Motorcycle Taillight Oblique Reflection Thin Profile

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional taillights for motorcycles with sharply-angled tail portions struggle to maintain a thin shape while ensuring good visual recognition, as the bowl-shaped reflection member increases the thickness and vibration of the light source when moved to a higher position.

Innovation Solution

A taillight design featuring a holding member with an eave portion extending obliquely rearward and upward, incorporating multiple translucent and reflection surfaces to direct light to higher positions, allowing for a thinner profile and improved visual recognition without increasing the light source's distance from the motorcycle's center.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If a bowl-shaped reflection member with a substantially vertical bowl edge is used, then visual recognition is improved, but the taillight thickness increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevisual recognitionVSAvoidtaillight thickness
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The reflection member is designed with an oblique surface that extends in the width direction rather than vertically, redirecting light at angles to achieve high-level light emission without increasing thickness. This dimensional reorientation allows the light to reach higher positions through lateral extension instead of vertical stacking.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The reflection member features a curved oblique surface that efficiently redirects light from the light source at multiple angles. The curved geometry optimizes light reflection paths to achieve broad light distribution across different vertical levels while maintaining a compact thickness profile.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

2Illumination intensity

If the light source is moved to a higher position to improve visual recognition, then light emitting positions are elevated, but the distance from the motorcycle center increases causing increased vibration

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight emitting position heightVSAvoidlight source stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of moving the light source vertically upward, the reflection member extends laterally in the width direction with an oblique surface. This allows light to be redirected to higher positions through lateral extension, keeping the light source at a stable, low position near the motorcycle center while achieving elevated light emission points.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Length of moving object

If the taillight is made thin to match the sharply-angled tail portion, then the motorcycle body integration is improved, but visual recognition deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetaillight thicknessVSAvoidvisual recognition
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of moving objectVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The reflection member extends in the width direction with an oblique surface configuration, allowing light to reach higher vertical positions without increasing thickness. This lateral extension strategy enables the thin taillight to project light effectively at multiple vertical levels, maintaining both thin profile and visual recognition.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The oblique surface of the reflection member is strategically positioned to redirect light to specific high-level regions, creating localized bright areas that enhance visual recognition. This targeted light distribution compensates for the overall thin profile by concentrating illumination where it is most visible.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 design enables a thinner taillight with enhanced visual recognition by positioning light-emitting areas higher than the light source, reducing vibration and emphasizing multiple light sources for improved visibility.

Implementation Method 1

a first reflection surface located above the light source for reflecting light from the light source toward the first translucent portion

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight reflection: Reflection

Implementation Method 2

a second reflection surface located at an obliquely rearward and upward position from the first reflection surface for reflecting light from the light source toward the second translucent portion

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight reflection: Reflection

Data Source

PatentEP2281736B1Taillight and motorcycle
Publication Date: 2014.06.11 YAMAHA MOTOR CO LTD
  • EP2281736B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2281736B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2281736B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

There is provided a taillight and a motorcycle including the taillight. The taillight can be formed in a thin shape and can improve visual recognition thereof. A taillight 10 includes a taillight light source 12; a holding member 20 which holds the taillight light source 12; and a translucent member 40 which covers the holding member 20 from behind. The translucent member 40 has a lens portion 42b, and the lens portion 42c which is located at an obliquely rearward and upward position from the lens portion 42b. The holding member 20 has an eave portion 24 extending from above the taillight light source 12 in an obliquely rearward and upward direction. The eave portion 24 includes a first reflection surface 24a, which is located above the taillight light source 12 for reflecting light from the taillight light source 12 toward the lens portion 42b; and a second reflection surface 24b, which is located at an obliquely rearward and upward position from the first reflection surface 24a for reflecting light from the taillight light source 12 toward the lens portion 42c.