Automotive Lighting Beam Splitting with Reflector-Guided Dual Illumination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automotive lighting and signaling devices using a single luminous source to power both main and secondary illuminating portions are inefficient, leading to reduced light output in the main portion or the need for increased power, and suffer from construction and assembly redundancies due to inadequate beam division and channeling optics.
Innovation Solution
A lighting and signaling device with a distribution element that splits the luminous beam into a main and secondary beam upstream of the light guide, using reflectors to direct these beams efficiently into separate sections, optimizing energy distribution and maintaining the main illuminating portion's area.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single luminous source is used to power both main and secondary illuminating portions, then construction complexity and cost are reduced, but energy efficiency deteriorates and main illuminating area is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The light guide is segmented into a first light guide portion for the main illuminating portion and a second light guide portion for the secondary illuminating portion. The distribution element divides the luminous beam into a first beam for the main portion and a second beam for the secondary portion, allowing efficient separation of light paths while using a single luminous source.
Solution Approach 2:
A distribution element is introduced as an intermediary component between the single luminous source and the two illuminating portions. This distribution element efficiently divides the luminous beam into appropriate portions for each illuminating area, resolving the energy efficiency problem while maintaining the simplicity of using one luminous source.
2Adaptability or versatility
If optical elements such as inclined walls or prisms are used to deflect light towards the secondary illuminating portion, then the secondary illuminating function is achieved, but the area of the main illuminating portion is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using optical elements that intrude into the main illuminating area, the light guide is segmented into distinct first and second portions. This allows the main illuminating portion to maintain its full area while the secondary portion receives light through a separate path via the distribution element.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution moves from using optical elements within the main illuminating plane (which reduce area) to a three-dimensional light guide structure where light is divided and channeled through separate spatial paths, preserving the main illuminating area while achieving dual functionality.
3Device complexity
If the luminous beam is divided into two portions to power both main and secondary illuminating portions, then a single luminous source can be used, but energy efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The distribution element acts as an efficient intermediary that divides the luminous beam into optimally proportioned portions for the main and secondary illuminating areas. This intermediary structure minimizes energy loss during beam division and ensures efficient light delivery to both illuminating portions.
Solution Approach 2:
The distribution element is designed with specific geometric parameters and optical properties that optimize the division of the luminous beam. By carefully controlling the parameters of beam division and light guide configuration, energy efficiency is maximized while achieving dual illuminating functions.
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 device achieves efficient lighting of both main and secondary illuminating portions with a single luminous source, reducing redundancy and costs while maintaining optical performance and complying with regulatory luminous flux requirements.
Implementation Method 1
a distribution element interposed between said light guide and said luminous source, upstream of said light guide, configured to divide the luminous beam into a main luminous beam, inserted into the main section, and into a secondary luminous beam, inserted into the secondary section
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 5
AI summary
A lighting and/or signaling device (4), in particular for the automotive sector, comprising a container body (8) which delimits a containment seat (12) closed by a lenticular body (20), at least one luminous source (16) arranged and supported inside said containment seat (12), configured to emit, when powered, a luminous beam comprising a plurality of luminous rays (R), a light guide (24) adapted to receive and transmit the luminous beam received from said luminous source (16), wherein the light guide (24) comprises a main section (28), configured to emit a main light beam (P) of the luminous beam, by means of a main illuminating portion (32), and a secondary section (36), configured to emit a secondary light beam (S) of the luminous beam, by means of a secondary illuminating portion (40). Advantageously, a distribution element (44) is interposed between the light guide (24) and the luminous source (16), upstream of the light guide (24), configured to divide the luminous beam into said main luminous beam (P), inserted into the main section (28) by means of a main interface (48), and into said secondary luminous beam (S), inserted into the secondary section (36) by means of a secondary interface (52), wherein, at said main interface (48), a main reflector (56) is provided, which divides the main luminous beam (P) from the secondary luminous beam (S), and wherein, at said secondary interface (52), a secondary reflector (60) is provided, which deflects the secondary luminous beam (S) in the secondary section (36) .