Interior Part Combined Structure with Side Emission Optical Fibers

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional optical fiber woven fabrics experience significant light loss due to bending at jointed portions when attached to interior parts, leading to uneven light emission and insufficient illumination.

Innovation Solution

A combined interior part structure featuring a first base with a design material covering its surface, a second base covering the end part of the first base, and side emission type optical fibers woven with synthetic resin fibers, where the ratio of fineness of synthetic resin fibers to optical fibers is optimized to prevent bending and exposure, ensuring even light emission and protection of the light source and optical fibers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If optical fiber woven fabric is attached to the surface of conventional interior parts with bent jointed portions, then the optical fibers can be integrated into the interior part design, but light propagated from the light source largely leaks from the bent portion of the jointed portion causing insufficient light emission

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight emissionVSAvoidlight loss
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The interior part is divided into a first interior part and a second interior part, with the optical fiber woven fabric attached only to the first interior part. The second interior part covers the jointed portion where bending occurs, segmenting the structure to prevent light loss at the joint while maintaining design integration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The second interior part acts as an intermediary component that covers the jointed portion between the first interior part and the optical fiber woven fabric. This intermediary structure prevents direct exposure of the bent portion, thereby reducing light leakage while maintaining the overall design integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the end part of optical fiber woven fabric is bent along the shape of the jointed portion, then the fabric can conform to the interior part shape, but light leakage occurs at the bent portion

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconformability to interior part shapeVSAvoidlight emission
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The interior part is segmented into two portions: the first interior part where the optical fiber woven fabric is attached and can conform to the shape, and the second interior part that covers the jointed portion. This segmentation allows the fabric to adapt to the interior part shape while preventing light leakage at the joint.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different portions of the interior part have different functions: the first interior part allows the optical fiber fabric to conform to the shape for adaptability, while the second interior part provides a flat covering at the jointed portion to prevent light leakage. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between conformability and light emission.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Object-affected harmful factors

If synthetic resin fibers with small fineness are used in the woven fabric, then the optical fibers can be protected from abrasion, but the fabric becomes less durable and harder to manufacture

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveabrasion protectionVSAvoidmanufacturability
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The fineness of synthetic resin fibers is optimized within a specific range (5 to 20 times that of optical fibers) rather than using excessively fine fibers. This parameter optimization provides sufficient abrasion protection while maintaining ease of weaving and manufacturing, avoiding the difficulties associated with extremely fine fibers.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The woven fabric structure with synthetic resin fibers and optical fibers creates a flexible protective layer that balances protection and manufacturability. The fabric's woven structure allows it to conform to interior part shapes while providing adequate abrasion resistance without requiring excessively fine fibers that would be difficult to manufacture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

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 effectively reduces light loss and abrasion of optical fibers, maintains even light emission, and protects the light source and optical fibers from impact and vibration, enhancing the design and functionality of interior parts.

Implementation Method 1

side emission type optical fibers each include one end part to which a light source is connected; the side emission type optical fibers capable of leaking light from a side surface to wholly emit the light

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOptical fiber light transmission: Optical Fibre

Data Source

PatentEP3406774B1Interior part combined structure
Publication Date: 2020.12.02 TOYOTA BOSHOKU KK
  • EP3406774B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3406774B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3406774B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

Provided is an interior part combined structure capable of preventing the loss of light passing through optical fibers in a combined portion of interior parts. An interior part combined structure is obtained by combining a first interior part 1 with a second interior part 5. The first interior part 1 includes a first base 2 and a design material 3 attached to the first base 2 so as to cover at least a part of a surface of the first base 2. The second interior part 5 includes a second base 6 provided so as to cover an end part 21 of the first base. The design material is a woven fabric woven by using synthetic resin fibers 31 and side emission type optical fibers 32 as warps or wefts. The side emission type optical fibers each include one end part 321 to which a light source 8 is connected. The one end part includes an end surface facing a light emitting part of the light source. The second base includes a bent end part 63. The bent end part 63 includes an end surface brought into contact with or facing the design material.