Automotive Light Planar OLED Rear Reflector
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current automotive rear lights rely on punctiform LED diodes, limiting the creation of diverse and elaborate light patterns and effects due to their emitting characteristics and supporting board dimensions, which restricts differentiation in vehicle visibility, especially in low-light conditions.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates plate-like OLED diodes with transparent and photo-inactive sectors, along with a rear refracting member and light-guide body, allowing for distributed light emission and redirection to produce unique and dynamic light patterns by utilizing the photo-inactive sectors to redirect light in specific directions, enabling new and elaborate light effects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If punctiform LED diodes are used to backlight transparent portions, then the light sources can be arranged on a supporting board, but the light distribution is difficult to make homogeneous and elaborate light patterns are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical arrangement of multiple punctiform LED diodes on a supporting board with a planar OLED diode that inherently provides distributed light emission across its entire surface, eliminating the need for complex mechanical positioning of multiple components
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter of light source geometry from punctiform (point sources) to planar (surface source), which fundamentally alters the light distribution characteristics and enables homogeneous illumination without requiring numerous individual diodes
2Adaptability or versatility
If LED diodes are arranged to meet photometric specifications, then the light intensity can be controlled, but the creation of diverse and elaborate light patterns is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from one-dimensional arrangement of LED diodes on a supporting board to two-dimensional planar light emission from the OLED diode, enabling creation of elaborate light patterns across the entire surface area
Solution Approach 2:
The planar OLED diode serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides homogeneous background illumination, creates elaborate light patterns, and enables dynamic light effects, replacing what would otherwise require multiple separate lighting components
3Illumination intensity
If a large number of LED diodes is used to achieve homogeneous light distribution, then the photometric specifications can be met, but the device complexity and supporting board size increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple punctiform light sources into a single planar light source that inherently provides homogeneous illumination across its entire surface, eliminating the need for a large supporting board to accommodate numerous individual diodes
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 allows for the creation of distinct and elaborate light patterns and effects that differentiate vehicles, enhancing visibility and aesthetic appeal beyond conventional rear lights, with the ability to produce dynamic signals through sequential lighting.
Implementation Method 1
a rear refracting member 12 arranged facing the rear face 10 of the OLED diode 8 and is structured to redirect the light rays r b emitted from the rear face 10 towards the photo-inactive transparent sector 10b
Implementation Method 2
a light-guide body 13 made of photoconductive material, which is arranged directly facing the rear face 10 of OLED diode 8 and is structured to collect the light rays rb coming out from the rear face 10 of the OLED diode 8 and then re-direct the light rays rb towards the photo-inactive transparent sector 10b
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4
AI summary
An automotive light (1) comprising: a rear body (2); a front lenticular half-shell (3), which is set to close the mouth of the rear body (2) and is provided with at least one transparent or semi-transparent portion; and at least one lighting assembly (4), which emits light upon 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) being provided with a planar OLED light source (6), which faces the inner surface of the front lenticular half-shell (3) and comprises: at least one plate-like OLED (8), which is able to emit light in a distributed way from its own front face (9) and from its own rear face (10); and a rear refracting member (12), which is set facing the rear face (10) of the OLED (8) and is designed to re-direct the light (rb) that exits from the rear face (10) of the OLED (8) towards a transverse light passage (11) present in the OLED (8) in a direction such that said light (rb) can traverse the OLED (8) and then exit from the front face (9) of the OLED (8).