Vehicular Lamp Condensing and Diffusion Units for Shade-Free Light Switching

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional vehicular lamps that switch between passing and traveling light distribution patterns require a drive mechanism to displace a shade, leading to increased size and weight.

Innovation Solution

A vehicular lamp design incorporating a condensing unit and a diffusion unit with separate emitting units and projection lenses that form overlapping light distribution patterns, allowing switching between passing and traveling light distributions without a drive mechanism, utilizing condensing and diffusion units with specific emitting units and lenses to project light in the optical axis direction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a drive mechanism is used to displace the shade to switch between passing and traveling light distribution patterns, then the light distribution pattern switching function is improved, but the size and weight of the vehicular lamp increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight distribution pattern switchingVSAvoidvehicular lamp weight
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSWeight of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The light emitting unit is divided into multiple independent light sources (first light source and second light source) that can be controlled separately. By selectively activating different light sources, the system achieves switching between passing and traveling light distribution patterns without requiring a mechanical shade displacement mechanism, thus reducing weight while maintaining adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The mechanical shade displacement system is replaced with an optical control system using multiple light sources and a projection lens. The switching between light distribution patterns is achieved by controlling which light sources are activated, eliminating the need for mechanical movement and associated drive mechanisms, thereby reducing both weight and complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Adaptability or versatility

If a drive mechanism is used to displace the shade to switch between passing and traveling light distribution patterns, then the light distribution pattern switching function is improved, but the size of the vehicular lamp increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight distribution pattern switchingVSAvoidvehicular lamp size
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The light emitting unit is divided into multiple independent light sources (first light source and second light source) that can be controlled separately. By selectively activating different light sources, the system achieves switching between passing and traveling light distribution patterns without requiring a mechanical shade displacement mechanism, thus reducing size while maintaining adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The mechanical shade displacement system is replaced with an optical control system using multiple light sources and a projection lens. The switching between light distribution patterns is achieved by controlling which light sources are activated, eliminating the need for mechanical movement and associated drive mechanisms, thereby reducing both size and complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Manufacturing precision

If multiple light sources and lenses are used to form condensing and diffusion light distribution patterns, then the light distribution pattern detail and sophistication are improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight distribution pattern detailVSAvoidoptical system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The projection lens serves multiple functions: it projects light from the first light source to form the passing light distribution pattern, and it projects light from the second light source to form the traveling light distribution pattern. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate optical components for each light source, thereby reducing overall device complexity while maintaining high pattern detail.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The optical path for both light sources is merged through the single projection lens. By combining the optical pathways and using a single lens for both passing and traveling light distribution patterns, the system achieves detailed light control without proportionally increasing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 switching between passing and traveling light distributions without increasing size or weight, using a simple configuration to form detailed patterns and maintain a sophisticated appearance.

Implementation Method 1

a condensing projection lens that projects light emitted from the condensing upper emitting unit and the condensing lower emitting unit to a front side in an optical axis direction

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight projection: Lens

Implementation Method 2

a condensing unit that forms a condensing light distribution pattern

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight condensing: Lens

Implementation Method 3

a diffusion unit that forms a diffusion light distribution pattern that is formed in a wider area than the condensing light distribution pattern

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight diffusion: Lens

Data Source

PatentEP3812652B1Vehicular lamp
Publication Date: 2023.08.09 ICHIKOH IND LTD
  • EP3812652B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3812652B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3812652B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

A vehicular lamp (10) includes: a condensing unit (12) including a condensing upper emitting unit (22, 23) for a condensing upper pattern (65, 67, 68), a condensing lower emitting unit (21, 31) for a condensing lower pattern (63, 64, 66), and a condensing projection lens (24, 34) that projects light from the condensing upper emitting unit and the condensing lower emitting unit; and a diffusion unit (13) including a diffusion upper emitting unit (42) for a diffusion upper pattern (73); a diffusion lower emitting unit (41) for a diffusion lower pattern (71, 72), and a diffusion projection lens (44) that projects light from the diffusion upper emitting unit and the diffusion lower emitting unit, the condensing lower pattern and the diffusion lower pattern form a passing light distribution pattern (LP), and the condensing upper pattern and a diffusion upper pattern (73) form a traveling light distribution pattern (HP).