Motor Vehicle Lock Illumination Circuit Board
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing motor vehicle lighting devices for locks lack sufficient light intensity and are vulnerable to voltage fluctuations, compromising their reliability as safety features.
Innovation Solution
A motor vehicle lock design featuring a circuit board within the lock housing to stabilize the lamp's power supply, using an LED light source connected directly to the circuit board, and a light-guiding element to ensure consistent light intensity and direction, independent of vehicle voltage fluctuations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a lamp is connected directly to the vehicle's electrical system without a circuit board, then the device complexity is reduced, but the light intensity becomes insufficient and unreliable due to voltage fluctuations
Solution Approach 1:
A circuit board is introduced as an intermediary component between the vehicle's electrical system and the lamp. The circuit board includes voltage regulation circuitry that stabilizes the voltage supplied to the LED, ensuring consistent light intensity regardless of vehicle voltage fluctuations. This intermediary component resolves the contradiction by filtering out voltage variations while maintaining system functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The circuit board dynamically adjusts electrical parameters (voltage and current) supplied to the lamp based on the vehicle's electrical conditions. By changing these parameters in real-time, the system maintains optimal light intensity despite variations in the vehicle's electrical system, thus improving reliability without requiring a complete system redesign.
2Illumination intensity
If a light guide element is added to direct and distribute light, then the illumination uniformity is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A light guide element is used to replace complex mechanical lighting arrangements. The light guide uses optical principles (total internal reflection and light propagation) to distribute light uniformly across the lock housing surface, eliminating the need for multiple individual light sources or complex reflector systems. This substitution achieves uniform illumination while keeping the overall device complexity manageable.
Solution Approach 2:
The light guide element serves multiple functions simultaneously: it directs light from the LED source, distributes light uniformly across the housing, and can be integrated into the existing lock housing structure. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, thereby improving illumination uniformity without proportionally increasing device complexity.
3Reliability
If the lamp is designed to be independent of voltage fluctuations using a circuit board, then the reliability is improved, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The electrical system is segmented into distinct functional modules: the vehicle's electrical system, the circuit board with voltage regulation, and the LED lamp. This segmentation allows the circuit board to be designed and manufactured as a standardized component that can be mass-produced, reducing per-unit costs while maintaining the voltage stabilization function that improves reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The circuit board uses standard electronic components and integrated circuits that are designed to operate within specific voltage ranges. By changing the electrical parameters through well-established electronic regulation techniques, the system achieves voltage independence using cost-effective, commercially available components rather than custom-designed expensive solutions.
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 reliable and consistent lighting system that enhances safety by maintaining uniform light intensity and visibility, even under varying vehicle voltages, and can be used for both door opening alerts and functional element illumination.
Implementation Method 1
an LED light source connected directly to the circuit board
Implementation Method 2
a light-guiding element to ensure consistent light intensity and direction
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
AI summary
The invention relates to a motor vehicle lock (1) comprising a lock housing (2), an electric power supply and at least one illuminant (10) which can be connected to the electric power supply, emits light (L) into a light-guiding element (11) and can be placed directly on a circuit board (6) located inside the lock housing (2).