Vehicle Lighting Unit Reflector Dummy Section Slit Holes
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle lighting units with dummy sections face design limitations and increased manufacturing costs when attempting to create a gradation effect of silver to black colors, either through lens cuts or complex aluminum deposition methods.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle lighting unit design featuring a dummy section of the reflector with slit-shaped holes that gradually increase in size outward, allowing light to pass through and create a natural color transition from silver to black, eliminating the need for lens cuts and complex deposition methods.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If lens cuts are provided to the outer lens to create a gradation effect, then the color transition from silver to black is achieved, but the design of the vehicle lighting unit deteriorates and becomes limited
Solution Approach 1:
The reflector is segmented into multiple sections with different hole patterns. The dummy section is divided into multiple regions with varying hole densities and sizes, creating the gradation effect through structural segmentation rather than external lens modifications. This maintains the outer lens integrity while achieving the desired color transition.
Solution Approach 2:
The dummy section of the reflector acts as an intermediary element between the light source and the outer lens. By incorporating slit-shaped holes in this intermediate structure, the patent achieves the gradation effect without modifying the outer lens itself, thus preserving design integrity while enabling color transition.
2Ease of manufacture
If the dummy reflector surface is coated with black color in an alternate manner, then the gradation effect is achieved, but the manufacturing cost increases due to complicated masking processes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the complex mechanical masking and multi-step coating process with a simpler structural solution. Instead of applying black coating alternately to the reflector surface, the design uses the natural silver color of the reflector combined with strategically placed slit-shaped holes to create the gradation effect, eliminating the need for complex masking operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameters of the dummy section by varying the size, shape, and distribution of slit-shaped holes rather than changing the color parameters through coating. This parameter change approach uses geometric modification instead of chemical coating, simplifying the manufacturing process while achieving the same visual effect.
3Shape
If the dummy section is made completely opaque, then the housing color is visible, but the natural color transition from silver to black is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The dummy section is designed with non-uniform local qualities through varying hole characteristics. Different regions of the dummy section have different hole sizes, shapes, and densities, creating local variations in light transmission that produce the gradual color transition effect. This local quality variation maintains both aesthetic appearance and color uniformity.
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
This configuration maintains the basic design integrity, reduces manufacturing costs, and achieves a seamless color transition between the reflector and housing without design deterioration, providing an aesthetically pleasing appearance when the unit is turned off.
Implementation Method 1
the dummy section of the reflector when turned off can be seen with a color gradation of alternate two colors, silver (deposited Al color) and black of the housing, through the plurality of slit-shaped holes formed in the dummy section of the reflector
Implementation Method 2
the reflection surface of the reflector is subjected to a reflection treatment such as aluminum vapor deposition
Implementation Method 3
aluminum vapor deposition
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A vehicle lighting unit can be provided to maintain a basic design without design limitation and to show the color change of the reflector (7) in a gradation manner, when the lighting unit is turned off, with a simple configuration. The vehicle lighting unit such as a positioning lamp (1) can include a housing (2), an outer lens (4) covering the opening section thereof, the outer lens (4) defining a lighting chamber (5) together with the housing (2); a light source (bulb 6); and a reflector (7) having a dummy section (7b) where light from the light source (6) does not reach, the light source (6) and the reflector (7) being housed in the lighting chamber (5). In this configuration, a plurality of slit-like holes (7c) are formed in the dummy section (7b) of the reflector (7) at appropriate intervals in a direction of a vehicle width so as to have a size increased gradually as it is positioned more outward in the vehicle width direction.