Ambient Light Guide for Dial Shifter Illumination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Implementing ambient light in dial type shifting apparatuses is challenging due to difficulties in minimizing light loss and preventing direct light from entering the driver's eyes, which can cause fatigue and reduce concentration during night driving.
Innovation Solution
An ambient light device is configured with a printed circuit board, light source, and light guide fixed to a main housing, along with a reflector and lighting window, to reflect light onto a rotating shift dial, minimizing light loss and enhancing visibility without direct illumination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If ambient light is implemented in a dial type shifting apparatus, then driver visibility and reduced fatigue are improved, but light loss becomes excessive when using conventional light covering structures
Solution Approach 1:
A light guide is introduced as an intermediary component between the light source and the dial. The light guide transmits light from the light source to the dial surface, enabling ambient light illumination while minimizing direct light loss. This mediator allows precise control of light delivery to achieve adequate illumination without excessive energy waste.
Solution Approach 2:
The light guide structure is designed to deliver light locally to specific areas of the dial where illumination is needed. By concentrating light delivery to the exact location required rather than using diffuse covering structures, the system achieves effective ambient light with reduced overall light loss.
2Illumination intensity
If a light covering structure is used to implement ambient light, then illumination is achieved, but light loss increases when the structure covers 90% or more of the light source
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using a light covering structure that captures and redirects most of the light (causing losses), the invention extracts only the necessary amount of light from the source and delivers it precisely where needed through the light guide. This selective extraction approach achieves adequate illumination while minimizing unnecessary light loss.
3Ease of operation
If the shift dial is designed for rotation operation, then shifting functionality is achieved, but implementing ambient light becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting system is segmented into separate functional components: a light source, a light guide for light transmission, and a dial with light receiving areas. This segmentation allows the dial to maintain its rotation operation for shifting while the light guide system independently provides ambient light illumination without interfering with the mechanical operation.
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 effectively implements ambient light in dial type shifting apparatuses, reducing driver fatigue and improving visibility at night while maintaining the apparatus's durability and operational quality by minimizing friction and light loss.
Implementation Method 1
a light guide coupled to the main housing and for delivering light of the light source
Implementation Method 2
a light emitting mechanism provided in a shift dial coupled rotatably with respect to the main housing and for reflecting the light of the light source delivered through the light guide to emit it to the outside of the shift dial in an ambient light form
Data Source
AI summary
An ambient light device for a dial type shifting apparatus is provided. The ambient light device includes a printed circuit board (PCB) coupled to a main housing, a light source fixed to the PCB, a light guide coupled to the main housing and configured to deliver light of the light source, and a light emitting mechanism provided in a shift dial coupled rotatably with respect to the main housing and configured to reflect the light of the light source delivered through the light guide to emit it outside of the shift dial in an ambient light form.