Linear Light Guide End Shielding to Suppress Light Leakage

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing lighting apparatus configurations for vehicle interior panels require separate light shielding tubes and caps, increasing the number of parts and manufacturing costs.

Innovation Solution

A lighting apparatus with a light shielding tube that has a covering portion and a protruding portion integrally connected to the linear light guide body, allowing the protruding portion to be bent to cover the second side end surface, reducing the need for a separate end cap.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If separate light shielding tube and end cap are provided, then light leakage can be suppressed, but the number of parts increases and manufacturing costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelight leakageVSAvoidnumber of parts

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the light shielding tube and end cap into a single integrated light shielding member. The light shielding member includes a cylindrical body portion that surrounds the light guide body and an end portion that covers the end surface of the light guide body, eliminating the need for separate components while maintaining light leakage suppression functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The integrated light shielding member performs multiple functions: it shields light from the side surfaces through its cylindrical body portion and prevents light leakage from the end surface through its end portion. This single component replaces what would traditionally require separate light shielding tube and end cap components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If separate light shielding tube and end cap are provided, then light leakage can be suppressed, but manufacturing costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelight leakageVSAvoidmanufacturing costs

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

By integrating the light shielding tube and end cap into a single light shielding member, the patent reduces the number of manufacturing steps, assembly operations, and inventory requirements. This integration directly lowers manufacturing costs while maintaining the light leakage suppression function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Adaptability or versatility

If light shielding tube surrounds the light guide body, then emission range can be controlled, but the structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveemission range controlVSAvoidstructure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the light shielding tube structure with the end cap function into a single integrated member. The cylindrical body portion provides the light shielding function while the end portion provides the end surface coverage, achieving emission range control without increasing structural complexity through multiple separate components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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

This configuration reduces the number of parts and lowers costs by effectively suppressing light leakage from the second side end surface of the linear light guide body while maintaining light emission control.

Implementation Method 1

a linear light guide body that has a first side end into which light from a light source is introduced and a second side end positioned opposite to the first side end, and emits light in a linear shape by propagating the light introduced into the first side end toward the second side end

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTotal internal reflection: Total Internal Reflection

Data Source

PatentUS12480638B2Lighting apparatus

Publication Date: 2025.11.25 TOYO DENSO CO LTD

AI summary

This lighting apparatus includes a linear light guide body that has a first side end into which light from a light source is introduced and a second side end positioned opposite to the first side end, and emits light in a linear shape by propagating the light introduced into the first side end toward the second side end, and a light shielding tube that has a covering portion attached to the linear light guide body to surround at least the second side end of the linear light guide body and a protruding portion integrally connected to the covering portion and protruding from the second side end of the linear light guide body, in which the protruding portion is configured to be able to be bent with respect to the covering portion to cover a second side end surface of the linear light guide body.