Radiation-Emitting Component with Inclined Reflection Surfaces
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional radiation-emitting components, such as surface emitters with Lambertian emission characteristics, fail to direct electromagnetic radiation at a desired angle, making it difficult to achieve a main emission direction that aligns with an inclined surface, such as a motor vehicle's rear window, which is typically angled relative to the direction of travel, thereby compromising visibility of brake or tail lights to following road users.
Innovation Solution
A radiation-emitting component is designed with an optical element having reflection surfaces inclined between 45° and 80°, coupled with a dielectric filter and mirror layers, to redirect electromagnetic radiation emitted by a surface emitter, ensuring a significant portion of the radiation is reflected and exit at a predetermined angle that compensates for the inclination of the rear window, enhancing visibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a conventional surface emitter with Lambertian emission characteristics is used, then the component structure is simple, but the main emission direction cannot be aligned with the inclined rear window surface
Solution Approach 1:
The optical element is divided into multiple structural units, each containing reflection surfaces and radiation exit surfaces. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each unit's geometry to achieve the desired emission angle while maintaining overall system functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the optical element have different local properties - reflection surfaces with specific inclination angles (45°-80°) in certain areas and radiation exit surfaces in other areas. This local differentiation enables precise control of radiation direction to match the inclined rear window orientation.
2Illumination intensity
If the rear window is inclined relative to the direction of travel, then the component can be integrated into the vehicle design, but the visibility of brake or tail lights to following road users is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The reflection surfaces are designed with specific inclination angles (45°-80°) to change the direction of emitted radiation. By adjusting these angular parameters, the main emission direction is redirected to be antiparallel to the vehicle's direction of travel, compensating for the rear window's inclination and ensuring optimal visibility to following road users.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical element features asymmetric structural units with reflection surfaces at specific angles rather than symmetric configurations. This asymmetry enables the radiation to be directed preferentially in the desired direction (antiparallel to travel direction) rather than uniformly in all directions, optimizing visibility despite the inclined mounting surface.
3Manufacturing precision
If reflection surfaces with angles between 45° and 80° are used, then radiation can be effectively redirected at the desired exit angle, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The optical element is pre-formed with the specific reflection surface angles (45°-80°) integrated into its structure before mounting. This preliminary formation of the correct geometry ensures that once installed, the radiation is automatically directed at the precise exit angles needed, eliminating the need for post-installation adjustment and ensuring manufacturing precision is achieved through design rather than assembly.
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 effectively directs electromagnetic radiation to align with the vehicle's direction of travel, ensuring clear visibility of brake or tail lights even when mounted on an inclined surface, thereby improving road user awareness.
Implementation Method 1
During intended operation, at least part of the radiation hits the reflection surfaces at angles that fulfill the condition for total reflection. This part of the radiation is totally reflected at the reflection surfaces.
Implementation Method 2
The optical element includes a plurality of reflection surfaces and a plurality of radiation exit surfaces. Each of the reflection surfaces has an angle of inclination relative to the front surface of between 45° and 80° inclusive. During intended operation of the radiation-emitting component, electromagnetic radiation generated by the emitter is reflected at the reflection surfaces toward the radiation exit surfaces.
Implementation Method 3
In particular, the dielectric filter is arranged to transmit radiation having an entrance angle within a first angular range and to reflect radiation having an entrance angle within a second angular range.
Implementation Method 4
a mirror layer is disposed on each of the reflection surfaces
Data Source
AI summary
In an embodiment a radiation-emitting component includes a radiation-emitting emitter having a front side, an optical element arranged on the front side and a dielectric filter arranged between the front side and the optical element, wherein the optical element comprises a plurality of reflection surfaces and a plurality of radiation exit surfaces, wherein each of the reflection surfaces has an angle of inclination of between 45° and 80°, inclusive, with respect to the front side, wherein a main emission direction of the radiation-emitting component includes an exit angle between 10° and 80°, inclusive, with the front side, and wherein the dielectric filter is configured to transmit radiation having an entrance angle within a first angular range and to reflect radiation having an entrance angle within a second angular range.