Automotive Light Guide with Low Absorption Medium
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current automotive lighting systems face challenges in maintaining a sleek, elongated appearance while meeting stringent photometric requirements, such as those defined in Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 108, especially when transitioning from an unlit to a lit state.
Innovation Solution
A light guide with an elongated body and side walls enclosing a minimally absorptive medium, optimized for specific wavelengths and color criteria, combined with micro-texturing and diffusive agents to achieve homogeneous lighting and meet aesthetic and functional specifications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If a light guide is designed to provide a long, seamless, sleek appearance in an unlit state, then aesthetic appeal is improved, but meeting stringent automotive photometric requirements in the lit state becomes challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by optimizing the refractive index of the light guide medium to be within a specific range (1.45 to 1.65) and controlling the absorption coefficient to be within 0.01 to 0.1 mm⁻¹. These parameter optimizations enable the light guide to maintain its sleek appearance while achieving homogeneous light distribution and meeting photometric requirements such as FMVSS No. 108.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite materials by combining a light guide medium with specific optical properties (refractive index 1.45 to 1.65, absorption coefficient 0.01 to 0.1 mm⁻¹) with a light source and housing structure. This composite approach allows the system to simultaneously achieve aesthetic appearance and photometric performance requirements.
2Shape
If a colorant is added to the light guide medium to meet color criteria, then color accuracy is improved, but light absorption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by precisely controlling the absorption coefficient parameter to be within 0.01 to 0.1 mm⁻¹. This parameter optimization allows the light guide medium to achieve the required color accuracy through colorant addition while minimizing light absorption and maintaining high transmittance efficiency.
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 seamless, aesthetically appealing light blade that meets photometric requirements with enhanced transmittance efficiency and even light distribution, minimizing abrupt changes and dark spots, thus addressing the challenges of maintaining appearance and functionality.
Implementation Method 1
The light guide has an inboard side wall and an outboard side wall extending between the entrance face and the exit face. The entrance face, the exit face, the inboard sidewall and the outboard side wall enclose a medium having a refractive index within a range and an absorption coefficient within a range by which the medium meets a color criterion while being minimally absorptive at a wavelength of the light.
Implementation Method 2
The entrance face, the exit face, the inboard sidewall and the outboard side wall enclose a medium having a refractive index within a range... by which the medium meets a color criterion while being minimally absorptive
Data Source
AI summary
A light guide has an elongated body that includes an entrance face at which light is admitted into the light guide and an exit face at which the light emanates from the light guide. The light guide has an inboard side wall and an outboard side wall extending between the entrance face and the exit face. The entrance face, the exit face, the inboard side wall and the outboard side wall enclose a medium containing a colorant by which the medium meets a color criterion while minimizing light absorption at a wavelength of the light.