Illuminated Vehicular Emblem Light Guide Plate Thickness Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicular emblems with numerous LEDs for illumination suffer from increased thickness due to required light scattering distance, light leakage, and dazzling effects, along with high costs from large circuit boards.
Innovation Solution
An illuminated vehicular emblem using a lighting module with a planar light guiding structure, comprising a light guide plate, light emitting components, a first light shielding film, and a light dimming unit with optical dots to control light propagation, reducing thickness and preventing dazzling effects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If conventional LEDs are used with sufficient distance for light scattering, then light scattering effect is achieved, but the thickness of the vehicular emblem is increased
Solution Approach 1:
A light guide plate is introduced as an intermediary component between the LEDs and the emblem plate. The light guide plate receives light from LEDs positioned close to it and guides this light to illuminate the emblem plate, achieving light scattering effect without requiring large distance between LEDs and emblem plate, thus reducing the overall thickness
Solution Approach 2:
The lighting structure transitions from a conventional planar arrangement to a three-dimensional configuration utilizing the light guide plate. The LEDs are positioned at a specific distance from the emblem plate by incorporating the light guide plate thickness, optimizing light scattering while controlling overall emblem thickness
2Length of stationary object
If conventional LEDs are positioned close to the emblem plate, then thickness is reduced, but light leakage and dazzling light spots occur
Solution Approach 1:
The light guide plate serves as a mediator that controls light propagation. It receives light from LEDs and distributes it uniformly across the emblem plate, preventing direct light exposure that causes dazzling effects and light leakage while maintaining compact thickness
Solution Approach 2:
The lighting system achieves uniform illumination distribution across different regions of the emblem plate. The light guide plate ensures that light is distributed evenly to all areas, eliminating localized dazzling spots while maintaining overall illumination quality
3Illumination intensity
If numerous LEDs are mounted dispersedly on a circuit board, then adequate illumination is achieved, but the circuit board size and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple light-emitting functions are merged into a single light guide plate component. Instead of using numerous dispersed LEDs on a large circuit board, the invention uses a reduced number of LEDs that feed into the light guide plate, which then provides comprehensive illumination coverage, simplifying the overall structure and reducing costs
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 achieves a softer illuminant effect, reduces the thickness and cost of the vehicular emblem by compactly distributing light emitting components and preventing glare, while maintaining effective illumination.
Implementation Method 1
a light guide plate, a plurality of light emitting components and a first light shielding film. The plurality of light emitting components are threaded through the light guide plate and disposed at a central area of the light guide plate to allow the light guide plate to receive light emitted from the plurality of light emitting components
Implementation Method 2
The light dimming unit is disposed on the light guide plate to change the direction of propagation of the light. The light dimming unit comprises a first dot portion. The first dot portion is distributed on the light guide plate and along a projection of an outline of the emblem member
Data Source
AI summary
An illuminated vehicular emblem for a means of transportation includes a housing unit, a lighting unit and a light dimming unit. The housing unit includes a bottom case, a top case disposed on the bottom case, and an emblem member disposed above the top case. A receiving space is defined between the top and bottom cases to receive the lighting unit. The lighting unit includes a light guide plate, light emitting components and a first light shielding film disposed on the light guide plate. The light emitting components are disposed at the light guide plate such that the light guide plate receives light emitted from the light emitting components. The light dimming unit changes the direction of propagation of the light and includes a first dot portion distributed on the light guide plate and along a projection of an outline of the emblem member.