Vehicle Light Guide Coupling With Cap Member to Eliminate Air Gaps
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing vehicle lighting devices suffer from reduced light efficiency due to the presence of an air layer between the light source and the light guide, which causes light loss during transmission.
Innovation Solution
A cap member is assembled to the light guide to cover the light incident surface, ensuring contact with both the light guide and the light source, eliminating the air gap and enhancing light transmission efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the light source and light guide are disposed to be spaced apart from each other, then the light guide can be properly positioned and structured, but an air layer exists between them causing light loss and degraded light efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
A cap member is introduced as an intermediary component between the light source and light guide. The cap member includes a light incident surface that contacts the light guide and fills the space between the light guide and light source, eliminating the air layer and preventing light loss while maintaining proper positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The refractive index parameter is changed by introducing the cap member with different optical properties than air. The cap member's material parameters are selected to improve light transmission efficiency by eliminating the air gap and providing optimal optical coupling between the light source and light guide.
2Loss of energy
If the cap member is designed to fill the space between the light incident surface and light source, then light efficiency is improved, but the device structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The cap member is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it covers and protects the light incident surface of the light guide, fills the space between the light guide and light source to eliminate air gaps, and provides structural support for positioning. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components.
Solution Approach 2:
The cap member combines several functional elements into a single integrated component that simultaneously provides protection, optical coupling, and structural support, thereby simplifying the overall device structure while maintaining improved light efficiency.
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 prevents light loss by ensuring complete light entry into the light guide, thereby maintaining or improving light efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
the light passes through the light guide, the light is totally or partially reflected in the light guide in order to achieve an indirect lighting effect
Data Source
AI summary
An embodiment of the present invention provides a vehicle lighting device including a light source configured to generate light, a light guide including a light incident surface facing the light source configured to transmit light as the light enters the light guide through the light incident surface and a cap member assembled to the light guide to cover the light incident surface, wherein the cap member is disposed with a structure in which one surface of the cap member is in contact with the light incident surface and the other surface thereof is in contact with the light source to fill a space between the light incident surface and the light source.