Vehicle Running Board Illumination Using Persistent Photoluminescence
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current illumination systems for vehicle entry regions lack efficient and energy-effective solutions that provide dynamic color illumination and occupancy indication, particularly for running boards, which can enhance accessibility and visual cues for passengers.
Innovation Solution
The proposed illumination system for a vehicle's running board incorporates a lighting module with a waveguide and photoluminescent materials, where a first light source emits an excitation emission to generate a persistent amber color and a second light source emits a transient blue-white color, controlled by a controller to provide extended illumination and occupancy indications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If conventional illumination systems are used for vehicle entry regions, then continuous lighting can be provided, but energy consumption is high and illumination duration is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses photoluminescent materials that are periodically excited by light sources to create sustained illumination. The materials absorb energy during excitation phases and emit light during decay phases, creating a periodic action pattern that extends illumination duration while reducing continuous power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the temporal parameters of illumination by using materials with different persistence characteristics. Fast-decay materials provide immediate bright illumination, while slow-decay materials provide extended ambient lighting, allowing the system to adapt illumination duration to different operational requirements.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple light sources are used for dynamic color illumination, then visual appeal and information transmission are improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges multiple photoluminescent materials with different emission characteristics into a single integrated running board structure. This allows dynamic color illumination to be achieved through material composition rather than through complex multi-source lighting assemblies, reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses photoluminescent materials that naturally emit different colors when excited by specific wavelengths. By selecting materials with different emission spectra, the system achieves dynamic color illumination through optical properties rather than electronic control of multiple LED sources, simplifying the control architecture.
3Use of energy by moving object
If photoluminescent materials are used to extend illumination duration, then energy efficiency is improved, but illumination intensity may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The illumination system is segmented into multiple functional zones using different photoluminescent materials. Fast-decay materials provide high-intensity immediate illumination where brightness is critical, while slow-decay materials provide lower-intensity extended illumination for ambient lighting, optimizing both intensity and energy efficiency in different spatial zones.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses composite photoluminescent material structures that combine materials with different decay characteristics. This allows the system to achieve both high initial intensity and extended duration by layering or mixing fast and slow decay materials, maintaining illumination intensity while improving energy efficiency.
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
This system offers energy-efficient, dynamic color illumination and occupancy indications, improving passenger access and vehicle operation by utilizing persistent and transient photoluminescent materials to extend illumination duration and reduce power usage.
Implementation Method 1
a first photoluminescent material disposed in at least one layer disposed over the emission surface... The first photoluminescent material is configured to generate the first output emission in an amber color in response to receiving the second excitation emission... The first photoluminescent material is a persistent luminescent material configured to retain a charge in response to receiving the first excitation emission
Implementation Method 2
a second photoluminescent material is disposed in the at least one layer disposed over the emission surface... The second photoluminescent material is configured to generate the second output emission in a blue-white color in response to receiving the second excitation emission... The transient luminescent material is configured to illuminate for a period of less than five seconds following the deactivation of the second excitation emission
Implementation Method 3
A waveguide forms an emission surface extending longitudinally along a side portion of the step portion
Data Source
AI summary
An illumination system for a vehicle running board comprises at least one lighting module in connection with a step portion of the running board. The lighting module extends longitudinally along the running board proximate to at least one door of the vehicle. The lighting module comprises a first light source disposed in a first end portion of the lighting module and a second light source disposed in a second end portion of the lighting module. A waveguide forms an emission surface extending longitudinally along a side portion of the step portion. A controller is configured to activate the first light source illuminating the side portion in a first color and activate the second light source to illuminate the side portion in a second color.