Motor Vehicle Lamp Optics With Switchable Liquid Crystal Diffusion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing automotive vehicle lighting systems face challenges in achieving a unified optical element for both signaling and lighting functions due to the different directional and diffuse characteristics of these beams, leading to interference and aesthetic issues.

Innovation Solution

A luminous and signaling device utilizing a controllable liquid crystal screen that can switch between transparent and diffusing states, integrated with an optical element to project lighting and signaling beams without disrupting regulatory lighting operations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If a common optical element is used for both lighting and signaling functions, then device compactness is improved, but the different beam characteristics (directional vs diffuse) cause interference and performance degradation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheadlamp volumeVSAvoidbeam quality

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies a liquid crystal screen that can dynamically change its optical properties between transparent and diffusing states based on the required function. This dynamic adaptability allows the same optical element to support both directional lighting beams and diffuse signaling beams without performance degradation, resolving the contradiction between compactness and beam quality reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The liquid crystal screen changes its optical parameters (transparency/diffusion state) to match the required beam characteristics. When a directional lighting beam is needed, the screen becomes transparent; when a diffuse signaling beam is needed, the screen becomes diffusing. This parameter change allows a single optical element to maintain high performance for both lighting and signaling functions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If diffusing means are added to generate signaling beams, then signaling function is improved, but the diffusing means interfere with the propagation of rays for regulatory lighting beams

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignaling capabilityVSAvoidlighting beam propagation

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The liquid crystal screen provides dynamic control over diffusion, transitioning from a static diffusing element to a controllable optical modulator. This allows the system to activate diffusion only when signaling is required, while maintaining full transparency for regulatory lighting operations, thus eliminating interference between the two functions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The diffusing function is extracted from the permanent structure and implemented as a controllable, temporary property of the liquid crystal screen. This allows the diffusing capability to be selectively applied only when needed for signaling, rather than being always present and potentially interfering with lighting beam propagation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Shape

If the lighting surface extent is made equal for both functions, then aesthetic and visual identity are improved, but the different beam characteristics make this difficult to achieve

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelighting surface uniformityVSAvoidoptical design complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ShapeVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The liquid crystal screen enables the optical element to serve multiple functions (directional lighting and diffuse signaling) through a single unified structure with equal lighting surface extent. This multi-functionality allows aesthetic uniformity to be achieved without requiring separate optical elements or complex manufacturing, as the same surface area serves both purposes by changing its optical state.

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

Enables the use of a single display surface for both lighting and signaling functions, maintaining regulatory compliance and enhancing visual identity by adjusting the diffusion state of the liquid crystal screen to accommodate both lighting and signaling needs.

Implementation Method 1

a controllable liquid crystal screen pressed against the optical element, the controllable liquid crystal screen being adapted to take on different diffusion states including at least a lighting beam projection state in which the controllable liquid crystal screen is transparent and a signalling beam emission state in which the controllable liquid crystal screen is at least partially diffusing

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLiquid crystal effect: Liquid Crystals

Data Source

PatentUS20260021760A1Lighting and signalling device for a motor vehicle

Publication Date: 2026.01.22 VALEO VISION SA

AI summary

The present invention relates mainly to a lighting and signalling device including at least one luminous module capable of generating a lighting beam along a longitudinal optical axis and an optical element through which the lighting beam is projected. The lighting and signalling device includes a controllable liquid-crystal screen pressed against the optical element, the controllable liquid-crystal screen being capable of adopting different diffusion states, including at least one state of projection of the lighting beam in which the controllable liquid-crystal screen is transparent and a state of emission of a signalling beam in which the controllable liquid-crystal screen is at least partially diffusing.