Automotive Optical Device Curved Light Guide Matrix
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current automotive lighting devices face challenges in achieving a desired beam pattern and light intensity distribution while maintaining high efficiency and cost-effectiveness, as existing designs struggle to optimize light transmission and reduce reflections and optical distortions.
Innovation Solution
The proposed optical device incorporates a matrix of light guides with curved side faces and a secondary optics system, utilizing total internal reflection and carefully designed curvatures to achieve a desired gradient light intensity distribution along a specific direction, such as vertically, by adjusting the slope and orientation of light guides and their exit faces to maximize light usage and minimize distortions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional primary optics designs are used, then device complexity is reduced, but light intensity distribution control and beam pattern precision deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies curved side faces to light guides instead of conventional flat or simple geometric shapes. The curvature of the side faces is specifically designed to control light reflection angles and paths, enabling precise gradient light intensity distribution along the exit face while maintaining a manageable structural complexity through continuous curved surfaces rather than complex multi-component assemblies.
2Illumination intensity
If light guides with curved side faces are used, then light intensity distribution is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent controls light intensity distribution by varying the curvature parameter along the length of the light guide side faces. Instead of requiring extremely precise fixed geometric shapes, the design uses controlled parameter changes (curvature radius variations) that can be manufactured within standard tolerances while still achieving the desired gradient light output through the cumulative effect of multiple reflection events.
3Loss of energy
If multiple total internal reflections are utilized, then light transmission efficiency is improved, but light distribution homogeneity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different curvature characteristics to different sections of the light guide side faces. By making the curvature locally adaptive rather than uniform, each section of the light guide contributes differently to the overall light distribution, with steeper curvatures directing light to specific regions and gentler curvatures allowing more uniform distribution, thereby achieving both high transmission efficiency through multiple reflections and homogeneous light output.
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 ensures a homogeneous and efficient light distribution, reducing reflections and optical aberrations, and allows for precise control of light intensity, effectively projecting a desired beam pattern suitable for automotive applications like high beams.
Implementation Method 1
configured to guide light incident at the light entrance face via total internal reflection in a light guiding direction of the light guide to the light exit face where light is refracted out towards the secondary optics
Implementation Method 2
light is refracted out towards the secondary optics
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to an optical device for automotive lighting. The optical device comprises: a plurality of light sources; a plurality of primary optics arranged in a matrix and configured to receive and redirect light from the plurality of light sources; and a secondary optics configured to receive the redirected light from the plurality of primary optics and project out the received light into a desired beam pattern. Each of the primary optics is shaped as a light guide with a light entrance face and a light exit face at two opposite ends thereof, which light guide is configured to guide light incident at the light entrance face via total internal reflection to the light exit face where light is refracted out towards the secondary optics. Each light guide further comprises a plurality of side faces extending between the light entrance face and the light exit face. For at least one light guide, at least one side face comprises a curved face, whose curvatures at different positions are designed, by sweeping a polygonal line along a direction perpendicular to the desired direction and perpendicular to a light guiding direction of the at least one light guide, such that a first desired gradient light intensity distribution is projected out along a desired direction by the secondary optics.