Integrated Outer Lens for Vehicle Lighting Efficiency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing decorative lighting apparatuses for vehicles suffer from low light efficiency due to separate light guides and lenses, resulting in poor illumination and high manufacturing costs, along with unsightly appearances as the light source is visible and requires separate assembly and manufacturing of components.
Innovation Solution
A decorative lighting apparatus with an elongated outer lens that serves as both a light guide and lens, featuring surface and back protrusions with angled connection parts, where the light source is integrated within the housing, allowing for efficient light reflection and emission without visible components, thus enhancing illumination and reducing manufacturing costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If the light guide and lens are separate structures arranged spaced apart, then the light guide can guide light effectively, but some emitting light is reflected from the lens incident surface and not all light enters the lens, reducing light utilization efficiency and illumination brightness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the light guide and lens into a single integrated outer lens structure. The light guide portion and lens portion form one continuous component with no gap between them, eliminating light reflection losses at the interface and ensuring all guided light enters the lens for emission, thereby improving both light utilization efficiency and illumination brightness
Solution Approach 2:
The outer lens is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as both a light guide to transmit light from the light source and as a lens to focus and emit the light. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate components and optimizes light transmission efficiency
2Ease of manufacture
If the light guide and lens are separate structures, then assembly is possible, but manufacturing cost increases due to separate manufacturing and assembly processes
Solution Approach 1:
The light guide and lens are combined into a single molded outer lens component, eliminating separate manufacturing and assembly processes. This integration reduces manufacturing complexity and lowers production costs while maintaining the functional benefits of both components
3Shape
If the light guide is visible through the lens from outside, then the internal structure can be observed, but the appearance of the lighting apparatus becomes poor
Solution Approach 1:
The integration of the light guide and lens into a single outer lens structure eliminates visible seams, joints, or separate components from the external view. The unified structure provides a clean, sleek appearance while the lens material and design ensure the internal light source remains properly concealed
Solution Approach 2:
The outer lens is designed with appropriate optical properties and surface characteristics that prevent visibility of internal structures. The lens material and surface treatment ensure a uniform appearance from the outside while maintaining light transmission functionality
4Illumination intensity
If the light source is arranged opposite to the back protrusion section, then the light source can be positioned for optimal illumination, but the light source becomes visible from the outside through the lens
Solution Approach 1:
The light source is nested within the housing structure and positioned opposite the back protrusion section for optimal light emission. The housing and lens design ensure the light source remains concealed from external view while maintaining its positioning for efficient illumination through the lens
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 integrated design increases light utilization efficiency, provides bright and uniform illumination, and improves the aesthetic appeal by hiding the light source and connection parts, resulting in a cost-effective and visually appealing solution.
Implementation Method 1
both sides that act as a light reflecting surface
Implementation Method 2
an elongated outer lens configured to guide radiation of the light source in an extending direction
Data Source
AI summary
A decorative lighting apparatus includes: a light source; an elongated outer lens; and a housing, wherein: the outer lens includes: a surface protrusion having a surface that is the light emitting surface and both sides; a back protrusion having a back and both sides; a first connection part, one end thereof in a short-side direction being connected to one side of the protrusions; and a second connection part, one end thereof in a short-side direction being connected to the other side of the protrusion; the housing is fixedly attached to the other end in the short-side direction of each of the first and second connection parts; the light source is arranged to be opposite to one section of the back protrusion; and a width of both sides of the surface protrusion is greater than a width of a surface of the surface protrusion.