Decorative Component with Segmented Light Transmission for In-Vehicle Camera

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing decorative components with in-vehicle cameras face challenges in reducing visibility from the outside while ensuring sufficient light transmission for image capture, as they often rely on one-way mirrors that are difficult to illuminate effectively.

Innovation Solution

A decorative component with a transparent base and a decorative layer featuring a light transmitting portion and a light transmission reducing portion, arranged around the transmitting portion to minimize visibility and maximize light intake, using a pattern print layer and a smoke print layer to obscure the camera's presence while allowing necessary light to reach the camera.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If a one-way mirror is used to reduce visibility of the in-vehicle camera from the outside, then the camera becomes less visible, but the amount of light reaching the camera is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevisibility of camera from outsideVSAvoidlight amount reaching camera

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The decorative component is divided into multiple regions: a first region with high light transmission (for camera illumination), a second region with medium light transmission (surrounding the first region), and a third region with low light transmission (peripheral area). This segmentation allows each region to serve different functions - the first region ensures sufficient light reaches the camera while the second and third regions reduce visibility of the camera from the outside.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different portions of the decorative component are assigned different light transmission properties. The first region (center) has high light transmission to illuminate the camera, while the second region (middle) has medium transmission and the third region (periphery) has low transmission. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction by allowing light to pass through where needed while blocking visibility where camouflage is required.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Illumination intensity

If the decorative component is made transparent to allow light through, then light transmission is sufficient, but the camera becomes visible from the outside

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelight amount reaching cameraVSAvoidvisibility of camera from outside

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The decorative component is divided into multiple regions: a first region with high light transmission (for camera illumination), a second region with medium light transmission (surrounding the first region), and a third region with low light transmission (peripheral area). This segmentation allows each region to serve different functions - the first region ensures sufficient light reaches the camera while the second and third regions reduce visibility of the camera from the outside.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different portions of the decorative component are assigned different light transmission properties. The first region (center) has high light transmission to illuminate the camera, while the second region (middle) has medium transmission and the third region (periphery) has low transmission. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction by allowing light to pass through where needed while blocking visibility where camouflage is required.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Shape

If a one-way mirror is used to create a shiny appearance, then the decorative appearance is improved, but it is difficult to obtain sufficient light for image capture

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveshiny appearanceVSAvoidlight amount reaching camera

Core Design Contradiction:

ShapeVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The decorative component is divided into multiple regions: a first region with high light transmission (for camera illumination), a second region with medium light transmission (surrounding the first region), and a third region with low light transmission (peripheral area). This segmentation allows each region to serve different functions - the first region ensures sufficient light reaches the camera while the second and third regions reduce visibility of the camera from the outside.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different portions of the decorative component are assigned different light transmission properties. The first region (center) has high light transmission to illuminate the camera, while the second region (middle) has medium transmission and the third region (periphery) has low transmission. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction by allowing light to pass through where needed while blocking visibility where camouflage is required.

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

The solution effectively reduces the visibility of the in-vehicle camera from the outside while ensuring it receives sufficient light for clear image capture, reducing reflections and contamination, and maintaining a decorative appearance.

Implementation Method 1

The decorative component transmits light toward the in-vehicle camera from the vehicle outside

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight transmission: Light

Implementation Method 2

the portion of the decorative component that faces the in-vehicle camera becomes a design surface with a shiny appearance

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight reflection: Reflection

Data Source

PatentUS9738236B2Decorative component and decorative component unit

Publication Date: 2017.08.22 TOYODA GOSEI CO LTD

AI summary

A rear emblem forms an outer surface and includes a base member made of transparent plastic and a pattern print layer arranged on a part of the back side of the base member. The pattern print layer includes a light transmitting portion and a light transmission reducing portion. The light transmission reducing portion is arranged around the light transmitting portion and transmits less light than the light transmitting portion.