Lighting Device Using Anderson Localization for Thin Light Guides
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lighting devices for motor vehicles face challenges in effectively coupling light into a light guide with a small cross-section, leading to inefficiencies in light distribution and complex designs.
Innovation Solution
The use of Transversal Anderson Localization in the light coupler, achieved by combining light-guiding materials with different refractive indices, such as air and glass or plastic, arranged randomly in transverse directions, ensures that light propagates primarily in the direction between the entry and exit surfaces, allowing for efficient coupling into a thin light guide.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional light coupler with convex entry surface and concave lateral surface is used, then light can be guided from entry to exit surface, but the design becomes complex and light coupling efficiency into small cross-section light guides is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the fundamental optical parameters of the light coupler by introducing a random arrangement of light-guiding materials with different refractive indices, replacing the conventional deterministic geometric design (convex entry surface, concave lateral surface) with a stochastic structure that achieves superior light coupling efficiency into small cross-section light guides
Solution Approach 2:
The light coupler is constructed as a composite material system consisting of multiple light-guiding materials (such as glass, plastic, and air) with different refractive indices arranged in a random pattern. This composite structure enables effective light guidance and coupling that cannot be achieved with single-material conventional designs
2Length of moving object
If the light guide cross-section is reduced to create thin light lines, then the lighting device becomes smaller and styling flexibility increases, but light coupling efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent fundamentally changes the light propagation mechanism within the coupler by using random arrangement of materials with varying refractive indices, which enables efficient coupling of light into extremely thin light guides with small cross-sections that would be impossible with conventional optical designs
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces conventional geometric-optical mechanisms (reflection, refraction at defined surfaces) with a diffusive-transmission mechanism through random material arrangements, enabling light to be effectively coupled into sub-millimeter and even sub-100-micrometer scale light guides
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 enables nearly complete light exit from the coupler and effective entry into the light guide, even with small cross-sections, simplifying the design and enhancing light distribution, particularly for thin, flexible light guides used in vehicle lighting.
Implementation Method 1
Light guiding within the light coupler is based on the Anderson Localization, preferably the Transversal Anderson Localization. The Transversal Anderson Localization ensures that light can propagate in the light coupler essentially exclusively in the direction in which the entry surface and the exit surface are opposite each other.
Implementation Method 2
a light guide (8), into whose entry surface (9) the light essentially completely exits from the light coupler (5) and which is coupled into the light guide (8), from whose lateral surface the light can exit distributed over the length of the light guide (8)
Data Source
Figure 1~9
Figure 2~4
Figure 5~7
AI summary
Lighting device for a motor vehicle, comprising at least one light source (1) with a light emitting surface (3), a light coupler (5) having an entry surface (6) and an exit surface (7), the entry surface (6) having a greater extent than the exit surface (7), wherein the light coupler (5) comprises at least one transparent, light-guiding material such as plastic or glass, and a light guide (8) with an entry surface (9), wherein the lighting device is configured so that during operation of the lighting device light (4) emanating from the light emitting surface (3) of the at least one light source (1) enters the entry surface (6) of the light coupler (5), is guided within the light coupler (5) from the entry surface (6) to the exit surface (7), emerges from the exit surface (7) of the light coupler (5) and enters the entry surface (9) of the light guide (8), wherein the light guiding within the light coupler (5) is based on the Anderson Localization, preferably the Transversal Anderson Localization.