Light Guide Device with Expansion Surface for Uniform Luminance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing light guide devices suffer from non-uniform luminance and appearance issues due to bending of light guides and point light emission, which affects the design shape and appearance of linear or belt-like light patterns, and increasing costs by requiring more light sources to alleviate these problems.
Innovation Solution
A light guide device with a light guide plate featuring an incident portion, a reflecting portion with expansion surfaces, and an emitting portion in an elongated shape, where the reflecting portion expands light in the circumferential direction, eliminating point light and enhancing the appearance of linear or belt-like light emission patterns, and allowing for a reduced number of light sources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If bent light guides are used to guide light from the light source, then light can be introduced to the light guide plate, but the luminance becomes non-uniform due to bending state
Solution Approach 1:
The light guide plate is divided into functionally distinct regions: an incident portion for receiving light, a reflecting portion with expansion surfaces for redirecting and expanding light, and an emitting portion for uniform light output. This segmentation allows each region to optimize its specific function, resolving the luminance non-uniformity issue while maintaining structural clarity.
Solution Approach 2:
The reflecting portion includes expansion surfaces that expand light in the circumferential direction, adding a dimensional expansion to the light path. This transforms the light distribution from a concentrated bent path to a distributed circumferential pattern, achieving uniform luminance across the emitting portion.
2Illumination intensity
If multiple light sources are used to alleviate point light appearance, then the light emission pattern improves, but the number of light sources increases resulting in cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The light guide plate acts as an intermediary that transforms point light from a single light source into an elongated linear or belt-like emission pattern. The incident portion, reflecting portion with expansion surfaces, and emitting portion work together to mediate between the point light source and the desired linear light pattern, eliminating the need for multiple light sources.
Solution Approach 2:
The light guide plate changes the spatial distribution parameter of the light by expanding it in the circumferential direction through the expansion surfaces. This parameter transformation converts the light from a point source into an elongated pattern, achieving the desired appearance with a single light source and reducing costs.
3Ease of manufacture
If the emitting portion is formed obliquely at inner edges, then light can be emitted from the light guide plate, but the design shape appearance is deteriorated due to non-uniform luminance
Solution Approach 1:
Different portions of the light guide plate are assigned different functional qualities: the incident portion receives light, the reflecting portion with expansion surfaces redirects and expands light circumferentially, and the emitting portion provides uniform light output. This local differentiation ensures that each region performs its specific function optimally, achieving both ease of manufacture and superior appearance.
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 uniform and bright light emission along the entire length of the light guide device, improving the appearance of linear or belt-like patterns while reducing the number of light sources needed, thus lowering costs.
Implementation Method 1
a reflecting portion that reflects the light from the incident portion to an inside of the light guide plate
Implementation Method 2
Light guides 54 having a bent bar-shape are provided at two outer edges. An emitting portion 55 is formed obliquely at two inner edges. Then, light emitted from the light source 53 is guided by the light guides 54
Data Source
AI summary
A light guide device includes a light guide plate that induces a light emission of a light source. The light guide plate includes an incident portion that is incident light emitted from a light source, a reflecting portion that reflects the light from the incident portion to an inside of the light guide plate, and an emitting portion that emits the light from the reflecting portion to an outside of the light guide plate. The emitting portion is provided in a thin elongated shape on a first portion of a circumferential surface of the light guide plate. The reflecting portion includes an expansion surface that expands the light from the incident portion to a circumferential direction of the light guide plate.