Illuminated Vehicle Emblem Light Guide for Uniform Thin Profiles

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing motor vehicle emblems require thicker and larger structures for stability and illumination, and existing illuminated emblems often necessitate design changes for installation, lacking a homogeneous luminous impression.

Innovation Solution

A light guide assembly with scattering particles and deflection devices, including reflective surfaces, allows light to be coupled and deflected within the light guide, enabling a flat design and homogeneous illumination without altering the emblem's structure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If thicker and larger structures are used for the emblem assembly, then stability and weather resistance are improved, but the design complexity and size increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestability and weather resistanceVSAvoidstructure thickness and size
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs thin film structures for the emblem body and light guide arrangement, replacing traditional thick rigid structures. The light guide arrangement with coupling sections and light guides creates a flat, thin-profile illuminated emblem that maintains structural integrity while reducing overall thickness and complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The emblem assembly combines multiple materials including the emblem body material, light guide material, and scattering particles to create a composite structure that achieves both thinness and durability. This composite approach allows the assembly to maintain stability and weather resistance without requiring increased thickness

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Illumination intensity

If traditional illumination methods are used, then the emblem can be illuminated, but the luminous homogeneity is poor and design changes are required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveluminous homogeneityVSAvoiddesign changes required
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces scattering particles as an intermediary element within the light guide arrangement. These particles scatter the light from the light source, transforming directional light into uniformly distributed illumination across the emblem surface, thereby achieving homogeneous luminous impression without requiring emblem design modifications

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The light guide arrangement features localized coupling sections with specific optical properties that differ from the main light guide body. This local differentiation in optical quality allows for optimized light coupling and distribution, achieving uniform illumination while maintaining the overall emblem design integrity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 a thin, stable, and uniformly illuminated emblem assembly that maintains the original design, using LEDs and optical fibers with scattering particles and reflective surfaces for efficient light guidance and output.

Implementation Method 1

the at least one light guide includes scattering particles which enable a homogeneous luminous impression of the light that can be coupled out of the at least one light guide

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight scattering: Scattering

Implementation Method 2

the deflection device includes at least one reflective surface which is assigned to the at least one light guide and is designed to deflect the light coupled in a light coupling direction from the at least one light source by reflection into a deflection direction in the light guide

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight reflection: Reflection

Implementation Method 3

the light or light rays can propagate further within the optical fiber itself towards the corresponding output coupling section by means of total internal reflection at a lateral surface of the optical fiber

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTotal internal reflection: Total Internal Reflection

Data Source

PatentEP3869090B1Assembly for illuminated display of an emblem for a motor vehicle
Publication Date: 2026.04.01 ZKW GRP GMBH
  • EP3869090B1 patent drawingFigure 1~5

AI summary

Assembly (10) for the illuminated display of an emblem (50) for a motor vehicle, comprising: - an emblem body (100) which has an opaque emblem (50) on a visible side, - a lighting unit (200) comprising - at least one light source (210), - a light guide arrangement (300) for guiding coupled light, which comprises at least one coupling section (310) and at least one light guide (320), wherein the light guide (320) comprises an output coupling section (330) for coupling out the light, wherein the lighting unit (200) is arranged on a side facing away from the visible side of the emblem body (100), wherein the light guide arrangement (300) substantially follows the shape of the emblem (50), and wherein the output coupling section (330) of the at least one light guide (320) projects from an edge (110) of the emblem body (100) in the light coupling direction (L1), so that light is directed transversely to the The light coupling direction (L1) can be coupled out of the light guide (320).