Vehicle Lamp Shield With Pixelated Transmittance Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current vehicle lamps lack the ability to dynamically adjust beam patterns based on driving conditions, leading to inefficient light distribution and potential glare issues for other drivers.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle lamp system featuring a light source unit, a lens, and a shield with variably controlled pixels, where a processor determines the light transmittance of each pixel to form optimized low-beam and high-beam patterns, adjusting based on the presence of a reflector and environmental conditions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a fixed beam pattern panel is used to define light transmission regions, then the lamp structure is simple, but the lamp cannot dynamically adapt to different driving conditions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebeam pattern adaptabilityVSAvoidlamp structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the dynamics principle by replacing the fixed beam pattern panel with a dynamic shield comprising multiple independently controllable pixels. Each pixel can vary its light transmittance under processor control, enabling the lamp to adapt beam patterns in real-time based on driving conditions such as oncoming traffic, weather, and road conditions, thus achieving adaptability without excessive structural complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements parameter changes by controlling the light transmittance parameter of each pixel in the shield. The processor dynamically adjusts the transmittance values of individual pixels to create different beam patterns (e.g., low beam with cut-off line, high beam, adaptive regions), allowing the same physical structure to produce multiple beam configurations by changing optical parameters

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-affected harmful factors

If light is transmitted uniformly across the lens, then the lamp structure is simple, but glare is caused to other drivers

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveglare reductionVSAvoidcontrol system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by dividing the shield into multiple independently controllable pixels arranged in a matrix. This segmentation allows different regions of the beam pattern to be controlled separately - for example, blocking light in upper regions to create a cut-off line for low beam while allowing light transmission in lower regions, thereby preventing glare to oncoming drivers while maintaining illumination

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements local quality by assigning different light transmittance properties to different pixels or regions of the shield. The processor can set specific pixels to block light (transmittance = 0) in regions that would cause glare, while maintaining high transmittance in regions needed for illumination, creating localized optical properties tailored to specific spatial requirements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Productivity

If the beam pattern is fixed, then the manufacturing cost is low, but the light distribution is inefficient for varying driving conditions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight distribution efficiencyVSAvoidcontrol system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamics by enabling real-time adjustment of beam patterns through processor-controlled pixel transmittance. The system can dynamically optimize light distribution efficiency by adapting beam patterns to current driving conditions - such as enhancing illumination in directions where no oncoming traffic is detected while reducing light in directions with potential glare risks - thereby improving overall lighting efficiency without requiring multiple fixed optical systems

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 adaptive beam patterns that enhance visibility and reduce glare, improving safety by dynamically adjusting light distribution according to driving situations and environmental conditions.

Implementation Method 1

a shield that is arranged between the light source unit and the lens, and configured to receive the light generated by the light source and allow at least a portion of the received light to pass therethrough, at least one processor configured to control a light transmittance of the shield

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight transmittance control: Filter (optical)

Implementation Method 2

a lens that is arranged closer to a front of the vehicle lamp as compared to the light source unit, the lens configured to transmit the light generated by the light source unit

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight transmission through lens: Lens

Implementation Method 3

when the reflector is present in the light source unit, the at least one processor controls the light transmittance of pixels included in a first portion corresponding to a lower end portion of the plurality of pixels to block light from passing through the first portion

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight reflection: Reflection

Data Source

PatentEP3343096B1Lamp for vehicle and method for controlling the same
Publication Date: 2022.03.09 ZKW GRP GMBH
  • EP3343096B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3343096B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3343096B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A vehicle lamp (800) includes: a light source unit (810) including at least one light source configured to generate light; a lens (850) that is arranged closer to a front of the vehicle lamp (800) as compared to the light source unit (810), the lens (850) configured to transmit the light generated by the light source unit (810) ; and a shield (840) that is arranged between the light source unit (810) and the lens (850), and configured to receive the light generated by the light source and allow at least a portion of the received light to pass therethrough, wherein the shield (840) includes a plurality of pixels having respective light transmittances that are configured to be variably controlled, and wherein each of the plurality of pixels is configured to allow independent control of respective light transmittances.