Lighting Device With Masked LED And Integrated Light Guide
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional LED lighting devices with light guiding members protrude from vehicle bodies due to their thickness and visible LEDs, compromising surface emission appearance and design simplicity.
Innovation Solution
A lighting device design featuring a light guiding member with strategically formed cuts and a mask member, sandwiched between a case and lens, which directs and masks light to create a surface emission effect, while reducing thickness and improving appearance through a simple structure and effective light reflection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a light guiding member with cuts is used to direct emitted light, then light directivity is improved, but the device thickness increases causing protrusion from vehicle body
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the light guiding member with the case by forming the light guiding member from the case material itself, eliminating the need for a separate light guiding component. This integration reduces the overall device thickness while maintaining the light directing function through strategically formed cuts in the integrated structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent nests multiple functional elements within a compact arrangement where the light guiding member is positioned within the case structure, and the lens is mounted on the case opening. This nested configuration allows the light directing cuts to be formed within the available space without increasing overall device thickness.
2Use of energy by moving object
If LEDs are positioned to emit light directly, then light emission efficiency is improved, but the visible LED positions compromise surface emission appearance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a mask member as an intermediary element positioned between the LED and the external environment. This mask member selectively blocks direct lines of sight to the LED while allowing light to pass through other paths, thereby maintaining LED emission efficiency while creating the desired surface emission appearance where no individual LED positions are visible.
Solution Approach 2:
The mask member is designed with non-uniform structure having different transparency or blocking characteristics in different regions. This local quality variation allows certain areas to block LED visibility while other areas permit light transmission, achieving the surface emission effect without compromising overall light output efficiency.
3Illumination intensity
If multiple components (reflector, lens, light guiding member) are used to achieve light control, then light directionality is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the case and light guiding member into a single integrated component formed from the same material. This consolidation eliminates the need for separate reflector and light guiding member components, reducing assembly complexity while maintaining light directionality through cuts formed in the integrated structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated case-light guiding member structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides the structural housing (case function), directs light through formed cuts (light guiding function), and can incorporate mounting features for the lens. This multi-functionality reduces the total component count and simplifies the overall device structure.
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 achieves a seamless surface emission appearance, reduces device thickness, and enhances luminance by masking LEDs and reflecting light effectively, resulting in a more integrated and efficient lighting solution for vehicle applications.
Implementation Method 1
a light guiding member configured to guide emitted light in a predetermined direction
Implementation Method 2
a reflector configured to reflect emitted light, which is scattered by the light guiding member, in an emission direction
Implementation Method 3
a mask member configured to block the emitted light from the LED
Implementation Method 4
a lens configured to cover the opening of the case
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided is a lighting device capable of surface emission using an LED as a light source, having a simple structure, and reducible in thickness. In a lighting device 50 having an LED 71 as a light source and a light guiding member 60 having a cut 64, 65 formed to provide a certain directivity to emitted light from the LEDs 71, the cut 64, 65 is formed at a position corresponding to the LED 71, at an emission surface side of the light guiding member 60. A mask member 53 configured to block the emitted light from the LED 71 is disposed on an emission surface side of the cut 64, 65. The lighting device 50 includes a case 80 having an opening at an emission surface side thereof to surround the light guiding member 60, and a lens 51 configured to cover the opening of the case 80. The light guiding member 60 is sandwiched between the case 80 and the lens 51. The mask member 53 is attached to a mask member-accommodating recess 52 formed at an emission surface side of the lens 51. The mask member-accommodating recess 52 is painted in a certain color.