Vehicle Cover Glass With Through-Partition Light Guide

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current motor vehicle lighting and signaling devices are limited to uniform, planar shapes, failing to provide varied and distinctive optical units that effectively enhance visibility and aesthetics.

Innovation Solution

A glass partition with at least one light guide passing through it, where the proximal end faces the internal face and the distal end faces the external face, allowing for a three-dimensional shape and enhanced visibility of light signals, with optional concave external faces and opaque or colored designs for aesthetic matching.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Shape

If a flat or substantially flat glass is used to close the optical housing, then the assembly is simple and standardized, but the optical units have little variation and distinctive shapes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveshape distinctivenessVSAvoidglass structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions from flat, two-dimensional glass surfaces to three-dimensional protruding structures by integrating light guides that extend outward from the glass surface. This dimensional change creates varied and distinctive optical unit shapes while maintaining a standardized housing assembly approach.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention merges the glass cover with light guide elements into a single integrated component. The light guides are embedded within or attached to the glass, combining the protective/transparent function of the glass with the light directing function of the guides, thereby creating shape variation without adding separate assembly steps.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Illumination intensity

If the partition is made opaque, then the aesthetics are enhanced and color matching with vehicle bodywork is possible, but the visibility of internal components is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight signal visibilityVSAvoidaesthetic appearance
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The glass partition employs local quality variation by having different optical properties in different regions. The background area can be opaque for aesthetic matching with vehicle bodywork, while the light guide passages remain transparent to allow light signals to pass through. This localized transparency ensures light visibility is maintained in critical areas while achieving aesthetic goals in non-critical areas.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 production of varied and distinctive optical blocks with improved visibility and aesthetics, allowing better control of light signal angles and differentiation between units.

Implementation Method 1

at least one light guide passes through said partition, so that a proximal end of the light guide faces an internal face of the partition and a distal end of the light guide faces an external face of the partition

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight transmission: Light

Data Source

PatentEP4136384B1Cover glass for covering a housing of an optical element for a vehicle comprising a light guide
Publication Date: 2024.08.21 STELLANTIS AUTO SAS
  • EP4136384B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4136384B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4136384B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a lens intended to close a lamp housing for a motor vehicle, comprising a wall and at least one light guide. The lens (2) has a wall (4) and at least one light guide (10A, 10B). The wall (4) is at least partially opaque, and at least one light guide (10A, 10B) passes through said wall (4), such that a proximal end (12A, 12B) of the light guide (10A, 10B) is opposite an inner face (6) of the wall (4) and a distal end (14A, 14B) of the light guide (10A, 10B) is opposite an outer face (8) of the wall (4).