Light Guide Protrusion Eliminates Reflective Member
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional light source devices with reflective members absorb part of the light, leading to inefficient utilization of light emitted by the light source, especially when light enters the light guide from an end in a longitudinal direction.
Innovation Solution
A light guide with a protrusion connected to the main light-guide housing, where light emitted by a light source enters the protrusion and then the main light-guide housing through total reflection or refraction, eliminating the need for a reflective member and reducing optical loss.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a reflective member is used to inhibit light leakage, then light containment is improved, but light absorption increases and light utilization efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the reflective member from the light guide structure. Instead of using a separate reflective member to contain light, the light guide housing itself is designed with reflective internal surfaces that directly reflect light back into the light guide, eliminating the need for additional components and reducing light absorption losses.
Solution Approach 2:
The reflective function is merged into the light guide housing structure. The housing is designed with internal reflective surfaces that combine the structural containment function with the light reflection function, eliminating the need for a separate reflective member and reducing optical losses.
2Device complexity
If light enters the light guide from an end in longitudinal direction, then light source positioning is simplified, but light utilization efficiency deteriorates due to absorption by reflective members
Solution Approach 1:
The reflective member is removed from the system. The light guide housing is designed with integrated reflective surfaces that eliminate the need for separate reflective components, allowing light to enter from the end in the longitudinal direction without being absorbed by reflective members.
Solution Approach 2:
The internal surface properties of the light guide housing are changed to be reflective. By modifying the surface characteristics of the housing itself rather than adding separate reflective members, the system maintains simplified light source positioning while improving light utilization efficiency.
3Reliability
If a reflective member surrounds the gap between light guide and light source, then light leakage is inhibited, but device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The reflective function is merged into the light guide housing structure. The housing is designed with internal reflective surfaces that are formed as an integral part of the housing, eliminating the need for separate reflective members and simplifying manufacturing processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The separate reflective member is removed from the assembly. The light guide housing itself is designed to contain and reflect light through its integrated structure, reducing the number of components and simplifying manufacturing while maintaining light leakage inhibition.
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 light guide efficiently utilizes light emitted by the source, minimizing leakage and increasing the amount of light reflected towards the document and mirrors, while allowing for a reduced dimension in the light guide's Z-axis direction.
Implementation Method 1
light emitted toward the third end face by a light source in part exits the protrusion from the second lateral face, then enters the main light-guide housing from the first end face
Implementation Method 2
light emitted toward the third end face by a light source in part exits the protrusion from the second lateral face, then enters the main light-guide housing from the first end face
Data Source
AI summary
A light guide comprising: a main light-guide housing that is elongated shaped, having a first end face, a second end face, and a first lateral face connecting the first end face and the second end face, and the main light-guide housing being elongated in a predetermined direction from the first end face to the second end face; and a protrusion that is connected to the main light-guide housing, having a third end face in an opposite direction from the predetermined direction and a second lateral face connecting the third end face to the first end face, and the protrusion projecting from the first end face in the opposite direction from the predetermined direction, wherein, light emitted toward the third end face by a light source in part exits the protrusion from the second lateral face, then enters the main light-guide housing from the first end face, and thereafter exits the light guide from the first lateral face.