In-Surface Vehicle Lens Assembly for Seamless Panel Lighting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Automotive lighting units are complex and require numerous components, leading to increased assembly steps and complexity, while existing designs lack flexibility in integrating a clear lens with opaque panels for effective light transmission and protection.
Innovation Solution
A seamless lighting arrangement for vehicle panels that includes a light aperture with a bracket and a lens connected via a bracket connection portion, featuring a light unit with a projector port and a light transmission portion that extends from the inside to the outside surface, allowing for reduced component count and simplified assembly, while providing protection and flexible light projection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional lighting units are used with numerous components, then light transmission and protection functions are achieved, but assembly complexity and number of assembly steps increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the lens and light unit into a single integrated assembly where the lens serves dual purposes: protecting the light source and transmitting/projecting light. The light unit is fixedly connected to the lens, creating a unified component that reduces the total number of parts and assembly steps while maintaining both protection and light transmission functions
2Adaptability or versatility
If a clear lens is integrated with an opaque panel, then design flexibility and seamless appearance are improved, but the complexity of integrating multiple components increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lens is integrated directly into the panel surface, creating a seamless appearance where the clear lens portion is positioned within a light aperture in the opaque panel. The bracket connects the lens assembly to the panel, merging these components into a unified structure that provides design flexibility without requiring separate mounting hardware visible from the exterior
Solution Approach 2:
The lens assembly serves multiple functions simultaneously: it protects the light source, transmits light, projects light patterns, and maintains a seamless aesthetic appearance when integrated with the opaque panel. The bracket provides both structural support and positioning functions, reducing the need for additional specialized components
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 reduces the complexity of assembly and enhances design flexibility by integrating a clear lens with opaque panels, ensuring effective light transmission and protection, while maintaining a seamless appearance and reducing the need for additional circuitry, allowing for efficient light projection and control.
Implementation Method 1
a light transmission portion (30) positioned within the light aperture (18) of the vehicle panel (12)... allowing projected light to be transmitted to the ground or surrounding area
Implementation Method 2
a bracket connection portion (26a, 26b) that connects to the bracket (20)
Data Source
AI summary
A seamless lighting arrangement for a vehicle panel. The vehicle panel has an inside surface and an outside surface. The vehicle panel has a light aperture extending from the inside surface of the vehicle panel to the outside surface of the vehicle panel. Connected to the inside surface of the vehicle panel is a bracket. The seamless lighting arrangement further includes a lens with a bracket connection portion that connects to the bracket and a transmission portion positioned within the light aperture of the vehicle panel. The lens further includes a light unit fixedly connected to the lens. The light unit has a projector port for emitting light from a light source. The light transmission portion of the lens has a light input surface region formed on an inside surface of the lens and a light output surface region formed on an outside surface of the lens.