Vehicle Air Vent Illumination via Light-Conducting Bearing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air vents for vehicles lack efficient and intuitive illumination solutions that do not obstruct airflow or require movable illuminants, and they often require complex mechanisms for controlling airflow and illumination.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle air vent design featuring a roller-shaped air conducting element with a pivoting mechanism and an illuminating device using a light conductor and bearing segments for central optical coupling, allowing indirect illumination without visible light sources and enabling easy operation in darkness, with a central actuation element controlling both airflow and illumination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a light source is placed inside the air conducting element for illumination, then the illumination effect is improved, but the airflow channel is obstructed and the light source becomes visible
Solution Approach 1:
The illumination system is segmented into separate components: the light source is positioned outside the air conducting element, connected via a light conductor (optical fiber or waveguide) that passes through a bearing. This separates the illumination function from the airflow path, eliminating obstruction while maintaining lighting effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
A light conductor acts as an intermediary between the external light source and the air conducting element. The light conductor transmits light through the bearing structure to illuminate the air vent components without requiring the light source to be physically located inside the airflow path.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the illuminating element is moveably arranged inside the air conducting element, then the illumination follows the airflow direction, but the structure becomes complex and reliability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The illuminating element is merged with the bearing structure that supports the air conducting element. The bearing serves dual functions: mechanical support for pivoting/rotation and light transmission from the external light source. This eliminates the need for separate movable illuminating components while maintaining illumination adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The bearing is designed with multi-functionality: it provides mechanical support for the air conducting element's movement and simultaneously serves as a light conductor to transmit illumination. This universal component reduces overall system complexity while achieving both mechanical and optical functions.
3Measurement precision
If a complex mechanism is used to control both airflow and illumination, then the control precision is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control mechanisms for airflow and illumination are merged through the common bearing structure. A single pivot or rotation movement of the air conducting element simultaneously controls both the airflow direction and the orientation of the illuminated area, eliminating the need for separate control mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The bearing structure provides universal control for both airflow direction and illumination orientation through its mechanical degrees of freedom. The same mechanical movement that directs airflow also positions the light-conducting bearing to illuminate the desired area, achieving coordinated control without additional complexity.
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 design provides intuitive and reliable operation of the air vent with minimal components, ensuring high robustness and longevity, while allowing for automatic or manual selection of light color based on temperature changes, enhancing user experience and visibility.
Implementation Method 1
at least one light conductor (12) optically coupled to the light source (11) and the illuminating element (3.1)
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle air vent includes an illuminating device having an illuminating element, a light conductor optically coupled to the light source and the illuminating element, and a bearing having a first bearing segment and a second bearing segment mounted pivotably and/or rotatably on the first bearing segment. The first bearing segment has a light decoupling segment and the second bearing segment has a light coupling element. A wall of the outer air conducting element surrounds a wall of a roller-shaped inner air conducting element, and the inner air conducting element can be pivoted in relation to the outer air conducting element and the housing around a pivoting axis running transversely to the current direction predetermined by the channel. The pivoting axis runs perpendicularly to the pivoting axis of the outer air conducting element. A pivoting point and/or rotating point of the bearing coincide or coincides with an imaginary intersection of the pivoting axis of the air conducting element.