Vehicle Lamp Lightguide Rod Merging for Luminance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional vehicle lamp body devices experience light quantity loss and design unity issues due to the use of two lightguide rods guiding light in the vehicle width direction, making them visible and aesthetically unappealing.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle lamp body device with a first lightguide rod branching to guide light from a central source to both ends and a second lightguide rod merging with the first rod, both rods being superimposed in the light emission direction to minimize light loss and create a unified design.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If two lightguide rods are used to guide light from light sources in the vehicle width direction, then light can be guided to both ends of the base, but light quantity loss occurs and luminance of the lightguide rods declines

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveluminance of lightguide rodsVSAvoidlight quantity loss

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the optical paths of the first and second lightguide rods by superimposing them in the light emission direction. This allows light from both light sources to travel through a combined path, reducing the number of separate lightguide surfaces that cause light loss and improving overall luminance efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from a lateral arrangement of lightguide rods to a superimposed configuration in the light emission direction (depth dimension). This dimensional change allows multiple light paths to occupy the same spatial footprint, reducing light loss at multiple separate surfaces while maintaining guidance to both ends of the base.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Illumination intensity

If two lightguide rods are used to guide light in the vehicle width direction, then light distribution is achieved, but the lightguide rods are visible from the back of the vehicle body creating design issues

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelight distributionVSAvoidaesthetic unity with vehicle body

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

By merging the optical paths of two separate lightguide rods into a superimposed configuration, the patent reduces the visible profile from the back of the vehicle. The combined path presents a more unified and streamlined appearance while still achieving the required light distribution across the vehicle width.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent effectively nests one lightguide path within another by superimposing them in the light emission direction. This nesting allows multiple light guidance functions to coexist in a compact, visually unified structure that maintains aesthetic unity with the vehicle body.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Adaptability or versatility

If separate lightguide rods are used for first and second light sources, then light from each source can be guided independently, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveindependent light guidanceVSAvoidnumber of lightguide rods

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple lightguide functions into a single superimposed optical path structure. While maintaining the ability to guide light from different sources independently through the merged path, it reduces the total number of separate lightguide components, thereby simplifying the overall device structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The merged optical path structure serves multiple functions simultaneously - guiding light from the first light source and the second light sources independently while occupying a unified spatial path. This multi-functionality reduces component count while preserving the adaptability needed for independent light guidance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 effectively suppresses light quantity loss and enhances the aesthetic unity with the vehicle body by integrating the optical paths of the first and second lightguide rods, resulting in uniform light distribution and improved design.

Implementation Method 1

guide light from the individual light sources in a vehicle width direction by two lightguide rods

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTotal internal reflection: Total Internal Reflection

Implementation Method 2

a light reflector arranged behind the branching part

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight reflection: Reflection

Implementation Method 3

a light diffusion lens arranged in front of the branching part

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight diffusion: Scattering

Data Source

PatentUS11460163B2Vehicle lamp body device

Publication Date: 2022.10.04 HONDA MOTOR CO LTD

AI summary

In a vehicle lamp body device provided with a first light source arranged at a center of a base and second light sources arranged at both ends of the base, the device includes a first lightguide rod configured to branch and guide light from the first light source to an outside of both ends of the base and a second lightguide rod configured to guide light from the second light sources to the outside of both ends of the base respectively, the first lightguide rod and the second lightguide rod are superimposed in a light emission direction on the outside of both ends of the base and optical paths of the first lightguide rod and the second lightguide rod are merged.