Flexible Light Guide Frame for Hidden Charging Pile Illumination

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current LED light schemes on charging piles lack the ability to achieve a wide range of light effects and fail to provide an ideal visual appearance due to the light source being visible from certain angles, resulting in a lackluster 'science and technology' feel.

Innovation Solution

A light assembly integrating a flexible light guide and a light transmitting frame, where the light source is embedded within the structure, allowing light to be transmitted along a defined path, creating a wide range of light effects while hiding the source, using materials like PC or PMMA for the frame.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If LED light source is simply covered with light transmitting material, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the light effect range is limited and the light source is visible from certain angles

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of manufactureVSAvoidlight effect range
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

A light guide is introduced as an intermediary component between the LED light source and the light transmitting frame. The light guide receives light from the LED and transmits it along a defined path to the frame, enabling versatile light effects while keeping the LED hidden. This intermediary element resolves the contradiction by decoupling the simple LED structure from the complex light effect requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The light guide extends the light transmission in a specific directional path (another dimension) rather than omnidirectional emission. By defining a specific extension path for light transmission through the frame, the system achieves targeted light effects while maintaining structural simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Device complexity

If LED light source is simply covered with light transmitting material, then the structure is simple, but the light source is visible from certain angles and ideal light effect cannot be achieved

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructure complexityVSAvoidlight effect quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The light guide acts as a mediator that controls and directs light transmission. It receives light from the LED source and guides it along a defined path to the light transmitting frame, ensuring the light source remains hidden while achieving high-quality, controlled light effects. This resolves the contradiction by adding functional complexity only where needed for light control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The light transmitting frame is designed with specific local properties - it has a defined extension path that allows light transmission in controlled directions while blocking other directions. This local quality control ensures the light source is hidden from certain angles while maintaining simple overall structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Illumination intensity

If light source is hidden inside the light assembly, then good hiding effect is achieved, but the light transmission path must be precisely defined

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehiding effectVSAvoidlight guide extension path precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The light guide is pre-formed with its extension path defined before assembly. The frame is designed with the light transmission path预先 established, so that during assembly, the light guide simply needs to be positioned within the frame along the pre-defined path. This preliminary preparation reduces the precision requirements during final assembly while ensuring good hiding effect.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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 achieves a hidden light source with a wide range of light effects, enhancing the visual appeal and 'science and technology' perception of charging piles by embedding the light guide within the frame, creating a seamless and aesthetically pleasing illumination.

Implementation Method 1

a light guide which is a flexible extension member and has at least one end which faces the at least one light source, and light emitted from the at least one light source is transmitted within the light guide

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight transmission: Optical Fibre

Implementation Method 2

a light transmitting frame on which the at least one light source is supported, the light guide being integrated with the frame, wherein the frame defines an extension path of the light guide

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight transmission: Refraction

Data Source

PatentEP3683493B1Lighting assembly, lighting structure and charging pile
Publication Date: 2023.11.08 NIO CO LTD
  • EP3683493B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2

AI summary

The invention relates to a light assembly, a light structure and a charging pile. The light assembly comprises: at least one light source; a light guide which is a flexible extension member and has at least one end which faces the at least one light source, and light emitted from the at least one light source is transmitted within the light guide; and a light transmitting frame on which the at least one light source is supported, the light guide being integrated with the frame, wherein the frame defines an extension path of the light guide. The light assembly not only has a good hiding effect of the light source, but can also achieve a wide range of light effect.