S-Shaped Mixing Optic for Adaptive Cabin Lighting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vehicle cabin lighting systems have fixed light intensity and color temperature, which cannot meet the diverse lighting needs of occupants, as they are either too harsh or too dim, and lack flexibility in illuminating specific tasks or regions, failing to accommodate individual preferences and tasks effectively.
Innovation Solution
A lighting module that combines low and high color temperature white lights, mixed using an S-shaped optic, with a control module that adjusts intensity and color temperature based on user input, ambient light, and motion sensors, allowing for customizable illumination to suit different tasks and environments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If fixed intensity and color temperature lights are used, then the lighting system is simple and reliable, but it cannot meet diverse lighting needs of occupants and lacks flexibility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple light sources with different color temperatures (warm white and cool white LEDs) into a single lighting module, allowing the system to provide both warm and cool lighting effects simultaneously or separately. This merging approach enables diverse lighting needs to be met without requiring separate lighting systems for different functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic control of light intensity and color temperature through a control module that can adjust the output of different LED sources independently. The system transitions from fixed lighting parameters to dynamically adjustable parameters, allowing real-time adaptation to different lighting requirements while maintaining a relatively simple hardware structure.
2Adaptability or versatility
If task lights with collimated beams are used, then specific regions can be illuminated, but the lighting cannot be customized for different tasks and regions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses optical elements including collimating lenses and aperture cones that can be selectively positioned to direct light to specific regions. Different portions of the lighting system can be configured with different optical elements to create localized illumination zones tailored to specific tasks, while the overall system remains integrated and controllable through a single module.
3Illumination intensity
If courtesy lights illuminate the entire cabin, then occupants can see to perform basic tasks, but they produce glare and do not allow focused task lighting
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the lighting function into different modes: ambient courtesy lighting that illuminates the entire cabin, and focused task lighting that directs light to specific regions. The control module enables switching between these modes or combining them, allowing the system to provide general illumination when needed while preventing glare during task-oriented lighting by directing light away from the driver's line of sight.
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 personalized and adaptive lighting that enhances task performance, relaxation, and safety by providing optimal light intensity and color temperature for various activities, improving occupant comfort and reducing glare, while maintaining driver safety.
Implementation Method 1
a low colour temperature white light (32) and a high colour temperature white light (34) each arranged to emit light into a mixing optic (136)
Implementation Method 2
The curved optical lens may have an S shaped geometry... increases the refraction of light within the core and thus enhances the mixing of the light
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
A lighting module (124) comprising: a low colour temperature white light (132) and a high colour temperature white light (134) each arranged to emit light into a mixing optic (136) configured to mix light emitted from the low colour temperature white light (132) and the high colour temperature white light (136); a lens (131) arranged to distribute mixed light emitted from the mixing optic (136); and a body (130) comprising an aperture arranged to crop the distributed mixed light, wherein the mixing optic (136) is substantially S shaped and comprises two arcs (136a, 136b) having an equal and opposite curvature.