Car manufacturers - in conjunction with suppliers and legislators - currently aspire to develop the "intelligent" headlight of tomorrow. Appropriate systems will be based on a mechatronic design concept and will incorporate components from asheterogenous fields as lighting technology, mechanics, actuators, sensors, power electronics and system control. This article will look at appropriate methods and corresponding tools for concept synthesis and analysis of mechatronic light. It willcarefully consider both functional requirements and geometric constraints. The genesis from the mere idea to the prototype will be traced for the development of a bi-functional projector system, the first of its kind to mechanically alter the lightpattern. It will be shown how component analysis maximizes the potential solution space and also chances for novel product spin-offs, and how the simulation of essential system characteristics minimizes risk, as it allows for an early feasibilityprediction. Although the focus is on automotive headlights, the methods discussed here can be applied to a great deal of other components in the automotive industry as well.
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