Patterned Phosphor Layer Structure for Vehicle Lighting Efficiency

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional vehicle lighting devices face challenges in maintaining light efficiency while implementing patterns, as concave patterns reduce phosphor layer thickness, leading to light diffusion issues and protruding patterns increase thickness, further deteriorating light efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A lighting device with a substrate, light sources, a resin layer, a phosphor layer with concave and convex patterns, and a diffusion layer between the resin and phosphor layers, where the diffusion layer's thickness is between 10% and 50% of the phosphor layer's thickness, effectively controlling light diffusion and aesthetics.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If LEDs are mounted directly on a circuit board, then device complexity is reduced, but heat dissipation becomes insufficient leading to reduced reliability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice complexityVSAvoidreliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The lighting device is segmented into distinct functional modules: LED modules mounted on heat sinks, which are then collectively mounted on the circuit board. This segmentation allows each LED module to have dedicated heat dissipation capability while maintaining overall device simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Heat sinks serve as intermediary components between the LEDs and the ambient environment. These heat sinks with integrated heat pipes act as thermal mediators that efficiently transfer heat away from LEDs, enabling reliable operation without requiring complex individual cooling solutions for each LED.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Temperature

If heat sinks with large surface area are used, then heat dissipation improves, but device volume increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat dissipationVSAvoiddevice volume
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent utilizes phase transition of working fluid within heat pipes to achieve efficient heat dissipation. The heat pipes employ phase change (evaporation and condensation) to transfer thermal energy, providing high heat dissipation capability with compact dimensions, thus avoiding the need for large surface area heat sinks.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #36Phase transitions

3Temperature

If thermal paste is used between LED and heat sink, then heat transfer improves, but manufacturing precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat transferVSAvoidmanufacturing precision
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The heat sink structure is designed to self-align with LED mounting holes through integrated定位 features. The heat sink includes positioning protrusions that fit into corresponding recesses on the circuit board, enabling automatic alignment during assembly without requiring high manufacturing precision or complex thermal interface materials.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

4Ease of manufacture

If LEDs are mounted directly on circuit board, then ease of manufacture improves, but heat dissipation capability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of manufactureVSAvoidheat dissipation capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple functions into integrated components. Heat sinks are designed with integrated mounting structures that combine thermal management and mechanical attachment functions. The LED modules are pre-assembled on heat sinks before mounting to the circuit board, simplifying the manufacturing process while ensuring adequate heat dissipation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 enhances light efficiency and maintains aesthetics by preventing light diffusion and exposure of the pattern layer, allowing for improved luminance and contrast control without increasing the device's thickness.

Implementation Method 1

Each of the light-emitting elements has a heat sink with a heat pipe for heat conductive connection to the light-emitting element

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat pipe: Heat Pipe

Implementation Method 2

Heat conductive connection

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentEP3862625B1Lighting device
Publication Date: 2023.11.22 LG INNOTEK CO LTD
  • EP3862625B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3862625B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3862625B1 patent drawingFigure 5(a)~6

AI summary

A lighting device disclosed in an embodiment of the invention includes a substrate; a plurality of light sources spaced apart from each other at predetermined intervals on the substrate; a resin layer disposed on the substrate; a phosphor layer disposed on the resin layer and having a pattern layer including a concave portion and a convex portion formed on a surface facing the resin layer; and a diffusion layer disposed between the resin layer and the phosphor layer, wherein a thickness of the diffusion layer may be 10% or more and less than 50% of the maximum thickness of the phosphor layer.