Optical Light Source Analyzer for Automotive LED Temporal Testing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for testing optical output devices, such as those with LEDs, often rely on electrical contacts and cannot effectively detect faults or defects that affect the temporal behavior of light sources, particularly in complex patterns required by automotive standards like ECE and SAE.
Innovation Solution
A non-contact method using a light source analyser with optical guides and transducers to detect and analyze the time-varying patterns of light sources, comparing these patterns with pre-stored standards to determine compliance with specifications, including measuring blinking and flicker rates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If electrical contacts are used to test optical output devices, then electrical parameters can be measured, but temporal behavior faults and defects cannot be effectively detected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces electrical contact-based measurement systems with optical detection systems. Optical guides (fibers) are positioned near light sources to collect emitted light, which is then analyzed by detectors to measure temporal behavior characteristics such as blinking and flicker rates. This substitution enables direct observation of optical output characteristics without electrical interference, thereby resolving the contradiction between measurement capability and fault detection reliability.
2Measurement precision
If non-contact optical detection is used, then temporal behavior patterns can be detected, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The testing apparatus is segmented into modular functional components: optical guides (individual fibers or fiber bundles) for light collection, transducers for optical-to-electrical signal conversion, and analysis systems for temporal pattern detection. Each module performs a specific function, allowing the complex measurement task to be divided into manageable segments that can be independently optimized and maintained.
Solution Approach 2:
Optical guides serve as intermediaries between the light sources under test and the detection systems. These guides collect and transmit optical signals without direct electrical contact, enabling non-invasive measurement of temporal behavior patterns while isolating the detection electronics from the tested device, thereby managing system complexity.
3Ease of manufacture
If electrical contact methods are used, then testing setup is simpler, but defects affecting temporal behavior remain undetected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces electrical contact methods with non-contact optical detection. Optical guides are positioned near light sources to collect emitted light, which is then analyzed to detect temporal behavior defects such as abnormal blinking patterns or flicker. This substitution maintains ease of setup while dramatically improving defect detection capability by directly measuring optical output characteristics.
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
Enables efficient testing of optical devices by identifying faults and ensuring compliance with automotive standards, allowing for the detection of defects not visible through electrical methods and facilitating large-scale production testing.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of light guides configured to guide light collected from a plurality of light sources of an optical device to the light source analyser
Implementation Method 2
generating signals corresponding to parameters of the light guided to the optical detectors
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4A~4E
AI summary
Light source analyser (2) arranged to receive light from an optical output device (15) comprising a plurality of light sources (16) which are each configured to output light with a time varying characteristic. The light sources 16 may each comprise one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs). In the test method, the optical output states of the light sources over a test interval are detected for each light source. The method further comprises optically detecting that the output state of the light source has changed from a first optical condition to a second optical condition; for each light source, optically detecting that the output state of the light source has changed from the second optical condition to a third optical condition; for each light source, determining a first time interval representative of the first optical condition; for each light source, determining a second time interval representative of the second optical condition; for each light source, determining a third time interval representative of the third optical condition; determining a test result for the device based on a comparison of the first, second and third time intervals with pre-stored time intervals.