Faceted Light Guide Mounting for Motor Vehicle Lighting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing motor vehicle lighting devices with optical components having facet faces are difficult to fasten due to their complex geometrical shape, requiring special finishing and additional steps for secure installation.
Innovation Solution
The lighting device incorporates molded transparent bodies with integrally formed recesses that are clamped using projections, providing a form-fit and force-fit retention mechanism, eliminating the need for separate finishing steps and ensuring secure attachment without additional fasteners.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If optical components with facet faces are used to generate light distribution, then optical functionality is improved, but fastening difficulty increases due to complex geometrical shape
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the optical component into two separate parts: a transparent body with facet faces and a fastening component with retention elements. This segmentation allows the optical component to be designed for optimal light distribution while the fastening component handles the retention function, resolving the contradiction between complex geometry and ease of fastening.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a fastening component as an intermediary element between the optical component and the housing. This mediator provides the retention function without interfering with the optical properties of the transparent body, allowing secure fastening while maintaining light distribution functionality.
2Reliability
If special finishing is applied to optical elements for fastening, then retention is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates retention elements directly into the molding of the fastening component, performing the retention function preparation in advance during the molding process. This eliminates the need for separate finishing steps on the optical element, reducing manufacturing complexity while ensuring reliable retention.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the retention function with the fastening component structure by integrating retention elements into the molding. This merging of functions eliminates the need for separate finishing operations on the optical element, simplifying the manufacturing process while maintaining reliable retention.
3Ease of operation
If transparent bodies with recesses are molded and clamped with projections, then fastening simplicity is improved, but structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the fastening component to self-retain the transparent body through integrated retention elements that engage with corresponding features on the transparent body. This self-service fastening mechanism eliminates the need for additional fasteners or complex assembly procedures, achieving simple operation despite the increased structural complexity of the molded components.
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 configuration allows for simple and secure fastening of transparent bodies within the lighting device, enhancing retention and maintaining optical properties while enabling the generation of various light functions and appealing light distributions.
Implementation Method 1
light emanating from the light source or the light sources of the lighting apparatus at least in part passes through the transparent body or the transparent bodies while being refracted at facets of the transparent body or of the transparent bodies
Data Source
AI summary
A lighting device for a motor vehicle includes a lighting apparatus which has one or more light sources and one or more transparent bodies which each have a surface made of a plurality of flat facets. The lighting device is configured such that light which comes from a light source at least in part passes through a transparent body and is refracted at facets of the transparent body. The light which passes through the transparent body at least in part exits from the lighting device in order to create a light distribution. An associated transparent body is a molded component having one or more recesses which are integrally molded in the molded component, the molded component being clamped in the lighting device by the engagement of one or more projections into the one or more recesses.