Composite Cabin Panel Lighting With Hidden Illuminated Images
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicle cabin lighting systems often face space constraints, leading to lighting sources being partially visible and remotely located from the cabin structure, which can hinder aesthetic and functional integration, particularly in creating visually appealing and functional lighting effects within confined areas.
Innovation Solution
The integration of a composite material substrate with a light diffuser material section and a light source positioned to direct light through the substrate, allowing for selective illumination of vehicle cabin panels, including the use of translucent materials and programmable LED lighting to create visually detectable images or patterns that can appear to move across adjacent structures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If lighting sources are positioned remotely from the cabin structure to facilitate servicing and maintenance, then ease of operation is improved, but the aesthetic integration and visual appeal of the lighting system deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the lighting system with the cabin panel structure itself by embedding light sources within recesses of the panel. This integration eliminates the need for separate remote lighting components while maintaining aesthetic appearance, as the lights become part of the panel's design rather than external additions.
Solution Approach 2:
The light sources are nested within recesses or cavities formed in the cabin panel structure. This nesting approach allows the lighting system to be contained within the existing panel geometry, achieving compact integration without requiring additional external space or compromising the panel's aesthetic design.
2Ease of repair
If lighting sources are made visible or accessible to facilitate maintenance, then ease of repair is improved, but the aesthetic appearance and visual appeal of the cabin structure deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating specific recesses or access panels in targeted locations where lighting components need maintenance access, while the remainder of the cabin panel maintains its smooth, continuous aesthetic appearance. This localized approach to accessibility preserves overall visual appeal while enabling necessary maintenance activities.
3Adaptability or versatility
If lighting effects are created within confined cabin spaces, then the functional integration is improved, but the device complexity increases due to space constraints
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the third dimension by creating recesses and layered structures within the panel thickness. Instead of expanding lighting components outward into available cabin space, the design moves lighting elements into the depth dimension of the panel itself, achieving functional integration without increasing the panel's external footprint or complicating the cabin's limited space.
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
This solution enables the creation of visually appealing, programmable lighting effects within vehicle cabins that can enhance the aesthetic and functional integration of lighting, while maintaining a normal appearance in non-illuminated states, and can be synchronized with or independent of typical cabin lighting.
Implementation Method 1
programmable LED lighting to create visually detectable images or patterns
Implementation Method 2
a light diffuser material section...configured to diffuse light from the light source
Implementation Method 3
the use of translucent materials and programmable LED lighting to create visually detectable images or patterns
Data Source
AI summary
Vehicle cabin structures comprising vehicle structure panels with embedded or associated lighting for producing changing and visually detected illuminated images appearing within the vehicle structure panels are disclosed with methods of their manufacture.