Optical design of light guide prisms with surface roughness for automotive tail lights

Abstract

This study presents the optical design of light guide prisms for automotive tail light applications to obtain the optimum luminous intensity and the illuminance uniformity. The design was achieved using optical design software, SPEOS. By considering the axial luminous intensity and legal requirements, the optimum prism angles of light guides were determined by simulations. After determining the prism angles, the effect of different surface roughness on the luminous intensity and the illuminance uniformity was investigated. The light guides designed by considering data from the simulation were manufactured as prototypes and their photometrical measurements were made. These measurements were compared to the simulation results. It was observed that simulation and prototype results are well in agreement with each other. Furthermore, it was found that as the surface roughness increases both the luminous intensity decreases and the illumination becomes more uniform.