Automotive Light Pattern Correction for Speed-Adaptive Beam Shaping

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current automotive lighting systems primarily focus on anti-glaring functions and do not effectively adapt light patterns to improve the driver's visual experience based on vehicle speed, leading to potential complexities in design and energy consumption.

Innovation Solution

A method and device that adjust light intensity in automotive lighting systems by applying a scale factor to the light pattern based on vehicle speed, increasing central light intensity and reducing lateral light intensity, while maintaining constant luminous flux, using a matrix arrangement of solid-state light sources and control means to adapt the light pattern dynamically.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the light pattern is adapted to vehicle speed by increasing central light intensity, then the driver's visual experience is improved, but the design complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight pattern adaptation to vehicle speedVSAvoiddesign complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The lighting device dynamically adjusts the light pattern by varying the intensity of individual light sources based on vehicle speed. The control unit modifies the luminous flux distribution in real-time, increasing central zone intensity and reducing lateral zone intensity as speed increases, creating a dynamic adaptation without complex mechanical moving parts

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the intensity parameter of light sources selectively across different spatial zones. By adjusting the intensity parameter of light sources in the central zone versus lateral zones based on speed feedback, the system achieves adaptive light pattern modification while maintaining a relatively simple device architecture

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Illumination intensity

If the light intensity distribution is modified to focus on central zone, then the driver's visual experience is improved, but the energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecentral light intensityVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention applies local quality by creating non-uniform intensity distribution across different spatial zones. The central zone receives higher intensity illumination while lateral zones receive reduced intensity, optimizing illumination where the driver needs it most while reducing energy waste in peripheral areas

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The system applies partial action by selectively illuminating only the necessary portions of the road ahead. At higher speeds, it concentrates energy on the central viewing zone where the driver's attention is focused, rather than uniformly illuminating all lateral areas, thus reducing total energy consumption while maintaining visual effectiveness

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Adaptability or versatility

If the light pattern is corrected for high speed, then the driver's visual experience is improved, but the thermal levels increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight pattern correctionVSAvoidthermal levels
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes the intensity parameter of individual light sources based on speed conditions. By selectively increasing intensity only in the central zone rather than uniformly across all light sources, the thermal load is distributed more efficiently, preventing excessive heat generation while achieving the desired light pattern correction

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3702663B1Method for correcting a light pattern and automotive lighting device
Publication Date: 2023.11.29 VALEO VISION SA
  • EP3702663B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3702663B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3702663B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The invention provides a method for correcting a first light pattern with a first central light intensity in a central direction and a first lateral light intensity in a lateral direction, and the method comprising the steps of measuring the current speed of the lighting device and generating a corrected light pattern, with a corrected central light intensity and a corrected lateral light intensity. The corrected central light intensity is greater than the first central light intensity when the current speed is greater than the first speed and is lower than the first central light intensity when the current speed is lower than the first speed. The corrected lateral light intensity is lower than the first lateral light intensity when the current speed is greater than the first speed and is greater than the first lateral light intensity when the current speed is lower than the first speed. The invention also provides an automotive lighting device assembly with control means to perform the steps of this method.