Motor Vehicle Lighting Module with Corrective Optical Element
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current motor vehicle lighting systems face challenges in providing efficient and controlled lighting, particularly with the use of mirrors which result in reduced optical efficiency and increased optical aberrations, making it difficult to produce matrix beams with good photometric performance and imaging.
Innovation Solution
A primary optical element for motor vehicle lighting modules is designed with a one-piece structure comprising a light input member and a corrective part, where the light input member forms a virtual secondary source, and the intermediate surface corrects geometric aberrations through total internal reflection, ensuring efficient light projection and minimal optical losses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a mirror is used to replace a lens in the lighting system, then cost and styling flexibility are improved, but optical efficiency deteriorates due to lower reflectivity (85% for aluminum coating) compared to lens transmission
Solution Approach 1:
The optical system is divided into multiple segments: the mirror reflects light to form an intermediate image, and then a lens system (including field lens and projector lens) completes the imaging. This segmentation allows each component to perform its optimal function while maintaining overall system efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
An intermediate image plane is introduced as a mediator between the mirror and the final projection. This allows the mirror to create a virtual source image that can then be efficiently projected by the lens system, combining the advantages of both mirror and lens approaches.
2Ease of manufacture
If a mirror is used instead of a lens, then cost and styling are improved, but imaging quality deteriorates due to fewer optical surfaces available for correcting aberrations
Solution Approach 1:
The imaging function is segmented across multiple optical surfaces: the mirror surface, the field lens surfaces, and the projector lens surfaces. This provides multiple degrees of freedom for aberration correction while maintaining the cost and styling benefits of the mirror approach.
Solution Approach 2:
The intermediate image plane serves as a mediator that allows separate optimization of the mirror geometry for styling/cost and the lens system for imaging quality. Aberrations can be corrected at multiple stages: at the mirror surface, at the field lens, and at the projector lens.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the optical axis is offset in a mirror system, then integration flexibility is improved, but light sources require larger opening angles which generates more optical aberrations
Solution Approach 1:
The intermediate image plane acts as a mediator that decouples the offset mirror geometry from the final projection requirements. The field lens and projector lens work together to correct the aberrations introduced by the offset, allowing integration flexibility without sacrificing imaging quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes multiple optical parameters simultaneously: the mirror offset position, the field lens focal length, the projector lens focal length, and the relative positioning of these components. This multi-parameter optimization allows the system to achieve both integration flexibility and low aberrations.
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 enhances optical efficiency and imaging quality by correcting geometric aberrations and maintaining low optical losses, enabling the production of well-controlled light segments with improved visibility and reduced risk of dazzling other road users.
Implementation Method 1
the intermediate surface forming a reflection surface arranged to reflect rays coming from the light input member towards the convex surface
Data Source
Figure 1~3
AI summary
The invention relates to a lighting module for a motor vehicle, comprising at least one light source (1), each of which is associated with a light incident member (8) of a primary optical element (2) which is located across from a projecting secondary optical element (4) formed by a mirror. The module has three surfaces for treating geometrical aberrations of the light beams, two of said three surfaces being supported by the primary optical element (2). The output surface (12) of the incident member is located on a plane that coincides with a focal plane (5) of the projecting system formed by the primary and secondary optical elements.