Vehicle Lamp Light Guide Layout for Aligned Multi-Color Emission

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Solution Overview

Problem

When light guide bodies emit light using light from sources with different colored lights, positional deviation of bright spots occurs, causing an uneasy feeling due to light being emitted from different positions.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle lamp design featuring a light guide body with specific incidence and reflecting sections, where the second light source, incidence section, and reflecting section are positioned closer to the light guide section than the first light source, allowing light from both sources to be guided and emitted from the same position.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If light sources with different colored lights are arranged to emit from different positions of the light guide body, then the vehicle lamp can provide diversified lighting functions, but positional deviation of bright spots occurs causing visual discomfort

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvediversified lighting functionsVSAvoidvisual stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The light guide body is divided into multiple light guide sections, each with its own light source, incidence section, and reflecting section. This segmentation allows independent optical path control for each color while maintaining overall visual consistency through the shared emission section.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Multiple light paths from different light sources are merged into a single emission section. The light guide body integrates multiple optical paths that converge at the same emission position, allowing different colored lights to be emitted from the same location without positional deviation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Ease of operation

If multiple light sources are positioned at different locations, then each light source can be independently controlled for different functions, but the light emission positions become separated causing uneasy feeling

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveindependent light source controlVSAvoidvisual discomfort
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The light guide body acts as an intermediary that receives light from multiple independently controlled light sources and redirects them to a common emission position. This mediator function allows independent control of each light source while eliminating visual discomfort from separated emission positions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses the internal three-dimensional space of the light guide body to route light paths from different positions to the same emission point. By utilizing the depth and internal structure rather than surface positioning, it achieves convergence of multiple light paths without compromising independent control.

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

3Productivity

If light guide bodies guide light from different positions toward the same direction, then light efficiency is improved, but positional deviation of bright spots occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight efficiencyVSAvoidemission position accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

Each light guide section has locally optimized optical structures (incidence sections and reflecting sections) tailored to its specific light source position, while the overall emission section maintains uniform emission characteristics. This local optimization allows efficient light collection from each position without compromising emission position accuracy.

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

The solution enables the vehicle lamp to emit light from different colored light sources from a single position, preventing positional deviation of bright spots and enhancing visual stability.

Implementation Method 1

the light reflected by a plurality of reflection cuts provided on a back surface side of the light guide body is emitted toward the outside from a front surface side of the light guide body

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectReflection: Reflection

Implementation Method 2

light emitted from the light source is incident into the light guide body from a base end side of the light guide body, and guided toward a tip side of the light guide body while repeating reflection of the light inside of the light guide body

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRefraction: Refraction

Data Source

PatentEP3988840B1Vehicle lamp
Publication Date: 2025.05.07 STANLEY ELECTRIC CO LTD
  • EP3988840B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3988840B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3988840B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A second light source (7B), a second incidence section (10B) and a second reflecting section (11B) in a vehicle lamp (1) are disposed closer to a light guide section (12) than a first light source (7A), a first incidence section (10A) and a first reflecting section (11A), a stepped section (15) is provided between the first reflecting section (11A) and the second reflecting section (11B), and the first reflecting section (11A) is disposed at above the stepped section (15) and the second reflecting section (11B) is disposed at below the stepped section (15) when seen from a side of the first incidence section (10A) and a side of the second incidence section (10B).