Camouflaging Lighting Assembly for Vehicle Concealment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle camouflage systems allow illumination from lighting assemblies to reveal geometric and styling details, compromising the concealment of new or prototype vehicles, as openings in camouflaging covers permit observers to identify taillight features.

Innovation Solution

A camouflaging lighting assembly integrated with a polymer-based camouflaging cover, featuring thermally conductive additives in the housing and lens materials, directs thermal energy outward and includes light emitting diodes to maintain visibility while concealing vehicle features, with a securing mechanism to attach the assembly over vehicle lights.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If openings are provided in camouflaging covers to allow light transmission, then visibility of lighting assemblies is maintained for regulatory compliance, but geometric and styling details of the vehicle become visible to observers

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevisibility of lighting assemblyVSAvoidconcealment of vehicle features

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The camouflaging cover is designed with differentiated regions: opaque portions that conceal vehicle features and a light-transmissive portion that allows light to pass through. This local differentiation of material properties enables simultaneous achievement of concealment and visibility requirements without compromising either function

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The camouflaging cover is segmented into distinct functional zones including opaque portions for concealment and a light-transmissive portion for light passage. This segmentation allows each zone to perform its specific function independently while contributing to the overall camouflage system effectiveness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Illumination intensity

If light-transmissive portions are added to camouflaging covers, then light transmission is enabled for visibility, but the structural integrity and thermal management of the cover may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelight transmissionVSAvoidstructural integrity and thermal management

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The camouflaging cover employs composite material construction combining opaque and light-transmissive portions with different optical properties. This composite approach allows the cover to simultaneously achieve light transmission where needed while maintaining structural integrity and thermal management through the opaque portions that can provide structural support and heat dissipation pathways

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

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 conceals vehicle features while maintaining regulatory compliance for visibility, directing thermal energy away from the vehicle to prevent heat buildup and enhance light transmission, ensuring effective camouflage and operational safety.

Implementation Method 1

The first and second material compositions each includes a thermally conductive additive

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

The camouflaging lighting assembly includes at least one light emitting diode

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight emitting diode effect: Light Emitting Diode

Implementation Method 3

at least one lens having a second material composition. The lens is more transparent than the housing

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight transmission through lens: Lens

Data Source

PatentUS10989500B2Vehicle assembly vehicle cover and lighting assembly disposed over a light of the vehicle, and vehicle lighting method

Publication Date: 2021.04.27 FORD GLOBAL TECH LLC

AI summary

A vehicle assembly includes a camouflaging cover configured to be placed over an exterior surface of a vehicle to conceal at least a portion of the vehicle, and a camouflaging lighting assembly integrated with the camouflaging cover and positioned over a light of the vehicle. The vehicle lighting assembly includes at least one light emitting device, a circuit board operatively connected to the at least one light emitting device, a housing having a first material composition, and at least one lens having a second material composition, such lens being more transparent than the housing. The first and second material compositions each includes a thermally conductive additive. The vehicle lighting method includes the steps of concealing at least a portion of a vehicle with the camouflaging cover, and positioning a camouflaging lighting device over a light of the vehicle.