Straddled Vehicle Lamp Unit with Overlapping Lens Sections
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Solution Overview
Problem
Straddled vehicles face challenges in maintaining light distribution while minimizing size increase when tilting, as existing solutions often require larger lamp units to ensure visibility during turns, leading to increased vehicle dimensions.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a compact lamp unit configuration using highly-directional light units with optical lens sections that form overlapping light distributions, allowing for reduced size while maintaining required light patterns and improving visibility from the outside.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If sub-reflectors are added to increase the light-emitting area and improve visibility, then the visibility from outside is improved, but the size of the lamp unit increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the functions of the main reflector and sub-reflectors into a single integrated reflector structure. The reflector has a main reflective surface for primary light distribution and side reflective surfaces that extend laterally to provide enhanced visibility without requiring separate sub-reflector components. This merging eliminates the need for additional space-consuming sub-reflector assemblies while achieving both light distribution and visibility enhancement goals.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extends the reflective surface laterally in the widthwise direction to create side light-emitting regions. Instead of adding sub-reflectors as separate components that increase overall size, the solution uses the lateral extension of the main reflector body to provide enhanced visibility from side angles. This dimensional approach allows the lamp unit to maintain a compact form while improving visibility from multiple directions through the integrated side reflective surfaces.
2Illumination intensity
If the lamp unit size is increased to improve visibility during turns, then the visibility from outside is improved, but the vehicle dimensions increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the turn-enhancement light distribution function directly into the main lamp unit through the tilted light-emitting section. Instead of adding separate auxiliary lighting components that would increase vehicle dimensions, the solution merges the turn visibility enhancement function with the existing headlight structure. The tilted portion of the light-emitting section redirects light outward during turns, providing enhanced visibility without requiring additional space.
3Illumination intensity
If a tilted light-emitting section is added to improve visibility during turns, then the visibility from outside is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the tilted light-emitting section with the main light source assembly into a single integrated structure. The tilted portion is formed as an integral part of the light-emitting assembly, sharing common mounting and support structures with the main light source. This merging approach provides turn-enhancement functionality while minimizing additional complexity by using shared components and simplified integration rather than separate tilted light units.
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 enables straddled vehicles to maintain necessary light distributions without increasing size, enhancing visibility and reducing the vehicle's overall dimensions during turns.
Implementation Method 1
first optical lens section (20L) that refracts light of the first light-emitting section (51) and emits the light; second optical lens section (20R) that refracts light of the second light-emitting section and emits the light
Implementation Method 2
a main reflector that reflects light from the light source forward of the body, and forms light distribution required for the straddled vehicle, through reflection of the main reflector
Data Source
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AI summary
A straddled vehicle (1B) comprising a handlebar (23), a left grip (24L), a right grip (24R), a first highly-directional light unit (19E) including a first optical lens section (20E), a second highly-directional light unit (19F) including a second optical lens section (20F), a third highly-directional light unit (19G) including a third optical lens section (20G), a fourth highly-directional light unit (19H) including a fourth optical lens section (20H), a fifth highly-directional light unit (19I) including a fifth optical lens section (20I), a sixth highly-directional light unit (19J) including a sixth optical lens section (20J) wherein the right ends of the first optical lens section (20E), of the second optical lens section (20F) and of the fifth optical lens section (20I) are on the left of the center of the vehicle in the left-right direction of the vehicle, the left end of the first optical lens section (20E), of the second optical lens section (20F) and of the fifth optical lens section (20I) are on the right of the left end of the left grip (24L), the left end of the third optical lens section (20G), of the fourth optical lens section (20H) and of the sixth optical lens section (20J) are on the right of the center of the vehicle, and the right end of the third optical lens section (20G), of the fourth optical lens section (20H) and of the sixth optical lens section (20J) are on the left of the right end of the right grip (24R).