Vehicle Lighting Device With Segmented Light Guides
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle lighting and signalling devices struggle to achieve homogeneous and clearly distinguishable light portions when using the same emitting surface for multiple functions, due to light beam dispersion caused by the shape of the light guides.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle lighting and signalling device with separately powered and activated upstream and downstream LED light sources, utilizing light guides with total internal reflection and collimation walls, and an intermediate wall with embossed or satin-finish surfaces to ensure collimation and diffusion, allowing for dual lighting functions on the same emitting surface with uniform illumination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If the same emitting surface is used for multiple lighting functions, then space requirements are reduced and aesthetic requirements are met, but light beam dispersion occurs causing non-homogeneous lighting portions
Solution Approach 1:
The light guide is divided into multiple independent light guide portions (first light guide portion, second light guide portion, etc.), each receiving light from separate LED sources. This segmentation allows independent control and optimization of each lighting function while maintaining overall compactness and achieving homogeneous illumination in each zone.
2Device complexity
If traditional light guide shapes are used, then device simplicity is maintained, but light beam dispersion occurs reducing lighting homogeneity
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the light guide are given different local qualities through collimation walls positioned at specific locations. The collimation walls create localized collimated light beams in specific regions while other regions maintain diffuse illumination, allowing each zone to be optimized for its specific lighting function and achieving homogeneous illumination without excessive overall complexity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple lighting functions are integrated into the same device, then device versatility is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting device integrates multiple lighting functions (daytime running light, indicator light, brake light, fog light, etc.) within a single unified structure. Different light guide portions can be activated independently or simultaneously to provide various lighting functions, achieving multi-functionality without proportionally increasing device complexity through modular design.
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 the realization of dual lighting functions with a homogeneous and uniformly lit emitting surface, reducing overall device dimensions and eliminating luminous spots or uneven areas, while maintaining the ability to perform multiple lighting and signalling functions.
Implementation Method 1
a light guide (24, 36) provided with a light input portion (28, 40) facing the light source (16) so as to receive in input a beam of light produced by the light source and shaped to transfer, by total internal reflection, the beam of light produced by the light source to an output wall (32, 44)
Implementation Method 2
collimation walls, and an intermediate wall with embossed or satin-finish surfaces to ensure collimation and diffusion
Implementation Method 3
an intermediate wall (48) arranged between the upstream light guide (24) and the downstream light guide (36) and provided with an embossed or satin-finish surface (68)
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
Lighting and/or signalling device (4), in particular for the automotive sector, comprising at least two separately powered and activated light sources (16',16") comprising an upstream light source (16') and a downstream light source (16") relative to a prevailing propagation direction (X-X) of respective emitted light beams, an upstream light guide (24), provided with an upstream light input portion (28), facing the upstream light source (16') so as to receive in input the light beam produced by the latter and to emit it in output through an upstream light output wall (32), a downstream light guide (36) provided with a downstream light input portion (40), facing the downstream light source (16'') so as to receive the light beam produced by the latter and emit it in output through a downstream light output wall (44), said upstream and downstream light guides (24,36) are arranged side by side in series with each other with respect to said prevailing propagation direction(X-X), so that the light beam emitted by the upstream light output wall (32) is channelled through an intermediate wall (48) of the downstream light guide (36) and by this is reflected and transmitted through the downstream light output wall (44). The upstream light guide (24) is shaped so as to transfer, by total internal reflection, the light beam emitted by the upstream light source (16') from the upstream light output wall (32) to the intermediate wall (48) of the downstream light guide (36), wherein the intermediate wall (48) comprises at least one input window (52) counter-shaped relative to a corresponding output window (56) of the upstream light output wall (32).