Automotive Light Guide Layout for Uniform LED Signal Lighting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automotive lighting and signaling devices face challenges in achieving homogeneous lighting while being cost-effective and avoiding the limitations of OLED technology, particularly in terms of life cycle and diagnostics.
Innovation Solution
A lighting and signaling device utilizing LED light sources and a light guide system with a lenticular body, diffusion layer, and reflector elements to achieve uniform light distribution and homogeneity, mimicking OLED performance without its drawbacks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If OLED technology is used to achieve homogeneous lighting, then lighting homogeneity is improved, but cost and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
A light guide is introduced as an intermediary component between the LED light source and the lighting surface. The light guide receives light from the LED and distributes it uniformly across the lighting surface through its optical structure, achieving homogeneous lighting without requiring OLED technology.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replicates the homogeneous lighting effect of OLEDs using a different technical approach. Instead of using OLED panels, it uses LED sources combined with light guides that copy the visual effect of uniform light distribution, thereby achieving similar appearance without OLED limitations.
2Illumination intensity
If OLED technology is used to achieve homogeneous lighting, then lighting homogeneity is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces expensive OLED panels with more cost-effective LED components and light guides. LEDs are significantly cheaper to manufacture than OLEDs, and when combined with relatively simple light guide structures, provide a cost-effective alternative that achieves the same homogeneous lighting effect.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention copies the visual effect of OLED homogeneous lighting using cheaper components. By replicating the light distribution pattern using LEDs and light guides, it achieves the desired appearance at a lower manufacturing cost.
3Illumination intensity
If OLED technology is used, then lighting homogeneity is improved, but reliability and diagnostics capability worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting system is segmented into separate functional components: LED light sources and light guides. This segmentation allows individual LEDs to be replaced or diagnosed independently if they fail, whereas OLED panels are typically non-modular and difficult to diagnose or repair. The light guide can also be separately replaced if damaged.
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 homogeneous lighting comparable to OLEDs, with reduced complexity and cost, enabling various light patterns, graphic signals, and animations, while being compact and adaptable for diverse vehicle integrations.
Implementation Method 1
an automotive lighting and/or signaling device, characterized in that it comprises at least one light guide (24) which is lit from the back by LED light sources (16)
Implementation Method 2
The light guide (24) is provided with extraction elements (52) arranged on said light inlet and diffusion wall (28)
Data Source
Figure 1~4
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A lighting and/or signaling device (4), comprising: - a light guide (24) which extends from a light inlet and diffusion wall (28) adapted to receive a light ray beam to a light outlet wall (32) which creates a lighting portion of the lighting and/or signaling device (4), - at least one LED light source (16) which emits said light beam along a main optical axis (X-X), facing an emission portion (40) of said light inlet and diffusion wall (28) adapted to receive said light beam, transmitted by total internal reflection towards the light outlet wall (32), - the lighting portion (36) comprising a middle lighting portion (44) aligned with the LED light source (16) and said emission portion (40), and a peripheral lighting portion (48) which surrounds said middle lighting portion (44), - the light guide (24) being provided with extraction elements (52) arranged on the light inlet and diffusion wall (28) - with the exception of the emission portion (40) - at said peripheral lighting portion (48), - wherein the device (4) comprises at least one reflector element (56) associated with the light inlet and diffusion wall (28) of the light guide (24) and directly facing the respective extraction elements (52) so as to reflect light towards the light outlet wall (32), - wherein a diffusion layer (60) is arranged to cover the lighting portion (36) on the side of the light outlet wall (32), - wherein said diffusion layer (60) has a differentiated transmission factor according to the light intensity of the incident light rays on the lighting portion (36) so as to obtain a uniform light intensity over the whole lighting portion (36).