Illuminated Component Edge Light Leakage Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing illuminable components with translucent regions and light-guiding layers often experience leakage light at the edges due to gaps, which is undesirable and challenging to avoid, especially in mass-produced parts requiring cost-effectiveness and high aesthetic standards.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a light-absorbing or light-scattering element, such as pigments, into the light-guiding layer, adhesive layer, or decorative element to absorb or scatter light before it reaches potential leakage points, ensuring that the light intensity at these points is significantly reduced, thereby minimizing leakage light.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a light-guiding layer is used to illuminate translucent regions, then the component achieves attractive illumination and aesthetic appearance, but leakage light emerges from edges through gaps which is undesirable
Solution Approach 1:
A light-absorbing element is introduced as an intermediary between the light-guiding layer and the environment. This element absorbs stray light that would otherwise leak from gaps at the edges, converting the harmful leakage light into heat and preventing it from reaching the exterior.
Solution Approach 2:
The light-absorbing element converts the harmful leakage light into a beneficial function by absorbing it and preventing edge illumination. The material that would normally cause unwanted light escape is transformed into a light-trapping mechanism that enhances overall illumination control.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a non-translucent frame is injection-moulded onto the light-guiding layer to prevent leakage light, then leakage light is avoided, but production complexity and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The light-absorbing element is integrated directly into the light-guiding layer or adhesive layer, merging multiple functions into a single component. This eliminates the need for separate non-translucent frames and reduces the number of production steps while maintaining leakage light prevention.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution changes the optical parameters of existing layers by incorporating light-absorbing pigments or materials into the light-guiding layer or adhesive layer. This parameter modification allows the existing structure to perform the additional function of preventing leakage light without adding complex external components.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If tight tolerances are maintained to avoid gaps and leakage light, then aesthetic standards are met, but production costs increase due to stricter quality requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The light-absorbing element acts as a cushioning measure that compensates for potential gaps and tolerances. By placing this light-absorbing layer in advance, the system becomes tolerant of larger dimensional variations without suffering from leakage light, effectively cushioning against the consequences of loose tolerances.
4Use of energy by moving object
If the light path to the translucent region is kept short for efficient illumination, then illumination efficiency is improved, but the path to potential leakage points is also short allowing leakage light to escape
Solution Approach 1:
The light-absorbing element is strategically positioned in specific regions where leakage is most likely to occur, such as near edges and potential gap locations. This localized placement allows short light paths to reach translucent regions for efficient illumination while simultaneously trapping stray light in critical areas to prevent leakage.
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 effectively reduces light intensity at leakage points by 90% or more, preventing troublesome leakage light and allowing for components with greater production tolerances while maintaining aesthetic appeal and cost-effectiveness.
Implementation Method 1
such as has a pigment which is incorporated, for example, in the light-guiding layer
Implementation Method 2
or/and scatters light when conveyed by the illuminating element through the at least one light-guiding layer to the aforementioned edge
Data Source
AI summary
An illuminable component having a two-dimensionally extending decorative element which has at least one translucent region and at least one non-translucent region. A lighting source serves to illuminate the at least one translucent region. A light-filtering layer is arranged between the decorative element and the lighting source, the layer being integrally attached to a rear side of the decorative element by injection molding. A structure is provided that completely absorbs and/or scatters light when the lighting source is transported to the specified edge. As a result, leakage light at an edge of the component can be reliably avoided.