Fiber Optic Light Panel for Vehicle Lighting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle lighting systems face challenges in providing aesthetically appealing designs that meet both technical and styling requirements, as they often require numerous components and are not easily adaptable to vehicle contours.
Innovation Solution
A fiber optic light panel device with multiple optical fibers arranged to define an illumination region, optically coupled to light sources, allowing for versatile lighting effects and spatial variations, including dynamic and aesthetic outputs, to enhance both functionality and styling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional vehicle lighting systems use multiple components (reflectors, cut-off devices, etc.), then lighting functionality and technical specifications are met, but device complexity and component count increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple lighting functions (tail lamp, stop lamp, reverse lamp, turn signal) into a single fiber optic panel assembly. The fiber optic panel integrates light transmission from multiple LED sources positioned at different locations, eliminating the need for separate reflectors, housings, and mounting structures for each lighting function. This merging reduces component count while maintaining all required lighting functionalities.
Solution Approach 2:
The fiber optic panel serves multiple lighting functions simultaneously. By positioning LED sources at different locations around the panel and controlling their activation, the single panel structure provides tail lamp illumination, stop lamp brightness, reverse lamp visibility, and turn signal indication. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for dedicated components for each lighting function.
2Adaptability or versatility
If fiber optic light panels are used for aesthetic lighting effects, then adaptability to vehicle styling is improved, but lighting intensity and technical specification compliance may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions multiple LED light sources at specific locations around the fiber optic panel (first LED at first location, second LED at second location, etc.). Each LED can be independently controlled to provide appropriate illumination intensity for different lighting functions. This local positioning ensures that aesthetic flexibility is maintained while meeting photometric intensity requirements for stop lamps and other safety-critical functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically controls different LED sources based on lighting function requirements. The controller activates specific LEDs at specific locations depending on whether tail lamp, stop lamp, reverse lamp, or turn signal function is needed. This dynamic control allows the fiber optic panel to adapt its light output characteristics to meet both aesthetic preferences and technical specification requirements for each lighting function.
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 a versatile and aesthetically pleasing vehicle lighting system that meets technical specifications, offering adaptable designs and enhanced lighting functionality, including spatial and dynamic effects, while reducing complexity and component count.
Implementation Method 1
A fiber optic light panel includes a plurality of optical fibers each configured to emit light along a respective length of the optical fiber
Data Source
AI summary
In one embodiment, a lighting device for a vehicle includes a first light source configured to generate first light, and a second light source configured to generate second light. A fiber optic light panel is optically coupled to the first and second light sources and includes a plurality of optical fibers each configured to emit light along a respective length of the optical fiber. The plurality of optical fibers are arranged to define an illumination region such that the first and second light is output from the illumination region.