Patent Publication Number: US-10317030-B2

Title: Dual high-beam and low-beam vehicle headlamp

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure generally relates to a headlamp that contains a plurality of light emitting elements in an arrangement to generate a high-beam light pattern and a low-beam light pattern. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to structure in which the arrangement of light-emitting elements within the same device or assembly form a high-beam light pattern and a low-beam light pattern with the aid of an optical lens, and a method relating to the same. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Vehicles (e.g., automotive, agricultural, or military) typically include multiple headlamps in order to form high beams and low beams (e.g., driving beams and passing beams, respectively). One headlamp is typically designed to form a high-beam light pattern, and a separate headlamp is typically designed to form a low-beam light pattern. However, the use of multiple headlamps is not always desirable. 
     On the other hand, some conventional headlamps may include components to shield (or block) a part of the light generated from a light source in order to form different light patterns. However, this type of approach has several shortcomings. For example, this blocking or shielding approach may enlarge the overall size of a headlamp. The larger headlamp that includes one or more blocking or shielding mechanisms may be unsuitable or undesirable for particular applications. 
     The conventional blocking approach also requires movable parts in order to block a portion of the generated light. In addition to increasing the overall footprint of the headlamp, these parts break or otherwise need repair. Furthermore, conventional blocking or shielding techniques result in light pattern formations that are less precise or crisp compared to other approaches. This is because part of the light generated to form a particular light pattern may be blocked in this type of approach. 
     In addition to size and precision concerns, a conventional headlamp that blocks or shields a part of the generated light in order to produce a light pattern necessarily wastes power. This is because power is required to generate all of the light even if some of the light is ultimately blocked from the final light pattern. Thus, the conventional blocking approaches are also less energy efficient. The less energy-efficient headlamp of conventional approaches may be undesirable, since energy resources are limited in a vehicle. 
     SUMMARY 
     A headlamp assembly is provided that comprises a headlamp reflector that includes a bottom, an outer edge, and a curved sidewall that extends outwardly from bottom to define the outer edge; a circuit board that is attached to the bottom of the headlamp reflector and that includes a plurality of light emitting elements, the plurality of light emitting elements are arranged on the circuit board in a high-beam and low-beam producing pattern configured to generate light toward the outer edge of the headlamp reflector; an optical lens that is attached to the headlamp reflector, that includes a first optical surface and a second optical surface, and that is configured to optically form a low-beam light pattern and a high-beam light pattern from the light generated from the plurality of light emitting elements through the optical lens; and a housing that houses the circuit board, the plurality of light emitting elements, the optical lens, and the headlamp reflector. 
     The plurality of light emitting elements of the headlamp may include a first set of light emitting elements in a first light-beam pattern arrangement on the circuit board and a second set of light emitting elements in a second light-beam pattern arrangement. 
     The optical lens of the headlamp may be configured to optically form the low-beam light pattern from the light generated by the first set of light emitting elements. The optical lens of the headlamp may be configured to optically form the high-beam light pattern from the light generated by the second set of light emitting elements and one or more of the light emitting elements in the first set of light emitting elements. 
     The optical lens may be configured to optically form the low-beam light pattern from the light generated by the first set of light emitting elements, and the optical lens may be configured to optically form the high-beam light pattern from the light generated by the second set of light emitting elements. 
     The headlamp assembly may also include an outer protective-lens that is attached to headlamp housing to enclose the optical lens, the headlamp reflector, and the circuit board. 
     The optical lens of the headlamp may include a plurality of segments that outwardly extend from one of the first optical surface and the second optical surface of the optical lens. The first optical surface of the optical lens may be planar, and the plurality of segments may outwardly extend from the second optical surface of the optical lens. 
     The optical lens and the plurality of light emitting elements may cooperate to optically form one of the high-beam light pattern and the low-beam light pattern by selectively activating one of the first set and the second set or both, respectively, without shielding any components to optically form the low beam pattern. 
     Each of the light emitting elements in the first set of light emitting elements may extend in a same direction on the circuit board, and each of the light emitting elements in the second set of light emitting elements may extend in a same direction on the circuit board parallel to the first set of light emitting elements. 
     The first set of light emitting elements may include a first row and a second row of light emitting elements, and the second set of light emitting elements may include a first row and a second row of light emitting elements. The second row of the second set may be aligned adjacent to the first row and the second row of the first set such that the first row for the first set may be located in between the second row of the second set, and the second row of the second set may be closer to an outer edge of the circuit board than the first row and the second row of the first set of light emitting elements. 
     One or more of the plurality of light emitting elements in the high-beam and low-beam producing pattern on the circuit board may be staggered on the circuit board. 
     The plurality of the light emitting elements in the high-beam and low-beam producing pattern may be arranged in a matrix on the circuit board. 
     A headlamp assembly is provided that comprises a headlamp reflector that includes a bottom, an outer edge, and a curved sidewall that extends outwardly from bottom to define the outer edge; an optical lens that is attached to the headlamp reflector; a circuit board that is attached to the bottom of the headlamp reflector and that includes a plurality of light emitting elements; a high-beam set of the plurality of light emitting elements that is arranged on the circuit board in a high-beam producing pattern configured to optically form a high beam pattern from the light emitted from the high-beam set through the optical lens; a low-beam set of the plurality of light emitting elements, that is arranged on the circuit board in a low-beam producing pattern configured to optically form a low beam pattern from the light emitted from the high-beam set through the optical lens and that is different than, or mixed with at least one of, the high-beam set of the plurality of light emitting elements; and a housing that includes an outer protective-lens and that houses the circuit board, the plurality of light emitting elements, the optical lens, and the headlamp reflector. 
     A method for controlling a dual beam headlamp comprises at least the following: applying a first voltage level to activate a low-beam set of a plurality of light emitting elements attached to a circuit board within a housing of an vehicle headlamp; optically forming a low-beam pattern via the low-beam set of the plurality of light emitting elements without shielding any components of the vehicle headlamp to form the low-beam pattern; and applying a second voltage level different from the first voltage level to activate a high-beam set of the plurality of light emitting elements that are different from the high-beam set of the plurality of light emitting elements and that are attached to the circuit board within the housing of the vehicle headlamp; and optically forming a high-beam pattern via the high-beam set of the plurality of light emitting elements. 
     The method may also include projecting light emitted from the low-beam set of the plurality of light emitting elements through an optical lens within the housing of the vehicle headlamp to optically form the low-beam pattern, and projecting light emitted from the high-beam set of the plurality of light emitting elements through an optical lens within the housing of the vehicle headlamp to optically form the high-beam pattern. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying figures where like reference numerals refer to identical or functionally similar elements and which together with the detailed description below are incorporated in and form part of the specification, serve to further illustrate an exemplary embodiment and to explain various principles and advantages in accordance with the present invention. These drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective, top view of the dual high-beam and low-beam headlamp assembly according to the disclosed embodiments; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded, perspective view of the dual high-beam and low-beam headlamp assembly according to the disclosed embodiments; 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of a the dual high-beam and low-beam headlamp assembly according to the disclosed embodiments; 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of a the dual high-beam and low-beam headlamp assembly generating a low-beam light pattern according to the disclosed embodiments; 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of a the dual high-beam and low-beam headlamp assembly generating a high-beam light pattern according to the disclosed embodiments; 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of a the dual high-beam and low-beam headlamp assembly generating a high-beam light pattern according to the disclosed embodiments; 
         FIG. 7  is a top view of the dual high-beam and low-beam headlamp assembly having an arrangement of light emitting elements according to the disclosed embodiments; 
         FIG. 8  is a close-up view of the dual high-beam and low-beam headlamp assembly having an arrangement of light emitting elements shown in  FIG. 7  according to other disclosed embodiments; 
         FIG. 9  is a front view of a low-beam light pattern projected by the dual high-beam and low-beam headlamp assembly according to the disclosed embodiments; 
         FIG. 10  is a front, detailed view of the low-beam light pattern projected by the dual high-beam and low-beam headlamp assembly shown in  FIG. 9  according to the disclosed embodiments; 
         FIG. 11  is a front view of a high-beam light pattern projected by the dual high-beam and low-beam headlamp assembly according to the disclosed embodiments; 
         FIG. 12  is a front, detailed view of the high-beam light pattern projected by the dual high-beam and low-beam headlamp assembly shown in  FIG. 11  according to the disclosed embodiments; 
         FIG. 13  is a top view of the dual high-beam and low-beam headlamp assembly having an arrangement of light emitting elements according to the disclosed embodiments; 
         FIG. 14  is a close-up view of the dual high-beam and low-beam headlamp assembly having the an arrangement of light emitting elements shown in  FIG. 13  according to other disclosed embodiments; 
         FIG. 15  is a front view of a low-beam light pattern projected by the dual high-beam and low-beam headlamp assembly according to the disclosed embodiments; 
         FIG. 16  is a front, detailed view of the low-beam light pattern projected by the dual high-beam and low-beam headlamp assembly shown in  FIG. 15  according to the disclosed embodiments; 
         FIG. 17  is a top view of the dual high-beam and low-beam headlamp assembly having an arrangement of light emitting elements according to the disclosed embodiments; 
         FIG. 18  is a top view of the dual high-beam and low-beam headlamp assembly having an arrangement of light emitting elements according to the disclosed embodiments; 
         FIG. 19  is a top view of the dual high-beam and low-beam headlamp assembly having an arrangement of light emitting elements according to the disclosed embodiments; 
         FIG. 20  is a top view of the dual high-beam and low-beam headlamp assembly having a scattered arrangement of light emitting elements according to the disclosed embodiments; 
         FIG. 21  is a top view of the dual high-beam and low-beam headlamp assembly having a matrix arrangement of light emitting elements according to the disclosed embodiments; 
         FIG. 22  is a cross-sectional side view of an optical lens of the dual high-beam and low-beam headlamp assembly according to the disclosed embodiments in which shading is added for illustrative purposes; 
         FIG. 23  is a perspective view of an optical lens of the dual high-beam and low-beam headlamp assembly according to the disclosed embodiments; and 
         FIG. 24  is flow chart showing control of the dual high-beam and low-beam headlamp assembly according to the disclosed embodiments. 
         FIG. 25  is flow chart showing control of the dual high-beam and low-beam headlamp assembly according to the disclosed embodiments. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The instant disclosure is provided to further explain in an enabling fashion the best modes of performing one or more embodiments of the present invention. The disclosure is further offered to enhance an understanding and appreciation for the inventive principles and advantages thereof, rather than to limit in any manner the invention. The invention is defined solely by the appended claims including any amendments made during the pendency of this application and all equivalents of those claims as issued. 
     It is further understood that the use of relational terms such as first and second, and the like, if any, are used solely to distinguish one from another entity, item, or action without necessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship or order between such entities, items or actions. It is noted that some embodiments may include a plurality of processes or steps, which can be performed in any order, unless expressly and necessarily limited to a particular order (i.e., processes or steps that are not so limited may be performed in any order). 
     Furthermore, elements having the same number represent the same element across the various figures, and throughout the disclosure. Their description is not always repeated for each embodiment, but may be inferred from previous descriptions. Elements that have the same number but have the addition of a letter designator indicate distinct embodiments of a more generic element. 
     The dual high-beam and low-beam vehicle headlamp  100  (“headlamp”) includes an arrangement of light emitting elements  200  arranged on a circuit board  202 . The headlamp  100  also includes an optical lens  208 . The optical lens  208  and the arrangement of light emitting elements  200  cooperate to form a high-beam light pattern and a low-beam light pattern in the same headlamp  100 . 
     The light emitting elements  200  can be any type of light emitting diode. For example. The light emitting element  200  can be a light-emitting diode (LED), an organic light-emitting diode (OLED), or any other type of light-emitting diode as will be understood by one skilled in the art. The light emitting elements  200  can be any color of light emitting diode. 
     The particular application and type of vehicle for the headlamp  100  is not particularly limited. For example, the vehicle can be an automotive vehicle, an agricultural vehicle, or a military vehicle, as will be understood by those skilled in the art. 
       FIG. 1  shows a perspective overhead view of the headlamp  100 .  FIG. 2  shows an exploded view of the headlamp  100  that includes the components of the headlamp  100  in some of the embodiments of the headlamp  100 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the headlamp  100  includes a plurality of light emitting elements  200  arranged on a circuit board  202  that may include a light emitting element driver  204 . The circuit board  202 , the light emitting element driver  204 , and the plurality of light emitting elements  200  are electrically connected together. In some embodiments, the circuit board  202  may include a controller  222 . The headlamp  100  also includes a headlamp reflector  206 , such as a parabolic reflector. The headlamp  100  also includes an optical lens  208  (“optical lens” or “lens”) that optically forms different light patterns in conjunction with the plurality of light emitting elements  200 . The optical lens  208  may include arms  210  that extend from the optical lens and attach to a portion of the headlamp reflector  206 . 
     The arms  210  of the optical lens  208  may attached to the curved sidewall  216  of the headlamp reflector  206  in some embodiments. In other embodiments, the arms  210  of the optical lens  208  may attached to the base  218  of the optical lens  208 . The optical lens  208  may be located within the outer edge  220  of the headlamp reflector  206 . In other embodiments, the optical lens  208  may be located outside of the outer edge  220  of the headlamp reflector  206 . The arms  210  of the optical lens  208  may be removably attached to the optical lens  208 . In other embodiments, the arms  210  of the optical lens  208  may continuously extend from the optical lens  208  and may be made of the same material as the optical lens  208 . 
     The headlamp  100  also includes a housing  214  and a protective lens  212 . The housing  214  and the protective lens  212  may attach together to house the components of the headlamp  100 . The protective lens  212  protects the components of the headlamp  100 . The protective lens  212  may include no optical properties in the light pattern formation. The optical lens  208  and the plurality of light emitting elements  200  optically form the different light patterns. This may occur without the aid of the protective lens  212 . 
       FIGS. 3-6  show a cross-sectional view of the plurality of light emitting elements  200  and the optical lens  208  cooperating together to form a low-beam light pattern and a high-beam light pattern. 
       FIG. 3  shows a headlamp  100  that includes a housing  214  and a protective lens  212  that houses the headlamp reflector  206 , the plurality of light emitting elements  202  attached to the circuit board  202 , and the lens  208 , which is attached to the inner sidewall of the reflector  206  in some embodiments. The plurality of light emitting elements  202  may include at least two different sets of light emitting elements  300 ,  302 .  FIG. 3  shows a first set of light emitting elements  300  (“first set”) and a second set of light emitting elements  302  (“second set”). Each of the first set  300  and the second set  302  of light emitting elements  200  includes a plurality of different light emitting elements  200 , as shown in  FIGS. 3-6 . Each of the plurality of light emitting elements  200  generate (or emit) light towards the optical lens  208 . 
       FIG. 4  shows the first set  300  of light emitting elements  200  generating light towards the optical lens  208 . The configuration of the optical lens  208  optically projects the light generated by the first set  300  into a light pattern. The first set  300  of light emitting elements  200  and the optical lens  208  together form a low-beam light pattern. The reflector  206  may in some embodiments project and/or optically form the low-beam light pattern of the headlamp  100 , as will be understood by one skilled in the art. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , no blocking occurs in the formation of the low-beam light pattern. That is, the plurality of light emitting elements  200  generate light directly to the optical lens  208 . The optical lens  208  optically forms the low-beam light pattern without the aid of any blocking mechanism or structure. 
     The dual high-beam and low-beam headlamp  100  also forms a high-beam light pattern based on a combination of the plurality of light emitting elements  200  and the optical lens  208 .  FIG. 5  shows an arrangement  400  in which the second set  302  and the first set  300  together generate light to optically form the high-beam patter with the optical lens  208 . In other words,  FIG. 5  shows an arrangement  400  in which both the first set  300  and the second set  302  are turned on simultaneously. When both the second set  302  and one or more of the first set  300  of the plurality of light emitting elements  200  generate light towards the optical lens  208 , the headlamp  100  projects a high-beam light pattern. The reflector  206  may in some embodiments project and/or optically form the high-beam light pattern of the headlamp  100 , as will be understood by one skilled in the art. 
     However, the disclosed embodiments are not limited to this particular arrangement. For example, the second set  302  of light emitting elements  200  and the optical lens  208  may together form a high-beam light pattern without the first set  300  of light emitting elements  200 . This can be seen in  FIG. 6  in which an arrangement  600  forms a high-beam light pattern while the first set  300  are turned OFF. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 4-6 , the headlamp  100  optically forms a high-beam light pattern and a low-beam light pattern without blocking or shielding the light emitting elements  200 . Instead, the light emitting elements  200  selectively turned on to generate a high-beam light pattern or a low-beam light pattern. This results in, for example, a more crisp and precise light pattern, because none of the light is blocked. Instead, all of the currently generated light is being used via the optical lens  208  and/or the reflector  206  to form the light patterns. 
     The headlamp  100  may be considered energy efficient, since it produces a low-beam light pattern without wasting any generated light. That is, the optical lens  208  optically forms the low-beam light pattern by utilizing all of the light generated by the plurality of light emitting elements  200 . Since none of the light is blocked, the headlamp  100  utilizes energy more efficiently. In addition, the resulting light patterns are more crisp, sharp, and precise since the headlamp  100  utilizes all of the generated light. 
     The arrangement of the plurality of light emitting elements  200  on the circuit board  202  is not particularly limited. The arrangement of the plurality of light emitting elements  200  allows the light emitting elements  200  and the optical lens  208  to optically form a high beam light pattern and a low beam light pattern. Some embodiments include only the first set  300  and the second set  302  of the plurality of light emitting elements  200 . However, other embodiments include additional light emitting elements  200 . 
     Furthermore, different regulatory requirements in different countries may require different light beam light patterns. For example, a low-beam light pattern required by the US Department of Transportation (“DOT”) is different than a low-beam light pattern required in other countries, such as the requirements in Europe by the Economic Commission for Europe (“ECE”). Because of this, different arrangements of the plurality of light emitting elements may be used in the headlamp  100  to generate limit and optically produce a light pattern with the optical lens  208  in order to satisfy these regulatory requirements. 
       FIGS. 7 and 8  show an arrangement  700  of light emitting elements  200 .  FIG. 7  is an overhead view of the headlamp  100 . The overhead view in  FIG. 7  shows the plurality of light emitting elements  200  attached to a circuit board  202 .  FIG. 7  also shows the headlamp reflector  206  that surrounds the plurality of light emitting elements  200 . The optical lens  208  and other components are omitted from  FIG. 7  to aid the discussion of the arrangement  700  of light emitting elements  200 . 
       FIG. 8  shows a more detailed, overhead view of the plurality of light emitting elements  200  in the arrangement  700  shown in  FIG. 7 .  FIG. 8  shows that the plurality of light emitting elements  200  includes a first set  300  of light emitting elements  200  and a second set  302  of light emitting elements  200 . The first set  300  and the second set  302  are arrangement with respect to each other on the circuit board  202 . 
       FIGS. 8 and 14  (discussed further below) shows the each of the light emitting elements  200  as rectangular shapes. However, the light emitting elements are not limited to this shape. Furthermore, the first set  300  of light emitting elements  200  is labeled as “LB” to represent a low-beam set of light emitting elements  200  in  FIG. 8 , and the second set  302  of light emitting elements  200  is labeled as “HB” to represent a high-beam set of light emitting elements in  FIGS. 8 and 14 . However, this designation does not limit the light emitting elements. For example, one or more of the first set  300  of light emitting elements  200  may generate light in the formation of the high-beam light pattern along with the second set  302  of light emitting elements  200 . 
       FIG. 8  shows a first reference line  800  and a second reference line  802  that extends perpendicular to the first reference line  800 . The first reference line  800  and the second reference line  802  intersects at an intersection  804 . The first reference line  800  extends in same direction as (i.e., parallel to) both the first set  300  and the second set  302  of light emitting elements  200 . 
     In some embodiments, the intersection  804  of the first reference line  800  and the second reference line  802  may be located at the center of the circuit board  202 . In other embodiments, the intersection  804  may be located at a different position on the circuit board  202 . 
     As discussed above, the optical lens  208  and the plurality of light emitting elements  200  optically form a high-beam light pattern and a low-beam light pattern. The arrangement of the light emitting elements that are turned on affects which of the patterns are formed.  FIGS. 9-12  show different light patterns optically formed via the optical lens  208  and the plurality of light emitting elements  200 . 
       FIG. 8  also shows that the first set  300  of the light emitting elements  200  are arranged adjacent to each other in a staggered arrangement on the circuit board  202 . The second set  302  of the light emitting elements  200  may also be arranged adjacent to each other in a staggered arrangement.  FIG. 8  also shows that the arrangement of the first set  300  of the light emitting elements  200  may mirror the arrangement of the second set  302  of the plurality of light emitting elements  200 . However, the arrangement of the plurality of light emitting elements  200  is not limited to this particular arrangement. 
       FIG. 8  also shows that one or more of the first set  300  of light emitting elements  200  may be located above the first reference line  800 . One or more of the first set  300  of light emitting elements may intersect the first reference line  800  or the second reference line  802 , or both the first and second reference lines  800 ,  802 .  FIG. 8  also shows that one or more of the second set  302  of light emitting elements  200  may be located below the first reference line  800 . One or more of the second set  302  of light emitting elements may intersect the first reference line  800  or the second reference line  802 , or both the first and the second reference line  800 ,  802 . 
       FIG. 9  shows a low-beam light pattern  1000  with respect to a horizontal axis  902  and a vertical axis  904 . Note that the horizontal axis  902  and the vertical axis  904  are different from the first reference line  800  and the second reference line  802 . This is because the first reference line  800  and the second reference line  802  are located on a circuit board  202 . on the other hand, the horizontal axis  902  and the vertical axis  902  are outside of the headlamp  100 . For example, the horizontal axis  902  may correspond to the horizon. 
       FIG. 10  shows a detailed view of the low-beam light pattern  1000  shown in  FIG. 9 . That is,  FIG. 10  shows the different light-intensity areas located within the low-beam light pattern  1000 , as will be understood by one skilled in the art. The low-beam light pattern  1000  may include a spread-light portion  1002  and a hot-spot  1006 . The hot-spot  1006  of the low-beam light pattern  1000  has a higher intensity than the spread-light portion  1002 . The low-beam light pattern  1000  may also include a blend-light portion  1004  that has a light intensity in between the hot-spot  1006  and the spread-light portion  1002 . 
       FIG. 11  shows a high-beam light pattern  1100  with respect to the horizontal axis  902  and the vertical axis  904 . The high-beam light pattern  1100  is located above the horizontal axis  902  and is located at a higher position with respect to the horizontal axis  902  and the vertical axis  904  than the low-beam light pattern  1000 .  FIG. 11  shows that relative intensities of the high-beam light pattern  110 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 12 , the high-beam light pattern  1100  includes a spread-light portion  1102 , a blend-light portion  1104 , and a hot spot  1106 . The hot spot  1106  has a greater intensity than the spread-light portion  1102 , and the blend-light portion  1104  has an intensity less than the hot spot  1106  and more than the spread-light portion  1102  of the high-beam light pattern  1100 . 
     As discussed above, the optical lens  208  and the plurality of light emitting elements  200  cooperate or work together to form the low-beam light pattern  1000  and the high-beam light pattern  1100 . For example, each of the first set  300  of the plurality of light emitting elements  200  (such as shown in  FIG. 8 ) may be turned on to generate light. The light generated by the first set  300  travels through the optical lens  208  (see  FIG. 4 ), and the optical lens  208  optically forms the low-beam light pattern  1000 . An example of a low-beam light pattern  1000  can be seen in  FIGS. 9 and 10 . 
     On the other hand, the headlamp  100  also includes a second set  302  of light emitting elements  200  on the same circuit board  202  as the first set  300  of light emitting elements  200  that generated the low-beam light pattern  1000 . The second set  302  may turn on to generate light towards the optical lens  300  (such as shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 ). The optical lens  300  then optically forms a high-beam light pattern  1100  via the light generated by the second set  302  of light emitting elements  200 . An example of a high-beam light pattern  1100  can be seen in  FIGS. 11 and 12 . 
     In various embodiments of the headlamp  100 , one or more of the first set  300  of light emitting elements  200  may remain on as the second set  302  turns on to form the high-beam light pattern  1100 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , both the entire second set  302  and one or more of the first set  300  of light emitting elements  200  are on generate light for the optical lens  208  to form the high-beam light pattern  1100 . In other embodiments, all of the first set  300  and the second set  302  may turn on in order to form the high-beam light pattern  1100 . In other embodiments, none of the first set  300  of light emitting elements  200  remain on (i.e., all turn OFF) in order to form the high-beam light pattern  110  as all of the second set  302  of light emitting elements  200  turn ON. 
     The particular arrangement of light emitting elements  200  is not limited. As mentioned above, certain regulatory requirements of different regulatory agencies (such as those in Europe and Japan) may require different light patterns than the light pattern requirements for the United States. 
       FIGS. 13 and 14  show an arrangement  1300  of light emitting elements  200  (e.g., a high beam and a low beam arrangement).  FIG. 13  shows an overhead view of the headlamp with the optical lens  208  (and other components) omitted for purposes of clarity.  FIG. 13  shows the light emitting elements  200  on a circuit board  202 . The light emitting elements  200  are surrounded by a headlamp reflector  206 . 
       FIG. 14  provides a more detailed view of the arrangement  1300  shown in  FIG. 13 . As shown in  FIG. 14 , the plurality of light emitting elements  200  includes a first set  300  and a second set  302  of light emitting elements. The first set  300  and the second set  302  may be arranged on the circuit board  202  with respect to the first reference line  800  and the second reference line  802 . 
     Similar to  FIG. 8 , the first reference line  800  and the second reference line  802  extend particular to each other and intersect at an intersection  804  as shown in  FIG. 14 . In some embodiments, the intersection  804  may be located at a center point (or a geometric center) of the circuit board  202 . However, this is not limited to this arrangement. 
     The first set  300  may include multiple different rows of light emitting elements.  FIG. 14  shows that the first set  300  includes a first row  1402  and a second row  1404  of light emitting elements  200 .  FIG. 14  shows that the first row  1402  may be located closer to the first reference line  800  than the second row  1404  of light emitting elements  1404 . The first reference line  800  extends in the same direction (i.e., parallel to) the direction in which the first set  300  and the second set  302  of light emitting elements  200  extend. That is, the first reference lines  800  extends in the same direction as the first set  300  and the second set  302  of light emitting elements  300 . 
     The term “row” does not necessarily mean that the light emitting elements  200  are perfectly aligned in parallel with respect to their outer edges. Instead, the term “row” means that the center of each of the light emitting elements  200  may be arranged substantially parallel to each other with respect to one of the first reference line  800  and the second reference line  802 . In other words, the light emitting elements  200  are rotated in some embodiments so that the outer edges of the light emitting elements  200  do not align perfectly with each other. 
       FIG. 14  also shows that the second set  302  may include multiple different rows of light emitting elements  200 . The second set  302  may include a first row  1406  and a second row  1408 . The first row  1406  of the second set  302  is located closer to the intersection  804  of the first and second reference lines  800 ,  802  than the second row  1408  of the second set  302  of light emitting elements  200 . The second row  1408  is located outside of the first set  300  of light emitting elements  200  such that the first set  300  is located between the second row  1408  of the second set  302 . 
     The first set  300  of light emitting elements  200  are located closer to the intersection  804  of the first and second reference lines  800 ,  802  than the second row  1408  of the second set  302  of light emitting elements  200 . In other words, the second row  1408  of the second set  302  is located closer to an outer edge of the circuit board  202  than the first set  302  of light emitting elements and the second row  1406  of the second set  302 . Because of this, the first row  1406  of the second set  302  may be referred to as an inner row, and the second row  1408  may be referred to as an outer row with respect to the intersection  804  of the first and second reference lines  800 ,  802 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 14 , the first row  1406  of the second set  302  may be located closer to the first reference line  800  than the second set  1408  of the second set  302 . The first row  1406  may be located closer to the first reference line  800  than one or both of the first row  1402  and the second row  1404  of the first set  300 . 
     As explained above the plurality of light emitting elements  200  generate light towards the optical lens  208 . The optical lens  208  optically forms a low-beam light pattern  1000  or a high-beam light pattern  1100  depending on which of the light emitting elements  200  are turned ON.  FIGS. 15 and 16  shows a low-beam light pattern  1500  that is different from the shape of the low-beam light pattern  1000  shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10 . The optical lens  208  may form the low-beam light pattern  1500  of  FIGS. 15 and 16  from the arrangement of light emitting elements  200  shown in  FIGS. 13 and 14 . The different light patterns may be due to different regulatory requirements. 
       FIG. 15  shows a low-beam light pattern  1500  with respect to a horizontal axis  902  and a vertical axis  904 . The low-beam light pattern  1500  is shaped such that a portion of the low-beam light pattern  1500  substantially aligns with the horizontal axis  902  and that a portion of the low-beam light pattern  1500  is located above the horizontal axis  902 . The portion above the low-beam light pattern  1500  may be referred to as a wedge or a slice. The wedge of low-beam light pattern  1500  may extends above horizontal axis  902  may form an angle of, for example, 15° above the horizontal axis  902 . However, the angle of the wedge is not particularly limited to 15°. For example, the wedge may be any angle, or any angle range, between 1° and 90° above the horizontal axis  902 . Furthermore, the wedge may occur on different sides of the horizontal axis  902  with respect to the vertical axis  904  in order to accommodate different countries that drive on different sides of the road (i.e., right-hand drive or left-hand drive). 
     The low-beam light pattern  1500  shown in  FIG. 16  includes a spread-light portion  1502  and a hot spot  1506 . The low-beam light pattern  1500  also includes a blend-light portion  1504  that is located between the hot spot  1506  and the spread-light portion  1502 . The hot spot  1506  has a higher intensity than the spread-light portion  1504 , and the blend-light portion  1504  has an intensity less than the hot spot  1506  and greater than the spread-light portion  1502 . 
     To form the low-beam light pattern  1500 , the headlamp  100  turns on the first set  300  of light emitting elements  200 . The first set  300  of light emitting elements  200  generate light towards the optical lens  208  (such as shown in  FIG. 4 ). The optical lens  208  then optically forms the low-beam light pattern  1500 . This occurs without blocking any of the light generated from the light emitting elements  200 . 
     To form a high-beam light pattern  1100 , the second set  302  of light emitting elements  200  are turned on to generate light toward the optical lens  208 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , both the first row  1406  and the second row  1408  may be turned on in the formation of the high-beam light pattern  1100 . The high-beam light pattern may be similar to the high-beam light pattern shown in  FIGS. 11 and 12 . In addition, one or more of the first set  300  of light emitting elements may turn on to aid in the formation of the high-beam light pattern  1100 , as shown in  FIG. 5 . on the other hand, the first set  300  of light emitting elements may turn off during the formation of the high-beam light pattern  1100 . 
     As discussed above, the particular arrangement of light emitting elements  200  is not limited. Different arrangements and configurations of the plurality of light emitting elements  200  are found in some embodiments. The light emitting elements  200  are arranged on the circuit board  202  such that when one or more of the light emitting elements  200  turn on while others turn/remain OFF, the optical lens  208  forms a low-beam light pattern and such that when one or more of the light emitting elements  200  turn ON, the optical lens  208  forms a high-beam light pattern. 
       FIGS. 17-21  show overhead views of different arrangements of the plurality of light emitting elements  200  arranged on the circuit board  202  and with respect to the headlamp reflector  206 . 
       FIG. 17  shows an arrangement  1700  of the light emitting elements  200  attached to a circuit board  202  with respect to the headlamp reflector  206  of the headlamp  100 .  FIG. 18  shows an arrangement  1800  of the light emitting elements  200  attached to a circuit board  202  with respect to the headlamp reflector  206 . The arrangements  1700 ,  1800  of the light emitting elements  200  shown in  FIGS. 17 and 18  show the light emitting elements  200  aligned relatively close together. However, the arrangement of the light emitting elements  200  is not limited to this arrangement. 
     For example,  FIGS. 19 and 20  show arrangements in which one or more of the light emitting elements  200  are spread out on the circuit board  202 .  FIG. 19  shows a row of light emitting elements and light emitting elements  200  that are located at various positions on the circuit board  202 . on the other hand,  FIG. 20  shows an arrangement  2000  in which the plurality of light emitting elements  200  are spread throughout the circuit board  202 . The arrangement  2000  shown in  FIG. 20  does not include any rows of light emitting elements  200 . 
     The plurality of light emitting elements  200  may also be arranged in a two-dimensional matrix  2102 .  FIG. 21  shows a matrix arrangement  2100 . The light emitting elements  200  are aligned in a two-dimensional matrix of rows and columns. The matrix  2100  of  FIG. 21  shows a square matrix of four rows and four columns of light emitting elements  200 . However, the arrangement of the light emitting elements  200  is not limited to this number and may include more or less rows and columns. Furthermore, the matrix  200  may also be a rectangular matrix. 
       FIGS. 22 and 23  show different views of the optical lens  208 .  FIG. 22  shows a cross-sectional side view with shading for illustrative purposes.  FIG. 23  shows an overhead view of the optical lens  208 . 
     As explained above, the light emitting elements  200  generate light towards an optical lens  208  of the headlamp  100 , as shown in  FIGS. 4-6 . The optical lens  208  optically forms a low-beam light pattern or a high-beam light pattern depending on which of the light emitting elements  200  are turned on and the particular arrangement of the light emitting elements  200  on the circuit board  202 . The outer surfaces of an optical lens  208  determine its optical characteristics for the formation of different light patterns. 
     The optical lens  208  may include a first outer surface and a second outer surface opposite to the first outer surface. One or more of the first and the second surfaces  2204  may be shaped to have optical properties to optically form different light patterns. In some embodiments, both the first outer surface and the second outer surface have optical properties, and are referred to as a first optical surface  2202  and the second optical surface  2204 . 
     The first optical surface  2202  may be generally planar. The second surface  2204  may include a plurality of segments  2200  that outwardly extend from the optical lens  208  (i.e., away from the first surface  2202 ). The shape of each of the segments  2200  of the optical lens  208  bends the light generated by the light emitting elements  200  to optically form the high-beam light pattern or the low-beam light pattern (depending on which of the light emitting elements  200  are turned on or OFF). 
     To form the segments  2000  in an optical lens, one or more surfaces of a lens (such as plano-convex lens) may be cut in multiple slices to produce the second optical surface  2204 . The interior of the optical lens is then removed, and segments  2000  are moved to be aligned on the same plane. Different types of slices (and angles) are made in some embodiments such that the optical properties of the second surface  2204  can optically form both a high-beam light pattern  1100  and a low-beam light pattern  1000 ,  1500  in cooperation with the arrangement of the light emitting elements  200  on the circuit board  202 . An example of a method for forming slices in an optical lens is discussed in commonly-assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/232,134, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
       FIG. 23  shows an overhead view of the second surface  2204  of the optical lens  208 . The segments  2200  are formed in different arrangements to allow the optical lens  208  to form both the high-beam light pattern and the low-beam light pattern. 
     In some embodiments, the first surface  2202  faces the light emitting elements  200 , and the second surface  2204  faces away from the light emitting elements  200  (i.e., toward the protective lens  212 ). In other embodiments, the second surface  2204  faces the light emitting elements  200 , and the first surface  2202  faces away from the light emitting elements  200 . 
     The optical lens  208  may be made of any optical material. For example, the optical lens  208  may be made of glass, polycarbonate, acrylic, silicon, or a similar optical material. The optical lens  208  may have a thickness of about 2 mm and a diameter of about 10 mm. The optical lens  208  may be a circular or a rectangular shape (viewed from an overhead perspective such as  FIG. 23 ). 
     The segments  2200  of the optical lens are made of the same material as the optical lens  208 . This material is transparent in some embodiments.  FIG. 22  includes shading so that the segments  2200  can be more easily distinguished in the view shown in  FIG. 22 . 
       FIGS. 24 and 25  show flowcharts for forming the high-beam light pattern and the low-beam light patterns. As explained above, one or more of the first set  300  and the second set  302  are turned on or off to generate light towards the optical lens  208 , which the optical lens  208  forms into the corresponding low-beam light pattern or high-beam light pattern. 
       FIGS. 24 and 25  refer to a low-beam set of light emitting elements  200  and a high-beam set of light emitting elements  200  these light emitting elements  200 . The low-beam set of light emitting elements  200  corresponds to the first set  300  of light emitting elements  200  discussed above. In some embodiments, the high-beam set of light emitting elements  200  corresponds to the second set  302  of light emitting elements  200 . In other embodiments, the high-beam set of light emitting elements  200  corresponds to both the first and second set  300 ,  302  of the light emitting elements  200 . As explained above, the optical lens  208  may form the high-beam light pattern either when the second set  302  is turned on and one or more of the first set  300  are turned on or when the second set  302  is turned on only. 
     As shown in  FIG. 24 , the headlamp  100  is turned on in initiation step  2400 . After the process starts in step  2400 , the headlamp  100  may turn on either the high beams or the low beams in step  2402 . The high beams correspond to the formation of the high-beam light pattern, and the low beams correspond to the formation of the low-beam light pattern. To turn on the low beams, the flowchart proceeds to step  2404 . In step  2404 , a first voltage level is applied to activate the low beam set of the light emitting elements  200 . For example, the first voltage level could correspond to a LOW voltage level that turns on the first set  300  of the light emitting elements  200 . The first voltage level may not turn on the second set  302  of the light emitting elements  200  so that the low-beam light pattern can be formed. Blocking does not occur in the formation of the low-beam light pattern (or the high-beam light pattern). 
     After applying the first voltage level in step  2404 , the low beam set of the plurality of light emitting elements  200  are turned ON. The low beam set generates light towards the optical lens  208 , and the optical lens  208  subsequently forms the low-beam light pattern in step  2408 . 
     After the low-beam light pattern is formed, the headlamp  100  can be turned on or the high beams can be turned ON. If the headlamp  100  is turned OFF, then the process proceeds to step  2420 . If the high beams are to be turned ON, then the process proceeds to step  2412 . In step  2412 , a second voltage level is applied. The second voltage level may correspond to a HIGH voltage level that is higher than the first voltage level (e.g., the LOW voltage level). 
     In some embodiments, the second voltage level may be adequate to turn on both the low-beam set of light emitting elements  200  and the high-beam set of light emitting elements  200  in order to allow the formation of the high-beam light pattern. In other embodiments, the second voltage level turns on only the high-beam set of light emitting elements and turns off one or more, or all, of the low-beam light emitting elements. For example, the second voltage level may turn on both the first set  300  and the second set  302  of light emitting elements discussed above. In other embodiments, the second voltage level may turn on only the second set  302  of light emitting elements. 
     After the second voltage level is applied in step  2412 , the headlamp may activate both the high-beam set and the low-beam set of light emitting elements  200  in step  2414 . After doing so, both of the high-beam set and low-beam set of light emitting elements  200  generate light toward the optical lens  208 . The optical lens then optically forms the high-beam light pattern from the generated light in step  2416 . 
     After forming the high-beam light pattern, the headlamp  100  may be turned off or the low beams may be activated in step  2418 . If the low beams are to be turned ON, then the process proceeds back to step  2404  to apply the first voltage level. on the other hand, if the headlamp  100  is to be turned off, then the process proceeds to step  2420  to turn off the headlamp. 
     As explained above, the formation of the high-beam light pattern may include turning on both the high-beam set and the low-beam set of light emitting elements  200 . On the other hand, the formation of the high-beam light pattern may include turning on only the high beam set of light emitting elements  200 .  FIG. 25  provides a flowchart in which only the high beam set of light emitting elements  200  are turned on and the low beam set of light emitting elements  200  are turned OFF. 
     The flowchart of  FIG. 25  includes similar steps as the flowchart of  FIG. 24 . Similar steps are indicated with similar reference numbers. In contrast with  FIG. 24 ,  FIG. 25  shows a different process after a second voltage level is applied in step  2412 . After the second voltage level is applied, the low-beam set of light emitting elements  200  are turned off in step  2502 . The low-beam set of light emitting elements  200  may correspond to the first set  300  of light emitting elements  200 . Furthermore, the high-beam set of light emitting elements  200  are turned on in step  2504 . The high-beam set of light emitting elements may correspond to the second set  302  of light emitting elements  200 . 
     After the high-beam set of light emitting elements are turned ON, the high-beam set of light emitting elements generate light towards the optical lens  208 . The optical lens  208  then optically forms the high-beam light pattern in step  2416 . The reflector  206  may project and/or cooperate to optically form one or more of the light patterns of the headlamp  100 . 
     In some embodiments, the process discussed above and shown in  FIGS. 24 and 25  are implemented in the circuitry of the circuit board  202  and the light emitting element driver  204 . In other embodiments, the circuit board  202  includes a controller  222 , which includes internal memory or is electrically connected to external memory. The controller  222  is electrically connected to the light emitting element driver  204  and the light emitting elements  200 . The controller  22  may refer to one or more of the following: an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), an electronic circuit, a processor (shared, dedicated, or group) and memory that execute instructions, a microcomputer, a digital signal processor, a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), a combinational logic circuit, or other suitable components that provide and execute the processes and control features. 
     CONCLUSION 
     This disclosure is intended to explain how to fashion and use various embodiments in accordance with the invention rather than to limit the true, intended, and fair scope and spirit thereof. The foregoing description is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Modifications or variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The embodiment(s) was chosen and described to provide the best illustration of the principles of the invention and its practical application, and to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the invention as determined by the appended claims, as may be amended during the pendency of this application for patent, and all equivalents thereof, when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they are fairly, legally, and equitably entitled. The various circuits described above can be implemented in discrete circuits or integrated circuits, as desired by implementation.