Vehicle Lighting Unit Hides Light Guide and Source
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicle signal lights suffer from aesthetic issues when the LED is turned off, as the light guide and partition walls are visible, and brightness unevenness occurs when the LED is lit, affecting the outer appearance.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle lighting unit design where the light source and light guide are positioned shifted from the opening portion in the vertical direction, with a light-blocking housing, diffusing, and reflecting surfaces to obscure the light source and guide, and diffuse the light for uniform emission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If the light source and light guide are positioned at the opening portion, then the light emission efficiency is improved, but the light source and guide become visible through the outer lens, deteriorating the outer appearance
Solution Approach 1:
The light source and light guide are repositioned from the horizontal plane at the opening portion to a vertical plane shifted away from the opening portion. This spatial relocation in another dimension allows the optical components to remain hidden while still achieving effective light emission through the outer lens.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing with light-blocking property serves as an intermediary structure that conceals the light source and light guide from direct observation through the opening portion, while still allowing their light to reach and pass through the outer lens for effective illumination.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the LED is positioned near the light guide incident surface, then the light coupling efficiency is improved, but brightness unevenness occurs with the light exiting surface being brighter near the LED and darker away from it
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is designed with a light-blocking property specifically at the region corresponding to the light guide's lateral extension. This localized light-blocking structure allows the LED to remain close to the incident surface for efficient coupling, while preventing direct observation of the bright region near the LED, thus achieving both efficient energy use and uniform apparent brightness.
3Illumination intensity
If the partition wall and reflecting wall portion are installed, then the light emission directionality is improved, but the partition wall and reflecting wall become visible when LEDs are off, deteriorating the outer appearance
Solution Approach 1:
The partition wall and reflecting wall functions are merged into a single integrated housing structure with light-blocking property. This unified structure performs both light direction and concealment functions simultaneously, eliminating the need for separate visible partition and reflecting components.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing serves multiple functions: it provides structural support, blocks light from the opening portion to hide internal components, directs light emission through its shaped configuration, and protects the optical components. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate dedicated partition and reflecting wall structures.
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 design prevents visibility of the light source and guide, suppressing brightness unevenness and enhancing the aesthetic appearance by ensuring uniform illumination and hiding the light source and guide components.
Implementation Method 1
a light guide disposed in the lighting chamber while shifted from the position of the opening portion of the mirror housing toward the light source so as to convert the light emitted from the light source to surface-shaped emission light
Implementation Method 2
a housing having a light-blocking property and extending along the opening portion of the mirror housing inside the mirror housing and opening toward the opening portion of the mirror housing
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle lighting unit can be configured such that it is difficult or impossible for an observer to visually recognize a light source, a light guide and the like through an outer lens and to suppress brightness unevenness. The vehicle lighting unit can project light outwardly through an opening portion formed in a mirror housing of a sideview mirror along a vehicle length direction and near an outer side of the sideview mirror in a vehicle width direction. The vehicle lighting unit can include: a housing provided inside the mirror housing, an outer lens inside the mirror housing so as to close the opening portion, a light source disposed in a lighting chamber at a position vertically shifted from the position of the opening portion, and a light guide disposed in the lighting chamber while shifted from the position of the opening portion toward the light source.