Elongated Plastic Lightguide with Integrated Diffuse Coating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing motor vehicle lighting devices suffer from Fresnel losses due to air gaps, limited reflectivity of metallized surfaces, and complex designs with visible optical elements, leading to inefficient and non-uniform light distribution and increased assembly complexity.
Innovation Solution
A lighting device with a lightguide of elongated shape made of transparent plastic, featuring a diffuse nontransparent coating or foil integrated during injection molding to create a uniform diffuse surface, eliminating optical elements' visibility and enhancing brightness distribution across angles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If a diffuse part is arranged outside the lightguide with an air gap, then light can be reflected back through the lightguide, but Fresnel losses occur at the interface reducing system efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the diffuse part directly into the lightguide structure by forming it as an integral component during injection molding, eliminating the air gap between the lightguide and diffuse part. This merging of components removes the interface that causes Fresnel losses, thereby improving light reflection efficiency while reducing energy loss.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the diffuse part is metallized to improve reflectivity, then light reflection is enhanced, but the limited reflectivity of metallized surfaces reduces overall system efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a cost-effective, non-metallized diffuse part made from plastic material with integrated diffuse structures. This approach replaces expensive metallized surfaces with a simpler, shorter-lived plastic diffuse element that achieves sufficient reflection through its geometric design rather than relying on metallization, thereby avoiding the reflectivity limitations of metallized surfaces.
3Ease of operation
If optical elements with visible contours are used in the lightguide, then light can be reflected in specific directions, but the visible contours create undesirable discontinuous spots or sections in the light image
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a diffuse part with specifically designed geometric features (such as protrusions or recesses) at particular locations within the lightguide. These localized structural variations provide direction control where needed while maintaining a generally homogeneous appearance, allowing light direction control without creating visible discontinuous spots in the overall light image.
4Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate parts are used in the lighting device assembly, then each part can be optimized independently, but the design and installation become complicated requiring multiple press molds and increasing assembly complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functional parts into a single integrated lightguide component that is manufactured in one injection molding process. The lightguide and diffuse part are formed as one piece, eliminating the need for separate manufacturing of multiple components and their subsequent assembly. This merging reduces design and installation complexity while still allowing optimization of the overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated lightguide component performs multiple functions simultaneously: it guides light, provides structural support, and incorporates the diffuse reflection surfaces. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate specialized parts, simplifying both the design process and the assembly operation while maintaining the ability to optimize each function through the unified structure.
5Adaptability or versatility
If the lightguide uses a complex multi-part assembly, then specific functions can be achieved in each part, but the relatively large dimensions limit their use in a vehicle frame
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple functional elements into a single compact lightguide component, eliminating the space required for multiple separate parts and their interconnections. This integration significantly reduces the overall volume of the lighting device while maintaining all necessary functions, making it suitable for installation in constrained vehicle frame spaces.
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 achieves a homogeneous light effect with uniform brightness distribution, improved light uniformity from various angles, and a simpler design with reliable operation, reducing Fresnel losses and assembly complexity.
Implementation Method 1
another portion of the mantle of the lightguide opposite the exit surface is at least partly provided with a diffuse means for diffusing rays of the light beam passing through the lightguide
Implementation Method 2
a lightguide of elongated shape made of a plastic, primarily transparent material for guiding the light beam
Data Source
AI summary
A lighting device for a motor vehicle includes a light source for sending out a light beam. The lighting device also includes a lightguide of elongated shape made of a plastic, primarily transparent material for guiding the light beam, while a portion of a mantle of the lightguide forms an exit surface for emergence of rays of light of the light beam, wherein another portion of the mantle of the lightguide opposite the exit surface is at least partly provided with a diffuse means formed by a nontransparent coating or foil pressed against the mantle of the lightguide, or joined to a diffuse means of the plastic primarily nontransparent material in the process of injection molding of the plastic.