Vehicle Lit Component Structure With Integrated LEDs and 3D Light Decoupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lit components for vehicle exterior paneling are complex and thick, making them unsuitable for tight installation spaces due to the need for both the component and a separate lighting unit, which limits design flexibility and space efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A compact multi-layered structure with integrated light-emitting diodes, where a metal layer is partially covered with a colored layer and features light-decoupling structures, allowing for three-dimensional shaping and minimal thickness, enabling flexible design and efficient installation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a separate lighting unit is used in addition to the component, then the lighting function is achieved, but the overall structure becomes thick and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the lighting unit and the component into a single integrated structure. The light-emitting diodes are mounted directly on the rear side of the component's front surface, eliminating the need for a separate lighting unit and reducing overall thickness while maintaining reliable lighting function.
Solution Approach 2:
The component serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides the primary component function (e.g., exterior paneling), incorporates lighting functionality through integrated LEDs, and enables optical design features through transparent or translucent materials. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate dedicated lighting components.
2Length of stationary object
If the component structure is made compact to reduce thickness, then installation space is improved, but design flexibility is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different optical properties to different regions of the component. Some portions are made transparent or translucent to allow light emission, while other portions can be opaque for design features. This local differentiation enables rich design flexibility (logos, patterns, text) within a compact thickness by varying material properties rather than adding structural complexity.
3Illumination intensity
If light guides are used to achieve optical design, then light distribution is improved, but the structure becomes thicker
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the light guide component from the structure. Instead of using light guides to distribute light, the light-emitting diodes are mounted directly on the rear side of the component's front surface, allowing light to emit directly through the transparent or translucent portions without requiring additional thickness for light guidance 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 allows for a highly flexible and space-efficient design, enabling effective depiction of design features, logos, and symbols while maintaining a thin profile, suitable for tight installation spaces in vehicle exterior paneling.
Implementation Method 1
which comprise, among other things, light-emitting diodes as part of these electronic components
Implementation Method 2
the light de-coupling structures ensure that the light of the light-emitting diodes de-couple light via the light de-coupling structures in the regions in which the colored layer is interrupted
Data Source
AI summary
A lit component for a vehicle has a multi-layered structure with integrated electronic components with an outer surface on the visible side. One of the layers has a metal. On the side of the layer having the metal facing away from the visible side, light-emitting diodes are arranged as part of the electronic components. The layer having the metal that faces away from the visible side is partially covered by a colored layer. The portions of the layer having the metal that are not covered by the colored layer have a three-dimensional shape, in the region of which light de-coupling structures are arranged on the side of the layer having the metal which faces away from the visible side.