Vehicle Light Waveguide Diffusion for Uniform Edge Emission
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle lighting devices with optical waveguides often suffer from undesired optical effects, such as LED hotspots and inhomogeneous appearances, when manufactured using injection molding, as the optical structures on the light emission surface can be damaged, leading to smooth edges without optical structures.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating diffusion elements on the reflective surface of the optical waveguide, specifically at the edge where light would otherwise be reflected smoothly, ensures that light is diffused when reaching the edge of the light emission surface, preventing concentration and unwanted optical effects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If optical structures are formed on the entire light emission surface, then light distribution is improved, but the optical structures are damaged during injection molding, leading to manufacturing defects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating the treatment of different regions on the light emission surface. The edge regions are left without optical structures to avoid damage during injection molding, while the central region maintains the optical structures for proper light distribution. This selective application of optical structures based on location resolves the contradiction between achieving uniform light distribution and preventing manufacturing damage.
2Manufacturing precision
If no optical structures are formed on the edge of the light emission surface, then manufacturing damage is avoided, but undesired optical effects such as LED hotspots and inhomogeneous appearance occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a diffuser as an intermediary element placed between the light source and the light emission surface. This diffuser compensates for the missing optical structures at the edges by scattering light to eliminate hotspots and inhomogeneous appearance. The diffuser acts as a mediator that achieves uniform light distribution without requiring damaged optical structures at the vulnerable edge regions.
3Ease of manufacture
If a smooth surface is used at the edge of the light emission surface, then manufacturing is simplified, but light concentration and LED hotspots occur
Solution Approach 1:
The diffuser serves as an intermediary that compensates for the lack of light scattering at the smooth edge surface. While the edge remains smooth for manufacturing simplicity, the diffuser introduces the necessary light scattering function to prevent concentration effects and hotspots, thereby decoupling the manufacturing simplicity requirement from the light distribution control requirement.
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 effectively prevents undesired light concentrations and inhomogeneities at the edges of the light emission surface, maintaining a uniform appearance without the need for optical structures on these edges.
Implementation Method 1
a reflection segment containing a reflective surface between the first optical waveguide segment and the second optical waveguide segment, where the light entering the optical waveguide is deflected toward the second optical waveguide segment
Implementation Method 2
the reflective surface of the reflection segment has diffusion elements where a part of the light entering the optical waveguide is deflected toward the second segment of the optical waveguide and is emitted at the edge of the light emission surface there
Data Source
AI summary
A lighting device for vehicles has a light source and an optical waveguide, which itself includes a first optical waveguide segment with a light entry surface for light from the light source, a second optical waveguide segment with a light emission surface for the light. The emission surface has an optical structure, and a reflection segment between the first and second optical waveguide segments that has a reflective surface that reflects the light entering the optical waveguide toward the second optical waveguide segment. The light emission surface has an edge without an optical structure. The reflection surface has diffusion elements at the edge where part of the light entering the optical waveguide is deflected toward the second optical waveguide segment, and is emitted at the edge of the light emission surface in the second optical waveguide segment.