Tapered Light Guide Holder for Environmental Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lighting systems in motor vehicles require complex and costly sealing solutions to protect electronic and optical components from environmental influences, increasing design effort and costs.
Innovation Solution
A lighting system with a holding element designed as a sealing element that tapers along its longitudinal extent, forming a sealing contact with the light guiding body to prevent contamination and fluid penetration, while holding the light guiding body in a predetermined position relative to the illuminant.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate sealants are used at multiple locations to protect electronic and optical components, then sealing reliability is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple sealing functions into a single holding element that simultaneously secures and seals the light guiding body. This integrating holding element eliminates the need for separate sealants at multiple locations, reducing both structural complexity and manufacturing steps while maintaining comprehensive sealing protection for electronic and optical components
Solution Approach 2:
The holding element is designed to perform multiple functions: mechanical holding of the light guiding body, sealing against environmental influences, and positioning relative to the illuminant. This multi-functional design replaces what would traditionally require multiple specialized components, thereby reducing overall device complexity while improving sealing reliability
2Object-affected harmful factors
If multiple separate sealants are applied at different locations, then protection against environmental influences is improved, but manufacturing effort and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The holding element integrates sealing functionality into a single manufacturable component that can be produced and installed in one operation. This eliminates the need for multiple separate sealant application steps at different locations, significantly reducing manufacturing effort and associated costs while providing comprehensive protection against environmental influences
Solution Approach 2:
The holding element is made from a material with appropriate sealing properties that can be molded in a single manufacturing process. This material-based sealing approach replaces complex multi-step sealant application processes, making manufacturing easier and more cost-effective while maintaining robust protection against environmental factors
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 system effectively seals the connection between the illuminant and light guide, reducing reliance on vehicle headlight housing seals and enhancing protection against contamination without increasing design complexity or cost.
Implementation Method 1
the inner surface of the holding element facing the holding section of the light guiding body makes sealing contact with the outer surface of the holding section, wherein the sealing contact prevents particles and/or fluids from penetrating through the insertion opening
Implementation Method 2
a light guiding body, which is associated with the illuminant, wherein the light guiding body has an end section with a light entry surface, wherein light from the illuminant can enter the light guiding body via the light entry surface
Data Source
AI summary
A lighting system (1) including an illuminant (4), a light guiding body (2), which is associated with the illuminant (4), a holding device (3), which is designed to hold the illuminant (4) and the light guiding body (2) relative to one another and seal the end section (2a) and the illuminant (4) against environmental influences, wherein the holding device (3) has a holding element (6) with a shape corresponding to the end section (2a) of the light guiding body (2), wherein the holding element (6) is designed as a sealing element, which tapers along its longitudinal extent (6L) an the insertion opening (6a), whereby the inner surface (6b) of the holding element (6) facing a holding section (2b) of the light guiding body (2) makes sealing contact with an outer surface (5b) of the holding section (2b).