Vehicle Vanity Mirror Lighting Device Using Ring Light Guide
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle sunvisor vanity mirror lighting devices require multiple LEDs to achieve uniform illumination around the vanity mirror, leading to increased complexity and cost due to the need for a larger printed circuit board and higher power consumption.
Innovation Solution
A compact lighting system using a single LED and a specially configured light guide with a ring shape, featuring a light distribution part and light emission part, which includes a light injection point, spreading means, and extracting means to uniformly distribute light along the vanity mirror surrounding area, minimizing space and reducing the number of LEDs required.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If multiple LEDs are used to illuminate the vanity mirror surrounding area, then uniform lighting is achieved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
A light guide is introduced as an intermediary component between the single LED light source and the vanity mirror surrounding area. The light guide receives light from the LED and distributes it uniformly along the vanity mirror perimeter through its elongated structure, achieving even illumination without requiring multiple LEDs.
Solution Approach 2:
The light guide extends in the lateral direction (along the vanity mirror perimeter) rather than using multiple discrete light sources distributed in space. This dimensional transformation allows a single point light source to illuminate an extended area uniformly by channeling light through a linear structure.
2Illumination intensity
If multiple LEDs are distributed along the vanity mirror perimeter, then uniform illumination is achieved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The light guide serves as a mediator that takes the light output from a single LED and distributes it along the entire vanity mirror perimeter. This eliminates the need for multiple independent LED power consumption sources while maintaining uniform illumination through the light guide's light distribution capability.
3Area of stationary object
If a larger printed circuit board is used to accommodate multiple LEDs, then lighting coverage is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The light guide acts as an intermediary that extends lighting coverage along the vanity mirror perimeter without requiring a large printed circuit board. The light guide's elongated structure provides the necessary lighting coverage area while being manufactured as a separate optical component rather than requiring extensive PCB real estate.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of expanding the PCB area in the planar dimension to accommodate multiple LEDs, the solution uses a light guide that extends in the lateral dimension along the vanity mirror. This dimensional shift allows lighting coverage to be achieved through the light guide's length rather than PCB area.
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 allows for uniform light emission over the vanity mirror surrounding area using a minimal number of LEDs, reducing the complexity and cost of the lighting device while maintaining functional and decorative lighting capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
Light guides are widely used in vehicle interior lighting applications as an advantageous option which is reduced in power consumption and designed to illuminate wide areas. In order to do this, the main functions of the light guides are distributing and transmitting the light emitted by one or more punctual light sources.
Implementation Method 2
the main functions of the light guides are distributing and transmitting the light emitted by one or more punctual light sources
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 4~5
AI summary
Vehicle sunvisor (20) with a vanity mirror assembly (10) having a lighting device (3) comprising a supporting carrier (1), a vanity mirror (2) attached to the supporting carrier (1), and a lighting device (3) housed in the supporting carrier (1) and covered by the vanity mirror (2). The lighting device (3) comprises a first light guide (4) having a light emission part (4.1) having a ring shape configured to emit light over a mirror surrounding area (7), and a light distribution part (4.2) which is located in the free space defined by the ring shape of the light emission part (4.1), being both parts connected. The lighting device (3) is configured to emit uniform light along the vanity mirror surrounding area (7) using a minimum number of LEDs and occupying a minimum space in the thickness direction of the vanity mirror assembly (10).