Illuminated Trim Fitting with Light Gap Indirect Illumination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing illuminated trim fittings for motor vehicles are complex, costly to manufacture, and do not allow for uniform illumination or the use of non-transparent materials, compromising their high-quality appearance and design.
Innovation Solution
A trim fitting design that uses a light gap between the fitting and the vehicle outer surface to create indirect illumination, eliminating the need for embedded lighting structures and allowing the use of non-transparent materials like metal strips, with an OLED lighting structure that is not embedded in the profiled strip, providing uniform illumination without visible components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If lighting means are embedded in the profiled strip, then illumination effect is achieved, but structural complexity increases and manufacturing cost rises
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting means are extracted from the profiled strip and relocated to the vehicle outer surface. The light guide element is positioned on the vehicle outer surface instead of being embedded in the trim fitting, simplifying the trim fitting structure while maintaining the illumination effect through the light gap between the trim fitting and vehicle outer surface.
Solution Approach 2:
A light guide element acts as an intermediary between the lighting means and the profiled strip. The light guide element transmits light from the lighting means (located on the vehicle outer surface) through the light gap to illuminate the profiled strip, enabling separation of the lighting means from the trim fitting structure.
2Ease of manufacture
If LEDs are provided only at discrete positions, then manufacturing is simplified, but uniform illumination over the entire length cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The discrete LED arrangement is replaced with a continuous light-emitting film or strip that can be applied to the light guide element. This substitution maintains manufacturing simplicity while enabling uniform light distribution across the entire length of the profiled strip through the light gap.
3Illumination intensity
If the trim fitting design is penetrated by visible lighting structures, then illumination is achieved, but high-quality visual effect is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting structure is localized to the functional side of the trim fitting and the vehicle outer surface, while the decorative side maintains its continuous, unpenetrated appearance. The light gap serves as the localized pathway for light transmission, preserving the high-quality visual effect of the decorative surface.
4Shape
If additional cover is added to hide lighting means, then visual quality is maintained, but device complexity and component quantity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The vehicle outer surface serves multiple functions: it acts as the mounting surface for the lighting means, the boundary of the light gap, and the structural element of the vehicle body. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate cover components while maintaining visual quality and achieving illumination.
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 design achieves a high-quality, uniform illumination effect that is visually indistinguishable from non-illuminated trim fittings, using cost-effective materials and avoiding the complexity of through-lit designs, while maintaining a structurally simple and space-saving profile.
Implementation Method 1
an OLED lighting structure that is not embedded in the profiled strip, providing uniform illumination
Data Source
AI summary
An illuminated trim fitting for a motor vehicle, in particular a trim fitting as a cover fitting of a sealing strip for the window channel of a vehicle door, is intended to provide a high-quality illuminating effect accompanied at the same time by a simple structural design, low manufacturing costs and space-saving attachment. In addition, the trim fitting is to differ as little as possible externally from non-illuminated trim fittings. For this purpose there is provision that a light gap is formed between a profiled strip of the trim fitting and the adjacent vehicle outer skin, through which light gap the light emitted by a lighting structure provided on the rear of the trim fitting can exit to the outside.