Lighting Cover with Segmented Light Guide for Soft-Touch Displays
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing display devices with light-emitting portions lack a soft tactile sensation, which is desirable for maintaining a luxurious feel, especially when integrated into soft interior surfaces like a vehicle's interior.
Innovation Solution
A lighting cover comprising a light guide member with light shielding walls and a soft light-transmissive member is used, where the light guide member has a lattice structure with varying rigidity to provide a soft tactile sensation, and the soft light-transmissive member transmits light while being supported by the light guide member.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a light-shielding portion is provided to shield light from light-emitting portions, then clear display of characters and figures is enabled, but the tactile sensation becomes hard rather than soft
Solution Approach 1:
The light guide member is divided into multiple light shielding walls that form isolation spaces, separating the light-emitting portions while maintaining overall structural flexibility. This segmentation allows light shielding functionality without requiring a single rigid structure
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the light guide member have different rigidity characteristics. The light shielding walls have lower rigidity than the surface wall, creating local variations in tactile sensation. The surface wall provides structural support while the light shielding walls provide soft tactile feedback
Solution Approach 3:
The lighting cover combines the light guide member (with varying rigidity regions) and the soft light-transmissive member to create a composite structure that achieves both light shielding and soft tactile sensation
2Strength
If a soft light-transmissive member is disposed on the outer side of the light guide member, then soft tactile sensation is achieved, but light shielding effectiveness may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The light guide member is segmented into light shielding walls that create isolation spaces, providing light shielding functionality at the source before light reaches the soft light-transmissive member
Solution Approach 2:
The light guide member has localized rigidity variations with light shielding walls having lower rigidity than the surface wall, creating soft tactile sensation in specific regions while maintaining overall light shielding effectiveness
3Strength
If the light shielding walls have lower rigidity than the surface wall, then soft tactile sensation is enhanced, but structural support capability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the light guide member have different rigidity properties: the surface wall has high rigidity for structural support, while the light shielding walls have lower rigidity for soft tactile sensation. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between support capability and tactile softness
Solution Approach 2:
The light guide member functions as a composite structure with heterogeneous rigidity distribution, combining rigid surface wall elements with flexible light shielding wall elements to achieve both structural and tactile requirements
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 lighting cover achieves a luxurious and soft tactile sensation, enhancing the overall feel of the display device, while ensuring clear light output and maintaining the integrity of the interior's tactile sensation.
Implementation Method 1
The light guide member has a plurality of isolation spaces corresponding to the plurality of light-emitting portions, and guides light from the plurality of light-emitting portions
Implementation Method 2
The soft light-transmissive member has a soft tactile sensation, and transmits light generated from the plurality of light-emitting portions by being disposed on an outer side of the light guide member
Implementation Method 3
it is known to provide a light-shielding portion that shields light generated from a light-emitting portion so as not to reach the other light-emitting portions
Data Source
AI summary
To enable a lighting cover disposed over a plurality of light-emitting portions to have a soft tactile sensation, the lighting cover includes a light guide member and a soft light-transmissive member. The light guide member has a plurality of isolation spaces arranged to correspond to the plurality of light-emitting portions, and guides light from the plurality of light-emitting portions. The soft light-transmissive member has a soft tactile sensation, and transmits light generated from the plurality of light-emitting portions by being disposed on an outer side of the light guide member.