Vehicle Lighting Unit with Segmented Light Source
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicle headlights require two separate lighting units for low-beam and high-beam light distribution patterns, increasing costs and assembly steps due to the need for two distinct light sources.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle lighting unit with a single light source featuring a substrate with two rows of semiconductor light-emitting sections, a first optical system for low-beam pattern formation, a second optical system for high-beam pattern formation, and a light-shielding section to prevent glare, allowing the unit to switch between light distribution patterns.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If two separate lighting units are used for low-beam and high-beam light distribution patterns, then each lighting unit can be optimized for its specific function, but costs and assembly steps increase due to requiring two distinct light sources
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines two separate lighting units (low-beam and high-beam) into a single integrated lighting unit. The light source uses two rows of semiconductor light-emitting elements arranged on a substrate, with the first row forming low-beam light and the second row forming high-beam light. This merging reduces the number of light sources from two to one, simplifying the device structure while maintaining optimized light distribution patterns through dedicated optical systems for each beam type.
Solution Approach 2:
Within the single light source, the semiconductor light-emitting elements are segmented into two distinct rows: a first row for low-beam light and a second row for high-beam light. Each row is paired with its own optical system (first optical system for low-beam, second optical system for high-beam), allowing functional segmentation that maintains optimized performance for each beam type while using a unified light source platform.
2Device complexity
If a single light source with two rows of light-emitting sections is used, then costs and assembly steps are reduced, but glare light may be generated due to light from the first light-emitting section entering the second optical system
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the harmful component (glare light) by introducing a light-shielding section. This shielding structure is positioned between the first light-emitting section and the second optical system, specifically blocking light from the first row that would otherwise enter the second optical system and cause glare. The light-shielding section is integrated into the holder structure, seamlessly removing the harmful effect while preserving the beneficial functions of both light rows.
3Reliability
If two separate lighting units are used, then each unit can be independently optimized, but the overall space required for installation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges two separate lighting units into a single compact unit by integrating both low-beam and high-beam light-emitting sections and their respective optical systems into one housing. The light source substrate holds both rows of semiconductor elements in close proximity, and the optical systems are arranged to share the same physical space, significantly reducing the installation area compared to two separate units while maintaining independent optimization of each beam type through dedicated optical paths.
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 reduces costs and assembly steps, minimizes glare, and allows for a more compact design by using a single light source to form both low-beam and high-beam patterns, thereby reducing the required installation space.
Implementation Method 1
each of the first and second light-emitting sections including at least one semiconductor light-emitting element
Implementation Method 2
a first optical system configured to control light emitted from the first light-emitting section to form at least part of the low-beam light distribution pattern; a second optical system configured to control light emitted from the second light-emitting section to form at least part of the high-beam light distribution pattern
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle lighting unit forming low-beam and high-beam light distribution patterns can include: a light source having a substrate, and a first light-emitting section and a second light-emitting section arranged in two rows on a surface of the substrate; a first optical system configured to control light emitted from the first light-emitting section to form at least part of the low-beam light distribution pattern; a second optical system configured to control light emitted from the second light-emitting section to form at least part of the high-beam light distribution pattern; a light-shielding section disposed between the first light-emitting section and the second light-emitting section, the light-shielding section configured to shield part of the light from the first light-emitting section so as not to enter the second optical system; and a control unit configured to control to form the low-beam light distribution pattern or the high-beam light distribution pattern.