Automotive Light-Guide Taillight for Uniform Hidden Illumination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing central taillights in vehicles are aesthetically unpleasing due to visible red components, non-uniform light distribution, and unsuitable for high-performance cars with inclined or small-sized rear windows.
Innovation Solution
A compact automotive lighting unit with a concave rear casing, a front bezel, a light-guide plate made of photoconductive material, and a diffusing filter that diffuses light internally, ensuring uniform light distribution and hidden aesthetics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a traditional red front half-shell is used in the central taillight, then the light distribution function is achieved, but the aesthetic appearance deteriorates due to visible red components
Solution Approach 1:
A light-guide plate is introduced as an intermediary component between the lighting assembly and the external environment. The lighting assembly emits light that travels through the light-guide plate via total internal reflection, and the light is extracted through extraction structures on the outer surface of the light-guide plate, eliminating the need for a visible red front half-shell while maintaining light distribution function
Solution Approach 2:
The traditional mechanical optical system using a red colored plastic half-shell is replaced with an optical waveguide system. The light-guide plate uses optical principles (total internal reflection and light extraction) to achieve light distribution without requiring a visible red cosmetic cover, thus substituting a mechanical/optical assembly with a more sophisticated optical system
2Volume of moving object
If a compact design is implemented for the central taillight, then the adaptability to high-performance vehicles with inclined or small-sized rear windows is improved, but the light distribution uniformity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The light-guide plate features locally varied extraction structures with different geometries, densities, and distributions across its surface. This local quality variation allows precise control of light extraction at different positions, achieving uniform light distribution across the entire taillight surface even in a compact configuration
Solution Approach 2:
The solution moves from a two-dimensional light source arrangement to a three-dimensional optical waveguide system. Light is introduced at one end of the light-guide plate and distributed across the entire surface through internal reflection and extraction structures, enabling uniform illumination in a compact volume by utilizing the third dimension (depth/thickness of the waveguide)
3Volume of moving object
If a compact taillight design is used, then the installation suitability for high-performance vehicles is improved, but the light intensity and visibility deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting assembly uses high-power LEDs that emit light in the 400-700nm visible spectrum with optimized luminous intensity. By changing the parameters of the light source (higher power, optimized spectral distribution) and the optical efficiency of the light-guide plate, sufficient light intensity is achieved in a compact size
Solution Approach 2:
The traditional system requiring larger physical dimensions for light distribution is replaced with an efficient optical waveguide system that uses total internal reflection and controlled light extraction. This substitution of optical principles for mechanical scaling allows compact size while maintaining or enhancing light intensity through optimized optical paths and extraction efficiency
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 a compact, uniformly illuminated taillight that meets photometric specifications, is aesthetically pleasing, and suitable for high-performance vehicles, with invisible components when off.
Implementation Method 1
direct the light produced within the body of the light-guide plate, through said rear sidewall, so that the light travel within the light-guide plate by total internal reflection up to a front sidewall of the same light-guide plate
Implementation Method 2
a diffusing filter, which is interposed between the lighting assembly and the light-guide plate so as to be crossed by the light emitted by said lighting assembly, and is structured to diffuse the light directed towards the rear sidewall of the light-guide plate
Data Source
AI summary
An automotive lighting unit is disclosed that comprises a rear casing fixable to a vehicle, a front bezel forming a rigid container with the rear casing, and a light-guide plate made of photoconductive material inserted in a pass-through manner in a slit in the front bezel. The automotive lighting unit further comprises a lighting assembly which emits light on command and is arranged inside the rigid container facing a rear sidewall of the light-guide plate so as to direct the light produced within the light-guide plate, through the rear sidewall in such a way that the light travels within the light-guide plate by total internal reflection up to the front sidewall of the light-guide plate, and a diffusing filter which is interposed between the lighting assembly and the light-guide plate so as to be crossed by the light emitted by the lighting assembly.