Light Source Unit Segmented Light Guide for Uniform Surface Emission
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional light source units for mobile bodies, such as vehicular lamps, face challenges in achieving uniform and effective surface emission, which limits their performance and reliability.
Innovation Solution
A light source unit comprising a light source part that emits excitation light, a light emitting part supported by a support part with a reflective surface on its backside, allowing efficient irradiation and reflection of excitation light to the light emitting layer, which emits generated light in a controlled manner, enhancing surface emission while preventing degradation from ultraviolet rays.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a conventional light source unit uses a plate-shaped light guide lens to guide light from the light source, then the light emits through the lens member in a substantially uniform manner, but the surface emission is not appropriate and uniform light emission is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The light guide is divided into a first light guide portion and a second light guide portion with different refractive indices. The first light guide portion has a lower refractive index while the second light guide portion has a higher refractive index, creating segmented optical paths that improve light distribution uniformity across the emission surface.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the light guide are assigned different optical properties (refractive indices). The first light guide portion and second light guide portion have locally optimized refractive indices to control light propagation in specific areas, achieving non-uniform light extraction that compensates for the inherent uniformity problem of conventional light guides.
2Duration of action of moving object
If the light source unit operates continuously to maintain illumination, then the light emission function is preserved, but electrical degradation and UV exposure occur reducing lifespan
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a protective layer with specific optical properties that blocks UV rays while allowing visible light transmission. This converts the harmful UV exposure into a blocked state, protecting the light emitting diode from UV-induced degradation while maintaining illumination function.
Solution Approach 2:
The light guide is constructed as a composite structure combining first and second light guide portions with different refractive indices, and includes a protective layer with specific optical properties. This composite structure provides both optical performance improvement and UV protection, extending device lifespan.
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 enables brighter and more reliable surface emission by efficiently using excitation light to produce generated light, improving the light source unit's performance and extending its lifespan by preventing electrical degradation and UV exposure.
Implementation Method 1
a reflective part provided on a back surface of the support part, the back surface being on a side opposite to an emission direction of the generated light
Implementation Method 2
a light emitting part that emits generated light by being irradiated with the excitation light
Data Source
AI summary
A light source unit includes: a light source part that emits excitation light; a light emitting part that emits generated light by being irradiated with the excitation light; a support part that guides the excitation light to the light emitting part while supporting the light emitting part; and a reflective part provided on a back surface of the support part, the back surface being on a side opposite to an emission direction of the generated light.