Multi-Source Optical Lens for Vehicle Lighting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle lighting devices with multiple unitary assemblies and lenses are complex and costly to manufacture, requiring multiple lenses for various lighting needs, which complicates assembly and increases costs.
Innovation Solution
A modular lighting device using a single piece of transparent material with distinct entry and exit surfaces, where light sources are positioned at entry surfaces to produce a continuous exit surface without stray light interference, utilizing walls to reflect light beams and prevent interaction between adjacent portions, allowing for variable lighting configurations with LEDs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple unitary assemblies with separate lenses are used to meet various lighting needs, then lighting versatility is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The single transparent part is divided into multiple elementary portions, each capable of receiving light from a corresponding light source. This segmentation allows different lighting functions to be achieved within a unified structure, maintaining versatility while simplifying assembly by eliminating the need for multiple separate lenses
Solution Approach 2:
The single transparent part serves multiple functions by incorporating multiple elementary portions that can handle different lighting requirements simultaneously. This multi-functional design replaces the need for multiple specialized lenses, reducing device complexity while maintaining lighting versatility
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate lenses are used for different lighting functions, then lighting versatility is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple separate lenses are merged into a single transparent part that contains multiple elementary portions. This consolidation reduces the number of manufacturing steps, material requirements, and assembly operations, thereby lowering manufacturing costs while maintaining the ability to provide various lighting functions
3Volume of moving object
If light sources are positioned close together to achieve compact design, then device size is reduced, but stray light interference between adjacent sources increases
Solution Approach 1:
Each elementary portion of the transparent part is designed with specific local optical properties that control light propagation from its corresponding light source. The walls between elementary portions create localized light containment, allowing compact arrangement of light sources while preventing stray light interference through localized optical management
4Object-generated harmful factors
If walls are added to separate light beams between elementary portions, then stray light interference is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The separating walls are integrated directly into the structure of the single transparent part, forming an unified component rather than separate elements. This integration reduces the number of discrete parts and assembly steps, lowering structural complexity while effectively preventing stray light interference between adjacent elementary portions
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 provides a compact, cost-effective lighting module that can produce a wide range of light beams, meeting different lighting needs without parasitic light interference, suitable for vehicle headlamps and passenger compartment lighting.
Implementation Method 1
These walls are arranged to reflect the light beams coming from the input surfaces, and not to transmit them to the output surfaces of the adjacent elementary portions
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2A~3
Figure 4~6B
AI summary
The invention relates to a part (7) made of transparent material comprising at least two elementary portions (16, 17, 18, 19, 20) each consisting of an inlet surface (21, 22, 23, 24, 25) and an outlet surface (26, 27, 28, 29, 30), the outlet surface (26, 27, 28, 29, 30) being focused at the level of the inlet surface (21, 22, 23, 24, 25) of the same portion (16, 17, 18, 19, 20), the outlet surfaces (26, 27, 28, 29, 30) being joined so as to form an overall outlet surface of said part (7) which is continuous. In addition, the input surfaces (21, 22, 23, 24, 25) are kept apart from each other by means (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38) suitable for preventing rays from a light source placed at the input surface (21, 22, 23, 24, 25) of a portion (16, 17, 18, 19, 20) from passing through the output surface (26, 27, 28, 29, 30) of the adjacent elementary portion (16, 17, 18, 19, 20).