Edge-Lit Stone-Look Multilayer Panel for Day-Night Illumination
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for decorative or functional elements with a stone look that offer an appealing day/night design, high-quality surface finish, and low weight, while allowing for variability in lighting effects and personalization.
Innovation Solution
A multilayer body comprising a translucent black or grey thermoplastic carrier layer, a thin stone layer, and a transparent thermoplastic layer with an LED light source arranged to utilize the transparent layer as a light guide for edge lighting, optionally combined with backlighting, to create attractive daytime and nighttime designs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If conventional LED modules are used to provide sufficient luminous flux, then illumination intensity is improved, but device complexity and installation effort increase due to requiring multiple modules
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple LED chips (first, second, third, and fourth LED chips) into a single integrated LED module. This merging approach allows the module to provide sufficient luminous flux that would otherwise require multiple separate modules, thereby reducing device complexity and installation effort while maintaining high illumination intensity
2Reliability
If the LED module is mounted on a circuit board, then electrical connection is improved, but visibility of the stone appearance effect deteriorates due to the circuit board blocking the view
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions the circuit board in the Y-Z plane and arranges the LED chips and reflective elements in three-dimensional space above it. This spatial arrangement allows the circuit board to provide reliable electrical connections while the light-emitting and reflective elements extend in the X-direction, enabling the stone appearance effect to be visible from the front without being blocked by the circuit board
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional LED modules are used, then manufacturing is simpler, but light distribution and color uniformity worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent assigns different colors to different LED chips (first LED chip: first color, second LED chip: second color, third LED chip: third color, fourth LED chip: fourth color) and positions them strategically with specific reflective elements. This local differentiation of color properties, combined with the reflective layer configuration, achieves uniform color distribution and consistent stone appearance effect across the entire module while maintaining manufacturing feasibility
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 lightweight, high-quality stone-like appearance during the day and dynamic lighting effects at night, with the ability to personalize lighting effects using RGB LEDs, achieving a high-quality and versatile design.
Implementation Method 1
a reflective layer (42) arranged behind the first, second, third and fourth LED chips (41, 42, 43, 44)
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a multi-layer body, which can be illuminated by means of edge lighting and optionally also by backlighting and which has a stone appearance. In addition to the stone layer, layers made of thermoplastic material are provided, wherein a translucent, dark layer is provided on the rear side of the stone layer. The structure is not only an attractive design element with a day/night design in building interior and façade design, but can also be used in a variety of ways in the automobile industry.