Vehicle Light Fixture Plate-Shaped Light Guide
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle light fixtures with plate-shaped light guides have limited design characteristics when turned on, as they either restrict the line-of-sight direction of brightness or lack the ability to individually control light emission from each light source.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle light fixture configuration where a plate-shaped light guide with reflective elements on its first surface reflects light from individual light sources, allowing for selective illumination of discrete regions, and the use of a rod-shaped light guide enhances brightness and depth perception.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If reflective elements are formed in a stepped manner on the first plate surface, then the light guide appears to emit light substantially uniformly, but the line-of-sight direction in which the light guide looks bright and shining is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The first plate surface is divided into multiple light emitting regions, with each region containing reflective elements arranged in a line. This segmentation allows different regions to be independently controlled by individual light sources, enabling both uniform overall illumination and selective regional activation to enhance viewing angle versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic control by configuring multiple light sources to be individually turnable on and off. This allows the lighting pattern to change dynamically - either all regions activate for broad uniform illumination or specific regions activate for directional emphasis, resolving the contradiction between uniformity and viewing angle adaptability.
2Ease of operation
If multiple light sources are arranged to illuminate the plate-shaped light guide, then the light fixture can be turned on with improved design characteristics, but the ability to individually control each light source is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The light guide is segmented into multiple independently controllable light emitting regions, each associated with a separate light source. This segmentation enables individual control of each light source while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure, as each region follows the same design pattern.
Solution Approach 2:
Each light emitting region is designed with the same structural characteristics (reflective elements arranged in a line on the first plate surface), making them universally interchangeable. This universal design simplifies the overall device complexity while enabling flexible individual control of multiple light sources.
3Shape
If reflective elements are arranged to create specific lighting patterns, then design characteristics are improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The complex lighting pattern is broken down into multiple simple linear arrangements of reflective elements in separate light emitting regions. Each region contains reflective elements arranged in a straightforward line, which is easier to manufacture than a single complex pattern, while the combination of multiple regions creates the desired overall design characteristics.
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 configuration enables uniform and adjustable lighting patterns, maintaining a linear appearance regardless of viewing direction and allowing for improved design characteristics by selectively illuminating regions, thus enhancing the aesthetic and functional aspects of the light fixture.
Implementation Method 1
light from the light source incident on the plate-shaped light guide is totally reflected by a plurality of reflective elements formed on a first plate surface of the plate-shaped light guide, and then emitted forward of the light fixture from a second plate surface
Data Source
AI summary
To improve design characteristics when the light fixture is turned on in a vehicle light fixture including a plate-shaped light guide. The plate-shaped light guide (32) is configured such that light from five light sources (40A1, 40A2, 40A3, 40A4 and 40A5) is totally reflected by a plurality of reflective elements (32s) formed on a first plate surface (32a) on a rear surface side of the plate-shaped light guide, and then emitted forward of a light fixture unit from a second plate surface (32b) of the plate-shaped light guide. At that time, five light emitting regions (32A1, 32A2, 32A3, 32A4 and 32A5) are arranged at intervals in a horizontal direction in the plate-shaped light guide (32), and then the reflective elements (32s) are arranged in a state of being continuously side by side along a line L extending in a direction intersecting the horizontal direction in each of the light emitting regions (32A1 to 32A5). Each reflective element (32s) is formed in a substantially concave spherical surface shape. In addition, the light sources (40A1 to 40A5) are configured to be able to be individually turned on in a state of being respectively arranged in the light emitting regions (32A1 to 32A5).