Optical Mixer for Homogeneous Fiber Optic Vehicle Lighting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fiber optic light panels used in vehicle lighting suffer from uneven light output intensity, known as 'streaking,' which is exacerbated by higher power requirements for vehicle lighting, making them aesthetically inferior to OLEDs and difficult to adapt to vehicle styling.
Innovation Solution
An optical mixer is interposed between the light source and the fiber bundle in the fiber optic light panel, utilizing total internal reflection and a reflective coating to achieve spatially uniform light output, with a geometry that matches the light source and fiber bundle, and can include phosphors for enhanced light mixing and scattering.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If fiber optic light panels are used in vehicle lighting, then the lighting can be adapted to vehicle styling, but the light output intensity becomes uneven (streaking)
Solution Approach 1:
An optical mixer is introduced as an intermediary component between the light source and the fiber optic panel. The optical mixer receives light from the light source and outputs light with greater spatial uniformity to the fiber bundle, thereby eliminating the streaking effect while preserving the adaptability of the fiber optic panel to vehicle styling.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical mixer changes the spatial distribution parameter of the light by using total internal reflection and reflective coatings. This transforms the light from having non-uniform intensity distribution to having uniform intensity distribution across the fiber optic panel output.
2Power
If higher power light sources are used for vehicle lighting, then the lighting performance meets technical requirements, but the streaking effect is exacerbated
Solution Approach 1:
The optical mixer serves as a mediator that allows higher power light sources to be used without exacerbating the streaking effect. By introducing total internal reflection and reflective coatings in the optical mixer, the light from high-power sources is redistributed to achieve uniform intensity across the fiber optic panel, thus meeting both power requirements and uniformity requirements.
3Reliability
If traditional vehicle lighting devices are used, then the lighting performance meets technical specifications, but the device complexity and number of components increases
Solution Approach 1:
The optical mixer combines multiple functions into a single component: light distribution, uniformity enhancement, and coupling to the fiber optic panel. This merging of functions reduces the overall device complexity compared to traditional lighting devices that require separate reflectors, cut-off devices, and other components.
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 optical mixer ensures a more homogeneous light output across the fiber optic panel, improving aesthetic appeal and adaptability to vehicle styling while meeting the technical requirements of vehicle lighting.
Implementation Method 1
An optical mixer is interposed between the light source and the fiber bundle in the fiber optic light panel, utilizing total internal reflection and a reflective coating to achieve spatially uniform light output
Implementation Method 2
The optical mixer may further include a reflective coating at least partially covering the sidewall
Implementation Method 3
The optical mixer can include at least one of phosphors and disruptions suspended in the optical mixer
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~5B
Figure 6~7D
AI summary
An optical mixer for a vehicle lighting device having a light source and an optical fiber panel that inputs light from the light source. The optical mixer includes a light input face configuration to input light from the light source, and a light output face configured to output light to the input to panel. A sidewall connects the light input face to the light output face. The optical mixer is configured to provide output light from the output face having greater spatial uniformity than input light entering the input face.