Vehicle Mirror Light Guide Homogeneous Illumination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing exterior vehicle mirrors with illuminated displays often impair non-driver road users with wide-angle optical information emission, and achieving homogeneous illumination is complex, requiring numerous components.
Innovation Solution
A simplified optical display design for exterior vehicle mirrors, where a light guide with conically tapered coupling optics and a filter between the light guide and mirror glass directs light almost parallel to the mirror surface, using a reflective layer with adhesive for mounting, and a deflection optics system to focus light towards the driver without affecting other road users.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If wide-angle light emission is used to illuminate the display area, then the driver can see the optical information, but other road users are irritated and affected by the light
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating directionally selective illumination - the light guide emits light preferentially in the driver's direction while minimizing light in other directions. The conically tapered coupling optics and filter foil create localized light emission patterns that target specific viewing angles, ensuring the driver receives adequate illumination while other road users are protected from harmful light exposure.
2Measurement precision
If multiple components are used to achieve optimal radiation direction, then the light can be directed accurately towards the driver, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple optical functions into a single integrated light guide component. The light guide combines light transmission, directional control via conically tapered coupling optics, and filtering functions in one element. This consolidation achieves precise light direction towards the driver while reducing the overall number of separate components compared to traditional multi-element optical systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The light guide serves multiple functions simultaneously: it transmits light from the light source, directs the light towards the driver through conically tapered coupling optics, filters specific wavelengths via the filter foil, and provides structural support. This multi-functionality reduces device complexity by eliminating the need for separate components for each function.
3Illumination intensity
If the mirror glass is illuminated from behind, then the display information is visible, but the illumination is not homogeneous across the surface
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs conically tapered coupling optics with curved surfaces to distribute light more uniformly across the mirror glass surface. The conical geometry and curved optical surfaces help to even out light intensity variations, creating more homogeneous illumination across the display area while maintaining visibility of the optical information.
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 ensures that only the driver is illuminated homogeneously, reducing distraction for other road users and eliminating the need for a classic metallic reflector, allowing for a more compact and efficient display design.
Implementation Method 1
a light guide (11) with an essentially rectangular outline and wedge-shaped structure, wherein the light guide (11) is made of a refined polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA)
Implementation Method 2
conically tapered coupling optics (14) on a coupling side (14a)
Implementation Method 3
a filter (21) is provided between the deflection optics (18) and the rear (2b) of the mirror glass (2)
Implementation Method 4
The rear of the mirror glass 2 is provided with a reflective layer 3
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
An optical display is proposed, consisting of a housing (10) that can be connected to a part of a vehicle's exterior mirror, wherein the housing contains at least one light source (25) on a circuit board (29) and at least one light guide structure (11). The light guide tapers wedge-shaped from the end face (34) opposite the light source, forming a channel with a radius (r3).