Vehicle Cladding Light Window With Hidden-Until-Lit Illumination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing motor vehicle front panels in electric vehicles lack functional illumination while maintaining aerodynamics, as current decorative illumination is non-functional and not visible until activated, limiting their safety and communication capabilities.
Innovation Solution
A cladding part with a base body and adjustable device that conceals and reveals a light window and illumination function, allowing for 'secret until lit' functionality, adjustable light functions, and seamless integration with the vehicle's design, using a composite plastic component with a deep-drawn decoration carrier and transparent polymer material, and kinematic elements for adjustment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If a closed radiator cladding is used to improve aerodynamics, then aerodynamic performance is improved, but functional illumination capability is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The cladding element incorporates a movable cover that can transition between covering and uncovering the light window, enabling the closed cladding to dynamically provide illumination functionality when needed while maintaining aerodynamic efficiency in normal operation
2Shape
If decorative illumination elements are integrated into the front panel, then aesthetic appearance is improved, but functional illumination capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a localized functional area (light window) within the decorative cladding structure, where the cover can be selectively moved to reveal the illumination function, separating the aesthetic and functional zones while allowing their coordinated operation
3Reliability
If the illumination function is always visible, then safety and communication capabilities are improved, but aerodynamic efficiency and design uniformity deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The movable cover enables the illumination function to be dynamically revealed only when required for safety or communication purposes, maintaining the aerodynamic efficiency of the closed cladding during normal operation while providing visibility when needed
4Adaptability or versatility
If a movable cover is added to conceal/reveal the light window, then functional illumination capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cladding element is segmented into distinct functional components (base body, light window, movable cover) that can be independently designed and assembled, simplifying the overall complexity by breaking down the movable illumination system into manageable parts with clear functions
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a cladding part of a body shell of a vehicle. The cladding part having a base body, which has a visible side facing towards the outer side and an inner side and which comprises a light window in the form of a light-transmitting transparent or translucent region at least in a sub-region, and an opaque region with a colouring coating at least in a sub-region. The cladding part also having an illumination function, which is arranged behind the visible side of the base body for shining through or illuminating the light window. The cladding part also having a device which has a visible side that has a coloring coating, the device being connected adjustably to the base body in such a way that in a first position the device closes the light window and fully covers the illumination function as seen from the outer side and the visible side is orientated toward the outer side, and in a second position it uncovers the light window and the illumination function as seen from the outer side, in such a way that the illumination function is visible through the light window as seen from the outer side.