Vehicle Side Lighting Module Lens for Uniform Lateral Illumination

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current vehicle lighting systems struggle to uniformly illuminate the side areas of a vehicle, particularly at night, which hinders the detection of road markings and obstacles, essential for autonomous driving functions, while also needing to be aesthetically and aerodynamically integrated without altering the vehicle's silhouette.

Innovation Solution

A compact lighting module with a specific lens design featuring an input diopter with a convex lower and concave upper section, and an output diopter with two convex portions separated by a concave portion, along with reflective surfaces to direct light efficiently and avoid dazzling adjacent vehicles, is integrated into the vehicle's side mirrors or body.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If a lighting system is designed to uniformly illuminate the entire lateral surface area, then the illumination quality improves, but the device size and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuniformity of lateral illuminationVSAvoidcomplexity of lighting system
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by designing the lens with spatially varying optical properties - the input surface has different curvature radii in different zones (first zone with radius R1, second zone with radius R2) to control light distribution locally across the lateral surface, achieving uniform illumination without requiring a complex multi-component system

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes curved surfaces with specific radius of curvature values to control light propagation. The input surface employs different curvature radii (R1, R2) in different zones, and the output surface has curvature radius R3, creating precise optical control for uniform lateral illumination while maintaining a compact single-lens structure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

2Shape

If the lighting module is made compact to maintain vehicle aesthetics, then the vehicle silhouette is preserved, but the illumination coverage and uniformity deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevehicle silhouetteVSAvoidlateral illumination coverage
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent achieves enhanced illumination coverage from a compact form factor by utilizing three-dimensional optical path control through the lens geometry. The light propagates through multiple zones with different curvatures, effectively expanding the illumination area laterally without increasing the module's external dimensions, thus preserving vehicle aesthetics while providing sufficient coverage

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Measurement precision

If the lighting covers adjacent lanes to detect road markings, then the detection capability improves, but the risk of dazzling adjacent vehicles increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection of road markingsVSAvoidglare to adjacent vehicles
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by directing light to specific zones with controlled intensity distribution. The lens design illuminates the adjacent lane area where road markings are located while avoiding direct illumination of adjacent vehicle positions, achieving detection capability without harmful glare through spatially selective lighting

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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

This solution provides uniform and efficient lighting of the side areas, enabling effective detection of road markings and obstacles, supporting autonomous driving functions while maintaining the vehicle's aesthetics and aerodynamics, and preventing glare for adjacent drivers.

Implementation Method 1

a lens (2) comprising an entry diopter (3) and an exit diopter (4), characterized in that the exit diopter (4) comprises, in a section through a horizontal plane, two convex portions (6) separated by a concave portion (7)... and in that the entry diopter (3) comprises, in a section through a vertical median plane, a convex lower portion (8) and a concave upper portion (9)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRefraction: Refraction

Data Source

PatentEP4058721B1Lighting module for lateral part of a vehicle
Publication Date: 2024.02.28 VALEO VISION SA
  • EP4058721B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4058721B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4058721B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

Disclosed is a lighting module (1) for a vehicle, characterised in that it comprises a light source (5) and a lens (2) comprising an input dioptre (3) oriented towards the light source (5) and an output dioptre (4), and in that the output dioptre (4) comprises at least one section through a horizontal plane comprising two convex portions (6) separated by a concave portion (7), viewed from a side opposite the light source (5), and in that the input dioptre (3) comprises a section through a vertical median plane (P) having a lower convex portion (8) and an upper concave portion (9), viewed from a side opposite the light source (5).