Automotive Glazing Waveguide for Photoluminescent Light Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optical devices for displaying images through luminescent materials are not robust and inefficient in guiding light to induce photoluminescence, leading to suboptimal performance.
Innovation Solution
The proposed optical device uses a glazing with a photoluminescent structure and a light source optically coupled to the glazing, injecting excitation light at a lateral end face to propagate through the glazing via total internal reflection, enhancing light trapping and efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If light is injected parallel to the laminated layer at the edge of the lighting unit, then the structure is simple, but the light propagation efficiency is low and the device is not robust
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from edge injection (1D) to surface injection (2D) of excitation light. The light source is positioned on the surface of the glazing and injects light laterally into the waveguide structure, enabling two-dimensional light propagation across the photoluminescent layer. This dimensional change significantly improves light distribution efficiency and device robustness while maintaining manufacturing simplicity.
2Device complexity
If conventional light injection methods are used, then the device structure is simple, but the light trapping efficiency is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The glazing structure itself serves as the waveguide, utilizing its inherent optical properties (refractive index difference between glass/polymer and air) to guide light propagation. The lateral surface of the glazing acts as the injection interface, and the photoluminescent layer integrated within the glazing structure directly converts the guided light. This self-service approach eliminates the need for separate waveguide components and achieves high light trapping efficiency through the natural waveguide effect of the glazing.
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
This solution improves the efficiency of light propagation and photoluminescence induction, resulting in a more robust and effective optical device for displaying images, with enhanced light trapping and control.
Implementation Method 1
the light is guided to propagate through the glazing from the first lateral end face to the second lateral end face, the glazing forming a waveguide between the top surface and the bottom surface by total internal reflection of the light at the top outer surface and the bottom outer surface
Implementation Method 2
the absorbed radiation may lie in the ultraviolet region of the spectrum, and thus invisible to the human eye, while the emitted light is in the visible region, which gives the fluorescent substance a distinct color that can be seen only when exposed to UV light
Implementation Method 3
using the diffraction at the interface between the outer layer made of glass or of an optically clear polymer material, having a refractive index superior at the refractive index of the ambient air, to cause the internal reflection of the light into the glazing
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention proposes an optical device according to claim 1. The optical device comprises a glazing with a top outer surface and a bottom outer surface extending between a first lateral end face and a second lateral end face. The glazing comprises at least one outer layer made of glass or of an optically clear polymer material. The glazing comprises a photoluminescent structure having one or more photoluminescent domains. The optical device comprises a light source for injecting excitation light into said glazing, said excitation light being suitable to excite the one or more photoluminescent domains to induce photoluminescence of the one or more photoluminescent domains. The light source is optically coupled to the glazing to inject light such that the light injected at the first lateral end face of the glazing so that the light is guided to propagate through the glazing from the first lateral end face to the second lateral end face, the glazing forming a waveguide between the top surface and the bottom surface by total internal reflection of the light at the top outer surface and the bottom outer surface, to induce photoluminescence of the one or more photoluminescent domains.