Vehicle Illumination Device Using Pixel Screen and Waveguides
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing illumination devices for motor vehicles struggle to provide a high-quality, fine-graded linear light distribution due to limited independent light sources, which affects visualization and interior lighting quality.
Innovation Solution
The illumination device employs a screen with pixels as light sources, where a majority of optical waveguides are arranged along a precise line, allowing for targeted actuation of pixels to influence the linear light distribution, and includes a coupling element to minimize optical losses and a diffuser plate for homogeneous lighting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If conventional light sources (laser diodes or LEDs) are used to generate linear light distribution, then the device structure is simple, but the number of independently actuable light sources is limited and fine gradation of brightness is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The screen is divided into multiple independently controllable pixels, each acting as a separate light source. This segmentation allows for fine gradation of brightness along the linear light distribution while maintaining a relatively simple overall device structure using off-the-shelf screen technology.
2Manufacturing precision
If pixels of the screen are used as light sources, then fine gradation of linear light distribution is achieved, but optical losses increase due to angle mismatch between screen emission and waveguide incidence
Solution Approach 1:
A coupling element is introduced as an intermediary between the screen and optical waveguides. This coupling element transforms the emission angles from the screen to match the incidence angles required by the waveguides, enabling efficient light coupling while preserving the fine gradation capability of pixel-based light sources.
3Manufacturing precision
If optical waveguides are arranged along a precise line, then linear light distribution quality is improved, but the device complexity increases due to precise positioning requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The emitting part serves multiple functions: it positions the optical waveguides along the precise line required for linear light distribution, while also housing the coupling element and managing the optical paths. This multi-functionality reduces overall device complexity despite the precise positioning requirements.
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 configuration enables a high-quality, one-dimensional visualization with fine gradation of brightness along a line, enhancing the visualization of linear light distributions and providing effective, atmospheric interior illumination.
Implementation Method 1
The optical waveguides are designed particularly to transport light from the illuminating element, in particular from the plurality of light sources, to the emitting part
Implementation Method 2
the plurality of light sources are provided by pixels of the screen
Data Source
AI summary
An illumination device for a motor vehicle for displaying a linear light including a plurality of optical waveguides, an illuminating element having a plurality of light sources for coupling light into a respective first end face of the plurality of optical waveguides, and an emitting part for generating a linear light distribution, the optical waveguides being arranged with a respective second end face, which is different from the first end face, through the emitting part relative to one another along precisely one line.