Surface Light Guide With Segmented Decoupling for Uniform Vehicle Lamps
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lighting technologies for motor vehicles face challenges in achieving homogeneous illumination with high photometric efficiency while maintaining cost-effectiveness and durability, particularly in surface light guides with sawtooth-like decoupling structures.
Innovation Solution
A surface light guide with a light coupling section and a decoupling section featuring spaced-apart light decoupling elements and a corrugated light guiding structure, utilizing linear lenses and micro-optics for efficient light mixing and deflection, allowing for homogeneous illumination across different viewing angles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a sawtooth-like decoupling structure is used in the surface light guide, then light deflection is achieved, but homogeneous illumination cannot be provided especially in relatively long designs
Solution Approach 1:
The decoupling structure is divided into multiple individual decoupling elements spaced apart from each other, rather than using a continuous sawtooth structure. This segmentation allows light to pass through the spaces between elements, creating multiple light paths that converge to achieve homogeneous illumination across the entire surface, including in longer light guide designs.
Solution Approach 2:
The decoupling elements are arranged with specific spacing and positioning to create different local optical effects. The spaced-apart configuration allows different regions of the light guide to receive and distribute light uniformly, ensuring that even distant regions from the light source receive adequate illumination.
2Adaptability or versatility
If many small LED light sources are used to create illuminated surfaces, then a wide range of possibilities for influencing vehicle look is achieved, but the illuminated surfaces comprise many small luminous points and are not illuminated homogeneously
Solution Approach 1:
The surface light guide acts as an intermediary between the LED light source and the visible illuminated surface. The light guide receives light from the LED and distributes it uniformly across its entire surface area through the spaced-apart decoupling elements, transforming the point-source illumination into homogeneous area illumination while maintaining design flexibility.
3Illumination intensity
If OLED technology is used to illuminate surfaces homogeneously, then homogeneous illumination over a wide area is achieved, but manufacturing costs are relatively high and OLED light sources are more sensitive to outdoor temperatures, UV exposure, and mechanical stress
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replicates the homogeneous illumination effect of OLED technology using a different approach - a surface light guide with spaced-apart decoupling elements that distributes LED light uniformly. This provides an OLED-like illumination quality using more robust LED technology that is less sensitive to environmental conditions and mechanical stress.
4Illumination intensity
If a surface light guide with nanoparticles is used to illuminate surfaces homogeneously, then homogeneous illumination is achieved, but photometric efficiency is relatively low and manufacturing costs are relatively high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the nanoparticles from the light guide material, using instead a clear or translucent material with spaced-apart decoupling elements. This extraction eliminates the light scattering and absorption losses associated with nanoparticles, significantly improving photometric efficiency while maintaining homogeneous illumination through the geometric arrangement of decoupling elements.
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 provides high photometric efficiency and homogeneous illumination, reducing manufacturing costs through simple production methods and enhancing durability by using micro-optics and a thin design.
Implementation Method 1
The light coupling section is configured to couple in light rays from the illuminant and to mix the coupled-in light rays
Implementation Method 2
The decoupling structure is configured so that light rays coupled in by a light source are deflected in the light decoupling section so that the deflected light rays are emitted through the light decoupling surface
Data Source
AI summary
A surface light guide for a light of a motor vehicle. The surface light guide includes a light coupling section which is directly or indirectly connected to a light decoupling section. The light decoupling section includes a first flat side, a second flat side which is arranged opposite to the first flat side, a light decoupling surface which is arranged on the first flat side, and a decoupling structure which is arranged on the first flat side or on the second flat side. The decoupling structure has a plurality of individual and spaced-apart light decoupling elements. The decoupling structure deflects light rays which are coupled in by an illuminant so that deflected light rays are emitted through the light decoupling surface. The light coupling section couples in light rays from the illuminant and mixes the coupled-in light rays.