Closed-Loop Optical Waveguide Layout for Uniform Vehicle Lighting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lighting devices using optical waveguides in motor vehicles suffer from non-uniform light emission, with more light emitted near the light entry points and difficulty in achieving a homogeneous lighting effect.
Innovation Solution
A lighting device design featuring a closed-loop optical waveguide with multiple light sources on a single printed circuit board, where light enters through dedicated light-entry sections that are strategically positioned and curved to propagate light uniformly along the waveguide, ensuring homogeneous lighting with a compact assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single light source is used to illuminate the optical waveguide, then the device complexity is reduced, but the lighting uniformity deteriorates with bright areas near the light entry points
Solution Approach 1:
The optical waveguide is divided into multiple light-entry sections, each receiving light from separate light sources. This segmentation allows light to be introduced at multiple points along the waveguide, distributing the illumination more evenly and eliminating the bright spots that occur with a single light entry point.
Solution Approach 2:
Different sections of the optical waveguide are assigned different functions: some sections serve as light-entry sections where light is introduced, while others serve as light-emitting sections where light exits. This local differentiation optimizes the performance of each section and contributes to overall lighting uniformity.
2Illumination intensity
If multiple light sources are positioned on separate printed circuit boards, then the lighting uniformity improves, but the device complexity and volume increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple light sources that would traditionally require separate printed circuit boards are merged onto a single printed circuit board. This consolidation achieves the lighting uniformity benefits of multiple light sources while significantly reducing the assembly volume and simplifying the overall device structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The light sources are arranged in a multi-dimensional layout on the printed circuit board, with some sources positioned on the upper surface and others on the lower surface. This spatial arrangement allows multiple light sources to be accommodated in a compact footprint, improving lighting uniformity without increasing assembly volume.
3Illumination intensity
If light-entry sections are positioned far apart to cover the entire waveguide length, then the lighting uniformity improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The printed circuit board serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides structural support, routes electrical connections to multiple light sources, and positions the light sources at optimal locations along the optical waveguide. This multi-functionality reduces overall device complexity while achieving uniform lighting.
Solution Approach 2:
The printed circuit board acts as an intermediary element that coordinates the positioning and electrical connection of multiple light sources. By centralizing control and positioning functions in the printed circuit board, the system achieves lighting uniformity without increasing assembly complexity.
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 achieves a uniformly lit, compact lighting device with reduced wiring and material usage, simplifying assembly and cooling, while maintaining a robust and efficient light emission over the entire length of the waveguide.
Implementation Method 1
optical waveguide has a light-emitting section in the form of a closed loop which is configured to propagate light on the basis of total internal reflection over its length
Data Source
AI summary
A lighting device for a motor vehicle is provided with an optical waveguide and a printed circuit board. The printed circuit board has an upper surface and an opposite, lower surface in the vertical direction (Z). The printed circuit board is populated with a first light source and second light source. The optical waveguide has: a light-emitting section forming a closed loop and propagates light along the light-emitting section based on total internal reflection, wherein the light-emitting section has light-emitting optics along the light-emitting section for emitting a portion of the light propagated along the light-emitting section; a first light-entry section; and a second light-entry section.