Backlit Vehicle Air Vent Insert for Visible Airflow Setting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air vents for motor vehicles are difficult to operate intuitively in the dark, as the setting of the air mass flow cannot be easily seen, leading to challenges in adjusting airflow direction and volume at night.
Innovation Solution
An air vent design featuring a first and second light guide, where the second light guide is illuminated by the first, allowing for intuitive operation by synchronously rotating the adjustment insert and providing uniform backlighting across the adjustment range, with optional RGB LED lighting and a decorative ring for enhanced visibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If air vents are backlit with light sources to enable operation in the dark, then visibility of the air vent is improved, but the setting of the air mass flow cannot be seen and the construction becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a light guide as an intermediary component between the light source and the adjustment insert. The light guide receives light from the light source and transmits it to illuminate the adjustment insert, enabling visibility in the dark without requiring complex direct lighting arrangements. This mediator approach simplifies the overall construction while achieving the illumination goal.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical lighting arrangements with an optical system using a light guide. Instead of using multiple light sources or complex reflectors, the system uses a light guide to distribute light efficiently, substituting a simpler optical mechanism for a more complex mechanical one.
2Illumination intensity
If existing air vents are illuminated in the dark, then the air vent structure becomes visible, but the airflow setting cannot be read and operation is not intuitive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by selectively illuminating only the adjustment insert with the light guide, rather than illuminating the entire air vent structure. This focused illumination highlights the critical information (airflow setting) while keeping other areas darker, enabling intuitive reading of the setting without overwhelming the user with unnecessary light.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the light guide's ability to transmit and potentially modify light characteristics to enhance the visibility of the adjustment insert. The light guide can be designed with specific optical properties that enhance contrast and make the airflow setting clearly distinguishable from the surrounding structure.
3Measurement precision
If uniform backlighting is achieved across the adjustment range, then the setting can be read reliably, but the light guide construction becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the illumination function by separating the light source from the illumination target using a light guide. This segmentation allows the light guide to be designed as a modular component that can be optimized for uniform light distribution without complicating the overall assembly. The light guide acts as an independent element that can be manufactured and installed separately.
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
Enables easy and reliable operation of the air vent in the dark by providing consistent and adjustable lighting that indicates the airflow setting, improving user experience and operability.
Implementation Method 1
the second light guide can be illuminated by the first light guide
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to an air vent (10) with an adjustment insert (14) for adjusting the air flow flowing out through the air vent (10), the air flow being adjustable by twisting the adjustment insert (14), with at least one first light guide (24) and with at least one second light guide (26), the first light guide (24) being firmly attached to a housing (12) of the air vent (10) and the second light guide (26) being firmly attached to the adjustment insert (14), the first light guide (24 ) and the second light guide (26) can be rotated in opposite directions and the second light guide (26) can be illuminated by the first light guide (24) and a backlit section (20) of the adjustment insert (14) can be illuminated by the second light guide (26).