Light Guide With Discrete Bonded Fibrous Layer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing light guides for vehicle interior lighting face challenges in achieving a balance between optical performance, ease of assembly, and cost-effectiveness, particularly with flexible or elastic guides, which are prone to rattling and require careful handling to avoid dirt and fingerprint accumulation.
Innovation Solution
A light device featuring a light guide with a fibrous layer bonded to its major side through discrete bonding areas, which function as light extraction elements, allowing for easy, reliable, and cost-effective assembly and integration into vehicle parts while minimizing rattling and improving surface protection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a fibrous layer is continuously bonded to the light guide, then surface protection against dirt and fingerprints is improved, but light extraction efficiency deteriorates due to excessive light blocking
Solution Approach 1:
The fibrous layer is bonded to the light guide in discrete, segmented bonding areas rather than continuously. These bonding areas are distributed across the light extraction side, providing localized adhesion and surface protection while leaving gaps that allow light to pass through to the fibrous layer for extraction.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the light guide surface have different properties: areas with fibrous layer bonding provide adhesion and surface protection, while areas without bonding allow optimal light extraction. This local differentiation optimizes both protection and light extraction functions in their respective zones.
2Illumination intensity
If discrete bonding areas are used, then light extraction efficiency is improved, but assembly reliability deteriorates due to potential delamination
Solution Approach 1:
The fibrous layer is bonded in discrete bonding areas that cover sufficient portions of the light guide surface to provide adequate mechanical support and prevent delamination, without covering the entire surface. This partial bonding approach achieves the necessary reliability while preserving light extraction in unbonded areas.
3Ease of operation
If the light guide is made flexible for easy installation, then ease of operation is improved, but stability deteriorates due to rattling and positioning issues
Solution Approach 1:
The fibrous layer is merged with the light guide through bonding in discrete areas, creating a combined structure where the fibrous layer provides both surface protection and mechanical stabilization. This combination reduces rattling and improves positioning stability while the overall flexible nature of the light guide assembly is maintained for ease of installation.
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 provides a light device with enhanced optical performance, ease of assembly, and reduced susceptibility to dirt and fingerprints, ensuring effective and cost-efficient illumination of vehicle interiors without compromising light output or increasing material costs.
Implementation Method 1
Light emitted by the light source enters the light guide and is transported within the light guide by total internal reflection
Implementation Method 2
The bonding areas have a refractive index which is similar to or higher than the refractive index of the light guide, thereby functioning as light extraction elements
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides in one aspect a light device having a light guide. The light guide (20) has at least one major side defining a light extraction side (26). The light device further has at least one fibrous layer (30), typically a non-woven or woven fibrous layer, disposed on the major side of said light guide defining said light extraction side. At the light extraction side, the light device has a plurality of discrete bonding areas (40) at which the at least one fibrous layer is bonded to the major side of said light guide. In a particular aspect, the bonding areas define light extraction elements on the light extraction side. Such an arrangement typically provides for an easy, reliable and cost-effective light device useful for a variety of applications including, for example, illuminating the interior of a vehicle.