Charging Inlet Illuminator With Combined Lighting and Color Indication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle charging inlet illuminators lack a simple structure that combines both illumination and indicator functions, often resulting in complex internal structures and exterior designs.
Innovation Solution
An illuminator with a design featuring a plurality of light sources, including a monochromatic illumination source and a variable color indicator source, is covered by an exterior cover with transparent or milky flat plates that allow light to pass through and are connected by a linear ridge, simplifying the structure and enabling separate light emission directions for illumination and indication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple light sources are mounted on different surfaces of a substrate with different light emission directions, then both illumination function and indicator function are achieved, but the internal structure including the substrate becomes complicated and the shape of the case becomes complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple light sources (white light LED for illumination and colored LED for indication) on the same surface of the substrate, rather than mounting them on different surfaces as in conventional designs. This merging approach simplifies the internal structure and case shape while achieving both illumination and indicator functions through a unified light source assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The substrate serves multiple functions: it mounts both illumination and indicator light sources, provides structural support, and facilitates light extraction. The exterior cover also serves dual purposes as both a protective cover and a light guide, allowing simplified structure to achieve multiple functions simultaneously.
2Device complexity
If a simple structure is used for the illuminator, then design flexibility is improved, but the ability to provide both illumination and indicator functions may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by directing light from the same light source assembly in different directions: white light is extracted toward the charging opening for illumination, while colored light is directed toward the exterior for indication. This allows a simple unified structure to provide differentiated local functions with distinct light characteristics.
Solution Approach 2:
The exterior cover acts as an intermediary element that receives light from the light sources and redirects it appropriately. It serves as a light guide that separates and directs white light for illumination and colored light for indication, enabling the simple structure to achieve complex functional outcomes through optical mediation.
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 illuminator provides both illumination and indicator functions with a simplified structure, allowing for easy integration into vehicle charging inlets while maintaining a clean, unobtrusive appearance and ensuring waterproofing.
Implementation Method 1
The exterior cover includes a first light radiation wall and a second light radiation wall that allow light emitted from the plurality of light sources to pass therethrough to radiate the light to the outside
Data Source
AI summary
An illuminator includes: a plurality of light sources; and an exterior cover that covers at least a part of a light emission space by the plurality of light sources. The exterior cover includes a first light radiation wall and a second light radiation wall that allow light emitted from the plurality of light sources to pass therethrough to radiate the light to the outside. The first light radiation wall and the second light radiation wall are colorless transparent or milky flat plates and are continuous with each other with a linear ridge therebetween. At least one light source of the plurality of light sources emits light of variable colors.