Vehicle Lighting Device with Parallel Light Source

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle lighting devices only allow for static light effects, with constant brightness and color along the length of the light guide, limiting the flexibility in interior illumination design.

Innovation Solution

A lighting device with a line-shaped light source extending parallel to a line-shaped light emission element, allowing lateral input coupling, enabling dynamic light effects through individually controllable light-emitting units and color mixing, and minimizing installation space with a pentaprism-shaped light emission element.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If point-shaped light sources are used for input coupling at front sides of the light emission element, then the structure is simple, but only static light effects are possible with constant brightness and color along the light guide

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelight effect dynamicsVSAvoidlight source arrangement

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The light source is divided into multiple individually controllable light-emitting units arranged along the longitudinal side of the light emission element. Each unit can be controlled independently to create dynamic light effects, transforming a single static light source into multiple controllable segments that can produce varying brightness, color, and intensity patterns along the light guide.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The light input coupling is moved from the front sides of the light emission element to the longitudinal side, representing a dimensional change in the coupling geometry. This lateral input coupling arrangement enables the use of line-shaped light sources extending parallel to the light emission element, facilitating dynamic light effects while maintaining a compact structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Adaptability or versatility

If a line-shaped light source is used extending parallel to the light emission element with lateral input coupling, then dynamic light effects are enabled, but the installation space requirement increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelight effect dynamicsVSAvoidinstallation space

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The light source and light emission element are merged into a compact assembly where the line-shaped light source extends parallel to and alongside the light emission element. This integrated arrangement minimizes the overall installation space by combining the light input function directly with the light emission structure, eliminating the need for separate coupling components and reducing the footprint.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Adaptability or versatility

If high-quality interior illumination with dynamic light effects is achieved, then design flexibility is enhanced, but the device complexity and production costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinterior illumination design flexibilityVSAvoidproduction complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Different sections of the light source are equipped with light-emitting units that can be individually controlled to produce different light characteristics (brightness, color, intensity) at different locations along the light emission element. This local quality control enables high-quality interior illumination with dynamic effects while using standard manufacturing techniques for each individual light-emitting unit, balancing design flexibility with manufacturing ease.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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

Enables dynamic light effects with varying brightness, color, and intensity along the light guide, enhancing design flexibility and driver comfort while reducing installation space and production costs.

Implementation Method 1

a light source (1), in particular a strip of light-emitting diodes

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight Emitting Diode: Light Emitting Diode

Implementation Method 2

a line-shaped light emission element (2) for emitting light which is input into the light emission element by the light source via an input coupling surface (2e) of the light emission element

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTotal Internal Reflection: Total Internal Reflection

Implementation Method 3

a light guide element (3) for distributing and/or directing light which is input into the light guide element by the light emission element

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOptical Guiding: Waveguide (optics)

Data Source

PatentUS11091091B2Lighting device for a vehicle

Publication Date: 2021.08.17 BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE AG

AI summary

A lighting device for a vehicle includes a light source and a linear light emission element for emitting light, which is supplied by the light source via a coupling surface of the light emission element in the light emission element. A light conductor element is provided for distributing and/or directing light, which is supplied by the light emission element in the light conductor element. The lighting device is characterized in that the light source is linear and is arranged so as to extend parallel to the light emission element so that light from the light source can be coupled to a longitudinal side of the light-emitting element in an in-coupling surface in the light emission element.