LED Strip Contact Strips for Invisible Automotive Connections
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional LED light emitting strips in automotive lighting systems face limitations in design due to the need for a minimum diameter and bending radius for light guiding elements, which restricts their configuration and length, and visible connections between strips when lit.
Innovation Solution
An LED light emitting strip with a substrate and contact stripes that extend along its sides, allowing for invisible connections between strips without a light guiding element, enabling flexible configuration, smaller diameter, and any desired length with uniform LED chip density.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a light guiding element is used to distribute LED light, then light distribution is improved, but the minimum diameter and bending radius are limited which restricts design flexibility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the light guiding element from the LED strip structure. Instead of using a separate light guiding element to distribute light, the invention uses contact stripes that serve both electrical connection and light distribution functions, eliminating the diameter and bending radius limitations associated with traditional light guiding elements
Solution Approach 2:
The contact stripes are designed to perform multiple functions: they provide electrical energy to the LED chips and simultaneously serve as the structural element for light distribution. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for a separate light guiding element and its associated geometric constraints
2Area of stationary object
If LED strips are connected next to each other in automotive lighting systems, then coverage area is improved, but visible dark areas appear at connection points when lit
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the contact stripes of adjacent LED strips by having them overlap and make electrical contact. This merging eliminates the gap between strips that would otherwise appear as a dark area, while the contact stripes themselves remain invisible when the LEDs are illuminated
Solution Approach 2:
The contact stripes serve as an intermediary element between adjacent LED strips, providing both electrical connection and visual continuity. When properly designed and positioned, they mask the connection point while allowing light to pass through or around them
3Adaptability or versatility
If contact stripes extend along the side of the substrate, then connection flexibility and invisibility are improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the parameters of the contact stripes, such as their width, length, and positioning, to achieve the desired flexibility and invisibility while maintaining manufacturability. By carefully selecting these parameters, the design balances performance requirements with manufacturing capabilities
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a LED light emitting strip, comprising: a substrate extending along a length direction of the strip; a plurality of LED chips arranged on or in the substrate, wherein the LED chips are arranged in at least one row along the length direction; at least two contact stripes configured to supply the LED chips with electric energy, wherein each of the contact stripes individually extends, at least partially, along a side of the substrate in the length direction, and wherein the LED chips are contacted to the contact stripes at least partially in a transverse or oblique direction of the strip. The present invention further provides an arrangement of light emitting strips including such a LED light emitting strip and a method of manufacturing such an arrangement.