Automotive Headlight Light Guide Hinged Cover for Leak Prevention
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Optical devices in automobiles suffer from light leakage between multiple light guides, affecting optical efficiency, safety, and visual styling, with existing covers and clipping structures failing to effectively prevent such leakage.
Innovation Solution
An optical device featuring a cover and support structure that form a hinge, allowing rotational assembly to secure the cover over the light entry portion, preventing light leakage through a combination of pins, slots, and clipping structures, and optionally a bezel for additional styling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If fixed clipping structures (press clips or snap fit clips) are used to attach the cover to the housing, then the cover can be secured in place, but the assembly involves constraints that prevent proper fitting and may fail during harsh vehicle operation conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by transitioning from fixed rigid clipping structures to a hinge mechanism that enables rotational movement. The cover is attached to the housing via a hinge assembly that allows the cover to rotate from an open position to a closed position, providing dynamic adaptability during assembly and operation. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining secure attachment while eliminating assembly constraints.
2Adaptability or versatility
If light guides are designed to cross each other in a physical plane to meet curvature and regulation requirements, then the lighting functions are fulfilled, but light leakage between light guides is greatly aggravated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the nesting principle by placing the light guides within a three-dimensional space defined by the cover, housing, and hinge assembly. Rather than having light guides cross in a single physical plane, the structure creates layered spatial separation where light guides can be positioned at different depths and angles, allowing them to nest within the overall assembly without direct contact or crossing that would cause light leakage.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If a cover is provided to prevent light leakage between light guides, then light leakage is reduced, but the cover may not properly fit the housing and may fail to arrest movement during harsh vehicle operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the intermediary principle by introducing a hinge assembly as a mediating component between the cover and the housing. The hinge assembly includes a first component attached to the cover and a second component attached to the housing, which work together to provide both secure attachment and controlled movement. This intermediary structure ensures the cover fits properly and remains reliably positioned while allowing necessary rotational movement during assembly and 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 prevents light leakage between light guides, ensuring optimal lighting performance, safety, and improved vehicle aesthetics by securely assembling the cover over the light guides.
Implementation Method 1
The at least one cover and the at least one support structure create a hinge in an assembled state, further, the hinge is configured to rotatably secure the at least one cover and the at least one support structure around a hinge axis
Implementation Method 2
The light produced by these light sources enters the light guide through a light entry portion and is propagated through the light guide by multiple total internal reflection
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5a~5b
AI summary
The present invention pertains to an optical device (100) for an automotive vehicle comprising at least one light source (10) configured to produce a light beam. The optical device (100) further comprises at least one light guide (20) having a light entry portion (22) that is arranged facing the at least one light source (10) to receive said light beam. The optical device includes at least one support structure (30) configured to support the at least one light guide (20). In addition, at least one cover (40) is assembled with the at least one support structure (30) to cover the light entry portion (22) of the at least one light guide (20). The at least one cover (40) and the at least one support structure (30) create a hinge (50) in an assembled state. Further, the hinge (50) is configured to rotatably secure at least one cover (40) and the at least one support structure (30) around a hinge axis (A-A').