Asymmetric Diffusor Lighting Element for Uniform Car Grill Luminance
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Solution Overview
Problem
The limited building space at the front grill of a car and the insufficient spatial extent of Lambertian emitters, such as LEDs, hinder the creation of a uniform luminance appearance required for automotive lighting designs.
Innovation Solution
A lighting element with a mixing box and a diffusor comprising a backwall, sidewalls, and a diffusor with an asymmetrical back face and a transparent matrix with scatterers, which diffuses and homogenizes light to achieve a compact design with uniform luminance, using asymmetry to camouflage visual inhomogeneities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If a compact lighting element design is used to fit limited building space, then the spatial footprint is reduced, but the uniform luminance appearance deteriorates due to insufficient space for Lambertian emitters
Solution Approach 1:
A diffusor is introduced as an intermediary component between the LED light source and the external environment. The diffusor receives light from the Lambertian LED emitter and redistributes it to create a uniform luminance appearance at the front face, effectively mediating between the compact LED structure and the requirement for uniform light distribution.
Solution Approach 2:
The diffusor features an asymmetric back face design where the distance to the backwall varies in different lateral directions. This asymmetric geometry creates non-uniform light paths and scattering patterns that compensate for the inherent non-uniformity of Lambertian emission, ultimately producing uniform luminance at the front face.
2Ease of manufacture
If a symmetric diffusor design is used, then the manufacturing is simplified, but the perceived homogeneity deteriorates due to visible repetitive patterns
Solution Approach 1:
An asymmetric back face geometry is designed for the diffusor, creating varied light scattering paths that eliminate repetitive patterns. The asymmetry ensures that light from different parts of the LED emitter is distributed differently, preventing the formation of visible patterns while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through injection molding.
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 compact lighting element with uniform luminance appearance, effectively masking visual inhomogeneities and allowing for versatile automotive signature lighting despite limited space.
Implementation Method 1
the diffusor comprises a transparent matrix such as transparent silicone and a scatterer such as scattering particles. In particular, the scattering particles are made from TiOx. By the scatterers, light of the at least one light emitting element is diffused and homogenized over the complete front face of the diffusor.
Implementation Method 2
By the asymmetric back face of the diffusor tailored light distribution by the diffusor is feasible in order to achieve the required uniform luminance appearance. Therein, it was surprisingly found by the inventors of the present invention that the asymmetry in the design of the diffusor improved the uniform luminance appearance contrary to a completely symmetric designs of the prior art. The asymmetry induced by the diffusor camouflages the visual inhomogeneity, i.e. the inhomogeneity perceived by the human eye.
Data Source
AI summary
Lighting element in particular for an automobile, comprising a mixing box comprising a backwall and sidewalls extending from the backwall, at least one light emitting element, extending through an opening of the backwall, and a diffusor connected to the mixing box opposite to the backwall and having a front face facing away from the backwall and an opposite back face facing in the direction of the backwall, wherein the diffusor receives light from the at least one light emitting element via its back face and emits light via its front face, wherein the back face of the diffusor extends towards the backwall of the mixing box, wherein the extension of the back face is asymmetrical along at least one lateral direction and the back face is distant of the backwall.