Annular Light Guide with Orthogonal Flanges for Uniform Vehicle Badge Illumination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle design elements with backlighting features using LEDs often result in non-uniform luminance and visible light guide optic features, which are undesirable for aesthetic reasons and have poor optical efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A light guide assembly with an annular base and orthogonal circumferential flanges or cylinders, featuring sharp transitions and light receiving surfaces, combined with a housing and lens system that promotes internal reflection and diffusive light output without visible optic features, ensuring uniform light distribution and hiding the LEDs from view.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If highly diffusing materials are used to provide uniform luminance, then uniform light distribution is achieved, but the appearance becomes milky or hazy with poor optical efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The light guide is segmented into multiple sections, each with specifically positioned light receiving surfaces that receive light from individual LEDs. This segmentation allows precise control of light distribution while maintaining aesthetic appearance by avoiding bulk diffusing materials.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the light guide are given different optical properties through strategically placed light receiving surfaces. The light guide maintains optical clarity in most areas while having localized light entry points that control illumination distribution to achieve uniform luminance without hazy appearance.
2Illumination intensity
If light guide optic features are used to diffuse light, then uniform light distribution is achieved, but the optic features become visible in the unlit state which is undesirable
Solution Approach 1:
The optical diffusing function is extracted from bulk materials and concentrated into specific light receiving surface features on the light guide. These minimal optical features are positioned to receive light from LEDs and distribute it uniformly, while remaining invisible in the unlit state because they are not bulk diffusing structures.
3Use of energy by moving object
If LED light sources are used for backlighting, then energy efficiency is improved, but the LEDs become directly visible to external viewers which is undesirable
Solution Approach 1:
The light guide acts as an intermediary between the LED light sources and the external environment. LEDs are positioned to illuminate the light guide from behind, and the light guide distributes this light uniformly through its structure while concealing the discrete LED sources, presenting a smooth uniform appearance to external viewers.
4Illumination intensity
If complex lens and reflector arrangements are used to provide uniform luminous intensity, then uniform light output is achieved, but device complexity increases and cost increases due to expensive OLED technology
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using complex physical lens and reflector arrangements, the invention uses a simplified light guide structure with strategically positioned light receiving surfaces that replicate the light-distributing function. This copying approach achieves uniform luminous intensity through geometric optimization rather than complex optical components, reducing device complexity and cost.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution provides a uniform and aesthetically pleasing light output that is free from hot spots and visible optic features, enhancing the appearance of vehicle badges and emblems while maintaining high optical efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
The light guide is shaped to define an annular base lying in a first plane and at least one circumferential flange or cylinder disposed generally orthogonal, or inwardly or outwardly splayed to the first plane... the light guide transitions from the annular base to the flange or cylinder, sharply with a radius of less than 10% of a height of the flange or cylinder, the sharp transition facilitating internal reflection of light emitted from the light sources
Implementation Method 2
a lens connected or joined to the housing... providing a uniform light output without the use of light guide optic diffusing features... the lens system that promotes internal reflection and diffusive light output
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 2a~3
Figure 3a~4a
AI summary
The invention refers to a light assembly (1, 100) for a vehicle design element, the assembly including: a light guide (20, 120, 220), the light guide (20, 120, 220) including a plurality of light receiving surfaces (23, 23a, 123); and a plurality of light sources (131), preferably in form of light emitting diodes (LEDs) on a circuit board (30, 130), the light sources (131) being arranged adjacent to and directed towards respective light receiving surfaces (23, 23a, 123); characterized in that the light guide (20, 120, 220) is shaped to define an annular base (21, 121) lying in a first plane and at least one circumferential flange or cylinder (24, 24a, 25, 25a, 124, 125) disposed generally orthogonal, or inwardly or outwardly splayed to the first plane, the flange or cylinder (24, 24a, 25, 25a, 124, 125) extending away from the annular base (21, 121) towards a viewable annular light exit (26, 26a, 27, 27a, 126, 127), the base (21, 121) including a plurality of shaped elements, in particular in form of disconnections, recesses, holes or wedge-shaped protrusions (22, 122), extending away from the first plane, each shaped element defining one of the light receiving surfaces (23, 23a, 123) for receiving incident light from a respective adjacent light source (131), wherein a plurality of the light receiving surfaces (23, 23a, 123) are orientated substantially transverse to the base (21, 121). In addition, a vehicle design element with such a light assembly is provided.