Segmented Light-Emitting Structure for Uniform Vehicle Lamp Luminance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current light-emitting devices for vehicle lamps, such as headlights, face challenges in miniaturization and achieving a balanced luminance distribution using multiple light-emitting elements, which complicates the optical system and design.

Innovation Solution

A light-emitting device comprising a support substrate with adjacent first and second light-emitting portions, each with a semiconductor layered body, a wavelength conversion member containing phosphor for wavelength conversion, and a light adjustment member that overlaps one of the portions, allowing for different emission intensities and peak wavelengths, enabling miniaturization and adjustable luminance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If multiple light-emitting elements with different areas are used to achieve balanced luminance distribution, then luminance balance is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveluminance distributionVSAvoidoptical system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The light-emitting element is segmented into multiple light-emitting portions (first light-emitting portion and second light-emitting portion) with different emission characteristics. Each portion has a different emission intensity at the peak wavelength of the other, allowing independent control of luminance distribution without requiring complex optical components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Multiple light-emitting portions with different emission characteristics are merged into a single light-emitting element structure. This integration achieves balanced luminance distribution while simplifying the overall device structure by eliminating the need for separate optical components to control each light source.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Volume of moving object

If multiple light-emitting elements are used to achieve miniaturization, then device size is reduced, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice sizeVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The light-emitting element is divided into multiple segments (light-emitting portions) that can be independently designed with different emission characteristics. This segmentation allows for compact arrangement within a small area while maintaining simple manufacturing processes for each segment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The light-emitting element structure serves multiple functions: it provides miniaturization through integrated multiple portions, achieves balanced luminance distribution through different emission characteristics, and maintains ease of manufacture through standardized semiconductor layer formation processes applicable to all portions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Adaptability or versatility

If light-emitting portions with different emission intensities are used, then luminance adjustability is improved, but chromaticity uniformity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveluminance adjustabilityVSAvoidchromaticity uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

Different regions of the light-emitting element are assigned different emission characteristics (first light-emitting portion has lower emission intensity at second light's peak wavelength, and vice versa). This local differentiation allows luminance adjustment while the wavelength conversion member ensures chromaticity uniformity by converting all light to a common wavelength range.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The wavelength conversion member acts as an intermediary that receives light from multiple light-emitting portions with different emission characteristics and converts it to a unified wavelength output. This mediator function enables luminance adjustability from different portions while maintaining chromaticity uniformity in the final output.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 enables a compact light-emitting device with adjustable luminance and reduced optical components, improving design flexibility and chromaticity uniformity by utilizing overlapping light adjustment members to manage emission intensity and peak wavelength differences between light-emitting portions.

Implementation Method 1

a wavelength conversion member disposed on the first surface of the support substrate and containing a phosphor that performs wavelength conversion of first light emitted from the first light-emitting portion and second light emitted from the second light-emitting portion into third light

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectWavelength conversion: Photoluminescence

Data Source

PatentEP4270483A1Light-emitting device and manufacturing method thereof
Publication Date: 2023.11.01 NICHIA CORP
  • EP4270483A1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP4270483A1 patent drawingFigure 1B~1C
  • EP4270483A1 patent drawingFigure 1D~1E

AI summary

A light-emitting device includes a light-emitting element, the wavelength conversion member, and a light adjustment member. The light-emitting element includes a support substrate, and a first light-emitting portion and a second light-emitting portion disposed adjacent to each other. The wavelength conversion member is configured to perform wavelength conversion of first light emitted from the first light-emitting portion and second light emitted from the second light-emitting portion into third light. The light adjustment member overlaps one of the first light-emitting portion and the second light-emitting portion in a plan view. In the light-emitting element, an emission intensity of the first light at a light emission peak wavelength of the second light is lower than an emission intensity of the second light at the light emission peak wavelength of the second light, during light emission of the light-emitting device.