Interwoven Fiber Optic Panels for Vehicle Lighting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current vehicle lighting devices face challenges in providing aesthetically appealing designs while meeting technical and regulatory requirements, and they often require complex components and significant power, making them costly and difficult to adapt to vehicle styling.

Innovation Solution

Interwoven sets of fiber optic light panels with bundled optical fibers and a bundling element, such as a ferrule or adhesive, are used to reduce the separation distance between panels, allowing for closer positioning and forming a continuous lighting element that can conform to vehicle styling and meet aesthetic and technical requirements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If traditional vehicle lighting devices are used to meet aesthetic and styling requirements, then lighting functionality is achieved, but device complexity and cost increase due to multiple components such as reflectors, lenses, and cut off devices

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability to vehicle stylingVSAvoidnumber of components

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The lighting device is segmented into multiple fiber optic panels, each capable of independent lighting functions. This allows the lighting system to be divided into functional modules that can be independently controlled and positioned, reducing the need for complex integrated components like reflectors and lenses in each section.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Multiple fiber optic panels are merged into a single integrated lighting assembly that functions as one cohesive unit. The panels are positioned adjacent to each other with minimal separation, creating a unified lighting structure that eliminates the need for separate housings, reflectors, and mounting mechanisms for each panel.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Adaptability or versatility

If traditional vehicle lighting devices are used to provide aesthetic lighting effects, then lighting functionality is achieved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaesthetic lighting effectsVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The traditional mechanical lighting system using bulbs, reflectors, and lenses is replaced with an optical system based on fiber optic panels. This substitution eliminates the need for high-power light sources and complex optical components, significantly reducing power consumption while maintaining aesthetic lighting effects.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Length of stationary object

If fiber optic light panels are positioned closely together, then separation distance is reduced, but light loss increases due to bend radii constraints

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseparation distance between panelsVSAvoidlight loss

Core Design Contradiction:

Length of stationary objectVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The minimum bend radius parameter of the optical fibers is optimized to allow tighter curvature without significant light loss. By selecting or designing fibers with appropriate bend radius characteristics, the panels can be positioned closer together while maintaining high light transmission efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

4Ease of manufacture

If fiber optic light panels are used instead of OLED panels, then cost is reduced, but reliability may be affected

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing costVSAvoidlighting device reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The fiber optic panels use inexpensive optical fibers and simple LED light sources instead of costly OLED materials. While individual fibers may be replaceable, the overall system achieves reliability through modular design where panels can be independently maintained or replaced without affecting the entire lighting assembly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

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 interwoven fiber optic light panels provide a cost-effective, reliable, and aesthetically appealing lighting solution that can enhance vehicle design while meeting regulatory standards, offering greater flexibility in placement and reducing light loss due to minimized bend radii.

Implementation Method 1

a plurality of optical fibers are bundled at one end to receive light from the light source

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTotal internal reflection: Total Internal Reflection

Data Source

PatentUS10119672B2Bundle entry weave for lighting modules

Publication Date: 2018.11.06 VALEO NORTH AMERICA INC(US)

AI summary

A fiber optic lighting module is disclosed that includes a set of fiber optic light panels wherein the optical fibers extending from a first fiber panel are interwoven with the optical fibers extending from a second fiber panel.