Vehicle Headlight LED Segmentation for Adaptive Lighting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle headlight technologies using LED light sources have limited variability in light distribution due to shared optics units, requiring increased space for separate optics units to generate different light distributions, and struggle to dynamically adjust lighting for cornering and glare control.

Innovation Solution

Assigning different optics units with unique imaging characteristics to groups of LED light sources, allowing for combination and superimposition of light distributions to generate various beam patterns, and incorporating a control unit with sensor feedback for dynamic adjustment and glare management.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If separate optics units are assigned to each LED light source to generate different light distributions, then light distribution variability is improved, but the space required increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight distribution variabilityVSAvoidspace required
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the LED light sources into multiple groups (first group, second group, third group) where each group is assigned a dedicated optics unit with specific imaging characteristics. This segmentation allows different light distributions to be generated by activating different groups, achieving light distribution variability without requiring every individual LED to have its own optics unit, thus reducing overall space requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements multi-functionality by designing the headlight system where a limited number of optics units can generate multiple different light distributions through selective activation of LED groups. The same optics unit can work with different LED groups to produce various light patterns (low beam, high beam, cornering light, marking light), making the optics units universal and reducing the total number of optics units needed.

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

2Area of stationary object

If a single common converging lens is used for all LED light sources, then space requirements are reduced, but light distribution variability is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespace requiredVSAvoidlight distribution variability
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by assigning different imaging characteristics to different optics units corresponding to different LED groups. Each optics unit is optimized for specific lighting functions (e.g., asymmetrical low-beam, symmetrical wide distribution, freeway light), allowing locally tailored light distributions rather than a uniform approach, thereby achieving variability while maintaining compact design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Adaptability or versatility

If LED light sources are arranged in groups with different optics units to generate various light distributions, then lighting adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelighting adaptabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamics through the control unit that can dynamically activate different combinations of LED groups and optics units based on driving conditions. The system can switch between various light distributions (low beam, high beam, cornering light, marking light, freeway light) in real-time, providing adaptive lighting that responds to changing environmental conditions while managing complexity through intelligent control rather than hardware redundancy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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

Enables the generation of multiple light distributions (low beam, high beam, cornering light, etc.) with reduced space requirements and improved lighting adaptability, including dynamic shifting and glare-free illumination for enhanced safety.

Implementation Method 1

A headlight for vehicles has a first group (1) of LED light sources (2) and a second group (3) of LED light sources (4)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight Emitting Diode: Light Emitting Diode

Implementation Method 2

The first optics unit (5) has a first imaging characteristic, so that the light emitted by the LED light sources (2) of the first group (1) is imaged essentially above a horizontal H in the form of a relatively large light spot (2')

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOptical imaging: Lens

Data Source

PatentEP1920188B1Headlight for vehicles
Publication Date: 2017.09.27 HELLA GMBH & CO KGAA
  • EP1920188B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP1920188B1 patent drawingFigure 3a~3c
  • EP1920188B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The invention relates to a headlight for vehicles, comprising a plurality of LED light sources that are combined into a joint light-emitting area. An optical unit is assigned to at least one LED light source in order to partially generate a predefined light distribution. Individual or several LED light sources can be switched on or off such that the light distribution can be modified. A first optical unit having first imaging characteristics is mounted upstream from a first group of LED light sources while a second optical unit having second imaging characteristics is mounted upstream from a second group of LED light sources such that a number of light spots having different sizes can be generated in the traffic space by alternatively switching on and off and/or dimming the LED light sources of the first group of LED light sources or the second group of LED light sources.