Vehicle Light Guide with Dividing Element for Uniform Illumination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle lighting devices with complex geometries, such as L-shapes, face challenges in achieving uniform light distribution due to photometric critical points at corner portions, leading to uneven spots of light.
Innovation Solution
A lighting device design featuring a light guide with angled branches and a dividing element that splits the light beam into two lobes, directing them towards the side walls, creating a shadow zone at the critical angular portion, preventing direct illumination and ensuring uniform light distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If light guides with L-shape geometry are used to achieve complex lighting device contours, then the lighting device can provide curved and complex beam patterns, but uneven light distribution and spots of light occur at corner portions due to dominant reflection conditions
Solution Approach 1:
A dividing element is introduced as an intermediary component between the light source and the light guide. This dividing element splits the light beam into two separate lobes before they enter the light guide branches, preventing direct illumination of the corner portion and eliminating the spot effect while maintaining uniform light distribution across the complex L-shaped contour
2Device complexity
If the light source is placed at one end of the light guide to simplify the structure, then the device complexity is reduced, but the beam of light is extracted non-uniformly at the corner portion generating spots of light
Solution Approach 1:
The light beam is segmented into two separate lobes by the dividing element. This segmentation allows the light to be distributed more evenly along the light guide branches, preventing concentration at the corner portion while maintaining the simple end-placed light source configuration
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 allows for the production of light guides with complex geometries, including L-shapes, without uneven spots, achieving uniform light diffusion and a consistent lighting effect.
Implementation Method 1
the beam of light emitted tends to come out at the corner portion as a result of a dominant reflection condition
Implementation Method 2
a dividing element that splits the light beam into two lobes, directing them towards the side walls
Data Source
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AI summary
A lighting device for vehicles (4) comprising at least one light guide (40) having a light guide body (44) which extends from a first to a second end (48,52), The light guide is also fitted with a plurality of light extraction elements (56) to extract the light propagated inside the light guide body (44). Advantageously, the light guide body (44) comprises at least two branches (60, 64) directed along a first and a second main extension direction (S', S") forming an angle with each other (α) of 70 to 110 degrees and connected by a relative angular portion (68), wherein at least one light source (20) is positioned on a light input wall (72) positioned at at least one of said ends (48, 52). The light input wall (72) has at least one indentation (76) having a direction converging towards a neck (80), on the side opposite the light input wall (72), and the light source (20) comprises an emission head (24) facing said indentation (76) in such a way that the beam of light produced converges on said indentation (76) and is divided into two lobes (84) at said neck (80) of the indentation (76).