Projection Headlight Condenser Lens With Printed Graphic
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing projection headlights for vehicles suffer from inefficiency and high costs due to light losses at the surfaces of the slide, which is used to project warning symbols or signs onto the roadway, as the light beams pass through the slide's surfaces.
Innovation Solution
The projection headlight integrates a printed graphic directly onto the flat side of the condenser lens, eliminating the need for a separate slide and reducing light losses by eliminating two interfaces, with a configuration that includes a condenser lens with a flat and curved side, and optionally using LEDs with collimators for efficient light generation and cooling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If a separate slide with printed graphic is used between the condenser lens and projection lens, then the graphic can be projected onto the roadway, but light losses occur at the surfaces of the slide
Solution Approach 1:
The printed graphic is integrated directly onto the flat side of the condenser lens, merging the graphic element with the optical component. This eliminates the separate slide and its surfaces that caused light losses, while maintaining the projection function. The condenser lens now serves dual purposes: focusing light and carrying the projected graphic.
2Ease of manufacture
If a separate slide is used to carry the printed graphic, then the graphic can be projected, but the device becomes less cost-effective and less efficient
Solution Approach 1:
The graphic is manufactured directly on the condenser lens surface, combining two previously separate components (slide and lens) into one. This integration reduces the number of parts, simplifies assembly, and eliminates light losses at the slide surfaces, thereby improving both cost-effectiveness and optical efficiency.
3Loss of energy
If the printed graphic is printed on the flat side of the condenser lens, then light losses are reduced by eliminating interfaces, but the graphic must be directly integrated onto the lens surface
Solution Approach 1:
The graphic is applied directly to the condenser lens surface through printing or coating techniques, merging the optical element and graphic into a single integrated component. This eliminates the air-slide interfaces that caused light losses, and the manufacturing process is simplified by reducing the number of separate components and assembly steps.
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 configuration results in a more cost-effective and compact projection headlight with reduced light losses, allowing for efficient projection of warning symbols or traffic signs onto the roadway with improved notification for drivers.
Implementation Method 1
a condenser lens arranged between the at least one light source and the projection lens, the condenser lens having a flat side and a curved side
Implementation Method 2
a projection lens, a printed graphic arranged between the condenser lens and the projection lens
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to a projection headlight (10) for a vehicle (1), comprising at least one light source (20), a projection lens (40), a condenser lens (30) arranged between the at least one light source (20) and the projection lens (40), the condenser lens (30) having a flat side (32) and a curved side (34), and comprising at least one printed graphic (50) arranged between the condenser lens (30) and the projection lens (40), wherein the at least one printed graphic (50) is printed on the flat side (32) of the condenser lens (10). Further, the invention relates to a vehicle having at least one such a projection headlight (10).