Backlit Interior Trim Panel with Optically Separated Light Guide Areas
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current backlit interior trim panels with two-dimensional light guides suffer from non-homogeneous light emission across their surface due to incomplete optical separation between contiguous light guide portions, leading to mixed light colors and visible optical separations.
Innovation Solution
A two-dimensional light guide with lobed portions that are physically connected but optically separated, featuring varying thickness and light extracting means that increase progressively in one direction and decrease in another, allowing independent and homogeneous light emission from each portion without mixing with adjacent areas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple independent light guides are combined to emit different colors simultaneously, then the lighting functionality is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple light guide portions into a single integrated two-dimensional light guide structure. Different regions of the same light guide are optically isolated from each other using reflective barriers or absorbing materials, allowing each region to independently emit different colors while maintaining a unified physical structure. This merging approach achieves multiple lighting functions without the complexity of assembling separate light guide components.
Solution Approach 2:
The light guide is segmented into multiple independent portions within a single structure. Each portion is optically isolated from adjacent portions through reflective barriers or absorbing materials positioned at the interfaces. This segmentation allows independent light emission from each portion while maintaining structural unity, resolving the contradiction between functionality and complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If light guide portions are optically separated to achieve independent lighting areas, then the lighting control is improved, but the light homogeneity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different optical properties to different regions of the light guide. Light extracting means are distributed non-uniformly across the light guide surface, with varying density and extraction efficiency in different regions. This local variation in light extracting characteristics compensates for the optical separation effects, ensuring homogeneous light emission from each independent lighting area while maintaining the ability to control different colors independently.
3Illumination intensity
If light extracting means are increased to improve light emission, then the illumination intensity is improved, but the light homogeneity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The density and distribution of light extracting means are optimized for each specific region of the light guide. Regions closer to light sources have lower extracting mean density, while regions farther from light sources have higher density. This non-uniform distribution compensates for the natural light intensity gradient, achieving homogeneous light emission across the entire surface while maintaining high overall illumination intensity.
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 the creation of multiple independent lighting areas with controlled, homogeneous light emission across the entire surface, capable of emitting different colors or uniform light without visible optical separations, enhancing the aesthetic and functional performance of backlit interior trim panels.
Implementation Method 1
light guides to transmit and distribute the light normally emitted by punctual light sources such as LEDs
Implementation Method 2
The light extracting side comprises light extracting means in order to couple the light out the light guide via the light emission side
Implementation Method 3
a two-dimensional light guide with lobed portions that are physically connected but optically separated, featuring varying thickness
Data Source
AI summary
Backlit interior trim panel for vehicle interior comprising a decorative cover, a supporting component and a two-dimensional light guide comprising multiple independent lighting areas placed between the decorative cover and the supporting component. The two-dimensional light guide comprises a plurality of portions being optically separated between them in order to obtain said independent lighting areas by an only light guide, and light extracting means particularly configured to emit homogeneous light in such a way that the two-dimensional light guide is capable of emitting light in a controlled way.