Exterior Mirror Light Module With Multi-Direction Lens and Light Pipe
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing multi-functional light modules for vehicle rearview devices face challenges in meeting diverse government regulations across countries, as they often require specific light colors and directions for various lighting functions.
Innovation Solution
A light module design for a vehicle's exterior mirror, featuring a housing with multiple lens sections, printed circuit boards, LEDs, reflectors, and a light pipe, allowing for customizable light emission directions and colors to comply with different regulatory requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If government regulations require light to maintain a particular color for all light associated with a given operation, then regulatory compliance is achieved, but it becomes more challenging to communize one light source in a multi-functional light module when operations vary from product line to product line
Solution Approach 1:
A single light module integrates multiple LED groups (first LED group, second LED group, third LED group) that can be selectively activated to provide different lighting functions (security lights, running lights, puddle lights, turn signal lights, spotlights). This multi-functional design allows one light module to replace multiple separate light sources, simplifying the overall system while maintaining compliance with various regulations through selective activation and directional control.
Solution Approach 2:
The light module employs dynamic control of different LED groups and lens sections to adapt to different operational modes and regulatory requirements. By selectively activating specific LED groups and directing light through appropriate lens sections, the system can dynamically adjust its lighting output to meet the specific requirements of different countries and operations.
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 enables flexible and compliant light emission patterns, supporting forward-facing, side-facing, and rear-facing light functions, including running lights and turn signals, while adhering to varying regulatory standards.
Implementation Method 1
a lens attached to the housing and including at least a first lens section that is configured to direct light in a first direction and a second lens section that is configured to direct light in a second direction
Implementation Method 2
at least one reflector mounted with the housing and configured to reflect light emitted from the first LED through the first lens section
Implementation Method 3
a light pipe mounted within the housing and configured to receive light emitted from the second LED and emit light through the second lens section
Implementation Method 4
an optical coupler and/or optical filter may be welded or clipped to the light pipe. In other embodiments, the light pipe may be configured to filter white light emitted to provide non-white light emitted through the second lens section
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure refers to a light module for an exterior mirror of a vehicle. The light module includes a housing, a lens attached to the housing and including at least a first lens section that is configured to direct light in a first direction and a second lens section that is configured to direct light in a second direction, a first light module printed circuit board (PCB) mounted within the housing, a first light emitting diode (LED) attached to the first light module PCB, at least one reflector mounted with the housing and configured to reflect light emitted from the first LED through the first lens section, a second LED attached to the first light module PCB, and a light pipe mounted within the housing and configured to receive light emitted from the second LED and emit light through the second lens section.