Elliptical Light Projection Lens for Uniform Road Illumination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional lighting equipment for mobile objects, such as vehicles, struggles to uniformly illuminate road surfaces with a long spot shape, as the elongated shape of the object leads to uneven light distribution.
Innovation Solution
A light projection lens with an inner surface featuring a first concave portion and an outer surface, where the outer surface and concave portion have a difference in radius of curvature, and the concave portion is elliptical, allowing infrared light to exit in a manner that creates a long, uniformly intense spot on the road surface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If conventional lighting equipment is used to illuminate the road surface alongside a mobile object, then the light can cover the area, but the spot shape becomes short and the light intensity becomes non-uniform due to the elongated shape of the mobile object
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by designing the light projection lens with an elliptical cross-section where the first and second principal curvatures are different. This asymmetric lens geometry transforms the light distribution pattern to produce a long-shaped spot on the illumination surface while maintaining uniform light intensity, directly resolving the contradiction between spot shape and intensity uniformity that plagues conventional symmetric lighting designs
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes parameter changes by specifically controlling the relationship between the first principal curvature and the second principal curvature of the light projection lens. By adjusting these curvature parameters to be different values, the lens transforms the light distribution characteristics to achieve both the desired long spot shape and uniform intensity distribution on the road surface
2Illumination intensity
If conventional lighting equipment is used, then the structure can be simple, but the light distribution cannot achieve both long spot shape and uniform intensity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent achieves uniform light intensity distribution by changing the optical parameters of a single lens structure. By setting the first and second principal curvatures to different values, the lens inherently produces the desired light distribution pattern without requiring complex multi-element systems, thus achieving uniform intensity while maintaining relatively simple device structure
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs curved surfaces with specific curvature characteristics to achieve the desired light distribution. The light projection lens uses spheroidal geometry with different principal curvatures to transform the light from the point source, creating both the long spot shape and uniform intensity distribution through the inherent optical properties of the curved surface rather than through complex mechanical or electronic control systems
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 light projection lens enables uniform light intensity and a long spot shape on the road surface, effectively illuminating the area alongside the mobile object, enhancing visibility for cameras capturing infrared images.
Implementation Method 1
a light projection lens which covers the light source, and includes: an inner surface which the infrared light emitted from the light source enters; and an outer surface from which the infrared light exits
Data Source
AI summary
A light projection lens includes: an inner surface which light emitted from a light source enters, and includes a first concave portion; and an outer surface from which the light exits. In a cross section parallel to an optical axis of the light emitted from the light source, the outer surface and the first concave portion have a difference in radius of curvature in at least a portion of the outer surface and the first concave portion. In a cross section perpendicular to the optical axis of the light emitted from the light source, the first concave portion has an elliptical shape. The light which exits from the outer surface is lesser in amount in an optical axis direction of the light emitted from the light source than in a direction different from the optical axis direction.