Vehicle Lighting System Glare Area Segmentation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle lighting systems for small-sized vehicles, such as motorcycles, face complexity in distinguishing the black and white parts of the 'eye' when disposed close together, leading to glare issues that obscure the outline of light-emitting surfaces, complicating the structure and reducing conspicuity.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle lighting system with a main lighting apparatus and auxiliary lighting apparatuses disposed in specific positions to avoid glare areas, using a steadily lighting type positioned upward and laterally outside the glare area, emitting light in an annular or oblique shape to enhance recognition of the 'eyes' as part of a 'face' design, while maintaining a simple structure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If lighting apparatuses are disposed close to each other to form a 'face' pattern, then the vehicle's conspicuity is enhanced, but glare occurs causing the outlines of light-emitting surfaces to blur and fuse

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconspicuity enhancementVSAvoidglare
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the lighting system into distinct segments: a main lighting apparatus and separate auxiliary lighting apparatuses positioned in specific zones. By segmenting the lighting functions and spatially separating them (with auxiliary apparatuses positioned outside the glare area defined by width y), the patent prevents outline blurring while maintaining the face-like pattern for enhanced conspicuity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Device complexity

If lighting apparatuses are disposed close to each other, then the structure remains simple, but the black and white parts of the 'eye' become indistinguishable

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructure simplicityVSAvoidvisual distinction
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by creating distinct visual characteristics in different zones. The main lighting apparatus produces intense light defining the 'white part,' while auxiliary lighting apparatuses positioned outside the glare area create distinguishable 'black part' regions. This local differentiation ensures visual distinction is maintained without complicating the overall structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Manufacturing precision

If auxiliary lighting apparatuses are positioned to avoid glare areas, then the outline of light-emitting surfaces remains clear, but the area available for positioning is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoutline clarityVSAvoidpositioning area
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent resolves the positioning constraint by transitioning to another dimension - specifically, positioning auxiliary lighting apparatuses in the vertical dimension above the main lighting apparatus rather than only in the horizontal plane. This three-dimensional positioning strategy expands the available positioning area while ensuring auxiliary apparatuses remain outside the glare area, thus maintaining clear outlines.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP2213511B1Vehicle lighting system
Publication Date: 2013.08.21 HONDA MOTOR CO LTD
  • EP2213511B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2213511B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2213511B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Object To inhibit, in a vehicle lighting system having a plurality of lighting apparatuses disposed so as to make a vehicle front surface reminiscent of a "face," an outline of a light-emitting surface of each of the lighting apparatuses from blurring to be fused. Solving Means A glare area G with a width y as expressed in an expression "y = a + b-ln(x) (In is a natural logarithm)," "a = -107," and "b = 39.6" when a main lighting apparatus has a luminous intensity of x is defined outside an outline OL of a main light-emitting surface in a vehicle front view, and an auxiliary lighting apparatus disposition area, in which an auxiliary lighting apparatus of a steadily lighting type different from a flashing type lighting apparatus is disposed, is set upwardly of the main lighting apparatus and outside the glare area G.