Straddled Vehicle Lamp Unit Segmentation for Compact Body Design
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing straddled vehicle designs face challenges in securing space forward of the steering shaft while minimizing the increase in body size in both the left-right and front-rear directions, due to the placement of brake hoses and wire harnesses between the steering shaft and the lamp unit.
Innovation Solution
The straddled vehicle employs compact highly-directional light units that are separately disposed on either side of the steering shaft, utilizing the space between the front wheel portions, steering shaft, upper and lower brackets, and handlebars, allowing for a more compact arrangement that maintains effective light distribution without increasing the vehicle's size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If the lamp unit is disposed forward of the steering shaft to secure space, then the space forward of the steering shaft is secured, but the body size in the front-rear direction increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lamp unit is divided into multiple highly-directional light units (four units total) that are separately disposed on the left and right sides of the steering shaft. This segmentation allows the light-emitting functions to be distributed laterally rather than concentrated forward, securing space in the front-rear direction while maintaining effective illumination coverage through coordinated arrangement of the individual light units.
2Area of stationary object
If the lamp unit is disposed forward of the steering shaft, then space is secured, but the body size in the left-right direction increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of expanding the lamp unit arrangement in the front-rear direction (one dimension), the invention transitions to utilizing the left-right dimension by disposing light units laterally on both sides of the steering shaft. This dimensional shift allows space to be secured forward while controlling the left-right footprint through compact lateral arrangement of the light units.
3Volume of stationary object
If the lamp unit is placed close to the steering shaft, then body size is minimized, but light interference with front-wheel support units and rider arms occurs
Solution Approach 1:
Each highly-directional light unit is designed with specific optical characteristics that direct light in particular directions. The units are positioned and oriented to create localized illumination zones that cover the road ahead while avoiding interference with the front-wheel support units and rider arms. The directional light distribution ensures that illumination is concentrated where needed without spilling into areas where it would cause interference.
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 effectively secures space forward of the steering shaft while limiting the increase in body size, preventing light interference with the front-wheel support units and rider arms, and ensuring efficient light distribution for the main and dipped beams.
Implementation Method 1
an optical lens section that refracts the light from the light-emitting section and generates light distribution
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
An increase in the size of a body section of a straddled vehicle forward of a steering shaft in a left-right direction and a front-rear direction of a body frame is limited while a space is secured forward of the steering shaft. In left optical lens body 45L, top end TE is disposed below bottom edge B3 of handlebar 23, bottom end BE is disposed above a bottom end (virtual line Lc) of lower bracket 15, left end LE is disposed on the right of a right end (virtual line L6) of left grip 24L, and right end RE is disposed on the left of right edge B1 of left front-wheel support unit 12L. In right optical lens body 45R, top end TE is disposed below bottom edge B3 of handlebar 23, bottom end BE is disposed above the bottom end of lower bracket 15, right end RE is disposed on the left of a left end of right grip 24R, and left end LE is disposed on the right of left edge B2 of right front-wheel support unit 12R.