Storage Box Light Guide Illumination Asymmetry
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional storage boxes with illumination face issues of brightness differences and light loss due to the shape of the light guide body, which limits its width and affects even illumination when the lid is opened or closed.
Innovation Solution
A storage box design featuring a first and second light guide body with a sector-shaped second light guide body that widens from the incident surface to the emission surface, positioned outside the light emitting portion, and an optical axis aligned to prevent direct projection of the light source on the emitting surface, along with a light focusing lens to ensure efficient light distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If the second light guide body is formed in a shape with a broad width to illuminate a wide range on the front side of the cup holder tray, then the illumination coverage is improved, but the LED light source is directly projected on the light emitting surface causing brightness difference (uneven light emission)
Solution Approach 1:
The second light guide body is designed with an asymmetric shape where the incident surface is positioned outside the end in the width direction of the light emitting portion. This asymmetric configuration prevents direct projection of the LED light source onto the light emitting surface, eliminating brightness differences while maintaining broad illumination coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The light guide body is designed to extend in the width direction beyond the light emitting portion, utilizing spatial arrangement in another dimension. By positioning the incident surface outside the width boundaries of the light emitting portion, the design achieves wide illumination without direct light source projection, resolving the contradiction between coverage area and uniformity.
2Loss of energy
If the second light guide body is formed in a shape with a broad width to reduce light loss, then the light transmission efficiency is improved, but the shape is limited by the internal structure of the cup holder tray making it difficult to achieve both broad width and less light loss
Solution Approach 1:
The asymmetric positioning of the incident surface outside the light emitting portion width boundaries allows the light guide body to achieve a broader effective width for light transmission without being constrained by the internal structure of the cup holder tray. This design enables reduced light loss while maintaining structural feasibility.
3Ease of manufacture
If a conventional light guide body shape is used, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but brightness differences occur in the light emitting portion
Solution Approach 1:
The asymmetric design of the second light guide body, with the incident surface positioned outside the width boundaries of the light emitting portion, prevents direct LED projection on the emitting surface. This simple asymmetric configuration eliminates brightness differences while remaining easy to manufacture, as it only requires adjusting the position and shape parameters of the light guide body.
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 design provides uniform illumination over a wide range, prevents brightness differences, and minimizes light loss, allowing easy opening and closing of the lid while maintaining efficient light distribution without increasing component count.
Implementation Method 1
a light guide body that is attached and fixed inside the storage unit, and a second light guide body that is attached and fixed inside the lid unit
Implementation Method 2
a second light guide body that is attached and fixed inside the lid unit, and has a sector shape whose width is widened form the incident surface toward the emission surface
Data Source
AI summary
A storage box includes a storage unit for storing an article, a lid unit slidably attached to the storage unit and adapted to open and close an opening portion of the storage unit, a light source unit attached to the storage unit, a first light guide body attached to the inside of the storage unit, a second light guide body attached to the inside of the lid unit, and a light emitting portion disposed on an upper surface of a front end of the lid unit, the light emitting portion defining a handle portion of the lid unit, and has a rectangular shape longer in a width direction of the lid unit.