Vehicular Lighting Apparatus with Light Guide Element
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicular lighting apparatuses using halogen lamps as head lamps are inflexible in design and do not effectively utilize the characteristics of solid-state light sources like LEDs, limiting their application in modern vehicle designs such as hybrid and electric cars.
Innovation Solution
A vehicular lighting apparatus featuring a light guide element with a planar light-emitting unit, an optical system that transforms planar light into linear light, and a lens system for diffusing or condensing light, allowing for efficient emission onto a road surface, providing a compact, cost-effective, and design-friendly solution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If a halogen lamp is used as the light source in a head lamp, then the light emission point shape is small and almost spherical, but the head lamp shape must be similar to the halogen lamp shape, limiting design freedom
Solution Approach 1:
A light guide element is introduced as an intermediary component between the planar light source and the external environment. This light guide transforms the planar light into linear light and can be shaped independently from the light source, allowing the head lamp housing to have any desired shape while maintaining effective light utilization
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes from a point-like light emission (spherical) to a planar light emission configuration. The planar light source emits light in a plane, which is then transformed into linear light by the light guide, enabling the head lamp to have extended shapes in multiple dimensions rather than being constrained to spherical forms
2Illumination intensity
If a planar light source is used to emit light, then the light distribution is planar, but it is difficult to effectively capture and use all generated beams
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses optical transformation instead of mechanical collection methods. The light guide element optically transforms planar light into linear light through refraction and total internal reflection, efficiently directing all generated beams without requiring complex mechanical collection systems
Solution Approach 2:
The light guide element changes the spatial parameters of light propagation by transforming planar light distribution into linear light distribution. This parameter transformation allows efficient capture and directional control of all light beams generated by the planar source
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 a vehicular lighting apparatus that is small, cost-effective, and superior in design, offering improved mountability and practical application, particularly suitable for modern vehicle designs, including hybrid and electric cars.
Implementation Method 1
an optical system that transforms planar light from the light-emitting unit into liner light
Implementation Method 2
an optical system that transforms planar light from the light-emitting unit into liner light
Implementation Method 3
a lens means formed on the one side face of the light guide element on which the transformed liner light is incident, the lens means condensing or diffusing the liner light
Implementation Method 4
a light guide element constructed by molding a translucent resin into a substantially plate-like shape
Implementation Method 5
a light guide element constructed by molding a translucent resin into a substantially plate-like shape
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicular lighting apparatus is relatively small, low cost, superior in mountability, and offers a superior design. The vehicular lighting apparatus attachable to a front end of a vehicle includes: a composite lens element that is a light guide element constructed by molding a translucent resin substantially into a plate-like shape; a planar light-emitting unit that emits illumination light; an optical system that transforms planar light from the light-emitting unit into linear light and that causes the linear transformed light to be incident on a rear side face of the light guide element; and a diffraction lens formed on the rear side face of the light guide element on which the linear transformed light is incident, and condensing the linear transformed light. The light condensed by the lens means is emitted from a front side face of the light guide element onto a road surface in front of the vehicle.