Automotive Lighting Optics With Collector Imaging and Thin Lens Layout
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automotive lighting devices require precise positioning of components, leading to increased weight and complexity, and occupy significant vertical space due to thick projection lenses and collectors.
Innovation Solution
A compact multi-functional lighting device with rigidly connected light sources, collectors, and optical systems, utilizing elliptical or parabolic reflective surfaces and a thin lens to form distinct lighting and signaling functions, allowing for reduced precision requirements and improved assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If a thick projection lens with short focal length is used, then the optical system can achieve the required beam projection, but the lens weight increases and production becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the focal length parameter of the projection lens from short to long, which allows for a thinner lens design. This parameter change resolves the contradiction by enabling the optical system to achieve the required beam projection with reduced lens thickness, weight, and manufacturing complexity.
2Power
If the collector has a certain height, then it can effectively collect and reflect light rays, but it occupies significant vertical space
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a vertical arrangement where the collector has significant height to a horizontal arrangement where the optical components are positioned side-by-side along the optical axis. This dimensional change allows the collector to maintain its light collection efficiency while occupying minimal vertical space, as the long focal length lens compensates for the reduced collector height.
3Manufacturing precision
If significant precision in positioning of the folder and cutting edge is required, then the beam cutoff can be achieved, but the device complexity and assembly difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the luminous image of the collector's reflective surface as a natural reference for positioning the beam cutoff elements. Instead of requiring precise mechanical positioning of the folder and cutting edge relative to each other, the system uses the optical image of the collector surface itself as the reference, significantly reducing positioning complexity while maintaining beam cutoff precision.
4Adaptability or versatility
If a single lighting device performs multiple lighting and signaling functions, then the device versatility improves, but the optical system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements multi-functionality by using a single long focal length projection lens to handle multiple light beams from different collectors, each representing different lighting or signaling functions. The lens is optically positioned to receive and project multiple beams simultaneously, allowing one optical component to serve multiple functions without requiring separate projection lenses for each function, thus avoiding increased complexity.
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 all or part of several distinct lighting or signaling functions with a single device, offering advantages in terms of compactness and ease of assembly, while concentrating light near the rear edge of reflective surfaces for efficient beam formation.
Implementation Method 1
a first and a second collector (106, 116), each with a reflective surface (6.2, 16.2) configured to collect and reflect the light rays emitted, respectively, by the first and second light source (4, 14)
Implementation Method 2
an optical system configured to project the rays reflected by the reflective surfaces of the first and second collector, respectively, into a first and a second light beam along an optical axis of the device
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~6
Figure 7~9
AI summary
The invention relates to a lighting device (2), particularly for a motor vehicle, comprising a first (4) and a second (14) light source, each capable of emitting light rays; a first (6) and a second (16) collector, each with a reflective surface (6.2, 16.2) configured to collect and reflect the light rays emitted, respectively, by the first (4) and second (14) light source into a first (12) and second (18) light beam; and an optical system (10) configured to project the first (12) and second (18) light beams along an optical axis of the device (8). The optical system (10) is configured to form a luminous image of the reflective surface (6.2, 16.2) of each of the first (6) and second (16) collectors.