Frustum Reflector Side Marker Lamp for Shared Light Packaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Packaging a light source for side marker lamps can be challenging due to their irregular or contoured locations on vehicles, and existing systems often require separate components for different lamp types, increasing complexity.
Innovation Solution
A hollow frustum reflector, typically made of polymer-based materials like molded polycarbonate, is used to redirect light from a shared light source, such as LEDs on a printed circuit board, to a side marker lamp lens, allowing for even light distribution and eliminating the need for a dedicated light source for the side marker lamp.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a dedicated light source is used for each lamp type (side marker lamp, daytime running lamp), then each lamp can be independently illuminated, but the device complexity increases due to multiple separate components
Solution Approach 1:
A single light source is designed to serve multiple lamp types simultaneously. The light source illuminates both the side marker lamp and daytime running lamp through a shared optical path, eliminating the need for separate dedicated light sources for each lamp type while maintaining independent illumination capability.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple lighting functions are merged into a single integrated system. The side marker lamp lens and daytime running lamp lens share a common light source and optical structure, combining what would traditionally be separate lighting assemblies into one unified device.
2Manufacturing precision
If separate components are used for different lamp types, then each lamp can be optimized independently, but the packaging complexity increases due to irregular or contoured locations on vehicles
Solution Approach 1:
The integrated lens structure is designed to perform multiple lighting functions simultaneously. A single lens assembly with specific optical characteristics can direct light for both side marker illumination and daytime running lamp functions, simplifying the packaging while maintaining optimized performance for each function.
3Device complexity
If a shared light source is used for multiple lamp types, then the device complexity is reduced, but the light distribution uniformity becomes challenging to achieve
Solution Approach 1:
The lens structure incorporates region-specific optical properties to achieve uniform light distribution. Different zones of the lens are designed with varying refractive characteristics or surface textures tailored to their specific function, ensuring that light from the shared source is evenly distributed across both the side marker lamp and daytime running lamp areas.
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 frustum reflector ensures uniform illumination of the side marker lamp lens, reducing complexity and enabling efficient light distribution without the need for additional light sources, while also accommodating textured lens surfaces for enhanced light spreading.
Implementation Method 1
the frustum reflector redirects the light from the light source from 80 to 100 degrees
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle lamp assembly includes a light source that emits light, a side marker lamp having a lens, and a frustum reflector that guides light from the light source to the lens of the side marker lamp. A vehicle lighting method includes emitting light from a light source into a frustum reflector, redirecting the light within the frustum reflector, and illuminating a side marker lamp using the light redirected within the frustum reflector.