Optical Unit With Intersecting Cut-Off Edges For Adaptive Driving Beam
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing adaptive driving beam (ADB) systems in motor vehicles often cause discomfort and glare for oncoming drivers due to the placement of cut-off edges, which can limit the useful range of the light beam when trying to avoid dazzling other drivers.
Innovation Solution
The optical unit design features two intersecting cut-off edges forming a right angle, with one edge extending horizontally and the other vertically, produced by direct imaging of the light source, allowing for a 'ship's sail' beam configuration that avoids close light and maximizes intensity at the intersection, enabling effective superposition with dipped beams without adding discomfort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If the lower end of beams with vertical cut-off is placed at a height close to that of the horizontal cut-off to avoid adding close light, then discomfort for oncoming drivers is reduced, but the maximum intensity of the ADB beams is placed too high and the useful range is very limited
Solution Approach 1:
The beam is divided into multiple layers with different cut-off characteristics. The lower end forms a first beam with vertical cut-off, while the upper end forms a second beam with horizontal cut-off. This segmentation allows each part of the beam to serve different functions: the lower part avoids glare by maintaining vertical cut-off characteristics, while the upper part extends the useful range by utilizing horizontal cut-off characteristics.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a single-cut-off beam design to a two-dimensional beam structure with both vertical and horizontal cut-off edges. The beam cross-section forms a quarter-plane illumination zone bounded by perpendicular cut-off edges, creating a 'ship's sail' shaped beam pattern that simultaneously achieves glare reduction and extended range by utilizing both vertical and horizontal spatial dimensions.
2Length of moving object
If the maximum intensity of ADB beams is placed higher to extend the useful range, then the illumination range is improved, but close light is added and oncoming drivers experience discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
Different parts of the beam are given different cut-off characteristics tailored to their specific function. The lower part of the beam (closer to the road surface) maintains vertical cut-off characteristics to prevent close light from reaching oncoming drivers' eyes, while the upper part of the beam (higher in the sky) utilizes horizontal cut-off characteristics to extend the useful illumination range without causing glare.
3Device complexity
If a single cut-off edge is used in the beam design, then the optical system is simpler, but the beam cannot effectively superpose with dipped beams to perform ADB functions without adding close light
Solution Approach 1:
The reflector is divided into at least two reflective sectors: a first reflective sector that directs light to form the lower part of the beam with vertical cut-off, and a second reflective sector that directs light to form the upper part of the beam with horizontal cut-off. This segmentation of the optical system enables the creation of a multi-layered beam structure capable of effective superposition with dipped beams for ADB 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 optimizes the light beam range while minimizing glare for oncoming drivers, providing a more comprehensive illumination of the road surface without disturbing other vehicles.
Implementation Method 1
a reflector (11) arranged to reflect at least part of the light emitted by the light source
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~8
AI summary
The unit (10) has a reflector for reflecting a part of light emitted by a light source i.e. LED. The reflector forms complementary light beam (Fc1, Fc2) that is provided along an optical axis and associated with a code type oblique cut-off beam (Fw) to provide a total beam (F) adjustable according to the information representing the motor vehicle environment. The light beam produces a lighting area in a plane perpendicular to the axis, where the area includes two rectilinear vertical and horizontal cutting edges creating a right angle, and extends in quarter of a plane defined by the edges. An independent claim is also included for a method for producing a light beam for a motor vehicle.