Light Guiding Lens with Acute-Angle Incident Portions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Elongated rod light guiding lenses in vehicle lighting units face challenges in increasing light intensity without using high-power LEDs or additional heat sinks, which raises costs and can result in undesirable spot-like light emission affecting the lighting appearance.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a light guiding lens with a first and second rod extension connected by a flange with light incident portions at acute angles, featuring reflecting surfaces to internally reflect light from multiple LEDs, allowing for increased light intensity without additional components or high-power LEDs, ensuring uniform light distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a high-power LED is used to increase light intensity, then light intensity is improved, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The light guiding lens is divided into multiple rod extensions (first rod extension, second rod extension, etc.) with multiple light incident portions on each extension. Each light incident portion receives light from a separate LED and guides it through the rod extension. This segmentation allows multiple LEDs to be arranged in a matrix pattern, increasing total light intensity without requiring a single high-power LED, thus controlling cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a single LED configuration to a multi-dimensional array of LEDs arranged in rows and columns across multiple rod extensions. The light incident portions are disposed at different sites in a crossing direction intersecting with the extending direction at an acute angle, creating a two-dimensional light collection geometry that maximizes light gathering from multiple sources without increasing cost.
2Illumination intensity
If an additional light source is installed to increase light intensity, then light intensity is improved, but lighting appearance deteriorates due to spot-like emission
Solution Approach 1:
Each rod extension is segmented into multiple light incident portions positioned at different locations. Each portion collects light from a specific LED and guides it through its own rod extension, preventing the spot-like emission that occurs when multiple light sources are simply added without individual light guiding paths. The segmented approach ensures each LED's light is distributed uniformly.
Solution Approach 2:
The rod extensions act as intermediary light guiding elements between the LEDs and the final light emission. Each rod extension receives light from its associated light incident portion and guides it along its length, distributing the light uniformly along the extension rather than emitting it as a concentrated spot. This intermediary guiding mechanism eliminates the spot-like appearance while maintaining increased light intensity.
3Illumination intensity
If multiple light incident portions are arranged at acute angles to increase light collection efficiency, then light intensity is improved, but structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The light incident portions are deliberately arranged asymmetrically at acute angles relative to the extending direction of the rod extensions. This asymmetric arrangement optimizes the collection of light from LEDs positioned at various locations, maximizing light gathering efficiency. The asymmetric geometry allows for compact packaging while maintaining high light collection efficiency, balancing performance with structural simplicity.
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 solution enhances light intensity without increasing costs or degrading the lighting appearance, achieving efficient light distribution and reducing the need for high-power LEDs or heat sinks, while maintaining cost-effectiveness and improved light utilization.
Implementation Method 1
the light incident portions guide light emitted from the respective LEDs inside the flange toward the first rod extension along a light guiding direction
Implementation Method 2
the first rod extension includes a plurality of reflecting surfaces to internally reflect the light incident on the light incident portions and guided inside the flange along the extension direction toward the second rod extension
Data Source
AI summary
A light guiding lens and vehicle lighting unit are shown. According to one aspect, an elongated light guiding lens guides and emits light emitted from LEDs. The light guiding lens includes a first rod extension and a second rod extension connected with each other, and a flange protruding from the first rod extension. The flange includes a plurality of light incident portions to introduce light into the flange. The light incident portions guide light toward the first rod extension along a light guiding direction and lies in the direction toward the second rod extension, the light guiding direction defining an acute intersecting angle with the extending direction of the first rod extension. The first rod extension includes reflecting surfaces to internally reflect the light incident on the light incident portions and guided inside the flange.