Low-Profile Lighting Cluster for Homogeneous Vehicle Grille Displays
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electric vehicles lack a visual appeal and branding element typically provided by traditional vehicle grilles, and conventional automotive luminaires with large lateral areas have depth and profile issues that hinder the creation of low-profile, homogeneous lighting displays.
Innovation Solution
A lighting device comprising a mixing box, transparent layer, and light diffusing layer, embedded with LEDs, which scatters light laterally to create a homogeneous lit surface, integrated with a bezel and flexible PCB for individual control and low-profile design, replacing the grille with a display.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If conventional automotive luminaires with large lateral areas are used, then the lighting display can cover sufficient area, but the depth and profile increase which hinders low-profile design
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from conventional large-lateral-area luminaires to a low-profile design by optimizing the vertical dimension and light propagation path. The mixing box and light diffusing layer are arranged to achieve homogeneous light distribution across a large lateral area while maintaining minimal depth, effectively solving the contradiction between area coverage and profile height.
2Illumination intensity
If conventional automotive luminaires are used, then lighting can be provided, but homogeneous light distribution across the surface is difficult to achieve
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a light diffusing layer as an intermediary between the light source and the external environment. This layer receives light from the embedded LEDs and diffuses it laterally to create a homogeneous lit surface, resolving the contradiction between maintaining lighting output and achieving uniform light distribution.
Solution Approach 2:
The mixing box and light diffusing layer are specifically designed to homogenize the light output from multiple LED sources. The diffusing layer distributes light uniformly across the entire surface area, ensuring consistent illumination intensity and color temperature throughout the lighting display.
3Ease of manufacture
If a grille is removed from electric vehicles, then cooling requirements are reduced, but visual appeal and branding elements are lost
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting device serves multiple functions: it provides visual appeal and branding identity for the electric vehicle, acts as a communication interface with other vehicles and pedestrians, and maintains an aesthetically pleasing front-end design. This multi-functional approach replaces the traditional grille's visual role while eliminating unnecessary cooling structures.
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 visually appealing, low-profile lighting display that can communicate with other vehicles and pedestrians, offering homogeneous conspicuity and enhanced optical efficiency, while adapting to vehicle curvature.
Implementation Method 1
A lighting device includes a mixing box, a light source, a transparent layer and a light diffusing layer. The light source is embedded in the mixing box. The transparent layer is adjacent to the light source. The light diffusing layer is adjacent to the transparent layer.
Data Source
AI summary
A cluster of lighting devices, a display and a method of manufacturing a display are described. The lighting device includes a mixing box, a light source, a transparent layer and a light diffusing layer. The light source is embedded in the mixing box. The transparent layer is adjacent to the light source. The light diffusing layer is adjacent to the transparent layer. A surface emitter display includes a cluster of surface emitters including a plurality of surface emitters. At least one circuit board is electrically coupled to at least one surface emitter of the plurality of surface emitters.