Rod-Shaped Light Guide With Electroluminescent Layer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional lighting devices for motor vehicles primarily emit light from the light exit surface, lacking flexibility in light quality and intensity, and requiring complex structuring to achieve side light emission.
Innovation Solution
A rod-shaped light guide with imperfections and an electrical luminescent layer on its surfaces, excluding the light entry surface, allows for flexible light emission from both the exit and side surfaces, using OLED or electroluminescent layers for varied color and intensity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If complex structuring of the light-guiding element is used to achieve side light emission, then light can be emitted from side surfaces, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by providing electroluminescent layers only on specific side surfaces of the light-guiding element rather than uniformly across all surfaces. This allows light to be emitted from selected side surfaces while maintaining simplicity in other areas, thus achieving versatile light emission without excessive device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The light-guiding element serves multiple functions: it guides light from the light source, emits light from the exit surface, and also emits light from side surfaces through the electroluminescent layers. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate lighting components, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining versatile light emission capabilities.
2Adaptability or versatility
If electroluminescent layers are used for side light emission, then light quality flexibility is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Different electroluminescent layers with different light properties (color, intensity) are applied to different side surfaces of the light-guiding element. This allows independent optimization of light quality for each surface without requiring complex manufacturing processes for the entire component, as each surface can be treated separately with standard electroluminescent coating techniques.
3Loss of energy
If the light-guiding element is made transparent, then light losses are reduced, but aesthetic design flexibility is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The light-guiding element maintains transparency in its bulk material to minimize light losses during transmission, while electroluminescent layers are applied locally on specific surfaces to provide aesthetic design flexibility. This combination allows the element to remain optically efficient while achieving desired visual effects through surface-level modifications rather than bulk material changes.
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
Enables the creation of depth impressions and multiple light functions with a simple geometry, reducing light losses and allowing for aesthetically pleasing designs with flexible light distribution.
Implementation Method 1
an electrical luminescent layer, which is translucent, is provided at least partially on at least one surface of the light-guiding element
Implementation Method 2
a rod-shaped light guide which has at least one feed point for light from at least one light source, the light guide having an arrangement of imperfections along at least part of its length and an opposite light exit surface
Implementation Method 3
Solutions are known in which side surfaces of the light-guiding element are provided with imperfection structuring, so that the light radiated into the light entry surface is scattered at the imperfections and is also emitted laterally
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
AI summary
A lighting system for motor vehicles, said lighting system having a light-guiding element (14) which has a light inlet surface (16) and a light outlet surface (15), wherein an electric luminous layer (19) is provided at least partially on at least one surface of said light-guiding element. The luminous layer is advantageously in the form of an OLED.