Vehicle Grille Illumination via Headlamp Light Guide
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle grille designs lack effective passive accent illumination, relying on additional light sources and struggling with light leakage, which increases costs and assembly complexity while compromising styling and customer satisfaction.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle grille assembly incorporating a primary light guide connected to a light source within the headlamp, with a secondary light guide within the grille, featuring optic features and a black-coated joint to prevent light leakage, utilizing the headlamp's accent light to illuminate the grille without additional lighting sources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If additional light sources are added to illuminate the grille, then the grille illumination is improved, but the cost and assembly complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The headlamp assembly is designed to serve multiple functions: it provides both the primary driving light and the accent lighting for the grille through integrated light guides. This eliminates the need for separate lighting systems while achieving dual purposes with a single integrated structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The grille illumination system utilizes the existing headlamp light source to illuminate itself through the light guide structure. The system serves itself by using its own integrated components (headlamp + light guides) without requiring external or additional lighting sources, thereby reducing complexity.
2Illumination intensity
If additional light sources are added to illuminate the grille, then the grille illumination is improved, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The headlamp assembly is designed to serve multiple functions: it provides both the primary driving light and the accent lighting for the grille through integrated light guides. This eliminates the need for separate lighting systems while achieving dual purposes with a single integrated structure.
3Device complexity
If light guides are connected without black blocking areas, then the assembly is simpler, but light leakage occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The light guide structure incorporates black blocking areas at specific critical locations where light leakage would occur, while maintaining simplicity elsewhere. This localized application of light-blocking features provides the necessary light control without adding complex assembly requirements throughout the entire structure.
4Shape
If the grille uses traditional ornamental features, then the styling is highlighted, but passive accent illumination is lacking
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the ornamental grille structure with the lighting function by integrating light guides within the grille assembly. The light guides follow the contours and styling features of the grille, merging aesthetic form with functional illumination to achieve both visual appeal and accent lighting.
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 uniform and stylish passive accent illumination for the vehicle grille, reducing costs and assembly complexity by leveraging existing headlamp lighting, while maintaining a chrome appearance and ensuring light is directed effectively without additional light sources.
Implementation Method 1
a primary light guide in communication with a light source and a secondary light guide disposed within the vehicle grill that receives light from the primary light guide
Implementation Method 2
the secondary light guide includes optic features that direct light into the vehicle grille
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle grille assembly is disclosed that is passively illuminated by accent lighting sources provided in a corresponding headlamp assembly. A primary light guide in communication with a light source and a secondary light guide is disposed within the vehicle grill. The secondary light guide receives light from the primary light guide to illuminate a portion of the vehicle grille.