Light-Guiding Radiator Grill with Plate Waveguide
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing radiator grilles lack innovation in providing a unique visual effect while maintaining air flow and aesthetic appeal across diverse conditions, and existing solutions do not fully integrate lighting with the grille's design to create a distinct appearance.
Innovation Solution
A light-conducting radiator grille featuring a plate-shaped light guide with LED sources, a frame, and an outer cover that is permeable to light, forming a fish skeleton shape with air supply openings between vertical ribs, using polycarbonate or PMMA materials for the outer cover and inner part, and optics for homogenizing light, ensuring both air flow and visual impact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If the radiator grille is illuminated all around or LED spotlights are integrated into the gaps, then the visual effect is improved, but the original radiator grille concept remains unchanged and leaves little room for further innovation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the lighting function with the radiator grille structure itself by integrating LED light sources directly into the grille ribs. The lighting elements are combined with the structural components rather than being added as separate decorations, creating a unified design that simultaneously provides structural support and illumination.
Solution Approach 2:
The radiator grille is designed to serve multiple functions: it maintains its primary role as an air intake structure while simultaneously functioning as a lighting device. The same grille components that direct air flow also serve as carriers for LED light sources, eliminating the need for separate lighting assemblies and enabling diverse lighting patterns.
2Illumination intensity
If the outer cover is made transparent to light, then the lighting effect is improved, but the air flow requirements must be maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The outer cover is designed with spatially varying properties: certain regions are made transparent or translucent to allow light transmission, while other regions maintain structural integrity for air flow guidance. The grille ribs themselves serve as both light guides and air flow channels, with different sections optimized for different functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The outer cover is divided into multiple segments or zones with different optical and aerodynamic properties. Some areas are designed for maximum light transmission, while adjacent areas maintain structural features for effective air flow. This segmentation allows simultaneous optimization of both lighting and cooling functions.
3Shape
If the radiator grille provides a unique visual effect, then the aesthetic appeal is improved, but the compatibility with vehicle body and functionality under varied conditions must be maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The radiator grille incorporates dynamic lighting capabilities that can adapt to different driving conditions and environmental contexts. The LED system can change illumination patterns, intensity, and color temperature based on whether the vehicle is operating during day or night, in dry or wet conditions, or in different weather scenarios, allowing the same physical structure to provide optically optimized performance across varied conditions.
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 compact, aesthetically pleasing radiator grille that maintains air flow and offers a unique visual effect under various conditions, ensuring compatibility and functionality day and night, in dry and wet environments, and during winter and summer.
Implementation Method 1
at least one plate-shaped light guide with a set of LED light sources
Implementation Method 2
plate-shaped light guide with optics on the side facing the LED light sources for homogenizing light from each light source and optics on the opposite side of the plate-shaped light guide for homogenizing the total light emerging from the plate-shaped light guide
Implementation Method 3
an outer cover (1), wherein the outer cover (1) covers at least 50% of the area of the mounting opening of the radiator grille and is transparent to the light from the light guide
Implementation Method 4
the light-guiding radiator grille has openings for directing air towards a radiator, wherein the openings for the air supply are formed in an area between the vertical ribs of the outer cover in an upper section of the outer cover towards the radiator of the motor vehicle
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
A light-guiding radiator grill having a plate-type optical waveguide (3) comprising at least one plate-type optical waveguide (3) with a quantity of spot light sources, a frame (4), a housing (5) and an outer cover (1), which covers at least 50% of the area of the mounting opening of the radiator grill and is transmissive to the light of the plate-type optical waveguide (3) arranged within the light-guiding radiator grill.