Vehicle Door Pillar Light Assembly for Open Door Conspicuity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicle door safety systems fail to adequately illuminate open doors and their surroundings, especially in the absence of external light sources, posing a hazard to pedestrians and other vehicles.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle door pillar light assembly is integrated into the vehicle's A-pillars, B-pillars, or C-pillars, featuring a light source connected to a door switch that illuminates when the door is open, providing visibility of the door, door frame, and adjacent road, even without external illumination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If conventional vehicle door safety systems are used, then the structure remains simple and cost-effective, but the illumination of open doors and surroundings is inadequate, especially without external light sources
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the light source, door switch, and pillar structure into an integrated door pillar light assembly. The light source is mounted within the door pillar structure, and the door switch is electrically connected to activate the light when the door is open, combining multiple functions into a single integrated system that reduces complexity while providing illumination.
Solution Approach 2:
The door pillar structure serves multiple functions: it provides structural support, houses the light source, and incorporates the door switch mechanism. This multi-functional integration allows the system to provide illumination without adding separate dedicated components, thereby improving illumination intensity while maintaining structural simplicity.
2Reliability
If a light source is integrated into the door pillar, then the conspicuity of open doors increases, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The light assembly is designed as a modular unit that can be installed in the door pillar structure. The light source, switch, and mounting components are segmented into discrete elements that can be manufactured separately and then assembled, simplifying the manufacturing process while maintaining the integrated functionality needed for reliable safety warning.
Solution Approach 2:
The door switch automatically activates the light source when the door is opened, without requiring separate control systems or complex wiring. The switch is mechanically linked to the door operation, providing automatic activation that enhances reliability while reducing the complexity of control systems and manufacturing procedures.
3Reliability
If door switches are incorporated into the door latch mechanism, then the electrical connection is improved, but the accessibility for maintenance and repair is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The door switch is extracted from the deep interior of the door latch mechanism and repositioned within the door pillar structure. This extraction maintains the reliable electrical connection to the door latch mechanism while making the switch accessible from the exterior or side of the pillar, allowing for easier maintenance and repair without compromising electrical connection stability.
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 significantly increases the conspicuity of open vehicle doors and their surroundings, enhancing safety by alerting drivers and pedestrians to the presence of an open door, thereby reducing the risk of accidents.
Implementation Method 1
a light source mounted within said vehicle door pillar, said light source being electrically connected to said means for detecting, wherein said light source is illuminated when said vehicle door is in said open positions
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle door pillar light assembly for illuminating a vehicle door and a method of warning drivers of vehicles, having a vehicle door frame defining an opening for entering and exiting a vehicle, a door hingedly connected to the frame and moveable between open and closed positions, and a device for detecting whether the door is open or closed. The assembly further includes a light mounted within the door frame which is electrically connected to the device for detecting whether the door is open or closed. The light is illuminated when the door is opened and unilluminated when the door is closed. When the light source is positioned on the rear of the door frame, it illuminates the vehicle door and objects disposed between the light source and the, when the door is in the open positions, in order to increase the conspicuity of the opened door.