Vehicle Door Handle Illumination via Segmented Shell and LED Strip
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing interior door handle lighting solutions are costly and often require transparent materials, which increase production costs, and can pose risks of injury or damage due to protruding lamps, while also being difficult to retrofit onto conventional handles.
Innovation Solution
A door handle device with through-openings in the handle shell for LED lighting, allowing illumination without protruding lamps, using an LED strip attached to a metallic carrier that dissipates heat and can be easily retrofitted, with adjustable brightness via a fixed voltage regulator connected to the vehicle's electrical system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If transparent materials are used for the door handle or handle recess to enable illumination, then the door handle can be illuminated, but manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The handle shell is segmented with multiple through-openings that allow light to pass through. This segmentation enables illumination functionality without requiring the entire handle or recess to be made of transparent material, thus maintaining cost-effectiveness while achieving the illumination goal.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary light guide element that channels light from the light source through the handle shell's through-openings to illuminate the door handle. This intermediary component enables illumination without requiring transparent materials for the handle itself, resolving the contradiction between illumination and manufacturing cost.
2Illumination intensity
If protruding light sources are installed in the handle recess to illuminate the door handle, then illumination is achieved, but the risk of injury and damage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The light source is extracted from the interior of the handle recess and positioned externally, behind the handle shell. The light then passes through the through-openings in the handle shell to illuminate the handle. This extraction eliminates protruding light sources within the recess, removing the injury and damage risks while maintaining illumination functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The illumination approach transitions from a three-dimensional protruding light source within the recess to a two-dimensional light pattern projected through the through-openings onto the handle surface. This dimensional change allows illumination without physical protrusions that could cause injury or damage.
3Illumination intensity
If complex lighting structures are implemented to illuminate the door handle, then illumination is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The handle shell's through-openings serve multiple functions: they are part of the original handle design structure and simultaneously serve as light transmission channels. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate complex lighting structures, achieving illumination while maintaining simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The lighting function is merged with the existing handle shell structure by utilizing its through-openings as light pathways. The light source, handle shell, and illumination function are combined into a single integrated system, avoiding additional complex components and simplifying the overall device structure.
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
Provides cost-effective and safe interior door handle lighting that can be easily integrated into conventional handles, avoiding the risks of injury and damage, while maintaining the handle's original feel and allowing for easy retrofitting.
Implementation Method 1
at least one light source (8) for illuminating the door handle (2), wherein the light source (8) is arranged in the area of the through-openings (3) on a side of the handle shell (1) facing away from the vehicle interior, so that the door handle (2) can be illuminated by light from the light source (8) emerging through the through-openings (3)
Implementation Method 2
using an LED strip attached to a metallic carrier that dissipates heat
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5
AI summary
The invention relates to an interior door handle device for operating a door lock of a vehicle from the inside, comprising a handle recess, a door handle movably mounted thereon, and at least one light source for illuminating the door handle. The handle recess (1) has at least one through-opening (3), and the light source in the area of the at least one through-opening is arranged on a side of the handle recess (1) facing away from the vehicle interior, so that the door handle (2) can be illuminated by light from the light source exiting through the at least one through-opening (3). According to a preferred embodiment, the light source can be an LED strip mounted on a metallic support, wherein the number and spacing of the LEDs of the LED strip correspond to the number and spacing of the through-openings (3).