Bi-Injected Vehicle Optical Lens Clearance Around Adjacent Protuberances

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

In vehicles equipped with optical blocks featuring a bi-injection ice design, the presence of protuberances on adjacent equipment can reduce the distance between the optical block's front portion and the equipment, leading to potential damage or breakage during temperature variations or frontal shocks, as existing solutions like shifting the optical block rearward or lengthening the vehicle are impractical.

Innovation Solution

The optical block incorporates n holes in its first peripheral part, opposite the protuberances, to maintain a predefined distance from the second peripheral part, ensuring the front portion remains spaced adequately even in the absence of expansion or rearward movement, thereby reducing the risk of damage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Length of moving object

If the optical unit is positioned closer to the front of the vehicle to reduce overhang and improve style/dynamic behavior, then the vehicle length and styling requirements are improved, but the equipment may collide with the glass during temperature expansion or frontal impact, causing damage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevehicle overhangVSAvoidglass damage risk
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The first peripheral part of the glass is segmented by creating holes in specific areas, dividing the structure into regions with different functional properties. The holes are strategically positioned to provide clearance space for equipment protrusions while maintaining the structural integrity and aesthetic appearance of the overall glass assembly

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The glass structure is modified with local quality changes by adding holes only in specific areas where equipment protrusions may contact, while other areas maintain their original solid structure for strength and styling. This allows the glass to provide both protective coverage and necessary clearance spaces

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If the optical unit is shifted backwards to increase distance from equipment with protrusions, then the risk of collision and glass damage is reduced, but the available space behind and around the optical unit is insufficient to implement this alternative

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveglass damage protectionVSAvoidspace constraints
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of solving the clearance problem by moving the optical unit in the longitudinal dimension (which is constrained by available space), the solution transitions to modifying the glass structure in the transverse dimension by adding holes. This dimensional shift allows clearance to be created within the existing longitudinal space envelope

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Reliability

If the vehicle length is increased to move equipment forwards and maintain distance from the optical unit, then the clearance for equipment expansion and movement is improved, but the vehicle overhang and length are increased which is rarely desired for style and dynamic behavior

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveequipment expansion clearanceVSAvoidvehicle length
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The solution extracts the clearance function from the overall vehicle dimensioning and positioning strategy. Instead of increasing vehicle length to create clearance, the clearance function is extracted and implemented locally within the glass structure itself through the addition of holes, separating the clearance requirement from the vehicle's external dimensions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP4281320B1Optical unit with lens defined by controlled bi-injection for a vehicle
Publication Date: 2025.01.29 STELLANTIS AUTO SAS
  • EP4281320B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4281320B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4281320B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

Disclosed is an optical unit (BO) equipping a vehicle and comprising a lens (G) comprising a first peripheral part (PP1) having a front face portion (PFV) placed facing a second peripheral part (PP2) of a device (PC) and comprising a first part (P1), produced by injecting a first material, and a second part (P2), produced by injecting a second material, covering the rear face (FR) of this first part (P1) and extending beyond the latter. In the presence of the second peripheral part (PP2) comprising N protuberances (PR) directed towards the front face portion (PFV), with N ≥ 1, the first part (P1) comprises N holes (T) placed retrospectively facing N protuberances (PR), so that all of the front face portion (PFV) is normally spaced apart by at least one predefined distance from the second peripheral part (PP2).