Vehicle Cladding Lighting With Reflective Pattern Projection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lighting devices for vehicles are complex and costly to implement, limiting their use for creating visually striking patterns or logos on external and internal cladding components, especially on curved surfaces.
Innovation Solution
A compact lighting device with a translucent surface element, a support structure, and a light-reflecting surface that directs light to create visually perceptible patterns, using a pattern-generating section with coatings for brightness or color changes, allowing for easy integration into various areas, including curved surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If existing lighting devices are used to create patterns or logos on vehicle cladding, then visual design elements are achieved, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting device is segmented into three functional layers: a light-reflecting surface for general illumination, a pattern-generating section with light-absorbing or light-scattering coating for creating visual patterns, and a translucent surface element that displays the final pattern. This segmentation allows each layer to perform its specific function independently, simplifying manufacturing while achieving complex visual effects.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of directly manufacturing complex patterns into the cladding component itself, the invention creates a simplified copy of the pattern through selective light absorption or scattering in the pattern-generating section. This copying approach allows patterns to be applied as coatings rather than requiring complex structural manufacturing.
2Adaptability or versatility
If existing lighting devices are used for brand customization, then distinctive design elements are achieved, but implementation cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pattern-generating section applies different light-absorbing or light-scattering properties to specific local areas to create brand logos or custom patterns. This local differentiation allows versatile design customization without requiring different manufacturing processes for each design, as the same base structure can accommodate various pattern coatings.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention enables design customization by changing the optical parameters (light absorption or scattering characteristics) of the pattern-generating section rather than changing the physical structure. This parameter-based approach allows easy adaptation to different brand requirements while maintaining the same manufacturing process.
3Illumination intensity
If light is directed through cladding components, then illumination is achieved, but light loss occurs without reflective surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
A light-reflecting surface is introduced as an intermediary element between the light source and the translucent surface element. This intermediary reflects light that would otherwise be lost, directing it toward the display surface to enhance illumination intensity without requiring additional light sources.
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
Enables the simple and cost-effective integration of complex patterns and logos on vehicle cladding components, enhancing design individualization without the need for high effort, and allowing for versatile placement across different areas of a vehicle.
Implementation Method 1
a support structure arranged on a rear side opposite the visible side of the surface element, having at least one light-reflecting surface, at least one light source for providing light in the lighting device, wherein the light-reflecting surface and the light source are designed and arranged such that the light is reflected from the light-reflecting surface to the surface element
Implementation Method 2
the pattern-generating section comprises a light-absorbing or light-scattering coating
Implementation Method 3
the pattern-generating section comprises a light-absorbing or light-scattering coating
Implementation Method 4
the pattern-generating section comprises a color-changing coating for changing the color of the reflected light
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
The present invention relates to a lighting device (38) for or comprising an external or internal cladding component (14) of a passenger and/or goods transport vehicle (16), comprising a surface element (12) integrated or integrable into or forming the cladding component (14), which forms at least a section of a visible side (20) of the cladding component (14) and which is at least partially translucent, a support structure (24) arranged on a rear side (22) opposite the visible side (20) of the surface element (12) with at least one light-reflecting surface (32), and at least one light source (34) for providing light in the lighting device (38), wherein the light-reflecting surface (32) and the light source (34) are designed and arranged such thatthat the light is reflected from the light-reflecting surface (32) to the surface element (12) and is visually perceptible on the viewing side (20), and at least one pattern-generating section (40) which reflects the light, particularly with regard to brightness and/or color, towards the surface element (12) in such a way that a pattern is visually perceptible on the viewing side (20). Furthermore, the invention relates to a cladding component (14) with such a lighting device (38) and to a means of transporting persons and/or goods (16) which comprises at least one such external and/or internal cladding component (14).