Steering Wheel Light Bar Compact Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing steering wheel light bars face challenges in minimizing size while effectively mounting both visible and infrared light sources due to their separate arrangements, which can increase the width and length of the light bar, and lack sufficient optical path for diffusing visible light.
Innovation Solution
A steering wheel design featuring a light bar with infrared light sources on the front surface and visible light sources on the back surface of a substrate, utilizing a light guiding element that extends from the back to the front surface via a gap, allowing for overlapping arrangements without increasing width or length, and providing a long optical path for diffusing visible light.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If visible light sources and infrared light sources are disposed in separate areas in the length direction of the light bar, then each light source can be properly arranged, but the length of the light bar increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a two-dimensional planar arrangement to a three-dimensional configuration by utilizing the width direction and overlapping areas. Visible light sources are disposed on the front surface while infrared light sources are disposed on the back surface of the substrate, allowing both types of light sources to occupy the same length-directional space without interfering with each other, thereby maintaining a compact light bar length.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent embeds the infrared light sources on the back surface within the same spatial envelope as the visible light sources on the front surface. This nesting approach allows both light source types to coexist in overlapping regions without increasing the overall length of the light bar, as one set of light sources is effectively nested within the depth dimension of the substrate.
2Device complexity
If visible light sources are disposed on the front surface of the substrate, then the optical path for diffusing visible light is short, but the structure is simpler
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of placing visible light sources on the front surface (conventional approach), the patent inverts the arrangement by placing visible light sources on the back surface of the substrate. This inversion allows the visible light to travel through the entire thickness of the substrate and the light guiding element, creating a sufficiently long optical path for effective diffusion while maintaining structural simplicity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the width of the light bar is increased to accommodate overlapping arrangements, then the light bar can be mounted on limited space, but the width increases which may not fit the steering wheel grip
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the depth dimension (front-to-back surface of substrate) to accommodate both visible and infrared light sources in overlapping regions. By arranging light sources along the length direction on different surfaces and using the substrate thickness and light guiding element depth, the design achieves compact mounting capability without increasing the width that would prevent fitting into the steering wheel grip.
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 achieves a compact size for the light bar, enabling smooth mounting on the steering wheel while ensuring even and steady illumination of the visible light across the radiating opening, improving visibility and reducing heat interference between light sources.
Implementation Method 1
a light guiding element that is configured to deflect the visible light emitted from the visible light sources toward the radiating opening so that the visible light is radiated from the radiating opening
Data Source
AI summary
A light bar mounted on a steering wheel includes a holding member, a substrate, a plurality of visible light sources, a plurality of infrared light sources, and a light guiding element. The holding member includes a radiating opening. The substrate is held by the holding member in such a manner that a gap is formed between a first end in a width direction of the substrate and one of side walls of the holding member. The infrared light sources are mounted and arranged on a front surface of the substrate generally along a length direction of the substrate for emitting infrared light toward the driver. The visible light sources are mounted and arranged on a back surface of the substrate generally along the length direction of the substrate. The light guiding element is configured to deflect visible light emitted from the visible light sources toward the radiating opening.