Seat Belt Buckle Illumination Using Segmented Light Guides
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional seat belt buckle devices require multiple and expensive LEDs for illumination, leading to increased component count, assembly time, and labor costs.
Innovation Solution
A buckle design featuring a single light emitting unit with a light guiding member and diffusing units to illuminate both ends of the insertion hole, along with an illumination switch that turns the light on when the tongue is not inserted and off when it is, reducing the number of LEDs and simplifying assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If multiple LEDs are used to illuminate both sides of the insertion hole, then the illumination effect is improved, but the manufacturing cost and assembly complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the illumination function into two separate illumination units, with each unit containing a single LED. Each illumination unit is responsible for illuminating one side of the insertion hole, thereby achieving comprehensive illumination while reducing the total number of LEDs from multiple to just two, one per side.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces light guide members as intermediary components that transfer light from the LEDs to the insertion hole. The light guide members efficiently conduct light from the LED sources to the target illumination areas, ensuring adequate illumination coverage while allowing the use of fewer LED components.
2Illumination intensity
If multiple LEDs are used for illumination, then the illumination coverage is improved, but the assembly time and labor cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The illumination system is segmented into two independent illumination units, each with its own LED and light guide member. This segmentation allows for modular assembly where each unit can be pre-assembled and tested independently, then installed into the buckle housing, significantly reducing overall assembly time and labor requirements compared to installing multiple individual LEDs.
Solution Approach 2:
The light guide members serve as intermediary components that simplify the assembly process by pre-configuring the light transmission path. By integrating the light guide members with the illumination units, the system reduces the number of separate assembly steps required for wiring and positioning multiple LEDs, thereby reducing assembly time and labor cost.
3Reliability
If multiple LEDs are used, then the illumination reliability is improved, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The illumination system is divided into two separate illumination units with independent LEDs, ensuring that if one LED fails, the other continues to provide illumination. This segmentation provides redundancy and reliability while minimizing the total number of LEDs used, thereby avoiding the cost increase associated with using many more LEDs for backup purposes.
Solution Approach 2:
The light guide members act as reliable intermediaries that efficiently transmit light from the LEDs to the insertion hole with minimal loss. This reliable light transmission mechanism ensures consistent illumination performance and reliability while allowing the system to use fewer LED components, thus reducing manufacturing cost while maintaining reliability.
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 design allows for cost-effective manufacturing and easy assembly of the buckle, while providing efficient illumination of the tongue insertion hole, enhancing user perception in low-light conditions without the need for multiple LEDs.
Implementation Method 1
The light guiding member guides the light from the light emitting unit to the first and second diffusing units by internal reflections
Implementation Method 2
The first diffusing unit diffuses the first light beam
Implementation Method 3
The second diffusing unit diffuses the second light beam
Data Source
AI summary
A buckle includes a supporting member, a case, a lock portion and an illuminating unit. The case covers the supporting member. The lock portion is supported by the supporting member and is covered by the case to lock or unlock a tongue which is inserted into an insertion hole. An insertion hole is formed between the case and the lock portion. The illuminating unit illuminates both ends of the insertion hole of the tongue. The illuminating unit includes a light emitting unit, a light distribution unit, a first diffusing unit and a second diffusing unit. The light emitting unit emits light. The light distribution unit distributes the light emitted by the light emitting unit to form a first light beam and a second light beam. The first diffusing unit diffuses the first light beam. The second diffusing unit diffuses the second light beam.