Vehicle Lighting Device with Hyperbolic Light Conducting Rods
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle lighting devices using light conducting rods face challenges in mold durability during repeated injection molding and light efficiency, with potential manufacturing issues and high costs due to multiple light sources.
Innovation Solution
A lighting device design featuring light conducting rods with hyperbola-shaped inlet and outlet surfaces, a reflex reflector for total reflection, and parabolic reflective bodies to concentrate and distribute light from a single source across multiple rods, reducing the number of necessary light sources and improving manufacturing ease and efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If the light inlet surface is formed with an incline to improve light distribution, then light efficiency is improved, but mold durability deteriorates during repeated injection molding
Solution Approach 1:
The light inlet surface is formed with a curved surface (hyperbola or parabola) instead of an inclined flat surface. This curved geometry maintains effective light distribution while being manufacturable by injection molding without compromising mold durability, as the curved surface can be directly formed during molding without requiring complex inclined surface fabrication.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the geometric parameters of the light inlet surface from a simple incline to a specific curved profile (hyperbola or parabola) with defined focal properties. This parameter change optimizes both light efficiency through focal concentration and manufacturability through injection molding compatibility, resolving the contradiction between performance and mold durability.
2Illumination intensity
If multiple light sources are used to improve light coverage, then illumination intensity is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a reflective body as an intermediary element that redirects and distributes light from a single light source to multiple light conducting rods. This mediator enables one light source to achieve the illumination coverage that would otherwise require multiple light sources, thereby reducing device complexity and manufacturing cost while maintaining effective light distribution.
Solution Approach 2:
The single light source is made multi-functional through the reflective body, allowing it to serve multiple light conducting rods simultaneously. This universal approach enables one light source to perform the function of multiple light sources by reflecting and directing light to various rods, reducing overall system complexity.
3Illumination intensity
If the light inlet surface is formed with an incline to concentrate light, then light efficiency is improved, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to injection molding issues
Solution Approach 1:
The light inlet surface is designed as a curved surface (hyperbola or parabola) that can be directly formed during injection molding. This curved geometry provides the necessary light concentration through its focal properties while being compatible with injection molding processes, avoiding the manufacturing precision issues associated with forming inclined surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the geometric parameters from an inclined plane to a curved surface with specific mathematical properties (hyperbola or parabola). This parameter transformation maintains the light-concentrating function while improving manufacturability through injection molding, as the curved surface can be formed as an integral part of the light conducting rod without requiring post-molding processing.
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
Enhances mold durability during injection molding, improves light efficiency by concentrating and distributing light, reduces power consumption and costs by using fewer light sources, and simplifies manufacturing processes.
Implementation Method 1
a light inlet surface refracting the light entering from the light source in parallel
Implementation Method 2
a reflective body reflecting the light collected at the portion of the light conducting rod toward the first light outlet surface of the light conducting rod
Implementation Method 3
light radiated from a light source is concentrated at a focus formed inside the light conducting rod and then is distributed by total reflection
Data Source
AI summary
A lighting device for a vehicle may include one or more light sources and one or more light conducting rods including a lens through which light radiated from the light source enters and a light outlet surface through which light entering an inside through the lens exits to an outside, in which the lens includes a light inlet surface configured to refract the light entering from the light source in parallel and a light outlet surface configured to collect parallel light passing through the light inlet surface to an upper portion of the light conducting rod, and a reflective body configured to reflect the light collected at the upper portion of the light conducting rod toward the light outlet surface of the light conducting rod may be installed on the light conducting rod, thereby improving light efficiency.