Luminous Glazed Vehicle Roof With OLED Collimation Optic
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current luminous glazed vehicle roofs face challenges in optimizing optical performance and manufacturing processes, particularly in providing effective ambient lighting and managing lighting distribution for reading zones.
Innovation Solution
A luminous glazed vehicle roof design incorporating a transparent light-emitting element, such as an OLED, paired with a collimation optic featuring textured plastic films that enhance light emission and distribution, utilizing an array of prismatic or two-dimensional features to direct light efficiently and increase luminance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a light-emitting element is integrated into a laminated roof to provide ambient lighting, then illumination intensity is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the light-emitting element directly into the laminated glazing structure, merging the lighting function with the roof structure itself. The light-emitting element is integrated between the inner and outer panes of glass, eliminating the need for separate lighting assemblies and reducing overall device complexity while maintaining illumination functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The laminated glazing structure serves multiple functions: it provides structural integrity, safety, and now also ambient lighting. The light-emitting element is designed to work within the existing laminated glass framework, allowing the roof to simultaneously fulfill protective and illuminating roles without requiring additional complex components.
2Illumination intensity
If optical performance is improved through additional optical components, then illumination intensity increases, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs thin-film optical elements, specifically a collimating film with microlens array, that can be laminated onto the light-emitting element. These thin films are easier to manufacture and integrate compared to bulk optical components, allowing for simplified production processes while achieving the desired light collimation and intensity enhancement.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution uses composite optical structures combining the light-emitting element with a collimating film featuring microlens array. This composite approach integrates multiple optical functions (light generation, collimation, and distribution) into a single manufacturable unit, streamlining the manufacturing process while maintaining high illumination performance.
3Illumination intensity
If light distribution is optimized for reading zones, then illumination intensity improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The collimating film with microlens array is designed with spatially varying lens parameters to direct light specifically toward reading zones. Each microlens is configured to redirect light in specific directions, creating localized illumination patterns that enhance reading area lighting without requiring complex adjustable optical systems throughout the entire roof.
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 significantly improves lighting efficacy, with observed increases in luminance of up to +64% compared to traditional methods, while maintaining a compact and simple implementation, effectively addressing the need for enhanced ambient lighting and reading zone illumination.
Implementation Method 1
a light-emitting element (3), facing face F2, able to emit polychromatic light
Implementation Method 2
the collimation optic includes... an array of features with apexes S and with a pitch T between apexes that is from 10 μm to 500 μm
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a luminous vehicle sunroof that includes a first glazing with first and second main faces, a light-emitting element such as an OLED or QLED and a collimating optical system with one or more optical films.