Vehicle Lamp Light Guide Structure for Tangential Corner Illumination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicle lamps struggle to effectively illuminate corner areas of vehicles, as these areas are often tangent to the length direction of the lamp, leading to inadequate lighting.
Innovation Solution
A light guiding device with a first light guide featuring a corner section and a downstream section, where the corner section has a corner closer to the end surface and includes light incident and exit surfaces that allow light to exit tangentially, preventing convergence and enhancing scattering with optical protrusions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If the vehicle lamp extends along both the length and width to cover corners, then the styling requirement is met, but the corner area is hardly observed to be lit when viewed tangentially
Solution Approach 1:
The light guide structure is divided into different sections (corner section and downstream section) with different cross-sectional shapes. The corner section has a specific geometry designed to emit light tangentially, while the downstream section has a different geometry optimized for its function. This local differentiation allows each section to perform its specific lighting function effectively, solving the problem of corner illumination visibility.
2Illumination intensity
If the light incident surface and light exit surface are shaped to prevent light convergence, then prominent bright lines are prevented, but the optical efficiency may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the light guide, specifically the cross-sectional shapes of different sections. By optimizing these geometric parameters, the light distribution uniformity is improved (preventing bright lines) while maintaining acceptable optical efficiency. The specific parameter optimization balances between uniformity and energy loss.
3Illumination intensity
If the corner section and downstream section have different cross-sectional shapes, then the corner section can be properly illuminated, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The light guide is segmented into distinct sections (corner section and downstream section) with different cross-sectional shapes. Each segment is optimized for its specific function: the corner section for tangential light emission and the downstream section for its specific lighting requirements. This segmentation allows each part to perform its function effectively while keeping the overall structure manageable through clear functional division.
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 solution ensures that corner sections of vehicle lamps are adequately illuminated when viewed tangentially, preventing prominent bright lines and improving the overall optical efficiency and regulatory compliance of the lighting system.
Implementation Method 1
the light incident surface and the light exit surface of the corner section of the first light guide are shaped such that light emitted from the light exit surface of the corner section of the first light guide is not converged
Implementation Method 2
the light exit surface of the corner section of the first light guide has optical protrusions, to improve scattering of exit light
Implementation Method 3
the downstream section of the first light guide has a round cross section. According to the embodiments of the present invention, total reflection easily occurs for light in a round light guide, which is beneficial for improving the optical efficiency
Data Source
AI summary
A light guiding device includes a first light guide having an end surface, a corner section and a downstream section. The corner section of the first light guide has a corner and is closer to the end surface of the first light guide than the downstream section. Light incident surfaces of the first light guide include the end surface, and an inner side surface of the corner section located on the inner side of the corner. A light exit surface of the first light guide includes an outer side surface of the first light guide located on the outer side of the corner. The light incident surfaces of the first light guide may additionally include the inner side surface of the corner section. It is found that the corner section can be lit on when the corner section is observed along the direction tangent to the corner section.