Vehicle Cabin Illumination Cover for Low-Loss Direct and Indirect Lighting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle cabin illumination devices require multiple components such as an optical sheet and transparent cover, leading to light attenuation and increased costs.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle cabin illumination device with a translucent cover having a light-entering portion and a reflector that allows direct and indirect illumination, minimizing light attenuation and reducing component complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple components (optical sheet, transparent cover, light diffusing member) are used to achieve both direct and indirect illumination, then illumination function is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the transparent cover and optical sheet into a single integrated component. The cover is designed with a light-entering portion having a translucent bottom surface that directly performs both light transmission and light diffusion functions, eliminating the need for separate optical sheets and light diffusing members while achieving both direct and indirect illumination effects
Solution Approach 2:
The translucent cover serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a protective cover, a light diffusing member, and an optical element for both direct and indirect illumination. The light-entering portion with its translucent bottom surface enables the cover to perform multiple optical functions that previously required separate components
2Illumination intensity
If multiple components are used for illumination, then illumination quality is improved, but light intensity attenuation increases
Solution Approach 1:
By merging the cover and optical sheet into one component, the patent reduces the number of light transmission interfaces from multiple separate components to a single integrated structure. This minimizes light reflection and scattering losses at interfaces, thereby reducing overall light intensity attenuation while maintaining both direct and indirect illumination quality
3Illumination intensity
If multiple components are used, then illumination performance is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The integration of the cover and optical sheet into a single molded component significantly reduces the number of parts that need to be manufactured, assembled, and quality-checked. This single-component design reduces material costs, manufacturing complexity, assembly operations, and overall production expenses while maintaining the dual illumination performance
Solution Approach 2:
The translucent cover performs multiple functions (protection, light diffusion, direct illumination, indirect illumination) that previously required separate specialized components. This multi-functionality reduces the total component count and associated manufacturing costs while achieving the same or better illumination performance
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 device achieves low-cost illumination with minimal light intensity loss by using a simple configuration with a translucent cover and reflector, providing direct and indirect lighting efficiently.
Implementation Method 1
a reflector formed on a surface opposite to the cabin side of the vehicle and reflecting the illumination light incident in the cover toward the cabin side of the vehicle
Implementation Method 2
the translucent portion that allows some of the illumination light from the light source to pass through to the cabin side of the vehicle
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a vehicle cabin illumination device which can be inexpensively constituted with less attenuation of light intensity. The vehicle cabin illumination device is provided with a light source, and a translucent cover, wherein the cover is provided with a light-entering portion to which illumination light from the light source is irradiated, and a reflector which is formed on a surface opposite to cabin side of a vehicle and reflects the illumination light entering the cover toward the cabin side of the vehicle, wherein the light-entering portion has a translucent portion that passes some of the illumination light from the light source toward the cabin side of the vehicle, and an incident portion that enters some of the illumination light from the light source toward inside of the cover.