Aesthetic Techniques for Automotive Lighting Design
7 patents in this list
Updated:
Automotive lighting is evolving beyond function to become a key element of vehicle aesthetics. Drivers expect more than just illumination; they seek lighting that enhances the visual appeal and character of their vehicles. This shift presents unique challenges, as lighting systems must now balance style with safety, efficiency, and regulatory compliance.
Professionals in the field face obstacles such as integrating complex designs into limited spaces while ensuring consistent light quality. Each innovation must address issues like minimizing glare, optimizing brightness, and adapting to diverse weather conditions without compromising design integrity.
This page explores recent advancements in automotive lighting design, showcasing solutions like sequentially arranged lenses for controlled projection, multi-color systems for better visibility, and dynamic modules for varied light patterns. These innovations aim to improve lighting performance and aesthetic appeal, creating a seamless blend of form and function in modern vehicles.
1. Lens Arrangement for Vehicle Headlights with Sequentially Arranged Lenses for Controlled Light Projection
Docter Optics SE, 2023
A lens arrangement for vehicle headlights that allows precise control of light patterns and projects images onto the environment. The lens arrangement includes multiple lenses arranged in a specific order. This allows the light from an LED matrix in the headlight to be focused and projected in a controlled pattern. The lens arrangement can be used in adaptive headlights to dynamically adjust the illumination pattern based on conditions like speed and surrounding obstacles.
2. Motor Vehicle Illumination Apparatus with Reflection-Minimizing Optical Waveguide Configuration
HELLA GmbH & Co. KGaA, Carl Zeiss Jena GmbH, 2023
Illumination apparatus for a motor vehicle with an optical waveguide that efficiently illuminates a hologram without reflections or double images. The waveguide has a configuration, coating, and distances between components that prevent unwanted reflections.
3. Vehicle Lamp System with Movable and Rotatable Light Source Modules for Dynamic Light Pattern Variation
HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD., 2023
Vehicle lamps are capable of dynamically changing their light distribution pattern to create different lamp images. The lamp has multiple light source modules that form different light patterns. A movement mechanism moves one light source module while another rotates to vary the light distribution. This dynamically converts the overall light pattern to create various designs.
4. Vehicle Lamp with Dual Optical Modules and Protruding Angled Downward Module
HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD., 2023
Vehicle lamp that improves visibility and miniaturizes the reverse guide lamp while ensuring visibility. The lamp has a housing with two optical modules: one angled downward to illuminate the road behind the vehicle and one forward facing. The angled module protrudes upward from the housing to increase visibility.
5. Vehicle Headlight System with Pivoting Modules for Animated Positional Sequences
Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft, 2023
A vehicle headlight system that performs an animated sequence using pivoting lights to imitate human eyes, giving the impression that the vehicle is "waking up" and "looking" at the person approaching. The headlights have pivotable modules that can move up and down, as well as left and right. When an authorized user approaches the vehicle, the headlights pivot up from a downward position to a horizontal driving position. Then, depending on the user's direction, the headlights pivot towards them, pausing briefly to "look" before returning to the forward driving position.
6. Red Phosphor with SrLi(Al, Ga)3N4:Eu Crystal Phase and High Reflectance from Emission Peak to 800 nm
Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation, NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR MATERIALS SCIENCE, 2023
A red phosphor for LED lighting that has high reflectance in a specific wavelength range from the emission peak wavelength to 800 nm and that includes a crystal phase with a specific composition, such as SrLi(Al, Ga)3N4:Eu. The phosphor has a red emission peak with favorable characteristics like narrow bandwidth and high intensity, as well as improved efficiency, color rendering, and conversion compared to existing red phosphors.
7. Vehicle Lighting Apparatus with Red LED and Phosphor Layer Utilizing Tuned Color Filter
NICHIA CORPORATION, 2023
A vehicle lighting apparatus that can emit different colors from a single red light source while still meeting color regulations. The lighting apparatus has: a red LED, a red phosphor layer, and a color filter. The red LED excites the phosphor to emit red light. The color filter selectively transmits some red light while blocking other wavelengths. This allows only certain red light to pass through and appear white or orange. The color filter properties are tuned to meet regulations.
Developments in projection technology, light control systems, and materials science open the door to safer and more aesthetically pleasing automobiles. Future vehicles should see even more elegant and intriguing lighting options as technology develops.
