Vehicular Fog Lamp Using Semiconductor Light Sources
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicular lighting systems are inefficient in utilizing semiconductor light sources for producing desired illumination patterns other than headlamp patterns, and effective cooling of high-output semiconductor light sources is challenging in vehicular environments.
Innovation Solution
A compact vehicular lighting fixture that employs semiconductor light sources mounted on a substrate with an optical body and cooling fins, along with power regulation circuitry and a lens, to produce desired light patterns while ensuring efficient heat dissipation and light utilization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conventional lighting system designs are used for semiconductor light sources, then the system structure is simple, but the light utilization efficiency is too low
Solution Approach 1:
An optical body (lens) is introduced as an intermediary component between the semiconductor light source and the environment. This optical body efficiently directs and shapes the light output, improving light utilization while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure. The optical body acts as a mediator that transforms the light distribution pattern without requiring complex mechanical or electrical systems.
2Illumination intensity
If high output semiconductor light sources are used, then the light output level is sufficient, but effective cooling becomes challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling function is merged with the housing structure of the lighting fixture. The housing is designed to incorporate thermal management features such as heat sinks or thermally conductive pathways that directly contact the semiconductor light source. This integration allows high output light sources to be used while avoiding the need for separate, complex cooling systems.
3Temperature
If multiple low-output LEDs are used in conventional fixtures, then the cooling requirement is reduced, but the light utilization efficiency remains low
Solution Approach 1:
The optical body serves as a critical intermediary that enables efficient light utilization even with multiple low-output LEDs. By properly positioning and designing the optical body, the collective light output from multiple LEDs is effectively directed and shaped, achieving high light utilization efficiency without requiring the LEDs to be high-power devices with complex cooling needs.
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 enables efficient use of semiconductor light sources to produce desired light patterns in vehicular lighting systems, such as fog lamps and driving lamps, with effective cooling and compact design, suitable for retrofitting existing vehicles.
Implementation Method 1
a base member for mounting the fixture to a vehicle, with the substrate being affixed to the base member and in thermal connection with the base member. There is also set of cooling fins in thermal connection with the base member to remove waste heat from the base member
Implementation Method 2
set of cooling fins in thermal connection with the base member to remove waste heat from the base member
Implementation Method 3
The optical body includes a light receiving surface and a light output surface. The optical body is mounted to the substrate such that the light receiving surface is located immediately adjacent the light emitting surface of the semiconductor light source
Implementation Method 4
The optical body includes a light receiving surface and a light output surface. The optical body is mounted to the substrate such that the light receiving surface is located immediately adjacent the light emitting surface of the semiconductor light source
Implementation Method 5
The present invention also has a lens allowing light output from the light output surface of the optical body to exit the fixture
Data Source
AI summary
A novel vehicular light fixture (10) is disclosed. The light fixture (10) is compact, yet efficient, and employs semiconductor light sources (44) to produce output light in desired patterns. The fixture (10) can be used to produce fog lamps, driving lamps and other non-headlamp vehicle lighting functions. Depending upon the light output required, one or more semiconductor light sources (44) and a corresponding number of optical bodies (64) are employed in the fixture (10) to produce the desired light pattern.