Compact Vehicle Lighting Device Using Integrated Lens and Reflective Fluorescent Body

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current vehicle lighting devices are bulky and have a high number of components, which complicates manufacturing and increases costs due to the need for multiple optical elements and complex assembly.

Innovation Solution

A compact vehicle lighting device design featuring a light source, a lens with a first reflecting unit on its front surface, a light reducer, and a reflective fluorescent body on the rear side, which reduces the beam's cross-sectional size and minimizes component count by using a three-path lens configuration for efficient light projection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If multiple optical elements and complex assembly are used to achieve efficient light projection, then lighting performance is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight projection efficiencyVSAvoidnumber of components
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple optical functions into a single integrated lens structure. The lens includes a light reducer portion, a first reflecting unit on its front surface, and a second reflecting unit on its rear surface, eliminating the need for separate optical components and reducing assembly complexity while maintaining efficient light projection

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The lens serves multiple functions simultaneously: it reduces light beam size, reflects light from the front surface, reflects light from the rear surface, and projects the final beam. This multi-functional design replaces what would traditionally require multiple separate optical elements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Illumination intensity

If multiple optical elements are used to achieve efficient light projection, then lighting performance is improved, but manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight projection efficiencyVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple optical functions into a single integrated lens structure. The lens includes a light reducer portion, a first reflecting unit on its front surface, and a second reflecting unit on its rear surface, eliminating the need for separate optical components and reducing assembly complexity while maintaining efficient light projection

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the physical and optical parameters of the lens to achieve multiple functions. By adjusting the refractive index, curvature radii, and thickness of different lens portions, the design achieves light reduction, reflection, and projection functions within a single component, simplifying manufacturing

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Illumination intensity

If traditional lighting device design is used, then sufficient light projection is achieved, but device size and volume increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebeam projection capabilityVSAvoiddevice compactness
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a nested arrangement where the light source is positioned within the lens structure, and the reflecting units are integrated into the lens surfaces. This nesting allows compact packaging of multiple optical elements within a reduced overall device volume while maintaining effective light projection

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

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 results in a more compact and cost-effective lighting device with reduced manufacturing complexity, maintaining efficient light projection and visibility enhancement for vehicles.

Implementation Method 1

a first reflecting unit provided on a partial area of a front surface of the lens

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectReflection: Reflection

Implementation Method 2

a reflective fluorescent body which is disposed on the rear side of the lens and converts wavelength of light reflected from the first reflecting unit and then reflects the light into the lens

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectWavelength conversion (fluorescence): Fluorescence

Implementation Method 3

a light reducer which reduces the size of the cross section perpendicular to the optical axis of the beam of light emitted from the light source

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOptical compression:

Data Source

PatentEP3228926B1Lighting device for vehicle
Publication Date: 2021.07.07 LG ELECTRONICS INC
  • EP3228926B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3228926B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3228926B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

An embodiment of the preset invention includes a light source; a lens in which the first reflecting unit is provided on a partial area of a front surface thereof; a light reducer which reduces the size of the cross section perpendicular to the optical axis of light emitted from the light source and then emits toward the first reflecting unit; and a reflective fluorescent body which is disposed on the rear side of the lens and converts wavelength of light reflected from the first reflecting unit and then reflects the light into the lens, and thus the number of components the lighting device for a vehicle can be minimized and the lighting device for a vehicle can be made compact.