Rotating Light Guide for Vehicle Switch Pointer Color Blending
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Solution Overview
Problem
The illumination structure in existing vehicle switch systems, such as described in PTL 1, lacks flexibility in adjusting the brightness and color of the pointer indicator, limiting the degree of freedom in display options.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle switch illumination device with a rotatable rotator, multiple light sources, and a light guide that adjusts the light incident surface to allow seamless rotation and blending of light from different sources, maintaining consistent brightness and enabling gradual color changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed indicator portion with lens components is used to guide light from multiple light sources, then the illumination structure can display different colors, but the brightness consistency and flexibility in adjusting display options are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the light guide rotatable to dynamically adjust its position relative to different light sources. This dynamic positioning allows the light guide to selectively receive light from various light sources while maintaining consistent brightness, thereby achieving both brightness consistency and flexibility in adjusting display colors without being constrained by a fixed structure.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the light guide is fixed in position, then the structure is simple, but the ability to adjust brightness and color display options is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The light guide is designed with multi-functionality by making it rotatable. This single component serves multiple functions: guiding light from different light sources, adjusting brightness levels, and changing display colors. This universal design achieves flexibility in display options without significantly increasing overall structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotatable light guide introduces dynamic adjustment capability to the system. By rotating the light guide to different positions, the system can selectively illuminate different indicator regions with appropriate brightness and color, achieving high adaptability while maintaining relatively simple structure through a single degree of freedom movement.
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 device ensures consistent brightness and enhances the flexibility in adjusting the display color by allowing the light guide to rotate with the rotator, improving the freedom to change the light's brightness and color without limitations.
Implementation Method 1
a light guide that includes a light incident surface through which light enters, the light guide guiding the light that enters through the light incident surface to the pointer indicator
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle switch illumination device includes: a rotator that includes a pointer indicator and is operable by rotation; a first light source; a second light source disposed adjacent to the first light source; and a light guide that includes a light incident surface through which light enters. The light guide guides the light that enters through the light incident surface to the pointer indicator. Furthermore, the light guided by the light guide exits through the pointer indicator. Additionally, the light guide rotates in accordance with rotation of the rotator. Moreover, the rotator rotates the pointer indicator between a first position and a second position to cause at least one of the first light source or the second light source to oppose the light incident surface.