Vehicular Lamp Lens Body Inversion for Cooling and Color Uniformity

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Solution Overview

Problem

In vehicular lamps, the existing configuration of a lens body opposite to the laser light source with respect to the wavelength conversion member reduces the contact area for cooling, leading to increased light energy density and cooling inefficiencies, causing color irregularity in the mixed white light due to the combination of diffused and directional lights.

Innovation Solution

The lens body is positioned between the laser light source and the wavelength conversion member, allowing for a sufficient contact area with a heat sink and minimizing color irregularity by refracting light to achieve better diffusion and total reflection efficiency, with the wavelength conversion member separated from the white light incident surface to mix reflected and wavelength-converted lights effectively.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If the lens body is disposed on a side opposite to the laser light source with respect to the wavelength conversion member, then the structure is simple, but the contact area between the wavelength conversion member and heat sink is reduced, leading to insufficient cooling

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural simplicityVSAvoidcooling efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional arrangement by placing the lens body between the laser light source and the wavelength conversion member, rather than on the opposite side. This inversion allows the wavelength conversion member to be positioned close to the heat sink for effective cooling, while still achieving the desired optical function through the lens body's light-guiding structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Temperature

If the lens body is disposed between the laser light source and the wavelength conversion member, then cooling efficiency is improved, but color irregularity occurs due to mixing of diffused light and directional light

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooling efficiencyVSAvoidcolor uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by creating different optical paths within the lens body: a light-guiding portion for directional light and a light-diffusing portion for diffused light. This local differentiation allows each region to optimize its function, ultimately producing uniform white light by combining these two types of light in controlled proportions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Temperature

If reflected light and wavelength-converted light are mixed to generate white light, then cooling efficiency is improved, but color irregularity makes it difficult to meet regulatory white light standards

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooling efficiencyVSAvoidregulatory compliance
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The lens body acts as an intermediary structure that receives both reflected light and wavelength-converted light, guides them through different portions (light-guiding portion and light-diffusing portion), and outputs them as uniformly mixed white light. This intermediary function ensures regulatory compliance while maintaining the cooling efficiency benefits of the reflection-type configuration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 configuration enhances cooling efficiency and minimizes color irregularity in the vehicular lamp's output, ensuring compliance with regulatory white light standards while maintaining high illuminance and longevity.

Implementation Method 1

a wavelength conversion member configured to receive the laser beam and radiate white light

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectWavelength conversion: Fluorescence

Implementation Method 2

light having various incident angles can enter the light receiving surface of the wavelength conversion member from different directions. Accordingly, a diffusion angle can be provided to the reflected light

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRefraction: Refraction

Implementation Method 3

securing a sufficient contact area between the wavelength conversion member and a cooling structure such as a heat sink or the like and increasing cooling efficiency

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentEP3627037B1Vehicular lamp
Publication Date: 2022.12.28 STANLEY ELECTRIC CO LTD
  • EP3627037B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3627037B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3627037B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A vehicular lamp includes a laser light source configured to radiate a laser beam, a wavelength conversion member configured to receive the laser beam and radiate white light, and a lens body disposed between the laser light source and the wavelength conversion member and configured to emit the white light, wherein the lens body has a laser beam incident surface configured to allow incidence of the laser beam, a white light incident surface configured to emit the laser beam from inside of the lens body and to allow incidence of the white light radiated from the wavelength conversion member, and an emission surface configured to emit the white light, and the wavelength conversion member is disposed to be separated from the white light incident surface.