Computer aided optical design of reflectors in automotive headlights

Abstract

This paper describes a constructive procedure aimed at developing a CAD/CAE/CAM system for designing the reflector of an automobile headlight for a given light intensity distribution on the target (road), considering the styling of modern passenger cars. A design concept is described in which the reflector alone produces the specified illumination pattern. Consider a reflector system consisting of a reflecting surface S, a point light source O, and some object T (road). Assume that the source O, reflector S, and object T are positioned so that the rays reflected off S are incident on T. Depending on the geometry of S the energy radiated by O and redirected by S is distributed on T to produce a certain illumination pattern. A solution of the inverse problem consisting of constructing the reflector S from constraints such as installation space, depth, height, and width of a headlight pertaining to a particular automotive body profile, the object T, and the specified illumination pattern to be achieved on T is presented. This solution is integrated with CATIA V5 for downstream functions such as manufacturing.

Designing accessible ICT products and services

“…In the automotive industry, the RAMSIS human modelling tool [10] is currently used in the design of automobiles, while CATIA is a leading commercial software suite for human modelling with applications in the design of automotive parts [14] and car aesthetics [17]. Both tools can analyze how the manikins will interact with objects in the virtual environment, as well as determine operator comfort and performance in the context of a new design.…”

Lighting design of headlamp for adaptive front‐lighting system

“…Headlamp reliability suffers because of high cost and space considerations in achieving complex headlamp mechanical movement. High performance optical object (Kumar, 2006) design minimizes headlamp auxiliary mechanical objects and complex composition.…”

Optimization and Experimental Validation of Automotive Bulbs

“…Due to the good compatibility of their model with real data, it can be used to simulate faster and easier loads on car wiring. Kumar et al 9 investigated a CAD/CAE/ CAM system for the design of car headlights to better distribute light intensity on the road. In their research, a reverse engineering solution for making a suitable reflector is considered by considering the limitations such as installation space, depth, height and width of a headlight according to the specifications of the car body and a specific lighting pattern to be achieved on the road.…”