Vehicle Cup Holder Light Guide With Opaque Interrupt Sections
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drinking vessel holders and interior trim parts for motor vehicles often require complex lighting systems with many components, which can be costly and difficult to implement effectively.
Innovation Solution
The use of an elongated light guide with integrated opaque material components, bonded via a two- or multi-component injection molding process, allows for effective lighting with fewer components. This design interrupts light propagation at specific points visible to occupants, creating an appealing lighting effect while minimizing installation space.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If traditional lighting systems are used in drinking vessel holders and interior trim parts, then illumination can be achieved, but the system becomes complex with many components, increasing cost and difficulty of implementation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions into a single integrated light guide component. The light guide serves as both the illumination medium and the structural element, while opaque material components are integrated directly into the light guide body through injection molding, eliminating the need for separate lighting assemblies and reducing overall system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite construction by integrating opaque material components directly into the transparent light guide material through a two- or multi-component injection molding process. This creates a unified structure that combines light-transmitting and light-blocking functions within a single component, reducing the number of separate parts needed
2Illumination intensity
If opaque elements are injected into the light guide cross-section to control light propagation, then lighting effectiveness improves, but the manufacturing process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a two- or multi-component injection molding process that integrates opaque material components directly into the transparent light guide material in a single manufacturing step. This composite molding approach allows precise control of light propagation paths while maintaining manufacturing efficiency and avoiding complex post-processing operations
Solution Approach 2:
The patent controls light propagation by strategically placing opaque material components at specific locations within the light guide cross-section. By changing the spatial distribution and positioning of these opaque elements, the manufacturing process achieves precise lighting control without requiring complex manufacturing steps
3Illumination intensity
If light propagation is interrupted at specific points in the light guide, then aesthetic lighting effects are achieved, but the light guide structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates opaque material components directly into the light guide body through injection molding, creating a unified composite structure. This approach achieves light propagation interruption for aesthetic effects while maintaining structural simplicity, as the opaque elements become an integral part of the light guide rather than separate components
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by placing opaque material components at specific locations within the light guide cross-section where light interruption is desired. This localized approach allows aesthetic lighting effects to be achieved only at specific points along the light guide, while other regions maintain full light transmission, optimizing both appearance and structural simplicity
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 efficient and aesthetically pleasing lighting of drinking vessel holders and interior trim parts with a reduced number of components, optimizing both functionality and cost-effectiveness.
Implementation Method 1
Light from a light source is coupled into the light guide and transmitted in the longitudinal direction of the light guide
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for illuminating an interior equipment part or an interior trim part (4) in the interior of a motor vehicle, in which at least one elongate optical waveguide (5) is arranged on the interior equipment part or interior trim part (4) and light beams (L) of at least one lamp (3) are coupled into at least one light input point (5a, 5c) of the at least one optical waveguide (5) and are coupled out again from at least one light output point. According to the invention, the diffusion of the coupled-in light beams (L) in the longitudinal extent (LE) of the optical waveguide (5) is interrupted at least at one point (S1, S2) of the optical waveguide, wherein the light at this point (S1, S2) is interrupted at least in such a part of the optical waveguide cross-section which has a surface that can be freely viewed by a vehicle occupant. A method of this kind makes it possible to illuminate interior equipment parts or interior trim parts in the interior of the motor vehicle in a pleasant and homogeneous manner. The invention further relates to a drinking vessel holder and an interior trim part for carrying out the method.