Removable Vehicle Light Assembly with Inductive Power Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicle lights are fixed in location, limiting their ability to provide intense illumination to specific areas within a vehicle compartment, necessitating additional light sources like flashlights for enhanced lighting.
Innovation Solution
A modular lighting system with a surface assembly and light assembly that allows for removable attachment to various locations using magnetic, hook-and-loop, or inductive connections, enabling customizable power transfer via conductive fabric, conductive foam, or inductive coils, allowing the light assembly to be positioned and powered as needed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If vehicle lights are mounted at a predetermined static location, then the lights can be connected to power supply wires from a vehicle power source, but the lights cannot provide intense illumination to specific areas within the vehicle compartment
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting system is divided into separate modular components: a light assembly that can be detached and repositioned, and a surface assembly with integrated power transfer capabilities. This segmentation allows the light source to be moved to different locations while maintaining power connection, thereby providing intense illumination to specific areas as needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from a fixed, static light mounting to a dynamic, reconfigurable arrangement. The light assembly can be removably attached at different positions on the vehicle interior surfaces, enabling dynamic adjustment of lighting locations to illuminate specific areas intensively while maintaining electrical connection through the surface assembly's conductive materials or inductive coupling.
2Device complexity
If conventional vehicle lights are used, then the lighting system is simple and fixed, but additional light sources like flashlights are needed for enhanced lighting
Solution Approach 1:
The surface assembly is designed with multi-functional capabilities: it serves as both the vehicle interior surface and an integrated power transfer medium. The conductive fabric, conductive foam, or inductive transmitter coil embedded in the surface assembly can transfer power to any light assembly attached to it, eliminating the need for separate wiring for each light position and removing the requirement for additional external light sources like flashlights.
3Adaptability or versatility
If light assemblies are removably attached to surfaces, then location flexibility is improved, but power transfer reliability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The surface assembly acts as an intermediary medium between the vehicle power source and the removable light assemblies. Through conductive fabric, conductive foam, or inductive transmitter coils embedded in the surface, power is transferred reliably to the light assembly regardless of its specific position, maintaining electrical connection without requiring direct wire connections to each light location.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces traditional mechanical wire connections with alternative power transfer mechanisms: conductive materials that transfer power through contact with the surface, or inductive coupling that transfers power wirelessly through electromagnetic fields. This substitution maintains power transfer reliability while enabling flexible, tool-free attachment and repositioning of light assemblies.
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 system provides flexible, customizable lighting by enabling the light assembly to be placed and powered at different locations, enhancing illumination without the need for fixed light fixtures, offering a clean and uninterrupted surface appearance while supplementing conventional lighting.
Implementation Method 1
a connector including a magnet, hook and/or loop connectors, or combinations thereof, which are configured to removably attach the light assembly to a surface
Implementation Method 2
a connector including a magnet, hook and/or loop connectors, or combinations thereof, which are configured to removably attach the light assembly to a surface
Implementation Method 3
an inductive receiver coil configured to contactlessly receive the power by inductively coupling with an inductive transmitter coil on or under the surface and in electrical communication with the power source
Implementation Method 4
conductive fabric configured to transfer the power to the electrical load by contact with electrical contacts of the electrical load
Implementation Method 5
conductive foam configured to transfer the power to the electrical load by contact with the electrical contacts of the electrical load
Data Source
AI summary
A powering surface assembly includes an electric power transfer arrangement connected to a power source, and having at least one of a conductive fabric, a conductive foam, or an inductive transmitter coil. A light assembly includes an electric power receiving arrangement, which electrically couples with the electric power transfer arrangement when the light assembly is attached to the surface assembly, such that power is transferred from the power source to the light assembly. The electric power receiving arrangement includes at least one of electrical contacts which contact the conductive fabric or the conductive foam, or an inductive receiver coil that inductively couples with the inductive transmitter coil.