Vehicle Reflector Assembly for Oblong Light Spot Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicular lighting systems struggle to produce a light spot pattern that is efficiently bright throughout a broad viewing angle in one direction and a narrow viewing angle in another direction, particularly for applications like turn signals, puddle lights, and blind spot indicators.
Innovation Solution
A reflecting optic assembly for vehicles, comprising a housing with a light source and a reflector with doubly concave side reflecting surfaces and a transitional center reflecting surface, designed to collect and distribute light into an oblong-shaped light spot pattern.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If conventional reflectors are used in vehicular lighting systems, then the structure is simple, but the light spot pattern cannot achieve efficient brightness across broad and narrow viewing angles simultaneously
Solution Approach 1:
The reflector employs doubly concave curved surfaces instead of flat or simple curved surfaces. The first and second side reflecting surfaces are each concave in two directions, creating a complex three-dimensional curved geometry that precisely controls light reflection paths to achieve the desired oblong light spot pattern with controlled brightness distribution across different viewing angles.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from simple two-dimensional curved reflector surfaces to three-dimensional doubly concave surfaces that curve in two independent directions. This additional dimensional complexity allows for independent control of light reflection in different planes, enabling the simultaneous achievement of broad viewing angle coverage and narrow beam concentration.
2Device complexity
If a single light source is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the light distribution control capability is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The doubly concave reflector surfaces are designed with varying local curvatures at different positions and orientations. The first and second side reflecting surfaces have different concave profiles, and the transitional center reflecting surface bridges these variations. This local variation in surface geometry allows a single light source to produce differentiated light distribution across different angular regions, achieving adaptability without multiple light sources.
3Illumination intensity
If the light spot pattern is designed for broad viewing angle coverage, then visibility is improved, but the viewing angle in the perpendicular direction becomes too wide
Solution Approach 1:
The reflector design employs asymmetric doubly concave surfaces where the first and second side reflecting surfaces have different geometries relative to the light source. This asymmetry, combined with the transitional center reflecting surface, creates an oblong light spot pattern that is elongated in one direction, providing broad coverage in that direction while maintaining narrow angular spread in the perpendicular direction.
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 achieves a desirable light distribution, providing an oblong-shaped light spot pattern that is efficiently bright across a broad viewing angle in one direction and a narrow viewing angle in another, enhancing visibility and illumination in vehicular displays and spaces.
Implementation Method 1
a reflector having a front wall, a rear wall, a first side wall, and a second side wall, where the reflector is mounted in the housing for collecting and distributing light from the one or more light sources through the housing aperture
Data Source
AI summary
A reflecting optic assembly for use on a vehicle is provided that includes a housing having a housing aperture, one or more light sources positioned inside the housing and coupled with a circuit board to selectively emit light, and a reflector mounted in the housing for collecting and distributing light from the one or more light sources through the housing aperture into an oblong shaped light spot pattern. The reflector including a doubly concave first side reflecting surface that is concave as it extends along both a first length and a first width, a doubly concave second side reflecting surface that is concave as it extends along both a second length and a second width, and a transitional center reflecting surface extending between the doubly concave first side reflecting surface and the doubly concave second side reflecting surface.