Layered Optical Element for Vehicle Lighting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicle lighting apparatuses rely on complex lens shapes to achieve desired light distribution, which can be costly and difficult to integrate into a uniform design, while also facing issues with unwanted reflections.
Innovation Solution
The optical element is designed as a layered body with sections of materials having different refractive indices, allowing refraction within the element rather than just at the entry and exit surfaces, enabling a simple geometric shape that recreates conventional lens effects and allows for flexible light distribution without the need for complex shapes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a conventional lens shape is used to achieve desired light distribution, then the optical effect is achieved, but the geometric design becomes complex and integration into uniform design becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The optical element is divided into multiple layers, each containing sections of materials with different refractive indices. This segmentation allows the refraction function to be distributed across multiple planar layers rather than requiring a complex monolithic lens shape, enabling simple geometric design while achieving the desired light distribution through the stacked refractive sections
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from achieving light distribution through surface curvature in a conventional lens to achieving it through material composition in a planar layered structure. By moving the refraction function from the geometric surface dimension to the material composition dimension (different refractive indices in layers), the optical element can maintain a simple flat shape while recreating lens effects through the arrangement of materials with different refractive properties
2Manufacturing precision
If complex lens shapes are used, then specified light distribution is achieved, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The optical element is divided into multiple layers, each containing sections of materials with different refractive indices. This segmentation allows the refraction function to be distributed across multiple planar layers rather than requiring a complex monolithic lens shape, enabling simple geometric design while achieving the desired light distribution through the stacked refractive sections
Solution Approach 2:
The optical element uses composite materials with different refractive indices arranged in a layered structure. By combining materials with different optical properties in specific patterns within the layers, the invention achieves complex light distribution effects without requiring complex geometric shapes, thereby reducing device complexity and manufacturing cost
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 approach allows for the generation of specified light distributions with a flat, simple optical element that can be easily integrated into vehicle lighting systems, reducing unwanted reflections and enabling uniform design aesthetics while maintaining high refractive effects.
Implementation Method 1
the layers each have sections of materials with different refractive indices... the location of the refraction occurs not only at the light entry surface and light exit surface adjacent to the medium air, but also within the optical element
Data Source
AI summary
A lighting apparatus for vehicles, comprising a light source and comprising an optical unit for generating a specified light distribution, wherein the optical unit has an optical element with a light entry surface for coupling in light emitted by the light source and with a light exit surface, disposed at a distance from the light entry surface, for coupling out the light that has been input coupled at the light entry surface and guided along the principal light guiding direction within the optical element, wherein the optical element is embodied as a layered body with a plurality of layers, wherein at least a number of the layers respectively have sections of materials with different refractive indices.