Vehicle Puddle Light Multi-Image Projection via Offset Lens

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional puddle lights for vehicles often fail to meet the psychological need for a brilliant and dazzling image projection, as they typically project a single image, which is insufficient for providing a captivating and effective ground illumination.

Innovation Solution

The illumination apparatus incorporates a light source, a fixed-image light valve with multiple patterns, and a projection-lens set, where the center axis of the fixed pattern and the optical axis of the projection lens are not on the same axis, allowing for overlapping of multiple projection images, thereby reducing the size, weight, and number of components, and enabling miniaturization and thinning of the apparatus.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If multiple projection images are generated using conventional aligned optical paths, then the illumination effect is enhanced, but the size, weight and number of components increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveillumination effectVSAvoidnumber of components

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple projection optical paths into a single integrated projection lens system. The light valve displays multiple fixed patterns that are projected through one projection lens, combining what would traditionally require multiple separate projection systems into a unified structure, thereby reducing component count while maintaining multi-image projection capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The single projection lens serves multiple functions by projecting multiple different fixed patterns from the light valve simultaneously. This multi-functional design allows one component to perform the work of what would traditionally require multiple specialized components, reducing overall system complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Illumination intensity

If multiple projection images are generated using conventional aligned optical paths, then the illumination effect is enhanced, but the apparatus size increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveillumination effectVSAvoidapparatus size

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces angular/positional offset between the light valve pattern center and projection lens optical axis, creating a new spatial dimension for image arrangement. This allows multiple projection images to be distributed in different angular positions rather than requiring linear expansion of the optical path length, effectively utilizing angular space to reduce apparatus footprint

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Illumination intensity

If multiple projection images are generated using conventional aligned optical paths, then the illumination effect is enhanced, but the weight increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveillumination effectVSAvoidapparatus weight

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSWeight of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple projection optical paths into a single integrated projection lens system. The light valve displays multiple fixed patterns that are projected through one projection lens, combining what would traditionally require multiple separate projection systems into a unified structure, thereby reducing component count while maintaining multi-image projection capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The single projection lens serves multiple functions by projecting multiple different fixed patterns from the light valve simultaneously. This multi-functional design allows one component to perform the work of what would traditionally require multiple specialized components, reducing overall system complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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

This design achieves a unique dazzling multi-color pattern that meets the psychological needs of drivers, providing effective ground illumination while reducing the size, weight, and component count of the apparatus, making it suitable for integration into micro-electronic devices.

Implementation Method 1

The light source generates illumination light of multiple various areas, and the fixed-image light valve has multiple fixed-patterns in multiple various areas respectively corresponding to the illumination light of the multiple various areas

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight transmission and imaging: Lens

Implementation Method 2

The projection-lens set has multiple projecting lenses respectively corresponding to the multiple fixed patterns

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOptical projection: Lens

Data Source

PatentUS10429561B2Puddle light

Publication Date: 2019.10.01 YOUNG OPTICS

AI summary

An illumination apparatus for vehicles includes a light source, a fixed-image light valve, and a projection-lens set. The light source may generate illumination light of one or multiple various areas, and the fixed-image light valve has a fixed image of one or multiple various areas, respectively corresponding to the illumination light of one or the multiple various areas to transform the illumination light into image beam. The projection-lens set has one or multiple various projection lenses corresponding to the one or the multiple various fixed images, wherein a central axis of the fixed image and an optical axis of the corresponding projection lens are not on the same axis.