Grating Structure for Uniform Illumination with Distinct Boundaries

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle lamp illumination methods fail to achieve uniform and distinct strip-shaped or planar illumination effects on a large scale, often resulting in fuzzy boundaries and insufficient uniformity.

Innovation Solution

A grating structure comprising light-transmitting strips with arc-shaped cross sections that diffuse light radially, forming uniform strip-shaped light bands with clear boundaries, and an optical structure that uses multiple grating units to create multi-dimensional illumination effects by varying the angle and arrangement of light beams.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If adhesive film is used to achieve planar illumination effect, then the illumination area can be covered, but the illumination uniformity and boundary distinctness deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveillumination areaVSAvoidillumination uniformity and boundary distinctness
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the illumination surface into multiple parallel grating units, each independently diffusing light. This segmentation allows precise control of light diffusion at each unit while covering large areas, resolving the contradiction between coverage area and illumination precision

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The grating units employ arc-shaped cross-sections with specific radius of curvature to achieve controlled light diffusion. The curved geometry naturally diffuses light uniformly in radial directions, creating distinct boundaries and uniform illumination without the fuzziness associated with flat adhesive films

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

2Device complexity

If conventional illumination structures are used, then the structure is simple, but the illumination uniformity and boundary distinctness deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructure simplicityVSAvoidillumination uniformity and boundary distinctness
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes specific geometric parameters of the grating units, including arc radius R1, pitch P between units, and angle α of the arc part. These parameter optimizations enable uniform light diffusion and distinct boundaries while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure that can be manufactured using conventional processes

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Manufacturing precision

If grating units with arc cross section are used, then light diffusion uniformity is improved, but the structural complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight diffusion uniformityVSAvoidgrating unit structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The grating units are implemented as thin, plate-like structures with arc-shaped cross-sections. This thin-film approach achieves the desired light diffusion uniformity through geometric design rather than complex internal structures, maintaining structural simplicity while improving illumination quality

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 grating structure achieves uniform and distinct illumination with enhanced diffusion, allowing for multi-dimensional effects such as strip-shaped, planar, or three-dimensional patterns with clear boundaries, improving the overall illumination quality and clarity.

Implementation Method 1

light of a light source can be diffused in a radial direction of the grating unit, thereby forming a light band of a certain length in a visual field

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDiffraction: Diffraction

Implementation Method 2

a cross section of the grating unit comprises an arc part, so that the grating unit can cause an incident light beam to emerge in a diffused manner along the cross section

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRefraction: Refraction

Data Source

PatentEP4049072B1Grating structure, optical structure and corresponding vehicle lamp and vehicle
Publication Date: 2024.12.25 VALEO VISION SA
  • EP4049072B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4049072B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4049072B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

One problem solved by an embodiment of the present invention is how to obtain a uniform illumination region with a distinct boundary. The present invention provides a grating structure, characterized by comprising a light entry part and multiple grating units; wherein the grating unit is a light-transmitting strip, wherein the multiple grating units are parallel to each other and adjacent grating units are connected together. The present invention has the following advantages: each layer of grating structure can increase the dimension of illumination effect of light beam by one, thereby achieving a required multi-dimensional illumination effect; a strip-shaped, planar or even three-dimensional illumination effect, etc. could be presented; at the same time, the grating structure according to the present invention can realize a distinct and clear boundary, thus making patterns of various dimensionalities presented by the illumination effect more distinct.