Vehicle Lighting Lens-Housing Interface for Protected ID Marking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing motor vehicle lighting devices face issues with identification marks being damaged when the hood is opened, and previous solutions either compromise the design aesthetic or are complex and costly to produce.
Innovation Solution
A lighting device component featuring a multi-component injection molding process where a transparent material component covers an opaque material component, forming a captive identification mark that is not easily visible from the outside, thus protecting it from damage and maintaining design integrity, while being simple and cost-effective to produce.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the identification mark is applied on the outer surface of the lighting device, then it is easily visible and readable, but it is vulnerable to damage when the hood is opened
Solution Approach 1:
The identification mark is nested within the lighting device structure, specifically formed by the interface between the transparent cover lens and the opaque housing. The mark is not on the outer surface but embedded at the boundary between two material components, making it protected from external damage while remaining visible through the transparent portion.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the identification mark is stamped onto the reflector, then it is permanently attached, but it impairs the clean design appearance by being visible through the cover lens
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is designed with different optical properties in different regions: an opaque portion that hides the identification mark from direct view, and a transparent cover lens that allows the mark to be seen when needed. The identification mark itself is formed by the contour where these two materials meet, creating local visual properties that serve both protection and visibility functions.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the translucent component is shrunk to prevent lifting during injection molding, then it stays clamped in the mold, but it creates gaps that allow the black component to enter and form unsightly overlaps
Solution Approach 1:
The shrinkage of the transparent material, which initially creates gaps, is converted into a benefit by using those gaps to form the identification mark. The contour where the transparent material meets the opaque housing creates a visible contour that serves as the identification mark, turning the potential defect into a functional and aesthetic feature.
4Loss of information
If the identification mark is made visible through the cover lens, then it serves its identification function, but it compromises the clean design image of the lighting device
Solution Approach 1:
The visibility of the identification mark is dynamic rather than static. When the hood is closed, the opaque housing blocks the view of the mark, maintaining clean aesthetics. When the hood is opened for maintenance or inspection, the mark becomes visible through the transparent cover lens, providing identification information at the appropriate moment.
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 identification mark is securely housed between the material components, protected from damage, and does not disrupt the design image, while being easily readable and cost-effectively integrated during production, ensuring long-term protection and aesthetic preservation.
Implementation Method 1
a transparent material component (10) borders and covers an opaque material component (11)... the transparent material component (10) forms a visible side facing an observer
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4a~4c
AI summary
The invention relates to a component (1) for a motor vehicle, in particular a lighting device, which is provided with at least one identifying mark (H) for identifying the component (1). The invention proposes that the component (1) has at least one area in which a transparent material component (10) adjoins and covers an opaque material component (11), wherein the transparent material component (10) forms a visible side facing an observer, and wherein a contour is formed at least partially between the material components (10, 11) by at least one of the material components (10, 11), and the contour represents the at least one identifying mark (H). This ensures that the identifying mark (H) can be easily incorporated into the component (1) and is well protected. Furthermore, the component (1) meets high design requirements.