Vehicle Lighting Reflection Surface for Road Image Focus
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle lighting apparatuses face issues with defocus when displaying images on a road surface due to mismatched imaging surfaces and road surfaces, resulting in unclear image formation at certain positions.
Innovation Solution
The vehicle lighting apparatus employs a configuration with multiple reflection parts, each reflecting light towards specific regions on the road surface, and a switch part that arranges these reflection parts at a light-receiving position to adjust the image formation based on distance, preventing defocus.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single reflection surface is used to display images on the road surface, then the device structure is simple, but defocus occurs because the imaging surface is not matched with the road surface at different distances
Solution Approach 1:
The single reflection surface is divided into multiple reflection surfaces (first, second, third reflection surfaces) with different curvature radii. Each reflection surface corresponds to a specific distance range on the road surface, allowing images to be clearly displayed at multiple distances simultaneously without defocus.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the reflection device have different optical properties. Each reflection surface has a specific curvature radius matched to its target distance range, creating local optimization where each part of the device performs best for its specific function (reflecting light to a particular distance range).
2Manufacturing precision
If multiple reflection surfaces with different curvature radii are used to prevent defocus, then image focus quality is improved, but the device structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple reflection surfaces with different curvature radii are integrated into a single reflection device. The first, second, and third reflection surfaces are arranged in sequence within one device, combining multiple functions into a unified structure that prevents defocus while maintaining operational simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The reflection device serves multiple functions by incorporating reflection surfaces with different curvature radii. A single device can clearly display images at multiple distance ranges (near, medium, and far distances), making the system universal rather than requiring separate devices for each distance range.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the curvature radius of the reflection surface is increased to expand the imaging range, then the imaging distance range is improved, but image clarity decreases due to defocus
Solution Approach 1:
Different reflection surfaces have different curvature radii optimized for specific distance ranges. The first reflection surface with a smaller curvature radius is optimized for near distances, while the third reflection surface with a larger curvature radius is optimized for far distances, allowing each surface to maintain high image clarity in its designated range.
Solution Approach 2:
The imaging range is segmented into multiple distance ranges, with each range handled by a dedicated reflection surface. This segmentation allows the system to cover a broad imaging distance range while maintaining focus quality in each segment, avoiding the defocus that would occur with a single large-curvature surface.
4Device complexity
If a fixed reflection surface is used, then the device structure is simple, but the image cannot be clearly displayed at both near and far distances simultaneously
Solution Approach 1:
The reflection device is designed to handle multiple distance ranges simultaneously. By incorporating first, second, and third reflection surfaces with different curvature radii, a single fixed device can clearly display images at near, medium, and far distances, achieving multi-functionality without requiring movable or adjustable components.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple reflection surfaces for different distance ranges are merged into one fixed reflection device. The first, second, and third reflection surfaces work together in a unified structure, combining the capabilities of multiple specialized surfaces into a single device that covers the full imaging distance range.
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 allows for clear image display on the road surface by adjusting the distance between the reflection surface and the imaging surface, ensuring focused light distribution patterns regardless of the distance from the vehicle.
Implementation Method 1
a reflection surface that reflects light from the light-focusing optical system toward a road surface
Implementation Method 2
a light-focusing optical system that focuses light from the image generation part onto the reflection surface
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4(a)~4(b)
AI summary
A vehicle lighting apparatus (10) that emits light diagonally toward a road surface (57) from a vehicle includes: a light source (21); an image generation part (31) that modulates light emitted from the light source (21) and that generates an image; a light-focusing optical system (42) that focuses light having the image generated by the image generation part (31); and a reflection part (45) that reflects light focused by the light-focusing optical system (42) toward the road surface (57), wherein the reflection part (45) has a reflection surface having a curvature that is gradually increased from a projection direction rearward side toward a projection direction frontward side.