Light Conducting Element Aperture Integration for Vehicle Headlamps
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing light-emitting devices for vehicles, such as headlamps, face challenges in achieving compactness, robustness, and flexibility in light distribution patterns, often requiring separate apertures and suffering from light shadowing and inefficiencies in light conduction.
Innovation Solution
A light-emitting device with multiple light source groups and a reflector, where a light conducting element acts as both an aperture and a shutter, allowing for precise shaping of light bundles and flexible distribution patterns, and can conduct light perpendicularly or diagonally onto an optical plane, enhancing image sharpness and light yield through mirroring and non-imaging optical elements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a separate aperture is used for the first light source group, then light distribution can be controlled, but device complexity increases and space is consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the aperture function with the light conducting element by making the light conducting element itself opaque or semi-transparent, eliminating the need for a separate aperture component. This integration reduces device complexity while maintaining light distribution control capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The light conducting element is designed to serve multiple functions: it conducts light from the second light source group and simultaneously acts as an aperture for the first light source group. This multi-functionality reduces the total number of components needed in the system.
2Illumination intensity
If light is emitted directly from multiple light sources to the optical plane, then light intensity is high, but light shadowing occurs and image sharpness decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediate optical plane where images from multiple light sources are formed before being projected to the final optical plane. This intermediate step prevents direct light shadowing while maintaining high light intensity, as the light is redistributed through the intermediate image formation process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the light emission process into two stages: first forming images on an intermediate optical plane from multiple light sources, then projecting these intermediate images to the final optical plane. This segmentation allows each light source to contribute to the overall illumination without causing direct shadowing, thereby improving image sharpness while maintaining intensity.
3Manufacturing precision
If the light conducting element is made opaque to block light from the first light source group, then light shadowing is prevented, but light loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
The light conducting element is designed with spatially varying optical properties: it is opaque or semi-transparent in regions where it needs to block light from the first light source group to prevent shadowing, while remaining transparent in regions where it needs to conduct light from the second light source group. This local differentiation allows the element to perform multiple functions with minimal light loss.
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 enables the generation of sharp, flexible, and high-intensity light distributions, including broad-beamed components, with improved image sharpness and reduced light loss, allowing for compact and robust designs that can alternate between different light patterns efficiently.
Implementation Method 1
a reflector, which is configured and arranged for the purpose of reflecting light emitted by the first light source group (4) to an optical plane (E)
Implementation Method 2
at least one light conducting element (9), which is configured and arranged for the purpose of conducting light emitted by the second light source group (6) to the optical plane (E)
Data Source
AI summary
A light-emitting device may include: one first light source group having at least one light source and one second light source group having at least one light source, at least one reflector, which is configured and arranged for the purpose of reflecting light emitted by the first light source group to an optical plane, and at least one light conducting element, which is configured and arranged for the purpose of conducting light emitted by the second light source group to the optical plane, wherein the light conducting element is configured and arranged as an aperture for light reflected by the at least one reflector.