Vehicle Light Waveguide Film Structure Against Capillary Spots
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle lighting devices with flat optical waveguides and optical films suffer from capillary effects that cause localized disruptions and inhomogeneous light emission due to smooth surfaces facing each other, leading to undesirable spots and light concentration.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating an anti-capillary effect structure on one side of the optical film, using microstructure elements with different sizes and/or lateral extensions than the optical structure, to prevent direct contact between smooth surfaces and maintain homogeneous light emission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If smooth surfaces of optical films and optical waveguides are placed against one another, then lamination and assembly are simplified, but capillary effects occur causing disruptive spots and inhomogeneous light emission
Solution Approach 1:
A smooth intermediate layer is introduced between the optical film and the optical waveguide. This intermediate layer prevents direct contact between the smooth surfaces, eliminating capillary effects and disruptive spots, while still allowing the components to be laminated together. The intermediate layer acts as a mediator that maintains both ease of manufacture and homogeneity of light emission.
Solution Approach 2:
The smooth surface property is applied locally and selectively. The intermediate layer has a smooth surface facing the optical waveguide to prevent capillary effects, while the optical film maintains its optical structure on the opposite side for light deflection. This local differentiation of surface properties resolves the contradiction between ease of lamination and light emission homogeneity.
2Illumination intensity
If optical films with optical structures on both sides are used, then light deflection is improved, but capillary effects occur between facing smooth surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The smooth intermediate layer serves as a mediator that separates the optical film from the optical waveguide. This prevents capillary effects between the smooth surfaces while allowing the optical film's light-deflecting optical structures to function properly. The intermediate layer enables both improved light deflection and elimination of capillary effects.
Solution Approach 2:
The space between the optical film and optical waveguide is segmented by introducing the intermediate layer. This segmentation prevents direct interaction between the smooth surfaces that would cause capillary effects, while maintaining the functional integrity of the optical structures on the optical film for light deflection.
3Ease of operation
If electrostatic charges are present on smooth surfaces, then assembly is facilitated, but disruptive spots and capillary effects occur in the light emission surface
Solution Approach 1:
The smooth intermediate layer acts as a mediator that prevents direct contact between charged surfaces. This eliminates capillary effects and disruptive spots in the light emission surface, while still allowing the components to be assembled together. The intermediate layer maintains ease of assembly through electrostatic attraction while ensuring reliability and uniformity of light emission.
Solution Approach 2:
The intermediate layer provides beforehand cushioning against the harmful effects of electrostatic charges. By pre-introducing this layer, the system is protected from capillary effects and disruptive spots before they can occur, ensuring uniform light emission while maintaining ease of assembly through electrostatic attraction.
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
Prevents capillary effects, ensuring uniform light distribution and increased light output without altering the optical effects, achieved through a compact module design with a reflective surface and U-shaped housing frame.
Implementation Method 1
capillary effects that cause localized disruptions and inhomogeneous light emission due to smooth surfaces facing each other
Implementation Method 2
optical films on a light emission side of the optical waveguide, which have an optical structure for deflecting light on the light emission sides thereof
Implementation Method 3
numerous microstructure elements are placed on the back of the optical waveguide lying opposite the surface of the optical waveguide forming the light emission surface, which form emission elements. They deflect the entering light such that it strikes the light emission surface of the optical waveguide at a relatively steep angle
Implementation Method 4
there is a reflective surface at the back of the optical waveguide. This ensures that light emitted from the back of the optical waveguide is reflected back and can then exit the light emission surface
Data Source
AI summary
A lighting device for vehicles contains a flat optical waveguide, which has opposing flat sides and narrow sides connecting them, with numerous microstructure elements on a flat side of the optical waveguide. A number of light sources are positioned on one of the narrow sides of the optical waveguide, and a number of optical films are positioned on the light emission side of the optical waveguide. The optical films have an optical structure for deflecting light on the light emission side. At least one optical film on the side where the light enters has a structure for counteracting capillary effects.