Vehicle Lighting Unit with Integrated Light Guiding Lens
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicle headlamps with daytime running lamp (DRL) functions require separate lenses for headlamp and DRL, leading to a larger light emission unit and reduced design flexibility, particularly in sports cars where miniaturization is necessary for enhanced design freedom.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle lighting unit with a single light guiding lens that incorporates a light-transmitting section between reflection surfaces, allowing the DRL unit to be positioned behind and projecting light forward without exposing it at the front, thereby miniaturizing the light emission unit while maintaining effective DRL functionality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If separate lenses are used for headlamp function and DRL function, then the light distribution control for each function is improved, but the light emission unit size is enlarged
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the headlamp optical system and DRL optical system into a single integrated lens structure. The light guiding lens contains both a headlamp light source and a DRL light source, with reflection surfaces and transmission sections that enable both functions to operate through one unified optical component rather than requiring separate lenses.
Solution Approach 2:
The light guiding lens is designed as a multi-functional component that simultaneously performs headlamp illumination and DRL functions. By incorporating multiple light sources and creating distinct optical paths within the same lens structure, the system achieves universal functionality while reducing the overall light emission unit size.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the DRL unit is exposed at the front of the vehicle body, then the DRL function is achieved, but the light emission unit is enlarged
Solution Approach 1:
The DRL light source is positioned within the light guiding lens structure, nested behind the light incident surface. The DRL unit is located in the rear of the light-transmitting section, allowing its light to pass through the transmission section to the front without the DRL unit itself being exposed at the front of the vehicle body.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent repositions the DRL light source from a front-exposed location to a rear-positioned location within the lens structure. By changing the spatial dimension and depth arrangement, the DRL function is achieved through light transmission through the lens rather than through direct front exposure of the DRL unit.
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 DRL function to be exhibited without enlarging the light emission unit, providing a more compact design that maintains light distribution control and appearance similarity to conventional headlamps with separate lenses.
Implementation Method 1
a front reflection surface formed in the front surface, located in front of the light incident surface, the front reflection surface configured to internally reflect the light having entered the light guiding lens through the light incident surface to a direction obliquely rearward and toward one side
Implementation Method 2
a rear reflection surface formed in the rear surface, located at a portion of the rear surface in the direction obliquely rearward and toward the one side with respect to the front reflection surface, the rear reflection surface configured to internally and forwardly reflect the light having been reflected by the front reflection surface
Implementation Method 3
a light-transmitting section located between the front reflection surface and the rear reflection surface in terms of the above-mentioned perpendicular direction (vertical direction), the light-transmitting section configured to allow light to pass therethrough in the front-rear direction
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3D
AI summary
A vehicle lighting unit (1) can include a DRL function while the light emission unit thereof can be miniaturized more than the conventional vehicle headlamps. The vehicle lighting unit (1) can include a headlamp (HL) unit having a HL light guiding lens (5) and a daytime running lamp (DRL) unit (3). The HL light guiding lens (5) can include a light incident surface (51) in front of a light source LED (4) for HL, a front reflection surface (52), a rear reflection surface (54), and a light-transmitting section (55). The front reflection surface (52) can internally reflect light from the light incident surface (51) obliquely rearward and downward. The rear reflection surface (54) can internally reflect the light from the front reflection surface (52). The light-transmitting section (55) is disposed between the front and rear reflection surfaces (52, 54) in terms of its vertical direction. The DRL unit (3) can be disposed behind the light-transmitting section (55), so that the light from the DRL unit (3) can pass through the light-transmitting section (55) to be projected forward.