Motor Vehicle Light Guide Layout for Uniform Multi-Element Illumination

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing lighting devices for motor vehicles require multiple light guides and lamps to illuminate additional lighting elements, leading to increased cost and structural complexity.

Innovation Solution

A lighting device with a single light guide and lamp, utilizing first and second light decoupling elements and a reflector device to redirect light for uniform illumination of multiple lighting elements, achieving homogeneous light emission across exit surfaces.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If additional lighting elements are illuminated with additional light sources and light guides, then the illumination of lighting elements is improved, but the cost and structural complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveillumination of lighting elementsVSAvoidstructural complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies multi-functionality by enabling a single light guide to illuminate multiple lighting elements through different exit surfaces. The light guide is designed with first exit surfaces and second exit surfaces, where the first exit surfaces illuminate first lighting elements and the second exit surfaces illuminate second lighting elements, allowing one light guide to perform multiple illumination functions that would traditionally require separate light guides

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

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the light guide into different functional regions with distinct exit surfaces. The light guide contains first light guide exit surfaces oriented in a first direction and second light guide exit surfaces oriented in a second direction, allowing different portions of the light guide to serve different lighting elements independently

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Illumination intensity

If additional lighting elements are illuminated with additional light sources and light guides, then the illumination of lighting elements is improved, but the cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveillumination of lighting elementsVSAvoidcost
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent reduces cost by making the light guide universal - a single light guide structure performs the function of multiple light guides. By designing the light guide with multiple exit surfaces oriented in different directions, the system eliminates the need for separate light guides for different lighting elements, thereby reducing component count and manufacturing cost

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

Solution Approach 2:

The patent combines multiple illumination functions into a single light guide structure. Instead of using separate light guides for first lighting elements and second lighting elements, the invention merges these functions into one integrated light guide with multiple exit surfaces, reducing the total number of components and associated costs

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Productivity

If light is emitted directly from light guide exit surfaces, then the lighting function is achieved, but the light emission is non-uniform

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelighting functionVSAvoidhomogeneity of light emission
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by orienting different exit surfaces of the light guide in different directions. The first light guide exit surfaces are oriented in a first direction toward first lighting elements, while the second light guide exit surfaces are oriented in a second direction toward second lighting elements, allowing each exit surface to be optimized for its specific illumination target

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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

Enables efficient and cost-effective illumination of multiple lighting elements with a single lamp and light guide, ensuring uniform and constant light intensity, reducing complexity and enhancing lighting appearance.

Implementation Method 1

a light guide (2) for guiding and emitting the light generated by the light source

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTotal internal reflection: Total Internal Reflection

Implementation Method 2

the light guide has first light decoupling elements (2a) which are arranged along the entire light guide and are configured to couple a first portion of the light guided in the light guide out of the light guide

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRefraction: Refraction

Implementation Method 3

a reflector device (4) is provided which is designed to redirect the light which is coupled out by the second light-coupling elements

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectReflection: Reflection

Data Source

PatentEP3964749B1Lighting device for a motor vehicle
Publication Date: 2024.06.26 ZKW GRP GMBH
  • EP3964749B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3

AI summary

Lighting device (1) for a motor vehicle, comprising a light source for generating light, a light guide (2) for guiding and emitting the light generated by the light source, wherein the light guide (2) has first light extraction elements (2a) which are arranged along the entire length of the light guide and are configured to extract a first portion of the light which is guided in the light guide (2) in a first direction from the light guide (2), wherein the first portion of the light, after extraction, strikes a first light entry surface of a first illuminating element (3) in order to illuminate it, wherein the light guide (2) has second light extraction elements (2b) which are arranged along a partial area of ​​the light guide (2) and are configured to extract a second portion of the light which is guided in the light guide (2) in a second direction from the light guide (2),wherein the first and the second directions are different, wherein a reflector device (4) is provided which is configured to deflect the light which is coupled out by the second light-out coupling elements (2b) in such a way that the light after deflection is oriented parallel to the first direction, wherein the light, after deflection by the reflector device (4), is emitted onto a second light-intake surface of a second illuminating element (5) in order to illuminate it.