Motor Vehicle Light Signalling Device with Reflective Plates

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Solution Overview

Problem

Light-emitting diodes in motor vehicle signaling devices emit light beams with narrow aperture angles, causing discomfort or disturbance to road users due to the perception of a bright point of light beyond a certain observation time.

Innovation Solution

A light signaling device with a convergent optical system, upper and lower plates, and a reflection wall that allows part of the light beam to pass between and be reflected, creating a zone of high intensity and an adjacent zone of lower intensity, providing better visual comfort while meeting regulatory standards.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If light-emitting diodes with narrow aperture angles are used to meet regulatory light intensity standards, then energy efficiency is improved, but visual comfort for road users deteriorates due to the perception of a bright point of light

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectricity consumptionVSAvoidvisual discomfort
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The light beam is segmented into two distinct zones: a central high-intensity zone for regulatory compliance and an adjacent low-intensity zone for visual comfort. This is achieved through the interaction between the lower reflective plate and upper transparent plate, which divide the light propagation path and create differentiated intensity regions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the light beam are assigned different quality characteristics. The central region maintains high intensity to meet regulatory standards, while the adjacent regions are attenuated to provide visual comfort. This local differentiation is accomplished through the selective reflection and transmission properties of the plate structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Illumination intensity

If a convergent optical system is used to concentrate light for regulatory compliance, then light intensity is improved, but the bright point of light effect worsens causing observer discomfort

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight intensityVSAvoidbright point of light perception
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The solution transitions from a single-dimension intensity problem to a two-dimensioned spatial distribution problem. By introducing vertical separation between reflective and transparent plates, the light beam is divided into multiple intensity zones along the vertical dimension, allowing simultaneous high intensity in the center and reduced intensity at the edges.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The upper transparent plate acts as an intermediary element that modifies the light beam after reflection from the lower plate. It selectively transmits central high-intensity light while attenuating adjacent light, serving as a mediator between the reflective light source and the observer to reduce the bright point effect.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If reflective plates are introduced to create light diffusion zones, then visual comfort is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevisual comfortVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention uses thin plate structures (lower reflective plate and upper transparent plate) to achieve light diffusion and intensity modulation. These thin film-like components provide the necessary optical functions while maintaining structural simplicity and avoiding complex mechanical assemblies.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

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 device effectively attenuates the perception of a bright point of light, offering improved visual comfort for road users while maintaining compliance with regulatory light intensity standards using light sources with narrow opening angles.

Implementation Method 1

the lower plate reflects the first light beam and the upper plate is transparent and/or translucent to the first light beam

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectReflection: Reflection

Implementation Method 2

the upper plate is configured to allow at least part of the first light beam to pass. Thus, advantageously, an observer of the signaling device perceives, on the one hand, a zone of high light intensity between the upper and lower plates and, on the other hand, a zone of lower light intensity adjacent to the upper plate

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAbsorption (EM radiation): Absorption (EM radiation)

Implementation Method 3

a convergent optical system positioned opposite the first light source so that its main object focus is located at the level of the first light source

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFocusing: Focusing

Data Source

PatentEP3728939B1Light signalling device for motor vehicles providing better visual comfort for road users
Publication Date: 2022.04.27 MARELLI AUTOMOTIVE LIGHTING FRANCE
  • EP3728939B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3728939B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The invention concerns a light signalling device for a motor vehicle offering improved visual comfort to road users. According to the invention, the signalling device (2A, 2B) comprises a first light source (6) capable of emitting a first light beam, a convergent optical system (16) positioned facing the first light source (6) such that the main object focal point of same is situated at the first light source (6) and an upper plate (20) facing a lower plate (28). The plates are arranged in such a way as to be parallel or substantially parallel to the first light beam from the optical system and at least part of the first light beam passes between said plates, and the lower plate (28) reflects the first light beam (8) and the upper plate (20) is transparent and/or translucent to the first light beam (8).