Optical Lens Light Guide Stray Light Recycling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Projection lenses for vehicle lamps often exhibit non-uniform brightness due to apparent dark zones on the periphery, leading to poor visual experience and low light utilization efficiency.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a light guide with specific end openings and a positioning structure that touches or covers parts of the lenses, allowing stray light to be recycled and enhancing luminous uniformity, while eliminating the need for separate positioning pieces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a conventional projection lens is used, then the structure is simple, but dark zones appear on the periphery causing non-uniform brightness
Solution Approach 1:
The projection lens is divided into multiple lens groups (first lens group, second lens group, third lens group) with different optical functions. Each group handles specific light paths, allowing peripheral light redistribution without overwhelming complexity in a single element.
Solution Approach 2:
A light guide is introduced as an intermediary component between the light source and lenses. This light guide redirects peripheral light paths and fills dark zones, achieving brightness uniformity while keeping the overall structure manageable through modular addition rather than redesigning the entire system.
2Loss of energy
If the light guide is designed with precise positioning structures, then light utilization efficiency improves, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning structure is merged directly into the light guide body rather than being a separate component. The light guide incorporates built-in positioning features (such as positioning holes or protrusions) that align with corresponding features in the lens barrel, eliminating the need for additional separate positioning pieces and reducing assembly complexity while maintaining precise light path control.
3Stability of the object's composition
If separate positioning pieces are used to fix lenses, then positioning accuracy is achieved, but device complexity and assembly difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning function is merged into the light guide structure itself. The light guide includes integrated positioning features (positioning holes, protrusions, or engagement structures) that directly secure the lenses in place, eliminating the need for separate positioning pieces such as spacers or mounting brackets, thereby reducing component count while maintaining positioning stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The light guide serves multiple functions simultaneously: it guides light paths, redistributes peripheral light to fill dark zones, and provides integrated positioning structures for lens mounting. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated positioning components, simplifying the overall device structure while maintaining lens stability.
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 increases peripheral light distribution, improves visual experience, and enhances light utilization efficiency by recycling stray light, reducing dark zones and optimizing lens alignment within the barrel.
Implementation Method 1
the light entering the light guide is mainly the stray light that travels outside an active light transmission region. As a result, the stray light can be recycled for use
Implementation Method 2
a first lens with a positive refractive power, a light guide, and a second lens arranged in order in a direction of an optical axis
Data Source
AI summary
An optical lens includes a first lens, a light guide and a second lens arranged in order in a direction of an optical axis of the optical lens. The light guide has a first end and a second end opposite the first end, and an inner surface of the light guide touches at least a part of an outer edge of the second lens.