Automotive Light OLED LED Light Guide
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current automotive rear lights are limited in producing diverse and elaborate light patterns and effects due to the punctiform nature of LED diodes and the constraints of their supporting boards, which restricts their ability to meet aesthetic and distinguishability requirements, especially in low-light conditions.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates OLED planar light sources and LED concentrated light sources, where the latter's light is channeled through a photoconductive light-guide body to the OLED, enabling the creation of new and dynamic light patterns, while maintaining the LED at a safe distance to prevent heat interference and allowing for hidden electrical components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If LED diodes are used as light sources, then the light source structure is simple and energy consumption is low, but the light distribution is non-uniform and elaborate light patterns cannot be created
Solution Approach 1:
A light guide body is introduced as an intermediary component between the LED light source and the transparent portion. The LED emits light that is guided and distributed through the light guide body, which then provides uniform illumination across the transparent portion. This mediator resolves the contradiction by transforming the non-uniform punctiform LED light into uniform area illumination without requiring numerous LED diodes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical arrangement of multiple punctiform LED diodes on a supporting board with an optical system using a light guide body. Instead of mechanically positioning many LED diodes to achieve uniform light distribution, the system uses optical principles (light guidance and diffusion) to achieve the same effect with a single or few LED diodes, thereby simplifying the device structure.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple LED diodes are arranged to create elaborate light patterns, then light effects can be enhanced, but the device complexity and supporting board dimensions increase
Solution Approach 1:
The light guide body is designed with different local optical properties to create various light patterns. By modifying specific regions of the light guide body (such as adding reflective surfaces, diffusive zones, or transparent sections), different light effects can be achieved without changing the overall LED diode arrangement or supporting board structure. This allows versatile light patterns while maintaining simple device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent achieves different light effects by changing optical parameters of the light guide body and transparent portion rather than changing the LED diode configuration. Parameters such as refractive index, surface roughness, thickness, and transparency of different regions can be adjusted to produce various light patterns, enabling adaptability without increasing device complexity.
3Volume of moving object
If LED diodes are placed close to the transparent portion for direct backlighting, then the light structure is compact, but heat generated by LEDs may damage the transparent portion
Solution Approach 1:
The light guide body serves as a thermal intermediary between the LED diodes and the transparent portion. It provides thermal isolation while maintaining optical coupling, allowing the LED to be positioned close to the transparent portion for compact design without direct thermal contact that could cause damage. The light guide body conducts light efficiently while being thermally isolating or dissipating heat away from the transparent portion.
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 configuration allows for the creation of elaborate and distinct light patterns and effects, enhances the visibility of vehicles in low light, and prevents heat damage to OLED diodes, while also concealing electrical components for a cleaner design.
Implementation Method 1
a photoconductive light-guide body located within the rear body, between the OLED and the LED, and structured so as to convey the light emitted by the LED towards the OLED
Implementation Method 2
an OLED-type planar light source which is able to emit light in a distributed manner from its own front face
Implementation Method 3
a LED-type concentrated light source which is located within the rear body, spaced apart behind the planar light source
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
An automotive light (1) comprising a rear body (2), a front lenticular half-shell (3) placed to close the mouth of the rear body (2) and provided with at least one transparent or semi-transparent portion, and at least one lighting assembly (4, 5) which emits light on command and is located within the rear body (2) so as to backlight the transparent or semi-transparent portion of the front lenticular half-shell (3); the lighting assembly (4, 5) comprising, in turn, an OLED-type planar light source (8, 28) which is capable to emit light from its own front face and is located within the rear body (2) with its front face turned towards the inner surface of the front lenticular half-shell (3), so as to direct the emitted light towards the front lenticular half-shell (3); a rear supporting structure (9, 29) which is located/fixed within the body (2) and is designed to support the planar light source (8, 28); and a LED-type concentrated light source (10, 30) which is located within the body (2), spaced apart behind the planar light source (8, 28), and is oriented so as to direct the emitted light towards the rear supporting structure (9, 29); the rear supporting structure (9, 29) being made of photoconductive material so as to form a light-guide body (9, 29) that is able to channel/convey the light produced by the concentrated light source (10, 30) up to the planar light source (8, 28), and then to let said light come out through the planar light source (8, 28).