lean, maintaining optimal road illumination throughout the turn.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses a lean angle sensor to continuously monitor the vehicle's lean angle and provides feedback to the controller. The controller then adjusts the lighting assembly's orientation based on this feedback, creating a closed-loop control system that maintains accurate road illumination.
2Device complexity
If a single headlight unit is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ability to provide both front and curved road illumination is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting system is segmented into multiple independent light assemblies, each capable of being individually controlled. This allows different portions of the road (front and curved sections) to be illuminated separately, providing comprehensive coverage while maintaining manageable system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The lighting assembly is designed to perform multiple functions: illuminating the road directly in front of the vehicle and illuminating the curved road ahead during turns. The same assembly can be adjusted to provide both functions based on the vehicle's operating conditions.
3Ease of manufacture
If the headlights are mounted to the vehicle frame, then the mounting structure is simplified, but the light direction becomes sub-optimum during leaning
Solution Approach 1:
The light assembly is mounted to allow dynamic adjustment of its orientation relative to the vehicle frame. An actuator mechanism enables the assembly to tilt independently in response to vehicle lean angle, maintaining accurate beam direction while keeping the mounting structure relatively simple.
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 1C~1D
Figure 2~4
AI summary
A lighting system and method of operating the same for a vehicle having a vehicle structure includes a plurality of primary low beam elements and a plurality of secondary low beam elements. The system further includes a primary high beam element and a secondary high beam element. A lean angle sensor is coupled to the vehicle structure. A controller is coupled to the lean angle sensor controlling the primary low beam elements, the secondary low beam element and the secondary high beam element in response to the lean angle.