Decorative Light Guide Assembly for Hidden Crystal-Clear Illumination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional automotive decorative lighting elements rely on LEDs or incandescent bulbs to illuminate locally translucent areas, resulting in fixed illumination patterns with non-translucent areas, failing to achieve a transparent crystal-like effect that is visible only when lit and invisible when off, and they do not consider lightweight materials for reduced energy consumption and vehicle weight.
Innovation Solution
A lighting assembly comprising a decorative component, a light-transmitting thin film, and a light guide with optically reflective information structures, utilizing side-emitting LEDs to illuminate patterns that penetrate through the thin film, creating a crystal-like transparent appearance with adjustable visibility based on light source activation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If traditional LED components or incandescent bulbs are used to illuminate locally translucent areas, then the illumination function is achieved, but the transparent crystal-like effect is not achieved and non-translucent areas remain
Solution Approach 1:
A light guide film is introduced as an intermediary component between the light source and the decorative trim. The light guide film receives light from LEDs or incandescent bulbs and transmits it to illuminate the decorative trim, enabling the transparent crystal-like effect while maintaining the illumination function. This mediator resolves the contradiction by decoupling the light source from the direct illumination path.
Solution Approach 2:
The decorative trim incorporates locally translucent areas with different transparency characteristics. By designing specific regions with varying translucency properties, the system achieves both illumination functionality and the desired transparent crystal-like aesthetic effect, resolving the contradiction between functional illumination and visual appearance.
2Reliability
If conventional lighting assembly structures are used, then the illumination function is achieved, but the assembly weight and energy consumption are high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs thin film structures for the light guide and decorative components instead of traditional bulky housing and structural elements. This thin-film approach significantly reduces the overall weight of the lighting assembly while maintaining the illumination function and visual effects, resolving the contradiction between reliability and weight.
Solution Approach 2:
The lighting assembly integrates multiple functions into a single compact structure: illumination, decorative display, and information presentation. By combining these functions, the design eliminates the need for separate components, thereby reducing overall weight and energy consumption while maintaining functional reliability.
3Reliability
If conventional lighting assembly structures are used, then the illumination function is achieved, but the assembly occupies excessive space and consumes high power
Solution Approach 1:
The use of thin film light guides and decorative components dramatically reduces the volume of the lighting assembly compared to conventional structures with housings and separate elements. The thin-film construction maintains illumination functionality while occupying minimal space, resolving the contradiction between reliability and compactness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the light guide, decorative trim, and information display elements into an integrated assembly. This consolidation eliminates the need for separate housings and mounting structures, reducing the overall volume while ensuring the illumination function remains reliable.
4Ease of manufacture
If traditional lighting designs are used, then the illumination pattern is determined by locally translucent areas, but the adjustable visibility and crystal-like transparent effect are not achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables dynamic control of visibility by adjusting the illumination state. When illuminated, the decorative trim displays a crystal-like transparent effect with visible patterns; when unilluminated, the patterns become faint or completely invisible. This dynamic adaptability resolves the contradiction between fixed manufacturing patterns and adjustable visibility requirements.
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 achieves a crystal-clear transparent illuminated trim with adjustable visibility, conserves space and weight, reduces power consumption, and allows diverse decorative applications, enhancing aesthetic and environmental performance.
Implementation Method 1
a first light guide configured adjacent to the first decorative component and including a first optically reflective information structure attached to the first light guide
Implementation Method 2
the first optically reflective information structure attached to the first light guide and including a first information
Implementation Method 3
a light-transmitting thin film attached to the first decorative component; the first light illuminates the first optically reflective information structure and penetrates through the first decorative component and the light-transmitting thin film
Data Source
Figure 1~2
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a lighting assembly. The lighting assembly includes: a first decorative component; a light-transmitting thin film attached to the first decorative component; and a first light guide configured adjacent to the first decorative component and including a first optically reflective information structure attached to the first light guide and including a first information and a first light source emitting a first light, wherein the first light illuminates the first optically reflective information structure and penetrates through the first decorative component and the light-transmitting thin film to render the first information to be displayed on a display surface, when the first light source is activated.