Automotive Luminaire with Interchangeable LED Bulbs for Emission Pattern Control
Solution Overview
Problem
Current automotive luminaires require multiple designs to meet different regulatory and styling requirements across jurisdictions, leading to increased design and manufacturing costs and reduced refresh times, as they rely on traditional lambertian emission patterns that cannot be easily altered.
Innovation Solution
A luminaire design that utilizes interchangeable LED bulbs with varying emission patterns and colors, where the optical features of the luminaire are tailored to reflect, refract, and filter the bulb's emission, allowing a single luminaire to meet multiple regulatory and styling needs by simply changing the bulb.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional lambertian emission bulbs are used in luminaires, then the luminaire structure can be simple with standard sockets and reflectors, but the emission pattern cannot be changed without redesigning the entire luminaire
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the emission pattern control function from the luminaire structure by using interchangeable bulbs with integrated optical elements. Each bulb is designed as an independent module with specific emission characteristics, allowing the luminaire to achieve multiple emission patterns without structural changes.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the emission pattern parameter by selecting different bulbs with varying optical features (lens shapes, reflector configurations, color filters) rather than changing the luminaire structure. This allows the same luminaire housing to produce different emission patterns through parameter substitution.
2Reliability
If multiple luminaires are designed to meet different jurisdictional regulations and styling requirements, then each specific regulatory requirement can be met precisely, but design and manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The luminaire is designed as a universal platform that can satisfy multiple regulatory requirements and styling preferences through interchangeable bulbs. A single luminaire housing with standardized socket and optical cavity serves multiple functions by accepting different bulb types, each optimized for specific jurisdictional requirements.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple luminaires are manufactured for different styling refreshes, then each model can have unique styling features, but the refresh cycle time and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The styling and emission pattern features are extracted from the luminaire housing and placed into interchangeable bulbs. This allows styling refreshes to be achieved by developing new bulb designs rather than redesigning entire luminaires, significantly reducing development time and cost.
4Ease of manufacture
If LED bulbs with lambertian emission are used to replace incandescent bulbs, then the socket compatibility is maintained, but the emission pattern control capability is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the LED light source with integrated optical control elements (lenses, reflectors, filters) into a single bulb assembly. This maintains compatibility with existing sockets while restoring emission pattern control capability that was lost in traditional LED replacements.
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
Enables rapid and cost-effective adaptation to different regulatory requirements and styling preferences by allowing a single luminaire to output various light emission patterns and colors, reducing the need for multiple designs and extending the refresh cycle of vehicle models.
Implementation Method 1
The luminaire contains different sets of optical features associated with the different emission patterns or colors that can be output by the different bulbs when mounted in a first socket of the luminaire and reflect, refract, and/or filter the bulb's emission
Implementation Method 2
The luminaire contains different sets of optical features associated with the different emission patterns or colors that can be output by the different bulbs when mounted in a first socket of the luminaire and reflect, refract, and/or filter the bulb's emission
Implementation Method 3
The luminaire has different color filters forming different output windows, and different bulbs having different color spectra emissions cause the luminaire to output different emission patterns and colors
Data Source
AI summary
A luminaire (12), such as an external light for an automobile or a wall sconce, includes at least first set of optical features (16B, 16F) and a second set of optical features (16A, 16C, 16E, 16G). The first set of optical features (16B, 16F) is configured for use with an LED bulb (10) emitting a first type of light emission pattern (20), such that the luminaire outputs a particular light emission pattern. The second set of optical features (16A, 16C, 16E, 16G) is configured for use with a bulb (10) emitting a second type of light emission pattern (24), such that the luminaire outputs a different type of light emission pattern. In this way, the same luminaire may output different light emission patterns depending on the emission pattern of the bulb. The luminaire's emission pattern may also be dependent on the color emitted by the bulb. Different bulbs may be used or different LEDs may be energized in a single bulb to generate the emission patterns.