Vehicle Lighting Device Using Lateral Light Beam Illumination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle lighting devices require a long design for daytime running lamps to meet legal minimum lighting area requirements, which is space-inefficient and costly due to the use of flat waveguides with narrow light output surfaces.
Innovation Solution
A lighting device design where a first optics element with a narrow light intake and output surface is used in conjunction with a second optics element, allowing a lateral light beam from the first light source to illuminate the second optics element, thereby increasing the illumination area while maintaining a compact form factor, and utilizing a shared plane for the light sources to reduce costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If flat waveguides with narrow light output surfaces are used for daytime running lamps, then the lighting function can be achieved, but the device length increases to meet minimum lighting area requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the lateral dimension by directing a lateral light beam from the first light source to illuminate the second optics element from the side. This transforms the problem from extending in one dimension (length) to utilizing another dimension (lateral width), thereby achieving the required lighting area without increasing the waveguide length.
Solution Approach 2:
The second optics element, originally designed for the second lighting unit, is made to serve a dual function: its primary function for the second lighting unit and a secondary function of providing additional illumination for the first lighting unit when illuminated by the lateral light beam. This multi-functionality increases the effective lighting area without adding separate components.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate lighting units are used to provide different lighting functions, then each function can be optimized, but the device complexity and space consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functionality of multiple lighting units by making the second optics element serve dual purposes. The second optics element is illuminated by the second light source for its primary function and simultaneously illuminated by the lateral light beam from the first light source for an additional lighting function, thereby combining multiple lighting functions into a shared optical component.
Solution Approach 2:
The second optics element serves itself by being illuminated from two different sources. It performs its primary lighting function when activated by the second light source and simultaneously provides additional illumination when activated by the lateral light beam from the first light source, eliminating the need for separate dedicated components for each function.
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
This configuration allows for a space-saving enlargement of the lighting surface, meeting legal illumination requirements without increasing device size, and enables dual functionality of the optics elements for main and secondary lighting functions.
Implementation Method 1
having a narrow-side light intake surface and a narrow-side light output surface and having opposing flat sides connecting the light intake surface and the light output surface, at which an entering light is conducted toward the light output surface through total internal reflection
Implementation Method 2
a lateral light beam emitted by the first light source strikes the second optics element in order to illuminate said optics element
Data Source
AI summary
A lighting device having a first lighting unit comprising a first light source and a first optics element, disposed upstream thereof in the main beam direction, for generating a first lighting function. The lighting device also has a second light source and a second optics element, disposed upstream thereof in the main beam direction, for generating a second lighting function. The first optics element, disposed in front of the first light source in the main beam direction, is designed as a flat waveguide having a narrow-side light intake surface, having a narrow-side light output surface, and having opposing flat sides connecting the light intake surface and the light output surface. The light intake surface of the flat waveguide is disposed at such a spacing to the first light source that a lateral light beam emitted by the first light source strikes the second optics element in order to illuminate said optics element.