Vehicular Cup Holder Light Guide with Reflective Entrance
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Solution Overview
Problem
The light shielding member above the light guide body in vehicle illumination devices can disturb the light from the light source entering the light guide body, necessitating a well-designed light entrance portion to prevent interference.
Innovation Solution
An illumination device for vehicles featuring a light guide body with a light entrance hole, a light shielding member covering the outer surface except for an emission portion, and a light entrance member that reflects light from the source toward the emission portion, ensuring undisturbed light entry and effective illumination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a light shielding member is provided above the light guide body to cover the outer surface, then the illumination effect and illumination condition can be adjusted, but the light from the light source may be disturbed by the light shielding member
Solution Approach 1:
A light entrance member is introduced as an intermediary component between the light source and the light guide body. This member has a light-reflecting surface that redirects light from the light source toward the light guide body, preventing the light shielding member from interfering with light entry while maintaining effective illumination. The intermediary component resolves the conflict between needing light shielding for illumination control and avoiding light disturbance at the entrance.
Solution Approach 2:
The illumination device is segmented into distinct functional regions: a light entrance region with the light entrance member for undisturbed light entry, a light guide body for light transmission, and a light shielding member for illumination control. By separating the light entry function from the light shielding function, the design allows each component to perform its specific role without interference, resolving the contradiction between shielding and light entry.
2Reliability
If the light entrance portion is well designed to prevent light disturbance, then light can enter the light guide body effectively, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The light entrance member serves multiple functions: it reflects light from the light source toward the light guide body, protects the light entrance hole, and maintains the structural integrity of the illumination device. By combining multiple functions into a single component, the design achieves reliable light entry without proportionally increasing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The light entrance member is integrated with the light guide body structure, where the light-reflecting surface is formed as part of the overall component assembly. This merging of functions and structures reduces the number of separate parts needed, achieving effective light entry while minimizing the increase in device complexity.
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
Prevents light disturbance by the shielding member, allowing for efficient light guidance and achieving high-quality, indirect illumination with a gradual light reduction, enhancing visibility and aesthetics within the cup holder.
Implementation Method 1
a light entrance member disposed in the light entrance hole to reflect the light from the light source toward the emission portion
Data Source
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AI summary
To prevent light entrance to a light guide body from being disturbed by a light shielding member. An illumination device (10) for a vehicle includes a light guide body (11) including a light entrance hole (14) from which light (13) from a light source (12) enters and an emission portion (17) that emits the light (13) entered from the light entrance hole (14) toward an outer surface from a position of an outer rim part, a light shielding member (19) that covers the outer surface of the light guide body (11) except the emission portion (17), and a light entrance member (15) disposed in the light entrance hole (14) to reflect the light (13) from the light source (12) toward the emission portion (17).