Vehicular Lamp Element Control for Lower Replacement Frequency

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicular lamp systems require complete lamp replacement when any element detects a defect, leading to high replacement frequency.

Innovation Solution

A vehicular lamp system with a detection unit to identify abnormal elements, a notification unit to alert specific defects, and a control unit to manage light emission, allowing selective non-illumination of non-critical elements while maintaining functionality of critical elements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If uniform power supply stop is implemented when any element defect is detected, then safety is ensured, but replacement frequency increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesafetyVSAvoidreplacement frequency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the vehicular lamp into multiple independently controllable elements, allowing selective power supply control. When a defect is detected in a non-critical element, only that specific element's power supply is stopped rather than the entire lamp, enabling continued operation of critical elements and reducing unnecessary replacements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies different quality standards to different elements based on their functional importance. Critical elements (those irradiating predetermined regions) are maintained with higher reliability requirements, while non-critical elements can be selectively deactivated. This local differentiation allows the system to maintain overall safety while avoiding unnecessary complete lamp replacements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If all lights are turned off when defect is detected, then safety is ensured, but power consumption increases due to frequent replacements

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesafetyVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the power supply control to individual elements rather than uniform control of the entire lamp. This allows the power supply to be maintained for critical elements while being stopped for defective non-critical elements, reducing overall power consumption compared to turning off all lights, while still ensuring safety through continued operation of essential lighting functions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Productivity

If individual element control is implemented, then replacement frequency reduces, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereplacement frequencyVSAvoidcontrol complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a detection unit that automatically identifies defective elements and a control unit that autonomously manages power supply distribution. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for complex manual control systems, as the system automatically determines which elements require power supply based on defect detection, thereby reducing replacement frequency without proportionally increasing control complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

4Productivity

If selective power supply control is implemented, then lamp functionality is maintained, but detection precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelamp functionalityVSAvoiddefect detection precision
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the detection function to identify specific defective elements rather than treating the lamp as a single unit. The detection unit is designed to locate particular malfunctioning elements, and the control unit uses this precise information to selectively control power supply to only those specific elements, maintaining overall lamp functionality while requiring targeted defect detection capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP4223591B1Vehicular lamp system
Publication Date: 2026.02.18 ICHIKOH IND LTD
  • EP4223591B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4223591B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP4223591B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

To provide a vehicular lamp system and a vehicular lamp which can reduce a replacement frequency of the vehicular lamp. The vehicular lamp system includes a vehicular lamp having a plurality of elements capable of irradiating a corresponding irradiation region with light and a detection unit that detects presence or absence of an abnormality in the plurality of elements, and a notification unit that notifies abnormality information concerning occurrence of an abnormality when the abnormality is detected in a target element capable of irradiating a predetermined irradiation region with light among the plurality of elements.