Motor Vehicle Exterior Coating with Fluorescent Substance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing motor vehicle exterior lighting technologies either lack visibility at a distance or are not cost-effective, and they often require visible light sources, which can be aesthetically unappealing and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a fluorescing or phosphorescing substance into the exterior coating or trim strips of a motor vehicle, which emits light in the visible range upon irradiation by invisible or non-visible light, eliminating the need for substantial visible light sources and enhancing visibility at a distance in a cost-effective manner.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If visible light sources are used for exterior lighting, then visibility is improved, but aesthetic appearance deteriorates due to visible light sources being aesthetically unappealing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies fluorescing or phosphorescing substances to the exterior coating that change the wavelength of light they emit. Invisible or non-visible light (such as UV) is absorbed by these substances, which then emit visible light in specific colors (red, green, blue). This wavelength transformation allows the vehicle to be visible at a distance while maintaining aesthetic appearance, as no visible light sources are directly visible on the vehicle exterior.
2Illumination intensity
If conventional lighting devices are applied to the exterior, then visibility is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the lighting function directly into the exterior coating by incorporating fluorescing or phosphorescing substances into the coating itself. This integration eliminates the need for separate lighting devices, housings, and mounting structures, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining visibility enhancement.
Solution Approach 2:
The exterior coating serves multiple functions: it provides the base aesthetic appearance of the vehicle and simultaneously acts as the lighting element when fluorescing or phosphorescing substances are added. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate lighting components, reducing overall device complexity.
3Illumination intensity
If visible light sources are used for exterior lighting, then visibility at distance is improved, but energy efficiency deteriorates due to inefficiency of visible light sources
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the energy parameter by using invisible or non-visible light (such as UV) as the excitation source, which has higher energy than visible light. The fluorescing or phosphorescing substances convert this high-energy invisible light into lower-energy visible light, creating an energy-efficient system where the invisible light source requires less power to achieve the same visibility effect compared to conventional visible light sources.
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 motor vehicle with enhanced visibility at a distance, is cost-effective, and maintains an aesthetically appealing design by using invisible light sources, such as LEDs, to power the fluorescing or phosphorescing substances, making the vehicle distinguishable without visible light sources.
Implementation Method 1
a fluorescing and/or phosphorescing substance added to the exterior coating or a part of the exterior coating and serving for emitting light, in particular red, green and/or blue light, in a visible range upon irradiation by light in an invisible or non-visible range
Implementation Method 2
a fluorescing and/or phosphorescing substance added to the exterior coating or a part of the exterior coating and serving for emitting light, in particular red, green and/or blue light, in a visible range upon irradiation by light in an invisible or non-visible range
Data Source
AI summary
A motor vehicle has an exterior coating. A fluorescing and/or phosphorescing substance is added to the exterior coating or forms a part of the exterior coating. The fluorescing and/or phosphorescing substance serves to emit light, in particular red, green and/or blue light, in a visible range upon irradiation by light in an invisible range.