Vehicle Light Guide With Color Conversion for Uniform Multi-Color Output

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional lighting devices for vehicles face issues with inefficient light transmission due to opaque diffuser layers, high costs, and the need for multiple components to achieve homogeneous illumination and various light colors for different functions, leading to increased complexity and cost.

Innovation Solution

A luminous device comprising at least two light sources and a light-converting material that integrates with an optical component, such as a light guide or reflector, to distribute and convert light, allowing for homogeneous emission and multiple colors without the need for additional securing means, reducing assembly time and component count.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If a diffuser layer is used to achieve homogeneous illumination, then homogeneity of light distribution is improved, but light transmission efficiency deteriorates due to opaque nature

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehomogeneity of light distributionVSAvoidlight transmission efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the traditional diffuser layer from the lighting system and replaces it with multiple light sources arranged in a specific pattern. This extraction eliminates the light-blocking diffuser material while maintaining homogeneous illumination through the geometric arrangement of multiple emission points, thereby resolving the contradiction between homogeneity and light transmission efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent divides the lighting system into multiple discrete light sources (LEDs) arranged in a matrix pattern rather than using a single source with a diffuser. This segmentation allows light to be emitted from multiple points simultaneously, achieving homogeneous distribution without requiring an opaque diffuser layer, thus improving light transmission efficiency while maintaining uniformity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple lighting modules and optical components are used to achieve different light colors, then color versatility is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecolor versatilityVSAvoidnumber of components
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs light sources that can emit multiple wavelengths or colors (such as RGB LEDs or phosphor-converted LEDs) within a single integrated structure. This multi-functional approach allows the same physical component to provide different light colors for various lighting functions, eliminating the need for separate lighting modules and reducing overall device complexity while maintaining color versatility.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The patent combines multiple light-emitting elements and color-converting materials into a single integrated lighting device. By merging the functions of multiple colored LEDs, diffusers, and optical components into one unified structure with a specific geometric arrangement, the system achieves color versatility without increasing component count, thereby resolving the contradiction between adaptability and device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Stability of the object's composition

If a diffuser film is applied to large emitting surfaces, then homogeneous illumination is improved, but manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehomogeneity of light distributionVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent eliminates the diffuser film from the manufacturing process by using multiple light sources arranged in a matrix pattern. This extraction removes the need to source, apply, and integrate expensive diffuser materials, thereby reducing manufacturing costs while maintaining homogeneous illumination through the geometric arrangement of light sources.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces expensive diffuser films with simple, inexpensive LED components arranged in a specific pattern. The LED matrix approach uses readily available, low-cost light-emitting diodes that can be mounted using standard SMT techniques, significantly reducing material and assembly costs compared to sourcing and applying specialized diffuser films, thus resolving the contradiction between homogeneity and manufacturing cost.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

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 achieves homogeneous illumination with improved light transmission efficiency, enabling the luminous device to emit multiple colors using fewer components, thus simplifying assembly and reducing costs while meeting regulatory and functional requirements.

Implementation Method 1

a light-converting material (106) to convert a colour of light emitted by the light sources (112) or to convert a colour of light distributed by the optical component (104) into a different colour

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhotoluminescence: Photoluminescence

Data Source

PatentEP4703631A1Luminous device for a motor vehicle
Publication Date: 2026.03.04 VALEO VISION SA
  • EP4703631A1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP4703631A1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP4703631A1 patent drawingFigure 2C~3A

AI summary

The present invention pertains to a luminous device (100, 200) for a motor vehicle. The luminous device (100, 200) comprises two or more light sources (112, 212) emitting light of at least two distinct colours. An optical component such as a light guide (104) or a reflector (204) is provided to distribute light emitted by the light sources (112, 212), outwards through a lens (108, 208). Further, a light converting material (106, 206) is provided to convert the colour of light passing through it. The composition of the light converting material (106, 206) allows to achieve number of colours of light emitted by the device (100, 200) being more than the number of colours of light generated by the light sources (112, 212).