Vehicle Lighting Assembly Using Optical Filter for Yellow Turn Signals

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current vehicle lighting assemblies face challenges in meeting automotive safety standards for yellow colored turn signals and red colored brake/taillights due to high costs, complexity, and styling requirements, particularly with the use of AlInGaP type yellow LEDs and multi-colored lenses.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle lighting assembly utilizing a single-color optical filter in combination with InGaN type yellow-green LEDs to shift the yellow-green light to the required yellow color range, while allowing red light to pass through without color shift, thereby reducing component count and cost, and meeting both SAE J578 and SAE J576 standards.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If AlInGaP type yellow LEDs and multi-colored lenses are used to meet yellow turn signal requirements, then photometric standards are satisfied, but manufacturing cost and device complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvephotometric standard complianceVSAvoidlighting assembly complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A single red lens is used to perform multiple functions: it filters yellow-green LED light to produce yellow turn signals while also allowing red brake light to pass through unchanged. This eliminates the need for separate yellow LEDs and multi-colored lenses, reducing component count while meeting both SAE J578 and SAE J576 standards

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

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the wavelength parameter of the light source from traditional yellow AlInGaP LEDs to yellow-green InGaN LEDs. This parameter change enables the use of a single red lens to achieve both yellow turn signal and red brake light functions, simplifying the overall assembly while maintaining photometric compliance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If AlInGaP type yellow LEDs are used for turn signals, then yellow color requirements are met, but manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveyellow color complianceVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces expensive AlInGaP yellow LEDs with more cost-effective InGaN yellow-green LEDs. By combining these cheaper LEDs with a standard red lens, the solution achieves yellow turn signal compliance at lower manufacturing cost, effectively substituting an expensive component with a cheaper alternative that achieves the same functional result

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The red lens acts as an intermediary that converts yellow-green LED light into yellow turn signal light. This intermediary component enables the use of cheaper InGaN LEDs instead of expensive AlInGaP yellow LEDs, reducing manufacturing cost while maintaining color compliance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 enables a cost-effective and stylish vehicle lighting assembly that meets the photometric requirements for yellow turn signals and red brake/taillights, reducing manufacturing complexity and cost, while improving human reaction time through enhanced color contrast.

Implementation Method 1

The lens is a single-color optical filter configured to shift the yellow-green colored light emitted from the turn signal light source to a range of about 588 nm to about 592 nm

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOptical filtering and wavelength shifting: Filter (optical)

Data Source

PatentEP3417203B1Vehicle lighting assembly and method for achieving yellow colored turn signals
Publication Date: 2020.12.16 MLS AUTOMOTIVE INC
  • EP3417203B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3417203B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3417203B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

A vehicle lighting assembly includes a housing, a circuit board, and a lens. The circuit board is disposed within the housing and includes a turn signal light source configured to emit yellow-green colored light at a peak intensity in a range of about 500 nm to about 570 nm. The lens is coupled to the housing. The lens is a single-color optical filter configured to shift the yellow-green colored light emitted from the turn signal light source to a range of about 588 nm to about 592 nm.