Vehicle Lamp Light Guide Fixing Component Deflection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Light leakage into fixing components of light guiding devices, such as those used in vehicle lamps, causes undesired bright spots that disrupt the intended lighting effect.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a light directing portion with deflection faces on the fixing component to redirect leaked light away from the predetermined direction, using features like cut corners, cambered surfaces, or inclined surfaces, and potentially an intermediate deflection face to control the light exit direction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If fixing components are provided on the light guide medium to secure it, then the light guide medium can be fixed, but light leaks into the fixing components causing undesired bright spots

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefixing reliabilityVSAvoidlight leakage
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the harmful light leakage into a beneficial effect by designing the fixing component with light-deflecting surfaces that redirect the leaked light into the intended optical path. The fixing component simultaneously performs its fixing function and acts as a light redirecting element, turning the harmful leakage into useful light that contributes to the desired lighting effect.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The fixing component serves as an intermediary element between the light guide medium and the surrounding environment. It mediates the light that leaks from the light guide medium by providing light-deflecting surfaces that redirect the light, thus preventing direct harmful emission while maintaining the fixing function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If light leaked into the fixing component exits in undesired direction, then the fixing component performs its fixing function, but it causes poor lit effects

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefixing functionVSAvoidlit effect quality
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by designing specific portions of the fixing component with light-deflecting surfaces oriented at particular angles. Different regions of the fixing component have different surface orientations to redirect light from different leakage points into the appropriate optical path, ensuring that each local area contributes to the overall desired lighting effect.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Object-generated harmful factors

If light deflection surfaces are added to the fixing component, then light leakage is redirected, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight leakage controlVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the fixing function and the light redirecting function into a single integrated component. The fixing component is designed with built-in light-deflecting surfaces, eliminating the need for separate light redirecting elements. This integration reduces overall device complexity while achieving both fixing and light control functions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The fixing component is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it provides mechanical fixing support and acts as a light redirecting element. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for additional dedicated light control components, thereby reducing device complexity while achieving effective light leakage control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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

Prevents the formation of undesired bright spots by effectively redirecting leaked light, maintaining the intended lighting distribution and reducing discomfort or distortion in the lit effect.

Implementation Method 1

the light guide medium component transmits the light by means of total reflection

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTotal reflection: Total Internal Reflection

Implementation Method 2

the light deflection outgoing face/faces is/are oriented to deviate the light passing through the light deflection outgoing face/faces, from the predetermined direction

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRefraction: Refraction

Data Source

PatentEP3207307B1Light guiding device and vehicle lamp
Publication Date: 2019.11.06 VALEO LIGHTING HUBEI TECHN CENT
  • EP3207307B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3207307B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3207307B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A light guiding device (100) comprises: a light guide medium component (101) configured to guide a light to be transmitted through it from one end thereof to another end thereof; and a light guide fixing component (102) arranged on the light guide medium component (101) and configured to fix the light guide medium component (101), wherein the light guide medium component (101) and the light guide fixing component (102) are both at least partly transparent, and wherein the light guide fixing component (102) has a light directing portion (1022) configured to direct the light, which is leaked from the light guide medium component (101) into the light guide fixing component (102), to exit the light guide fixing component (102) in a direction deviated from a predetermined direction. By means of the light guiding device (100) and vehicle lamp, the light emitted from the light guide fixing component (102) may be prevented from forming undesired bright spots in undesired directions.