Vehicle Mirror Lamp Assembly Door Ajar Sensor Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vehicle lamp assemblies are inefficient and costly, lacking a cost-effective solution for manufacturing while providing adequate lighting and door condition notification to nearby vehicles and pedestrians.
Innovation Solution
A lamp assembly integrated into a vehicle's side mirror housing, featuring a door ajar sensor that activates light sources to emit light through specific windows when doors are open, utilizing luminescent structures for enhanced visibility and energy efficiency, and a heatsink to manage heat and improve light intensity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a traditional mirror lamp assembly is used, then the lighting function is provided, but the manufacturing cost is high and energy efficiency is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the lamp assembly with the side mirror housing into an integrated unit, eliminating the need for separate mirror and lamp components. This merging reduces manufacturing complexity and cost while improving energy efficiency through optimized light path design using a light guide that directs light from the mirror surface, reducing energy waste.
Solution Approach 2:
The side mirror housing serves multiple functions: it acts as both the mirror support structure and the lamp housing, while the light guide serves dual purposes of structural support and light transmission. This multi-functionality reduces the total number of components needed, lowering manufacturing costs and improving energy efficiency.
2Reliability
If a door ajar sensor system is added to notify of open doors, then safety notification is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The door ajar sensor is integrated into the existing side mirror assembly rather than being a separate system. The sensor, light source, and notification mechanism are combined within the mirror housing, using the same structural components for both mirror support and sensor mounting, thereby reducing overall system complexity while maintaining reliable door status notification.
Solution Approach 2:
The light guide acts as an intermediary element that not only transmits light for illumination but also serves as the medium through which the door ajar notification is visually communicated. The light guide mediates between the sensor detection and the visual notification to nearby vehicles and pedestrians, simplifying the notification system.
3Loss of information
If light is emitted through windows to notify of open doors, then visibility and safety are improved, but light intensity may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The light guide serves as an optical intermediary that efficiently transmits light from the light source through the mirror housing to the notification windows. This intermediary structure minimizes light loss during transmission and ensures sufficient light intensity reaches the windows for effective visibility of door status to nearby vehicles and pedestrians.
Solution Approach 2:
The notification system utilizes color-coded light emission through the windows to indicate different door status conditions. By using specific colors for different notification states, the system maximizes visibility and information transmission while maintaining adequate light intensity for each color channel.
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 efficient and cost-effective lighting for door condition notification and ambient illumination, enhancing safety and aesthetics while reducing manufacturing costs compared to standard assemblies.
Implementation Method 1
a light source disposed within a housing and operably coupled with a light guide. Emitted light is emanated from a window of the vehicle when the door ajar sensor detects the door is open
Implementation Method 2
a heatsink to manage heat and improve light intensity
Implementation Method 3
utilizing luminescent structures for enhanced visibility and energy efficiency
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle mirror assembly is provided herein. The mirror assembly includes a first light source disposed within a housing and is operably coupled with a first light output window disposed on an outboard portion of the housing. A door ajar sensor is disposed within a vehicle. Emitted light is emanated from the first light output window through a window of the vehicle when the door ajar sensor detects a vehicle door is in an open position.