Light Distribution Element for Dynamic Vehicle Lighting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing light emitting devices for motor vehicles lack the capability to create three-dimensional or dynamic lighting effects in a simple and cost-effective manner, failing to provide personalized and aesthetically appealing lighting patterns.

Innovation Solution

A light distribution element comprising petal-shaped and annular convexes formed as lenticular gratings, where the patterns generated by these convexes on the light entrance and exit sides interact to produce a stereoscopic and dynamic lighting effect, allowing for personalized lighting patterns and effects through adjustable positioning and rotation of the deflecting portions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If existing lighting devices use simple light sources without complex optical elements, then the device complexity is low and manufacturing cost is reduced, but the lighting effect lacks three-dimensional or dynamic optical effects and personalized patterns

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelighting effect qualityVSAvoidoptical element complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The light distribution element is divided into multiple independent light deflecting portions (first and second types) that can be separately designed and positioned. Each portion creates specific light patterns, and their superposition forms complex three-dimensional lighting effects. This segmentation allows achieving sophisticated lighting effects without requiring a single complex optical element.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs nested optical elements where the first light deflecting portions are positioned on one side of the light source and the second light deflecting portions are positioned on the other side, with light passing through both layers. This nested arrangement allows multiple optical functions to be combined in a compact structure, achieving three-dimensional lighting effects without proportionally increasing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple light deflecting portions are used to create personalized lighting patterns and three-dimensional effects, then the lighting effect quality is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelighting pattern personalizationVSAvoidnumber of optical elements
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The light distribution element allows for adjustable positioning and rotation of the light deflecting portions. This dynamic configurability enables the same physical element to generate different lighting patterns and personalization effects without requiring multiple fixed-pattern elements, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining versatility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

Each light deflecting portion is designed to perform multiple functions: they can be positioned at different locations, rotated to different angles, and combined in various configurations to create diverse lighting patterns. This multi-functionality allows a limited set of optical elements to achieve personalized lighting effects that would otherwise require many different specialized elements.

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

3Illumination intensity

If complex optical patterns are formed using traditional methods, then the lighting effect quality is improved, but the manufacturing process becomes more difficult and costly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelighting effect qualityVSAvoidmanufacturing difficulty
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The light distribution element can be implemented as a thin, flexible component with light deflecting portions formed on transparent or translucent substrates. This thin-film approach simplifies manufacturing compared to traditional bulky optical elements, allows for easier integration into vehicle lighting systems, and enables mass production techniques while maintaining the capability to create complex three-dimensional lighting effects.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

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 personalized, stereoscopic, and dynamic lighting effects with high luminous flux ratio, exceeding 25%, suitable for various vehicle lighting applications like tail lights, brake lights, and turn lights, offering a visually appealing and three-dimensional appearance from different angles.

Implementation Method 1

a plurality of first light deflecting portions and a plurality of second light deflecting portions, wherein a pattern formed by the plurality of first light deflecting portions is superposed with a pattern formed by the plurality of second light deflecting portions

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRefraction: Refraction

Implementation Method 2

the plurality of first light deflecting portions are constructed to be a plurality of petal-shaped convexes... and the plurality of second light deflecting portions are constructed to be a plurality of annular convexes

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDiffraction: Diffraction

Data Source

PatentEP3453952B1Light distribution element for light emitting device and light emitting device
Publication Date: 2023.07.05 VALEO VISION SA
  • EP3453952B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3453952B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3453952B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The present invention provides a light distribution element (2) for a light emitting device, including a plurality of first light deflecting portions and a plurality of second light deflecting portions, wherein a pattern formed by the plurality of first light deflecting portions is superposed with a pattern formed by the plurality of second light deflecting portions to form a final display pattern. The present invention also provides a light emitting device including the light distribution element (2). According to the light distribution element and the light emitting device provided by the present invention, it is possible to generate a personalized, three-dimensional, dynamic lighting effect.