Vehicular Lamp Reflector for Even Light Distribution
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicular lamps with horizontally long lenses shorter in the vertical direction face challenges in producing even light distribution patterns, leading to unevenness when trying to produce upper light by reflecting light from a light source unit downward through the lens.
Innovation Solution
A vehicular lamp design that incorporates a reflector positioned below the lens to reflect light radiated from a light source unit upward, utilizing a free-form curved reflection surface to create pseudo light sources and improve light distribution, reducing unevenness by forming a light distribution pattern that expands upward in the vertical direction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If the lens vertical length is shortened to achieve a horizontally long lens design, then the lens can meet modern aesthetic and spatial requirements, but it becomes difficult to produce upper light in the light distribution pattern
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a reflector positioned below the lens to redirect light upward, adding a vertical light path dimension. This allows upper light production without increasing the lens vertical length, as light is routed through a different spatial path (below-to-above rather than direct upward through the lens)
Solution Approach 2:
The reflector acts as an intermediary element that captures light from the light source and redirects it upward through the lens. This mediator enables upper light production while maintaining the shortened vertical lens design, as the reflector handles the light redirection function that would otherwise require a taller lens
2Illumination intensity
If a reflector is added to reflect light upward through the lens to produce upper light, then upper light can be generated, but light distribution unevenness occurs in the produced light distribution pattern
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different optical properties to different regions of the lens. The light emission surface has varying refractive indices in different vertical regions, with the second region (lower portion) having a higher refractive index than the first region (upper portion). This local variation compensates for the uneven light distribution caused by the reflector, creating a more uniform overall pattern
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the refractive index parameter of the lens material in different vertical regions. By making the refractive index higher in the lower region and lower in the upper region, the light paths are adjusted to compensate for the reflector-induced unevenness, achieving more uniform light distribution
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 effectively reduces light distribution unevenness by utilizing the reflector to redirect unused light, creating a more even and efficient light distribution pattern that compensates for the vertical shortcoming of the lens design, enhancing the vehicular lamp's performance.
Implementation Method 1
providing a reflector to reflect light, radiated from a light source unit more downward than a lower end of a lens, upwardly through the lens
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The purpose of the present invention is to provide a vehicular lamp which creates light directed upward using a reflector that allows the light incident below the lower end of the lens to exit upward through a lens and which minimizes the uneven light distribution of the created light distribution pattern. The vehicular lamp according to the present invention includes: a semiconductor light source unit (20) including a light-emitting chip (21); a horizontally long lens (30) disposed in front of the light source unit (20); and a reflector (40) positioned between the lens (30) and light source unit (40) and disposed below the light-emitting chip (21) along a vertical direction. The reflector (40) includes a reflection surface (41) for creating a plurality of virtual focal points intersecting a vertical axis passing through the light emitting center O of the light-emitting chip (21). The distribution of light from the reflection surface (41) is controlled so that light is emitted from a light emitting surface (32) vertically below the optical axis Z of the lens (30). The lens (30) is formed such that, when a point light source is assumed on the optical axis Z, first direct light LM on the optical axis Z emitted from the point light source is distributed upward from the light emitting surface (32).