Motor Vehicle Radiator Grille with Integrated Light Guide
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing radiator grilles with integrated light sources as decorative elements are aesthetically and technically flawed due to their high structure, which prevents integration into an outer lens, leading to both functional and visual drawbacks.
Innovation Solution
A radiator grille design featuring a frame with cavities housing a thick-wall light guide and light sources, where the light guide is connected to the exterior through a through-hole with a lens, allowing for homogeneous lighting and protection of the light source from weather, enabling a thin, dynamic, and multi-colored lighting effect.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the light source is formed as a decorative element representing a frame encompassing the radiator grille, then the light source provides aesthetic functionality, but the light source becomes relatively high in structure and cannot be integrated into an outer lens
Solution Approach 1:
The light source is nested within a housing that is integrated into the radiator grille structure. The housing contains the light source and optical elements, allowing the light to be embedded within the grille rather than protruding outward, thus reducing the overall height while maintaining aesthetic functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The light source is oriented perpendicular to the front surface of the radiator grille, with the optical axis extending rearward into the housing rather than forward. This dimensional reorientation allows the light to be integrated into the grille structure without increasing the forward protrusion height, enabling integration with outer lenses
2Length of stationary object
If the light source structure is reduced to enable outer lens integration, then the aesthetic and functional capabilities are improved, but the light source becomes more difficult to protect from environmental factors
Solution Approach 1:
The light source is nested within a protective housing that is integrated into the radiator grille. This housing encloses the light source and optical elements, protecting them from environmental factors such as water, dust, and debris while maintaining a compact structure that can be integrated into outer lenses
Solution Approach 2:
A lens is introduced as an intermediary element between the light source and the external environment. The lens transmits light while providing a protective barrier that shields the light source from environmental factors, thus mediating between the need for light transmission and environmental protection
3Illumination intensity
If a thick-wall light guide is used to achieve homogeneous lighting, then the lighting quality is improved, but the overall structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The light guide is integrated with the radiator grille structure itself, merging the lighting function with the existing grille design. This combination eliminates the need for separate, complex lighting assemblies while the thick-wall light guide ensures homogeneous light distribution across the grille surface
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 visually appealing, thin, and dynamic lighting effect with separate control of light sources, enhancing the aesthetic and functional capabilities of the radiator grille while protecting the light source from environmental factors.
Implementation Method 1
Said lighting device 8 comprises a thick-wall light guide 9 inserted according to the present embodiment into said cavity 7 of at least one of the sections 4, 5, 6 of the grille 3
Implementation Method 2
Said lens 11 can be formed as a separate element attached to said front end 9' of the light guide 9, or as an integral part of the light guide 9
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~5
AI summary
The present invention relates to a lighting grille (3) on a motor vehicle (1) comprising at least one light source (12), wherein said lighting grille is located either in the area of the front end of the motor vehicle (1), such as a radiator grille (3), at a side, on a roof, or in the area of the rear end of the motor vehicle (1). It is provided for according to the invention that at least part of a frame (4) and/or at least one of horizontally extending sections (5) and/or at least one of vertically extending sections (6) of the frame (4) is formed with a lighting device (8) or is formed as a lighting device (8).