Vehicle Lighting Outer Lens Texture for Continuous Light Signature
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Solution Overview
Problem
Newly developed vehicle lighting assemblies often suffer from insufficient clarity and homogeneity in light emission, leading to visual disruptions and aesthetic issues due to gaps or slits, which also increase material thickness and costs.
Innovation Solution
A lighting assembly with an outer lens featuring an integrally formed surface texture for diffusive light transmission, combined with a black mask member to enhance light homogeneity and reduce material thickness and costs, while maintaining a clear light signature across slits.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If additional layers or thicker outer lens are used to homogenize light transmission, then light homogeneity is improved, but thickness and material costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a surface texture only on the inner surface of the outer lens where light transmission occurs. This localized texturing provides homogenization exactly where needed without adding thickness elsewhere in the structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical approach of adding thick layers or multiple components with an optical solution - a surface texture that manipulates light through diffusion. This substitutes physical bulk with optical functionality, achieving homogeneity without increased thickness.
2Shape
If gaps or slits are introduced for design purposes, then aesthetic appearance is improved, but visual continuity of light signature is disrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the black mask member to create a visual transition zone at the slit. The mask member's color and light-absorbing properties help blend the discontinuity caused by the slit, making the light signature appear more continuous to observers.
Solution Approach 2:
The black mask member acts as an intermediary element at the slit location. It mediates between the separated light fields by providing a visual transition that reduces the perceived discontinuity, allowing the slit to maintain its aesthetic function while preserving light signature continuity.
3Illumination intensity
If secondary light sources are added to illuminate coupling edges, then light homogeneity is improved, but device complexity and material costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service by using the primary light source to illuminate itself through the outer lens. The surface texture on the inner surface of the outer lens causes the light to diffuse and homogenize as it passes through, eliminating the need for separate secondary light sources or complex illumination systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The outer lens serves multiple functions: it protects the light source, transmits light, and through its surface texture, homogenizes the light distribution. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate components dedicated to homogenization, reducing overall device complexity.
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 provides a homogenized and clear lighting function with reduced thickness and material costs, ensuring a continuous light signature even under small angles, thus improving both functionality and aesthetics.
Implementation Method 1
said transmission portion of said outer lens having an inner surface formed, at least in a part of said inner surface, with an integrally formed surface texture configured to diffusively transmit the light received from said light source
Data Source
AI summary
A lighting assembly for a vehicle has a light source accommodated in a housing. The light source is configured to emit light. The lighting assembly has an outer lens coupled to the housing. At least a portion of the outer lens is positioned to receive light emitted from the light source and to transmit the received light to the outside. A black mask member surrounds the portion of the outer lens. The portion of the outer lens that is disposed to receive the light has an inner surface at least a part of which is formed with an integrally formed surface texture. The surface texture is configured to diffusively transmit the light received from the light source.