Vehicle Interior Light Assembly With PCB-Shaped Component Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vehicle interior lighting systems using light guides are complex, space-intensive, and expensive, with fragile components that are difficult to route effectively within the vehicle.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle lighting system featuring a printed circuit board (PCB) layer shaped to match vehicle components, with light sources mounted on the PCB and controlled by a light controller, allowing for various lighting effects through a simple and robust assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If light guides are used to provide aesthetic lighting within the vehicle interior, then lighting can be provided at various locations, but the system becomes complex, requires substantial space, and the light guides are fragile and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the lighting function from the complex light guide system and integrates it directly into the vehicle component housing. The housing itself becomes the light guide, eliminating the need for separate, fragile light guide components while maintaining the ability to provide lighting at various locations within the vehicle interior
Solution Approach 2:
The vehicle component housing serves multiple functions: it provides structural support, aesthetic appearance, and integrated light guiding functionality. This multi-functionality reduces overall system complexity by combining what were previously separate components into a single universal element
2Adaptability or versatility
If light guides are routed throughout the vehicle interior to provide lighting at desired locations, then aesthetic lighting is achieved, but the routing becomes complex and requires substantial space within the vehicle interior
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the light guiding function with the existing vehicle component housing structure. By integrating the light guide into the housing itself, the system eliminates the need for additional space dedicated to routing separate light guides, while still achieving comprehensive lighting coverage throughout the vehicle interior
3Illumination intensity
If traditional light guide systems are implemented, then aesthetic lighting is provided, but the system is expensive and the light guides are fragile
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs composite material construction for the vehicle component housing, integrating light-guiding materials with structurally robust materials. This composite approach maintains the aesthetic lighting quality while significantly improving the reliability and fragility resistance of the light guide system
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
Enables flexible and efficient generation of lighting effects within the vehicle interior, reducing complexity and space requirements while providing aesthetic enhancements.
Implementation Method 1
a set of light sources mounted on the PCB layer
Data Source
AI summary
Constructing and controlling light assemblies in a vehicle interior. A light assembly is constructed by forming a PCB layer to have a shape that is based on a shape of a corresponding vehicle component. A set of light sources are mounted onto the PCB layer and the PCB layer is attached to the corresponding vehicle component. The light assembly is connected to a light controller that supplies power and control signals to the light sources. A lighting effects engine receives an input from a user or a vehicle sub-system, determines a lighting effect corresponding to the received input, retrieves a set of lighting routines associated with the lighting effect, and transmits the set of lighting routines to a set of light controllers. The set of light controllers collectively generate the lighting effect by applying/executing the received lighting routines on the set of light assemblies.