Gear Shifter Indicator Reflected Light Box Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional gear shifter indicators suffer from uneven lighting and shadowing due to direct backlighting, which is not cost-effective and affects the visibility of graphics, especially under varying light conditions.
Innovation Solution
An electronic gear shifter indicator using a reflected light box design with LEDs and incandescent bulbs, where LEDs are focused to prevent light spillage and a diffusing layer with clear ink and white pigment ensures even backlighting without shadows, allowing for adjustable light intensity and color tinting to blend with the background.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If direct backlighting with lighting devices located directly behind the graphics is used, then the graphics are illuminated, but uneven lighting and shadowing occur on the graphics
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the traditional direct backlighting approach by using reflected light instead. The light box reflects light off its interior surfaces (white housing, white screened PCB, white connector housing) to illuminate the graphics, eliminating direct light paths that cause shadows while providing even distributed illumination across all graphics.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a light box as an intermediary component between the light sources and the graphics. This light box acts as a mediator that diffuses and redistributes the light, converting direct point-source illumination into even area illumination, thereby eliminating the shadowing effect while maintaining graphic visibility.
2Illumination intensity
If LEDs are placed directly behind individual graphics for highlighting, then specific graphics can be highlighted, but light spillage affects neighboring graphics
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by selectively activating specific LEDs behind individual graphics for highlighting while maintaining the overall reflected light box for general backlighting. Each LED provides localized highlighting to its corresponding graphic, and the white diffusing layer ensures light is contained and distributed only where needed, preventing spillage to neighboring graphics.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the lighting system into separate functional components: a general reflected light box for uniform backlighting and individual LEDs for selective graphic highlighting. This segmentation allows independent control of each lighting function, enabling precise highlighting of specific graphics without affecting others through light spillage.
3Illumination intensity
If traditional enunciators are used for highlighting, then graphics can be highlighted, but the system becomes more complex and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the light box serve multiple functions: it provides general backlighting for all graphics, acts as a diffuser for even light distribution, and serves as a reflector to direct light appropriately. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate enunciator components, reducing system complexity and cost while maintaining highlighting capability through simple LED activation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the highlighting function with the existing light box structure by integrating LEDs directly behind individual graphics within the same housing. This consolidation eliminates the need for separate enunciator assemblies, reducing part count, simplifying manufacturing, and lowering cost while achieving the same highlighting effect.
4Illumination intensity
If graphics and lighting devices of different colors are located directly behind the graphics, then color coding is achieved, but the system is not cost effective
Solution Approach 1:
The patent achieves color differentiation through selective LED activation rather than using graphics and lighting devices of different colors. The white light box reflects and diffuses light uniformly, while individual LEDs are activated to highlight specific graphics. Color coding is maintained through the graphic designs themselves, eliminating the need for expensive multi-colored light sources and simplifying manufacturing.
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 constant and even backlighting and highlighting without shadows, ensuring clear visibility in all conditions, including direct sunlight and nighttime, while maintaining cost-effectiveness and compliance with lighting specifications.
Implementation Method 1
All background lighting may be reflected off an opaque white housing, a white screened PCB, and/or a white connector housing
Implementation Method 2
a diffusing layer with clear ink and white pigment ensures even backlighting without shadows
Implementation Method 3
A graphic of the gear shifter indicator may be lit for highlighting by a LED located, for example, directly behind a graphic
Implementation Method 4
The direct light, for example, from the LED overpowers the backlighting so that only the LED light can be seen
Implementation Method 5
The backlighting may be achieved by incandescent light and/or LED devices depending on the wave length and light intensity requirements
Data Source
AI summary
In one implementation, a method provides a plurality of graphics. The method backlights the graphics by using reflected light and/or blocking direct light. The method also highlights one of the graphics by using direct light that overpowers the backlighting of the one of the graphics.