Single Headlamp with Low- and High-Beam Light

Abstract

Generally, automobiles are typically equipped with separate headlamp lanterns for generating low- and high-beam light. Compared with separate headlamp lanterns, a single headlamp producing both low- and high-beam light can be more compact and have less mechanical complexity. The single headlamp structure has become a main emphasis of research that manufacturers will continue to focus great efforts on in the future. A novel design of a single headlamp generating both low- and high-beam light is proposed in this study. The proposed headlamp consists of a compound ellipsoidal reflector, a baffle plate, a condenser lens, and LED array devices generating low- and high-beam light. The compound ellipsoidal reflector comprises a primary ellipsoidal reflector for generating low-beam light and a secondary ellipsoidal reflector for generating high-beam light. Monte Carlo ray tracing simulations were performed to confirm the optical characteristics of the proposed design. A prototype of the proposed headlamp was also fabricated and assembled to verify the design’s effectiveness. The simulated and measured illuminance distributions of the low-beam and high-beam light had the desired light patterns. Moreover, all the simulated and measured illuminances of each point and line met the ECE R112 regulation for low-beam and high-beam light. The proposed headlamp in this study is feasible for the application of single headlamp generating both low- and high-beam light.

Keywords

• optical design and simulation
• light-emitting diode
• vehicle lighting