Light Guide Splitting Section Reduces Length
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional light guides require a longer length to achieve adequate light distribution at the ends, leading to enlarged rod-like light guiding sections, which increases the overall length and complexity.
Innovation Solution
A light guide design with a splitting section that splits the light into at least two guiding sections, where each section includes a reflective surface and an emission surface, with the emission surface positioned farther in the opposite direction than the splitting section's forward end, allowing for efficient generation of linear light beams with reduced length.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If the rod-like light guiding sections are enlarged in the length direction to achieve proper linear light beam with adequate light distribution at both ends, then the light distribution at the ends is improved, but the overall length of the light guide is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the spatial arrangement by positioning the emission surface in the width direction rather than extending the light guiding section in the length direction. Specifically, the emission surface is arranged to extend in the width direction beyond the width of the light guiding section, allowing light to be emitted laterally. This dimensional shift resolves the contradiction by achieving adequate light distribution at both ends through width expansion rather than length extension.
Solution Approach 2:
The reflective section is positioned to extend farther in the length direction than the forward end of the beam splitter, preparing the light path in advance. This preliminary arrangement of the reflective section ensures that light from both end portions of the light guiding section can be properly reflected and distributed before reaching the emission surface, enabling adequate light distribution without requiring excessive length.
2Quantity of substance
If the reflective section is located sufficiently far away from the beam splitter in the length direction to achieve large quantity of light at both ends, then the light quantity at the ends is improved, but the light guiding section must be enlarged in the length direction
Solution Approach 1:
The emission surface extends in the width direction beyond the width of the light guiding section, changing the primary dimension of light emission from length to width. This allows the reflective section to be positioned closer to the beam splitter in the length direction while still achieving adequate light quantity at both ends, as the lateral extension provides additional emission area without requiring excessive length.
Solution Approach 2:
The emission surface is designed with different extensions in different regions: it extends beyond the light guiding section in the width direction at positions corresponding to both end portions, while the reflective section is positioned to extend farther in the length direction than the beam splitter. This localized differentiation optimizes light distribution at specific regions without uniformly enlarging the entire light guiding section.
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 design enables the generation of linear light beams with improved light distribution at both ends while reducing the overall length of the light guide, enhancing efficiency and compactness.
Implementation Method 1
a beam splitter configured to split light emitted by a light source into at least two
Implementation Method 2
The light beam entering each of the rod-like light guiding sections propagates in the length direction of the light guiding sections while being total-reflected inside the light guiding sections repeatedly
Implementation Method 3
a reflective section (for example, a group of prisms) is provided to reflect incident light upward
Data Source
AI summary
A light guide having: a splitting section configured to split light emitted from a light source into at least two; and at least two light guiding sections arranged side by side in a predetermined width direction and configured to cause the light entering from the splitting section to propagate in a predetermined length direction. Each of the light guiding sections includes: a reflective section provided along the length direction and configured to reflect light incident thereon; an emission surface arranged opposite the reflective section and configured to emit the light reflected by the reflective section as a linear light beam having predetermined light distribution in the length direction; and at least a part of the emission surface is located farther in a direction opposite to the length direction than a forward end of the splitting section in the length direction.