Cost Optimization in Automotive Lighting Systems
10 patents in this list
Updated:
In the automotive industry, lighting plays a crucial role in safety and design, yet it often drives up costs. Manufacturers face the challenge of integrating advanced lighting features without inflating production expenses. Balancing aesthetics, functionality, and affordability is a persistent struggle, especially with the rising demand for energy-efficient and adaptive lighting systems.
Key challenges include the complexity of integrating multi-functional lighting systems and the cost of materials and manufacturing processes. Engineers must innovate to create solutions that do not compromise performance while keeping costs manageable. The task is to simplify designs and streamline production without sacrificing quality or effectiveness.
This page explores a range of strategies and solutions that focus on cost reduction in automotive lighting. These include using monolithic optic arrays and integrated optical elements that simplify assembly and reduce material use. The research highlights approaches like modular designs and adaptive systems that maintain performance while cutting costs, offering practical insights for industry professionals.
1. Vehicle Lighting Device with Plastic Welded Housing and Frame Molded onto Light Panel
Hella GmbH & Co. KGaA, 2023
A vehicle lighting device that can be produced inexpensively and flexibly is dimensionally stable and highly resistant to stress cracking. The device has a housing and a frame that are joined by plastic welding. The housing and frame materials are selected to resist stress cracking. The frame is molded onto a light panel using plastic injection molding, eliminating the need for annealing after joining.
2. Integrated Curved Optical Element for Matrix LED Headlights with Protruding Light Transmission Surfaces
HASCO VISION TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD., 2023
Compact, integrated, high precision headlight optical element for matrix LED headlights that reduces size, cost, and complexity compared to conventional headlight assemblies. The headlight optical element has a curved shape with protruding surfaces that integrates light entry, transmission, and emergence in sequence. It can be mounted in a simplified headlight module with a bracket, circuit board, radiator, and light adjustment mechanism. The compact, integrated design reduces parts, volume, and cost while maintaining optical precision. The headlight module can be arranged longitudinally, horizontally, or obliquely for versatility.
3. Integrated Headlight Optical Element with Curved Light Incident and Transmitting Surfaces for Matrix LED Systems
HASCO VISION TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD., 2023
Headlight optical element for matrix LED headlights that is small, compact, integrates multiple optical elements, simplifies mounting, and reduces cost compared to traditional matrix headlights. The headlight optical element has a curved light incident surface that protrudes backwards, followed by a curved light transmitting surface that protrudes forwards. This integrated design allows the headlight to have a smaller size, as the light sources are the only external components needed. The headlight module uses a bracket to hold the element, and connectors attach the circuit board and radiator. This simplifies assembly compared to separate optical elements. The compact size, integrated design, and fewer parts make the headlight more compact, easier to mount, and lower cost.
4. Vehicle Headlight Module with Sequential Light Collecting, Reflecting, and Output Parts for Reduced Size
HASCO VISION TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD., 2023
Compact and efficient vehicle headlight module design that reduces size while maintaining lighting performance. The module has three parts arranged sequentially along the light path: a light collecting part, a reflection part, and a light output part. The upper edge of the reflection part is below the output part, and the lower edge is above. This allows the output part to receive the most reflected light. The smaller reflection part size reduces module size. The light source collects light and then reflects it into the output part. This converges the beam angle for higher utilization. The module can be used in headlights with vertical, horizontal, or oblique mounting for single or multi-function lighting.
5. Vehicle Headlight with Pivoting Light Module and Individually Controllable LED Matrix
Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft, 2022
Headlight for vehicles with improved homogeneity of light functions and reduced complexity compared to conventional headlights. The headlight has a single pivoting light module that contains a matrix of individually controllable LEDs for high beams and a separate LED for low beams. The high beam matrix segments can be selectively activated and masked based on steering angle to adapt the beam pattern. This allows precise segmented high beam illumination without shading outer regions like conventional adaptive systems. The pivoting mechanism allows the module to rotate around a vertical axis through the center of gravity for rigidity. The pivot angle can also affect which segments are activated. A control unit coordinates the LEDs and pivot drive.
6. Vehicle Headlight Assembly with Separate Low and High Beam Light Guides
Hella GmbH & Co. KGaA, 2021
A headlight design for vehicles that uses light guides instead of reflectors to reduce cost and size compared to prior art headlights. The headlight has separate light guides for the low and high beams instead of using a reflector for the low beam. This allows a more compact and less expensive headlight design. The light guides have entry surfaces for the low beam LEDs and exit surfaces to direct the light. The low beam guide prevents stray light from entering the high beam guide. The low beam guide can also have structured exit surfaces to homogenize the light and prevent hotspots on lenses.
7. Pixel-Light Headlight with Variable Vertical Spacing Between High-Beam and Adjacent Light Source Rows
ZKW Group GmbH, 2018
Reducing inhomogeneities in the edge regions of the light image of pixel-light headlights by adjusting the spacing between light sources in the high-beam row versus the row above it. In the edge regions, the vertical distance between the high-beam row and the row above decreases more than in the center. This shifts the outer high-beam sources slightly upwards, reducing dark stripes in the edges. The center high-beam sources maintain the same spacing for a taller main-beam.
8. Headlight Assembly with Monolithically Pressed Primary Optic Arrays for Enhanced Light Gradient Transition
Docter Optics SE, 2017
Vehicle headlight with reduced cost and improved transition between lighted and unlighted areas. The headlight uses multiple monolithically pressed primary optic arrays made of transparent inorganic glass. The first array has an entry face and the second array has an exit face. Additional arrays can be added. The close spacing between arrays creates a smooth gradient between lit and unlit areas without visible transitions. This allows softer cutoffs and better light distribution compared to separate optics. The monolithic molding reduces costs compared to multiple separate optics.
9. Lighting Module with Light Pixel Forming Structure and Toroidal Diopter for Continuous Light Segmentation
VALEO VISION, 2017
A lighting module for vehicle headlights that enables customizable adaptive driving beams without complex optical systems. The module has a primary optical element with a light pixel forming structure that cooperates with a light source. The primary element has a corrector diopter at the exit. Multiple identical modules arranged horizontally create continuous light segments. The diopters form a toroidal surface. This allows simple, standardized modules instead of bespoke lenses for each headlight design. The segments can be duplicated and juxtaposed to form a continuous illuminated field.
10. Primary Optical Element with Vertically Stacked Segmented and Continuous Guides for Multi-Function Headlight Module
Valeo Vision, 2017
A primary optical element for a headlight module that enables multiple lighting functions like an adaptive beam, dynamic bending light, and weather light from a single module. The element has a vertical stack of primary optical guides facing separate light sources for a segmented beam. Above that, continuous primary guides face another set of light sources for a homogeneous beam. This allows the creation of segmented high beams and homogeneous low beams using different sources and guides. The segmented guides can be switched off for adaptive beams. The homogeneous guides can have varying intensities for weather light. The module can also have a secondary element to shape the light further.
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Utilizing cutting-edge designs, materials, and manufacturing processes, manufacturers may produce high-quality headlights at a reasonable cost for automotive lighting systems. Modern automobiles are more economical and efficient overall as a result of these developments.