Vehicle Work Light Lens with Collimated Upper Zone
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional work lights on vehicles, especially heavy vehicles like trucks, emit intense light that can be dazzling for individuals nearby, posing safety risks due to their design, which fails to effectively direct light only to the necessary area.
Innovation Solution
A lens with a specific geometry that collimates light rays to create an unilluminated area at eye level, reducing dazzling effects while concentrating light towards the work area, featuring an input face that diverts light rays to be parallel to the horizontal midplane and an output face with a central planar portion and lateral portions that deflect light rays, resulting in a Gauss-type luminous intensity distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If the work light emits intense light to illuminate the work area, then the lighting effectiveness is improved, but the dazzling effect on persons nearby increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lens applies different optical functions to different regions: the upper portion collimates light rays to create an unilluminated area at eye level (reducing dazzling), while the lower portion concentrates light toward the work area (maintaining lighting effectiveness). This spatial differentiation of optical properties resolves the contradiction between intense illumination and reduced dazzling.
Solution Approach 2:
The lens is divided into functionally distinct portions: an upper portion for collimation and a lower portion for concentration. Each portion independently addresses a specific aspect of the lighting requirement, allowing the system to simultaneously achieve high illumination intensity in the work area while creating a dark zone at observer eye level to eliminate dazzling effects.
2Area of stationary object
If the work light directs light broadly to cover the work area, then the coverage area is improved, but the light intensity in the target area decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The lens creates a non-uniform light distribution with a concentrated central zone of high intensity surrounded by a broader but progressively dimmer illumination area. The lower portion of the lens concentrates light into a tight beam for maximum intensity in the primary work area, while the overall lens geometry maintains adequate coverage through controlled divergence.
3Ease of operation
If traditional work lights are designed to tilt for proper beam direction, then the beam direction control is improved, but the structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical tilting mechanism with an optically fixed lens design. The lens's built-in geometric configuration (with its specific upper and lower portions) inherently directs light appropriately without requiring mechanical adjustment, thereby eliminating complex moving parts while maintaining proper beam 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 lens significantly reduces dazzling while maintaining high luminous intensity in the work area, enhancing visual comfort and simplifying mounting without obstructing light, thereby improving both the effectiveness and safety of work lights.
Implementation Method 1
an upper portion located above the horizontal midplane, which is configured to divert the light rays, at least according to the vertical axis, so that they are substantially parallel to the horizontal midplane
Implementation Method 2
a lower portion located below the horizontal midplane, which is configured to reduce the vertical opening angle of the light beam, according to the vertical axis, between the horizontal midplane and a lower limit
Implementation Method 3
on either side of the central vertical portion, a lateral portion configured to divert each light ray in the direction of the vertical midplane, according to an amplitude of deflection that is even larger as the point of incidence of the light ray on said lateral portion is close to the vertical midplane
Data Source
AI summary
An input face of a lens includes an upper portion configured to divert the light rays so that they are substantially parallel to the horizontal midplane (P2), and a lower portion configured to reduce the vertical opening angle (α) of the light beam, according to the vertical axis (Z). The output face of the lens includes a central vertical portion substantially planar and orthogonal to the optical axis. On either side of the central vertical portion, a lateral portion is configured to divert each light ray in the direction of the vertical midplane (P1), according to an amplitude of deflection that is even larger as the point of incidence of the light ray on said lateral portion is close to the vertical midplane (P1).