Elongated Light Guide for Uniform Vehicle Lamp Illumination
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle lighting devices face challenges in achieving high efficiency and uniformity due to the need for mirrored reflectors and multiple textured lens filters or closely spaced LED sources, which result in light losses and lower efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A lighting device featuring an elongated light guide with a non-circular profile along an elongated spline curve, a reflector with a reflective channel, and a volumetric diffuser that encapsulates the light guide, utilizing total internal reflection and prismatic optics to direct light uniformly, reducing the need for multiple LED sources and enhancing light distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If multiple spaced apart LED lamps are used, then the lighting device can be implemented with discrete light sources, but uniform light distribution cannot be achieved without additional components that cause light losses
Solution Approach 1:
An elongated light guide acts as an intermediary between the LED light source and the lamp compartment. The light guide receives light from a single LED and transports it along its length, distributing the light uniformly across the vehicle's lamp compartment without requiring multiple LEDs or additional diffusing components that would cause light losses.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a point-source lighting approach (multiple spaced LEDs) to a linear light distribution approach (elongated light guide). By extending the light distribution in one dimension (along the length of the light guide), the system achieves uniform illumination across the lamp compartment without needing multiple discrete light sources.
2Illumination intensity
If multiple textured lens filters or diffusers are positioned in front of LED light sources, then uniform light distribution can be achieved, but light losses increase and lighting efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The elongated light guide serves as an intermediary optical element that inherently distributes light uniformly along its length through total internal reflection and controlled exit surfaces. This eliminates the need for additional textured lens filters or diffusers that would be positioned in front of LED sources, thereby avoiding the light losses and efficiency reductions associated with those components.
3Illumination intensity
If many additional LED sources with close spacing are used, then uniform surface area lighting effect can be achieved, but device complexity and number of components increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the light distribution function from multiple discrete LED sources and consolidates it into a single LED coupled with an elongated light guide. The light guide takes on the role of distributing light uniformly across the lamp compartment, eliminating the need for many additional LED sources and simplifying the overall device structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The elongated light guide performs multiple functions: it transports light from the LED source, distributes light uniformly along its length, and shapes the light output to match the lamp compartment geometry. This multi-functional component replaces what would otherwise require multiple LED sources and associated mounting, wiring, and control infrastructure.
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 provides high-efficiency and uniform lighting with reduced light losses, achieving a homogeneous appearance and increased lighting efficiency while minimizing the number of required light sources.
Implementation Method 1
The light guide's surfaces allow light to propagate along a length of the light guide by the principal of total internal reflection
Implementation Method 2
The elongated light guide is provided with prismatic optics that are arranged to direct light normal to the light guide's exit optic surface into the volumetric diffuser
Implementation Method 3
The reflector has a reflective base wall, a reflective first side wall, and a reflective second side wall each extending away from opposite ends of the base wall that together define a reflective channel
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle lighting device includes an elongated light guide, a reflector, and a volumetric diffuser. The elongated light guide is provided with a non-circular profile that is swept along an elongated spline curve that closely follows a shape of a vehicle's lamp compartment. Light propagates along the length of the light guide by the principal of total internal reflection and is directed towards the diffuser via prismatic optics. The reflector forms a channel around the light guide and redirects scattered light towards the volumetric diffuser. The light guide and reflector together illuminate the volumetric diffuser surface which transmits light into a beam pattern to provide a uniformly lit lighting device.