Vehicular Light Guide with Reflective Diaphragm for Uniform Illumination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional light pipes and guides have limited design and shape flexibility due to thick walls and often exhibit hot spots, resulting in non-uniform light distributions.
Innovation Solution
A light guide with a chamber defined by isotropically luminant surfaces and a reflective diaphragm, featuring a translucent or partially transmissive lens, and an LED light source positioned between the diaphragm and the back surface, with strategically placed gaps to achieve uniform illumination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional light pipes use thick walls for structural integrity, then manufacturing becomes difficult and design flexibility is limited, but light uniformity is improved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs thin-walled light guide structures with integrated reflective diaphragms that maintain structural integrity while enabling complex geometries and designs. The thin walls allow for easier manufacturing and greater design flexibility compared to conventional thick-walled light pipes, while the reflective diaphragm ensures uniform light distribution through controlled reflection and scattering.
2Ease of manufacture
If conventional light guides use simple structures for ease of manufacture, then manufacturing is easier, but hot spots occur resulting in non-uniform light distribution
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a reflective diaphragm as an intermediary element within the light guide structure. This diaphragm acts as a mediator that redistributes light uniformly by reflecting and scattering photons, eliminating hot spots while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure that remains easy to manufacture. The diaphragm is positioned strategically to intercept and redistribute light before it exits the guide.
3Adaptability or versatility
If light guides use thin walls for design flexibility, then design and manufacturing flexibility improves, but structural integrity may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes composite construction combining thin-walled light guide bodies with integrated reflective diaphragms. This composite approach allows the thin walls to provide design flexibility while the reflective diaphragm components reinforce the structure and maintain structural integrity. The combination of these elements creates a system where thin walls do not compromise overall strength.
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 provides highly uniform light distribution while offering significant manufacturing and design flexibility, improving light production efficiency and ease of configuration in various applications.
Implementation Method 1
Each LED light source emanates light that scatters off of the isotropically luminant surfaces and exits the sections through the lens elements
Implementation Method 2
a reflective diaphragm within the chamber that defines a top gap between the diaphragm and the top surface, and a bottom gap between the diaphragm and the bottom surface
Data Source
AI summary
A light guide is provided that includes a light chamber defined by isotropically luminant top, bottom, and back surfaces, and a front surface having a translucent lens. The light guide also includes a reflective diaphragm within the chamber that defines a top gap between the diaphragm and the top surface, and a bottom gap between the diaphragm and the bottom surface. The light guide further includes an LED light source located between the diaphragm and the back surface of the chamber. The light guide may also be configured with a front surface having a partially transmissive lens and no reflective diaphragm. A vehicle lighting assembly is also provided that includes a plurality of interconnected light chamber sections comprising light guides.