Flexible Guide Sheet Lighting for High-Resolution Vehicle Exteriors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing exterior vehicle lighting technologies are expensive, sensitive to environmental conditions, and inefficient, making them unsuitable for displaying high-resolution light patterns on non-flat surfaces with complex integration needs.
Innovation Solution
A luminous module comprising flexible guide sheets that reflect light according to etched patterns, combined with light injection elements and sources, and optionally a protective layer, allowing for robust, energy-efficient, and flexible display on non-flat surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If LCD screens are used to display light patterns with high resolution, then the display quality is improved, but the sensitivity to environmental conditions and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a light guide sheet with etched patterns that copies the light distribution pattern from the light source, creating a high-resolution display without using fragile LCD screens. The etched pattern on the light guide sheet replicates the desired light pattern, providing both high resolution and environmental robustness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces expensive LCD screens with a simpler, more durable light guide sheet structure. The light guide sheet is a passive optical element that is inexpensive to manufacture and highly resistant to environmental conditions, effectively using a simpler substitute to resolve the contradiction.
2Strength
If rigid lighting structures are used to maintain structural integrity, then the strength is improved, but the ability to integrate on non-flat surfaces deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexible light guide sheet that can conform to non-flat surfaces while maintaining its optical function. The thin film structure allows the lighting module to adapt to complex vehicle body contours, resolving the contradiction between structural integrity and adaptability to non-flat surfaces.
3Area of stationary object
If multiple light sources are used to illuminate large surface areas, then the illumination coverage is improved, but the energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple light sources into a single integrated light guide sheet system. The light guide sheet distributes light from one or few sources across a large surface area through its etched pattern, achieving wide illumination coverage while minimizing the number of light sources and overall energy consumption.
4Loss of information
If complex lighting patterns are displayed to convey information, then the information transmission capability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent pre-etches the desired light patterns directly into the light guide sheet during manufacturing. This preliminary action embeds the information transmission capability into the structure itself, allowing complex patterns to be displayed without requiring complex control systems or multiple components during operation.
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 enables high-resolution, flexible, and cost-effective display of light patterns on exterior vehicle surfaces, with mechanical protection and UV resistance, while reducing energy consumption and facilitating integration on complex shapes.
Implementation Method 1
each flexible guide sheet of the assembly being adapted to receive light rays via at least one edge of said flexible guide sheet and to reflect the light rays in a direction substantially normal to a surface of the flexible guide sheet according to at least one pattern etched in said flexible guide sheet
Implementation Method 2
at least one light injection element adapted to receive light and to distribute the light in the assembly of at least one flexible guide sheet
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to an exterior device for a motor vehicle. The device includes an outer surface on which a luminous module is arranged. The luminous module includes an assembly of at least one flexible guide sheet, each flexible guide sheet of the assembly being suitable for receiving light rays at least one edge of the flexible guide sheet and for reflecting the light rays in a direction substantially normal to a surface of the flexible guide sheet according to at least one pattern etched in the flexible guide sheet. The luminous module also includes at least one light injection element suitable for receiving light and distributing the light in the assembly of flexible guide sheets and at least one light source suitable for injecting light into the light injection element.