Flexible Car Lamp Light Source Unit for Multi-Color Emission

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional car lamps using packaged LEDs face challenges with low mass production yield rates, high fabrication costs, and limited flexibility, along with a need for minimizing thickness and maximizing light quantity while achieving multiple lamp functions with a single light source.

Innovation Solution

A car lamp design featuring a flexible light source unit with non-light emitting regions along edges, a light shielding unit, and filter units that transmit specific wavelength bands, allowing for a thin, bendable structure that can emit different colors from a single light source, and utilizing organic light emitting devices with stacked layers for increased light output.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If packaged LEDs are used in car lamps, then light emission function is achieved, but mass production yield rate decreases and fabrication cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemass production yield rateVSAvoidfabrication cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The light source unit is divided into multiple independent light emitting regions, each corresponding to a separate light emitting device. This segmentation allows for modular assembly and testing, improving mass production yield by enabling individual device replacement without discarding entire lamp assemblies.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A single light source unit integrates multiple light emitting devices that can serve different lamp functions (headlight, turn signal, brake light) through selective activation and filtering. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate packaged LED units for different functions, lowering fabrication costs and improving production efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Length of moving object

If conventional lamp structure is used, then lighting function is achieved, but lamp thickness increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelamp thicknessVSAvoidlight quantity
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of moving objectVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions from conventional bulky lamp structures to a planar light source unit where multiple light emitting regions are arranged in two dimensions. This dimensional change allows for thin profile while maintaining or increasing total light emitting area, thus reducing lamp thickness without compromising light quantity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

Multiple light emitting devices and their supporting structures are merged into a single integrated light source unit. This consolidation eliminates redundant components and spacing, achieving a thinner overall lamp structure while maintaining the required light output through efficient spatial arrangement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Adaptability or versatility

If single light source is used, then device complexity decreases, but ability to perform multiple lamp functions decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemultiple lamp functionsVSAvoidlight source structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The light source unit is designed as a universal module containing multiple light emitting devices that can be selectively activated to perform different lamp functions. By integrating multiple devices in one unit with control circuitry, the system achieves multi-functionality without requiring separate lamp assemblies for each function, thereby reducing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the light source unit are optimized for different functions, with specific light emitting devices or regions assigned to specific lamp functions based on their optical characteristics and positioning. This local optimization allows a single light source unit to deliver function-specific performance without requiring entirely separate devices for each function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

4Adaptability or versatility

If rigid light source structure is used, then structural stability is achieved, but flexibility and design freedom decrease

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedesign freedomVSAvoidstructural stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The light source unit employs a flexible substrate or mounting structure that allows the rigid light emitting devices to be arranged in various configurations. This flexible support structure enables design freedom for different lamp shapes and orientations while maintaining the structural stability and electrical connections of the individual light emitting devices through flexible circuitry or mounting mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

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 design achieves a thinner, more flexible car lamp capable of emitting multiple colors from a single source, enhancing light quantity and reducing production costs by using a stacked light source structure with improved light distribution and visibility.

Implementation Method 1

a filter unit, and a light shielding unit, wherein a light emitting region of the light source unit is divided into a plurality of regions... the filter unit comprises a first filter portion overlapping one of the plurality of regions to transmit only light of a predetermined wavelength band therethrough, and a second filter portion overlapping another region different from the one region to transmit only light of a wavelength band different from the light of the predetermined wavelength band

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectWavelength selective transmission: Filter (optical)

Implementation Method 2

the non-light emitting region which does not emit light is formed along an edge of each of the plurality of regions, and a light shielding unit is located at the edge of each of the regions

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight absorption and blocking: Absorption (EM radiation)

Implementation Method 3

The LED itself other than the package is a semiconductor light emitting device of converting a current into light

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectroluminescence: Electroluminescence

Data Source

PatentEP3514446B1Car lamp using semiconductor light emitting device
Publication Date: 2021.12.15 ZKW GRP GMBH
  • EP3514446B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3514446B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3514446B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

The present invention provides a car lamp, including a light source unit provided with a plurality of semiconductor light emitting devices, and having a planar shape, the light source unit having a light emitting region emitting light and a non-light emitting region formed along an edge of the light emitting region, and a filter unit located to overlap the light emitting region so as to transmit only light of a predetermined wavelength band therethrough, wherein the light emitting region of the light source unit is provided with a plurality of regions, and is configured such that at least one of the plurality of regions selectively emits light.