Vehicle Headlamp Optical Fiber Light Routing and Homogenization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing motor vehicle headlamps using light-emitting diodes face challenges with bulky cooling devices that offer limited positioning flexibility, as they must be closely arranged with the light sources, and struggle to produce a diffuse, homogeneous light signal.
Innovation Solution
The use of flexible optical fibers as light guides that allow for the free positioning of light sources and cooling devices, combined with a conversion element that increases the angular aperture of light beams to achieve a more homogeneous light signal, utilizing a homogenizing element and phosphor materials to enhance light distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If cooling devices are arranged close to light-emitting diodes to dissipate heat, then heat dissipation efficiency is improved, but positioning flexibility is reduced and device bulk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention separates the light source from the headlamp assembly using optical fibers as intermediaries. The light-emitting diode and cooling device can be positioned independently in a remote location, while the optical fibers transmit light to the headlamp. This segmentation allows the cooling device to maintain close proximity to the light source for efficient heat dissipation while enabling flexible positioning away from the headlamp assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
Optical fibers serve as intermediaries between the light source and the headlamp assembly. These flexible fiber bundles transmit light over distances while allowing independent positioning of the light source and cooling device. The intermediary optical fiber system decouples the thermal management requirements from the headlamp positioning constraints.
2Adaptability or versatility
If light guides are used to route light from light source to projector, then positioning freedom is improved, but light beam angular aperture is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses a bundle of multiple optical fibers arranged in a two-dimensional array rather than a single fiber. This dimensional approach allows the collective output of all fibers to cover a wider angular aperture while each individual fiber maintains its low aperture characteristics, thus preserving positioning freedom while improving illumination coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple optical fibers are merged into a single bundle to collectively provide wider angular aperture coverage. The combined output of numerous individual fiber beams creates an effective wide-angle light source while each fiber continues to transmit light efficiently over distance, maintaining positioning flexibility.
3Length of moving object
If optical fibers with small core diameter are used, then flexibility and fineness of light guides is improved, but light gathering capability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The light transmission function is segmented across multiple thin optical fibers rather than relying on a single large-core fiber. Each thin fiber maintains flexibility and fine dimensions, while the collective array of fibers captures sufficient light through their combined cross-sectional area, thus preserving both flexibility and light gathering capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the parameter of fiber core diameter to be small for flexibility, but compensates by increasing the number of fibers in the bundle. This parameter transformation maintains the flexibility advantage of thin fibers while achieving adequate light gathering through numerical multiplication of the fiber count.
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
This solution enables flexible placement of light sources and cooling devices, producing a diffuse and homogeneous light signal with reduced non-emitting zones, improving aesthetic and optical effects while maintaining efficient heat dissipation.
Implementation Method 1
By light guide is meant an optical part arranged in such a way as to allow the propagation of light by internal reflection(s) total(s) from an entry interface to a main exit interface
Implementation Method 2
the conversion element makes it possible to increase this angular aperture in order to obtain a diffuse, more homogeneous light signal
Implementation Method 3
the conversion element comprises at least one phosphor
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a lighting device, particularly for motor vehicles, comprising at least one light source (1), several light guides (2), and at least one conversion element (6), said light guides (2) being capable of conveying light from the light source (1) to the conversion element (6), said light guides being configured to generate light beams having a specific angular aperture, said conversion element (5) being designed to be traversed by said light beams in order to increase the angular aperture of said light beams. The invention further relates to a projector comprising such a lighting device.