Variable Projection Motor Vehicle Lamp Design

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Solution Overview

Problem

Motor vehicle lights with multiple functions often have limited light passage areas due to fixed assignments of lens surfaces to specific light functions, restricting visibility and traffic safety.

Innovation Solution

A motor vehicle light design that uses a variable projection system to allocate the entire lens surface to the currently required light functions, allowing proportional use of the projection surface based on importance and environmental conditions, ensuring the largest possible light passage area is utilized for each function.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If fixed lens surface assignments are used for different light functions, then each light function has a dedicated light passage area, but the overall visibility and traffic safety are restricted due to limited light passage areas

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetraffic safetyVSAvoidlight passage area
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the projection surface dynamically adjustable to allocate light passage areas flexibly. The projection surface can be varied in size and position to adapt to different operational conditions, allowing the system to maximize the light passage area for currently required light functions while maintaining dedicated areas when needed. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between having fixed dedicated areas and maximizing overall visibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies segmentation by dividing the projection surface into multiple segments that can be independently controlled and allocated to different light functions. This allows the system to provide dedicated light passage areas for specific functions when required, while also enabling the combination and expansion of these segments to maximize the overall light passage area when multiple functions are active, thus resolving the contradiction between dedicated allocation and overall maximization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Area of stationary object

If the entire lens surface is allocated to currently required light functions, then the light passage area is maximized, but fixed assignments that provide dedicated areas are lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight passage areaVSAvoidfixed lens surface assignment
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses dynamics to create a flexible projection surface that can adapt between providing dedicated fixed assignments and maximizing overall area. The projection surface can be adjusted in real-time based on which light functions are currently required, allowing the system to switch between dedicated allocation modes and maximized area modes, thus maintaining both adaptability and area maximization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies universality by designing the projection surface to serve multiple functions simultaneously - it can act as dedicated fixed assignments for specific light functions when needed, and also expand to maximize the overall light passage area when multiple functions are active. This multi-functional design allows the same projection surface to provide both dedicated allocations and maximized area coverage depending on operational requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If separate light sources are provided for each light function, then each function has dedicated light emission capability, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight function fulfillmentVSAvoidnumber of light sources
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies universality by enabling light sources to fulfill multiple light functions through the variable projection surface. Instead of requiring separate dedicated light sources for each function, the system uses the projection surface to direct light from sources to appropriate areas based on currently required functions. This reduces the number of light sources needed while maintaining reliable fulfillment of all light functions through flexible optical routing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-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 enhances traffic safety by maximizing the light passage area available for each light function, improving visibility and reducing the limitations of fixed lens surface assignments, thereby increasing the overall effectiveness of motor vehicle lighting.

Implementation Method 1

at least one means (06) for variable projection of the one or more light functions (RL, BL, WL, SL, NL) currently required of the motor vehicle light (01) at least on the complete part of the projection surface (05) that is visible from outside through the lens (03)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight emission and direction control: Light

Data Source

PatentEP2503222B1Motor vehicle light and method for its operation
Publication Date: 2013.05.08 ODELO
  • EP2503222B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2503222B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2503222B1 patent drawingFigure 5a~5c

AI summary

A motor vehicle lamp (01) with at least two lighting functions (RL, BL, WL, SL, NL) and a lamp interior (04) enclosed by a housing (02) and a lens (03) is described. The motor vehicle lamp (01) incorporates at least one projection surface (05) that is at least partially visible from the outside through the lens (03). Furthermore, the motor vehicle lamp (01) includes at least one means (06) for variably projecting the currently required one or more lighting functions (RL, BL, WL, SL, NL) of the motor vehicle lamp (01) at least onto the entire portion of the projection surface (05) that is visible from the outside through the lens (03).