Light Guide Holding Element for Environmental Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lighting systems in motor vehicles face challenges in reliably sealing electronic and optical components against environmental influences without increasing design complexity and costs.
Innovation Solution
A lighting system design featuring a holding element that tapers towards an insertion opening, forming a sealing contact with the light guide body to prevent contamination and fluid penetration, while also allowing the system to operate independently of a motor vehicle headlight housing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate sealants are used on the rear side and front side of the housing, then reliable sealing against environmental influences is achieved, but the design complexity and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple sealing functions into a single holding element that integrates both support and sealing capabilities. The holding element with its tapered insertion opening serves dual purposes: mechanically supporting the light-guiding body while simultaneously providing sealing contact to prevent contamination, thereby eliminating the need for separate sealants on multiple sides of the housing.
Solution Approach 2:
The holding element is designed as a multi-functional component that performs both mechanical support and sealing functions. By making the holding element universal - capable of both holding the light-guiding body in position and providing sealing contact - the design reduces the total number of components needed while maintaining reliable protection against environmental influences.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If multiple separate sealing elements are used, then comprehensive protection against contamination is achieved, but the manufacturing costs and design complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the sealing function with the holding function in a single integrated element. The holding element's tapered insertion opening provides sealing contact with the light-guiding body, combining structural support and contamination protection in one component, which simplifies manufacturing and reduces costs compared to using multiple separate sealing elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The holding element is designed with specific geometric parameters - particularly the tapered insertion opening with predetermined angle - that enable it to perform both holding and sealing functions. By optimizing the shape and dimensions of the holding element, the patent achieves effective sealing without requiring additional sealing materials or components.
3Reliability
If the holding element completely encloses the light-guiding body, then maximum sealing effect is achieved, but the light decoupling section becomes inaccessible
Solution Approach 1:
The holding element provides localized sealing only where needed - at the insertion opening where the light-guiding body enters - rather than completely enclosing the entire light-guiding body. This localized sealing approach achieves effective protection against contamination while leaving the light decoupling section accessible for maintenance and operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The holding element is designed to enclose only the critical end section of the light-guiding body where contamination would have the greatest impact, while leaving other portions accessible. This segmented approach to sealing protects the most vulnerable areas without compromising accessibility of functional sections.
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4
AI summary
Lighting system (1), comprising a lighting means (4), a light-guiding body (2) which is assigned to the lighting means (4), a holding device (3) which is designed to hold the lighting means (4) and the light-guiding body (2) relative to one another and to seal an end section (2a) and the lighting means (4) against environmental influences, wherein the holding device (3) has a holding element (6) with a shape corresponding to the end section (2a) of the light-guiding body (2), wherein the holding element (6) is designed as a sealing element which tapers along its longitudinal extent (6L) towards an insertion opening (6a), whereby the inner surface (6b) of the holding element (6) facing a holding section (2b) of the light-guiding body (2) makes sealing contact with a lateral surface (5b) of the holding section (2b).