Curved Vehicle Lighting Unit With Modular LED Boards
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lighting units for motor vehicles fail to provide an effective signaling effect for vehicle occupants inside the vehicle, particularly around the windshield, while being adaptable to different window curvatures and cost-effective.
Innovation Solution
A longitudinal and curved lighting unit featuring elongated, rigid circuit boards with light-emitting diodes connected via cables, allowing for flexible adaptation to various geometries and window shapes, with driver units for precise control and easy assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a lighting unit is designed to be curved to adapt to windshield geometry, then the signaling effect for vehicle occupants is improved, but the manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting unit is divided into multiple identical circuit board modules, each containing a segment of the curved LED array. These modular segments can be manufactured separately using standard flat manufacturing processes, then assembled into the final curved configuration, thereby maintaining manufacturing simplicity while achieving the desired curved geometry for optimal signaling effect
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies curvature to the lighting unit design to match the windshield's geometric contour. By curving the LED array and light guide to follow the windshield's arc, the lighting unit achieves superior signaling effect and visual integration with the vehicle's interior design, while the curvature is implemented through modular assembly rather than complex curved manufacturing
2Adaptability or versatility
If the lighting unit is adapted to different windshield curvatures for various vehicle types, then the versatility is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs universal, identical circuit board modules that can be configured to create lighting units suitable for different windshield curvatures and vehicle types. The same basic module design serves multiple applications, and by varying the number and arrangement of these standardized modules, the system adapts to different geometric requirements without increasing component complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The lighting unit design allows for flexible configuration of identical modules to match different curvature requirements. Rather than designing unique components for each vehicle type, the system dynamically adapts to different geometries by reconfiguring the same modular building blocks, thereby maintaining low device complexity while achieving high versatility
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple circuit boards are used to form a curved lighting unit, then the adaptability to different geometries is improved, but the electrical connection complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple identical circuit board modules are electrically connected in series to form a complete lighting unit. The electrical connections between modules are standardized and simplified, with each module containing the necessary connection points and routing to interface with adjacent modules, thereby reducing the overall complexity of inter-module electrical connections while maintaining geometric adaptability
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
The solution provides a cost-effective and flexible lighting unit that offers a superior signaling effect for vehicle occupants, adaptable to different windshield curvatures, using the same electronic components across various vehicle types, ensuring precise positioning and efficient LED control.
Implementation Method 1
at least one circuit board (4), each circuit board (4) having a plurality of light-emitting diodes (40)
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 2a~2b
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to a lighting unit for a motor vehicle formed from at least one light guide and at least one circuit board comprising at least one light-emitting diode. The circuit board and the light guide are fastened to one another. According to the invention, the lighting unit is of a longitudinal form and curved in a sickle-like manner, with a light guide extending over the length of the lighting unit and a plurality of elongate, rigid circuit boards (4), which are each equipped with a plurality of light-emitting diodes (40), wherein the circuit boards (4) are identically structured and are lined up in their longitudinal direction along the light guide, in such a way that the light of the light-emitting diodes (40) can be coupled into the light guide perpendicularly to the longitudinal extent of the latter, and wherein the circuit boards (4) are connected to one another electrically and for signal transmission via cables (3).