Illuminated Vehicle Component Edge Light Guide
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing illuminated vehicle components, such as skirting boards and door sills, lack effective means to visually enhance their entire front surface, leading to reduced perceptibility and a less striking appearance compared to surrounding surfaces.
Innovation Solution
An illuminated component featuring a flat decorative element with a light guide and light deflection structures at the edge, allowing targeted light emission from the edge to create a framed effect around the front, enhancing visibility and giving the impression of the component being lifted or floating above the surface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If traditional illumination methods are used for vehicle components, then the component can be illuminated, but the entire front surface cannot be effectively visually enhanced
Solution Approach 1:
The light guide extends from the rear side of the decorative element through to the edge area, utilizing the depth dimension to transport light from the lighting means to the edge. This dimensional extension enables light to be emitted from the edge outward, illuminating the entire front surface area effectively.
Solution Approach 2:
The light guide acts as an intermediary component between the lighting means and the front surface. It receives light from the lighting means positioned at the rear and transports it to the edge area, where light deflection structures then emit the light outward to illuminate the front surface.
2Illumination intensity
If light is emitted only from the front of the component, then the center area is illuminated, but the edge areas and entire front surface are not visually enhanced
Solution Approach 1:
The light guide extends into the edge area of the component, utilizing the lateral dimension to reach the edges from the rear side. This extension allows light to be emitted from the edge outward, illuminating the entire front surface including areas that would otherwise be difficult to reach.
3Illumination intensity
If the component appears flat against the surface, then it integrates well, but it does not attract attention or create a striking appearance
Solution Approach 1:
Light deflection structures are positioned specifically in the edge area of the light guide. These structures have the local function of deflecting light outward at the edges, creating a framed illumination effect that highlights the front surface and creates a visually striking appearance.
Solution Approach 2:
The light deflection structures create optical effects by redirecting light in specific directions. This directional light emission creates visual contrast and optical effects that make the component appear to be lifted or floating, attracting viewer attention.
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 significantly improves the visual perception of the illuminated component by ensuring the entire front is clearly visible and appears detached from the surrounding surface, attracting more attention and creating a striking optical effect.
Implementation Method 1
a light guide arranged on the back of the flat decorative element and a lighting means for coupling light into the light guide
Implementation Method 2
the light guide has light deflection structures in the area of the edge for the targeted emission of light from the outside of the edge
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~6
AI summary
An illuminateable component (1) is described, comprising a base element (63), a rim (4) surrounding the base element (63), a flat decorative element (7), a light guide (9), and a light source (10) for coupling light into the light guide (9). The base element (63) forms a front (2) and a back (3) of the component (1). An outer surface (5) of the rim (4) adjoins the front (2), and an inner surface (6) of the rim (4) adjoins the back (3). The flat decorative element (7) forms at least a partial area (21, 23) of the front (2) and has a rear surface (8) opposite this partial area (21, 23). The light guide (9) is arranged on the rear surface (8) of the flat decorative element (7) and extends at least into a region of the rim (4).The light guide (9) has light deflection structures (17) in the area of the edge (4) for the targeted emission of light from the outside (5) of the edge (4).