Vehicle Headlamp Light Guide for Parasitic Ray Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current headlight designs using LED or OLED light sources with reflectors and sleeves for deflecting light through plastic covers lack control over parasitic rays, leading to undesirable reflections and impaired appearance.
Innovation Solution
A headlight assembly incorporating a translucent front cover, a light guide with a closed loop section, and an opaque sleeve cover with an opening, where the light guide directs parasitic light for illumination and deflects it to enhance appearance, using a colorant-emitting optical fiber to distinguish light effects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a sleeve is used to deflect light rays passing through the front opening to the plastic covers, then the light distribution is improved, but parasitic rays reach the plastic covers and impair their appearance-enhancing functionality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and separates parasitic rays from the main light beam by introducing a light guide element that selectively captures only the parasitic rays reflected from the reflector, while allowing the main beam to pass through unaffected. This extraction principle resolves the contradiction by isolating the harmful parasitic rays for separate handling through the opening in the sleeve.
Solution Approach 2:
The light guide element acts as an intermediary between the reflector and the plastic cover, mediating the interaction by selectively guiding parasitic rays away from the plastic cover while allowing the main light beam to continue its path. This intermediary structure enables controlled light management that prevents parasitic ray interference.
2Illumination intensity
If additional light sources are provided for illuminating the light guide, then the illumination effect is enhanced, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The light guide element illuminates itself by utilizing parasitic rays that are already present in the system and reflected from the reflector. The opening in the sleeve allows these parasitic rays to enter the light guide, eliminating the need for separate illumination sources. This self-service approach resolves the contradiction by using existing system resources.
Solution Approach 2:
The opening in the sleeve serves multiple functions: it allows parasitic rays to reach the light guide for self-illumination, and simultaneously maintains the structural integrity of the sleeve assembly. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for additional dedicated components for light guide illumination.
3Illumination intensity
If the light guide emits light in a broad wavelength range, then the overall light output is increased, but the distinctive optical effect is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by incorporating a colorant in the second part of the light guide element that emits light in a specific wavelength range (380-565 nm or narrower bands within this interval). This localized spectral modification creates a distinctive blue-cyan optical effect in the light guide while the rest of the headlight maintains its normal broad-spectrum output, resolving the contradiction between overall light output and distinctive visual effect.
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
Enhances vehicle appearance by evenly distributing light, providing stable and attractive lighting effects both day and night, while minimizing undesirable reflections and utilizing parasitic light for illumination.
Implementation Method 1
The light guide directs parasitic light for illumination and deflects it to enhance appearance
Implementation Method 2
the light rays are reflected by the reflector, thus forming the desired light beams; the light rays are reflected over the entire surface
Implementation Method 3
The light guide emits light in the wavelength range of 380 nm to 565 nm or a narrower range within this interval. A narrower range is preferably the wavelength range of 450 nm to 500 nm, which corresponds to the colors blue to cyan
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
The invention relates to a headlight for vehicles comprising a rear headlight cover and a translucent front headlight cover (6), a light guide (7), and a sleeve (9), wherein the sleeve (9) has a base with an attached light source (1), a translucent optical element (10) opposite the base, and a sheath (8) of the sleeve (9) arranged between the translucent optical element (10) and the base, which is formed by the opaque cover (2) of the sleeve (9). The light guide (7) rests against the sheath (8) of the sleeve (9) at least at one point, the sheath (8) of the sleeve (9) having an opening (5), and the light guide (7) rests against the sheath (8) of the sleeve (9) in the region where the opening (5) is formed. Preferably, the light guide (7) is divided into two parts, and one of the parts emits light at least in the range of 380 nm to 565 nm.