Rearview Mirror Light Module With Light Guide for Sideward Illumination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle exterior mirror and door handle lighting systems lack efficient and cost-effective solutions for providing forward and sideward illumination, particularly in designs that require curved light source arrangements.
Innovation Solution
The development of a light module for vehicle exterior rearview mirrors and door handles, featuring a rigid PCB with LEDs arranged in a curved fashion, coupled with a light guiding element that redirects light horizontally using total internal reflection, thereby eliminating the need for flexible or segmented PCBs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a rigid PCB with LEDs arranged in a curved fashion is used, then manufacturing cost is reduced and structural stability is improved, but the ability to provide horizontal illumination directly from the LED orientation is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
A light guiding element is introduced as an intermediary component between the vertically oriented LEDs and the required horizontal illumination direction. This light guide redirects the light paths from vertical to horizontal orientation through optical mechanisms, enabling the rigid PCB design to achieve the desired illumination pattern without requiring flexible or segmented PCB structures.
2Device complexity
If LEDs are arranged in a curved fashion on a rigid PCB, then device complexity is reduced by eliminating flexible PCBs, but the precision of light direction control is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The light guiding element serves as a precision optical intermediary that compensates for the fixed rigid PCB structure. It provides the necessary light direction control through its optical design, allowing curved LED arrangements on rigid PCBs to achieve precise horizontal illumination without requiring complex flexible or segmented PCB configurations.
3Device complexity
If light is emitted generally normal to the circuit board plane (upward or downward), then the rigid PCB structure with curved LED arrangement is simplified, but the forward and sideward illumination capability is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The light guiding element acts as an optical mediator that transforms the vertically emitted light from the rigid PCB-mounted LEDs into forward and sideward illumination. This intermediary component enables the simplified rigid PCB structure to achieve the required forward and sideward lighting functions through optical redirection rather than requiring complex LED orientation arrangements.
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
This solution provides efficient and aesthetically pleasing illumination patterns for vehicle exterior mirrors and door handles, reducing manufacturing costs and enhancing visibility and driver feedback.
Implementation Method 1
a light guiding element is disposed along the circuit board and LEDs and configured to direct light in a generally horizontal direction (normal to the direction in which the light is emitted), such as forward and sideward of the vehicle
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicular lighted exterior rearview mirror system includes a lighted exterior rearview mirror assembly for mounting at a side of a vehicle. A light module is disposed at the lighted exterior rearview mirror assembly. The light module includes at least three illumination sources linearly arranged at a circuit board. When the at least three illumination sources are individually actuated, light emitted by each individual illumination source is emitted outboard away from the side of the vehicle. When the at least three illumination sources are actuated responsive to a first input, the light module emits light in a first pattern. With the lighted exterior rearview mirror assembly mounted at the side of the vehicle, and when the at least three illumination sources are actuated responsive to a second input, the light module emits light in a second pattern that is different from the first pattern.