Vehicle Light Guide Reflector Layout for Uniform Signal Emission
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing illumination devices for motor vehicle lights using thin plates with LEDs struggle with non-uniform light distribution, requiring additional diffusion layers to achieve desired OLED-like uniformity, which complicates the implementation of strong signal functions like STOP, TURN, or DRL, especially when the front main surface is small.
Innovation Solution
The illumination device employs a plate-like light guiding body with a front main surface designed for total internal reflection, a rear main surface with exit structures, and a reflector surface to deflect light rays, utilizing profile recesses or elevations and concave reflector partial surfaces to achieve uniform light emission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If a thin plate with LEDs is used for light injection, then the device thickness is reduced, but the light distribution uniformity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs curved reflector surfaces (parabolic or elliptical shapes) to redirect light rays. These curved surfaces focus and distribute light more uniformly across the plate, compensating for the non-uniformity inherent in thin plate designs. The curvature allows light from edge-mounted LEDs to be redistributed evenly across the front surface, achieving OLED-like uniformity without adding diffusion layers.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies optical parameters by introducing reflector surfaces with specific geometric configurations (parabolic, elliptical, or free-form surfaces). These reflectors change the direction and distribution of light rays through controlled reflection, transforming the non-uniform light pattern from edge injection into a uniform distribution across the plate surface.
2Illumination intensity
If additional diffusion layers are added to achieve uniform light emission, then the light distribution uniformity is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the need for additional diffusion layers by implementing reflector surfaces that inherently provide uniform light distribution. Instead of adding more optical elements (diffusion layers), the solution removes the requirement for them by using curved reflectors to achieve the desired uniformity directly from the light guiding body.
Solution Approach 2:
The reflector surfaces serve multiple functions: they redirect light from the narrow side to the front surface, distribute light uniformly across the plate, and maintain the thin profile of the device. This single component performs what would otherwise require multiple separate elements (light redirection + uniformity control), simplifying the overall device structure.
3Illumination intensity
If the front main surface area is increased to achieve strong signal functions, then the signal intensity is improved, but the device dimensions increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the light distribution parameters through optimized reflector geometry, concentrating light more effectively onto the front surface. This increases the luminous intensity and signal strength without requiring a larger surface area, allowing strong signal functions to be achieved within compact dimensions.
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
This design achieves a thin, uniformly emitting illumination device that efficiently directs light into desired distributions, meeting legal requirements for signal functions like STOP, while maintaining high surface homogeneity and intensity.
Implementation Method 1
the front main surface is designed in such a way that at least some, preferably all of the light rays, incident on the front main surface, of the light propagating substantially in the first main light propagation direction are totally reflected at the front main surface
Implementation Method 2
the reflector surface is designed in such a way that light rays emerging from the rear main surface and striking the reflector surface are deflected by the reflector surface in the direction of the light guiding body
Data Source
AI summary
An illumination device for a motor vehicle light has a plate-like transparent light guiding body (LGB). Light sources are arranged on a narrow side of the LGB and emit light that enters the LGB and propagates therein in a first main light propagation direction (X1) to the opposite narrow side. At least some of the light rays (S1), incident on the front main surface (FMS) of the light propagating in the X1 direction are totally reflected at the FMS such that the light strikes a rear main surface (RMS), which has an exit structure. At least some of the light rays (S1′) which are totally reflected at the FMS and which strike the RMS exit the LGB via the exit structure. A reflector surface, which is arranged opposite the RMS, is designed such that light rays (S1″) emerging from the RMS and striking the reflector surface are deflected by the reflector surface in the direction of the LGB in a second light propagation direction (X2) and the deflected light rays (S1′″) pass through the RMS and the FMS and are emitted into an area in front of the illumination device to form a light distribution.