Vehicle Spotlight Illumination System Using Rotatable Optical Element
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current automotive illumination systems have limited field of view and intensity, which can lead to inadequate visibility in poor lighting conditions, making it difficult for drivers to identify obstacles promptly, especially when they enter the driver's incomplete field of vision.
Innovation Solution
An illumination system for vehicles that includes a light source, a collimating lens, and an optical element with a reflective member, allowing the light beam to be redirected and focused onto a target position within the environment, using a detection system to determine the target and adjust the beam's direction, and a stage to move the light source for precise targeting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If headlights are used to illuminate the area surrounding the vehicle, then the field of view is limited and intensity is restricted, but this prevents adversely affecting other drivers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a rotatable optical element (prism or mirror) that can dynamically change the direction of the light beam. This allows the system to concentrate high-intensity light onto specific targets of interest while directing the beam away from other drivers' paths, thus resolving the contradiction between providing high illumination intensity and avoiding adverse effects on other drivers.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical element acts as an intermediary between the light source and the environment. It receives light from the source and redirects it through rotation to illuminate specific areas, serving as a mediator that controls where the light goes, thereby enabling high intensity without harmful effects on other drivers.
2Illumination intensity
If headlights illuminate the area surrounding the vehicle, then visibility is provided, but the field of view is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The rotatable optical element enables the system to dynamically adjust the illumination direction, effectively expanding the operational field of view. By rotating the element, the system can sweep the light beam across different areas, providing comprehensive coverage that overcomes the limited fixed field of view of conventional headlights.
Solution Approach 2:
The system adds temporal dimension to the illumination by rotating the optical element, allowing the light beam to sweep through different spatial locations over time. This transforms the static limited field of view into a dynamically expandable coverage area, providing comprehensive environmental illumination.
3Ease of operation
If the optical element is moved to fixate the light beam onto the target position, then the beam direction is controlled, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses a rotatable optical element that can be dynamically positioned to point the light beam at desired targets. This dynamic reconfigurability provides easy beam direction control while the rotation mechanism itself represents a relatively simple implementation compared to more complex positioning systems.
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
The system provides enhanced visibility by directing a high-irradiance light beam with a large field of view onto specific targets, improving the driver's ability to identify obstacles and hazards in various environments, both day and night, without affecting other drivers.
Implementation Method 1
a lens positioned along the optical path configured to collimate the light to a light beam
Implementation Method 2
an optical element having a body comprising four sides and a reflective member within the body... configured to redirect the light beam
Data Source
AI summary
An illumination system for a vehicle includes a light source to emit light along an optical path and into an environment. A lens is positioned along the optical path and configured to collimate the light to a light beam. An optical element, having a body comprising four sides and a reflective member within the body, is positioned along the optical path and configured to redirect the light beam. The optical element is configured to move around an optical element axis to change a direction the light beam is transmitted into the environment. The illumination system is configured to receive a target position within the environment and move the optical element to fixate the light beam onto the target position.