Illuminated Interior Trim Component for Vehicle Storage Visibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicle storage compartments often lack visible lighting when closed, making them difficult to locate in low light conditions, and adding supplementary lighting increases vehicle costs due to additional components and electrical connections.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle lighting system that incorporates a light transmissive element in interior trim components and storage compartment doors, optically coupled with a light source to illuminate both the exterior door surface and interior compartment, with adjustable intensity based on door position to enhance visibility without distracting occupants.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If supplementary lighting is added to illuminate the storage compartment door, then visibility of the storage compartment is improved, but vehicle cost increases due to extra components and electrical connections
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the door illumination function and interior compartment illumination function into a single integrated lighting system. One light source positioned within the compartment illuminates both the interior space and the exterior door surface through optical communication, eliminating the need for separate lighting systems and reducing component count while maintaining visibility in both areas
Solution Approach 2:
The single light source positioned within the storage compartment serves multiple functions: it illuminates the interior of the compartment for viewing contents, and simultaneously illuminates the exterior door surface through the light transmissive element to enhance visibility of the compartment location. This multi-functional approach replaces what would traditionally require multiple dedicated light sources
2Ease of manufacture
If a light source is positioned within the storage compartment to illuminate the door, then manufacturing cost is reduced by eliminating additional light sources, but the light source must be precisely positioned to maintain optical communication when the door moves
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting system is segmented into two functional components: a fixed light source positioned within the storage compartment body, and a light transmissive element integrated into the door assembly. This segmentation allows the light source to remain stationary in a precise position while the door with its light transmissive element moves independently, maintaining optical communication without requiring the light source to be repositioned
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 system provides enhanced visibility of storage compartments in low light conditions using a single light source, reducing manufacturing costs by eliminating the need for multiple light sources and minimizing driver distraction.
Implementation Method 1
a light transmissive element configured to receive light from an interior of the storage compartment and to illuminate an exterior surface of the door
Data Source
AI summary
A lighting system is provided that includes an interior trim component having a light transmissive element. The interior trim component is configured to move between a first position and a second position. The vehicle lighting system also includes a light source optically coupled to the light transmissive element at least while the interior trim component is located in the first position. The light source is configured to illuminate a region of a vehicle interior.