Vehicle Lighting Arrangement With Lenticular Grid Image Variability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle lighting systems are costly to produce, difficult to integrate, and lack variability in appearance depending on the viewing axis.
Innovation Solution
A lighting arrangement for vehicles that includes a lens grid device with first and second image elements, a surface-type light guide, and at least one optical fiber arranged along the lateral periphery of the light guide, allowing for different images to be visible depending on the viewing axis, and is designed to be cost-effective and easily integrated.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a light-emitting matrix (LED matrix) is used to provide multiple images for different viewing axes, then the lighting arrangement can display variable images, but the production cost and device complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a lens grid device that optically copies and directs light from a single backlight to create multiple different images visible from different viewing axes. The lens grid acts as an optical element that splits and redirects light paths, allowing one light source to produce multiple image variations without requiring separate LED matrices for each view.
Solution Approach 2:
The single backlight unit serves multiple functions by providing illumination for all different viewing axis images simultaneously. Instead of having separate light sources for each image variant, the universal backlight combined with the lens grid structure enables one component to fulfill the role of multiple independent lighting systems.
2Adaptability or versatility
If traditional lighting systems with multiple components are used, then comprehensive lighting functions can be achieved, but the installation space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the backlight unit, lens grid device, and image element arrangement into a single integrated assembly. The backlight and lens grid are positioned in close proximity with the image elements arranged behind the lens grid, creating a compact structure that combines multiple functional components into one space-efficient unit suitable for vehicle integration.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple component parts are installed to achieve image variability, then different images can be displayed from different viewing axes, but the risk of production errors increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lens grid device creates optical copies of the backlight illumination to produce different images for different viewing angles. This optical copying mechanism eliminates the need for multiple separate light-emitting components, thereby reducing assembly steps and minimizing production errors associated with installing and aligning multiple independent parts.
4Adaptability or versatility
If a complex lighting device with multiple components is used, then comprehensive lighting functions can be provided, but the integration difficulty into the vehicle increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting arrangement merges the backlight unit, lens grid device, and image elements into a unified integrated structure. This consolidation reduces the number of separate installation steps required in the vehicle, as the combined assembly can be mounted as a single unit rather than installing multiple independent components, thereby simplifying the integration process.
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 proposed lighting arrangement provides a cost-effective and easily integratable solution that can change its appearance based on the viewing axis, enhancing visibility and recognizability while reducing production risks and allowing for efficient use of vehicle installation space.
Implementation Method 1
The optical fiber is arranged to emit light coupled into the optical fiber and to couple it into the surface-type light guide
Implementation Method 2
Surface-type light guides are also referred to as surface light guides. The lateral periphery of the surface-type light guide thus forms (when viewed perpendicular to the longitudinal and transverse directions) the external circumferential surface of the surface-type guide. In contrast to the surface-type light guide, the at least one optical fiber extends (in its unbent state) along a main direction of extent and guides the light coupled into it in this main direction of extent.
Data Source
AI summary
A lighting arrangement for a vehicle includes a lenticular grid device having a lenticular grid and an image element arrangement having a plurality of first image elements and a plurality of second image elements; and a lighting device having a flat light guide and at least one optical fiber arranged at least in sections on a lateral edge of the flat light guide. The optical fiber is arranged to emit light coupled into the optical fiber and to couple the light into the planar light guide. The planar light guide is configured to couple out the light coupled into the planar light guide such that the light impinges on the image element arrangement from a side of the lenticular grid device opposite the lenticular grid.