Digital Light Panel Illumination Device for Any Surface
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing illumination systems for vehicles require specific transparent materials for the surface to project light patterns, limiting design flexibility and increasing manufacturing costs, and they lack the ability for aftermarket applications.
Innovation Solution
A digital light panel with openings defining a base pattern configuration is integrated into an illumination device, allowing light to be projected onto any surface without the need for specific transparency properties, enabling dynamic pattern projection and aftermarket installation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a panel with specific transparent material is used to project light patterns, then the illumination pattern can be achieved, but the surface material requirements limit design flexibility and increase manufacturing costs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the pattern-forming function from the surface panel material and relocates it to a dedicated digital light panel. Instead of requiring the surface panel to have specific transparent properties with embedded patterns, the pattern generation is separated into a separate component (digital light panel) that can project patterns onto any surface type, thereby eliminating material constraints and reducing manufacturing complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The digital light panel acts as an intermediary between the light source and the surface. It receives light from the light module and projects the illumination pattern onto the surface through its selectively transparent portions. This intermediary component enables pattern projection without imposing material requirements on the surface, allowing versatility across different surface types while maintaining manufacturing simplicity
2Adaptability or versatility
If a panel with embedded pattern is used, then the illumination pattern is fixed, but the system lacks the ability for dynamic pattern changes and aftermarket applications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a digital light panel with selectively transparent portions that can be dynamically controlled to change illumination patterns. Unlike fixed embedded patterns in traditional panels, the digital light panel can alter its transparency characteristics to project different patterns, enabling dynamic adaptability. This dynamic capability allows the system to respond to different operational modes and aftermarket customization needs without increasing overall system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The digital light panel serves multiple functions: it acts as a light modulator, a pattern generator, and an adaptive interface between the light source and surface. This multi-functional component enables the illumination system to perform various pattern projection tasks and accommodate different applications (including aftermarket installations) without requiring separate systems, thereby achieving pattern flexibility without proportionally increasing 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
This solution reduces manufacturing costs by allowing light projection onto any surface and facilitates aftermarket installations, providing design flexibility and dynamic pattern animation without requiring specific surface materials.
Implementation Method 1
The illumination devices emit light that transmits through the partially transparent portion of the panel
Implementation Method 2
projecting the light through the aperture onto the surface in the predetermined illumination pattern
Data Source
AI summary
An illumination device projects light in a predetermined illumination pattern on a surface. The illumination device includes a housing having a cavity and an aperture that opens into the cavity. The illumination device further includes a light module operatively attached to the housing for selectively emitting the light into the cavity. Furthermore, the illumination device includes a digital light panel at least partially disposed in the cavity between the light module and the aperture. The digital light panel has at least one opening defining a base pattern configuration corresponding to the predetermined illumination pattern for aligning the light emitted from the light module through the opening into the base pattern configuration and subsequently projecting the light through the aperture onto the surface in the predetermined illumination pattern.