Textured Coherent Reflection Component for Hidden Automotive Lighting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Automotive trim components lack integrated reflective lighting features that provide both aesthetic appeal during the day and cosmetic lighting at night, with the light source often being obvious and not hidden from the observer.
Innovation Solution
A trim component with a disrupted reflective surface featuring molded facets that reflect light in a predetermined direction, combined with an integrated light source, such as LEDs, which can be hidden from view to provide directional and aesthetically appealing lighting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a trim component provides cosmetic lighting at night, then visibility and aesthetic appeal are improved, but the light source becomes obvious and visible to observers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a reflective surface as an intermediary between the light source and the observer. The light source illuminates the reflective surface, which then directs the light toward the observer. This mediator allows the light to be visible while keeping the actual light source concealed, resolving the contradiction between providing cosmetic lighting and hiding the light source.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs facets with specific angular orientations to redirect light in predetermined directions. By changing the dimensional orientation of the reflective surfaces, the system directs light toward observers while positioning the light source in a different spatial dimension that remains concealed, thus achieving both lighting visibility and source concealment.
2Illumination intensity
If a trim component has a smooth reflective surface, then aesthetic appeal in bright ambient conditions is improved, but directional control of reflected light is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the reflective surface into multiple discrete facets, each with a specific angular orientation. This segmentation allows each facet to control light reflection in a predetermined direction while collectively maintaining an aesthetically appealing disrupted reflective pattern. The segmented approach enables both aesthetic appeal and directional control simultaneously.
3Ease of manufacture
If facets are molded over a 3-dimensional surface with varying angles and sizes, then directional reflection of light is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the light source, reflective facets, and mounting structure into a single integrated trim component. By merging these elements, the patent achieves directional light reflection through the molded facet structure while simplifying the overall manufacturing process, as the complex facet patterns can be directly molded as part of the single component rather than assembled from separate parts.
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 solution creates a trim component that offers an aesthetically appealing finish during the day and directional cosmetic lighting at night, enhancing visibility while minimizing light source visibility, thus providing a unique visual effect.
Implementation Method 1
a disrupted reflective surface with a plurality of facets incorporated into a molded plastic surface which, after metallization, are designed to reflect light in a predetermined direction
Data Source
AI summary
A trim component, such as a grill of a vehicle, includes a substrate having a 3-dimensional shape and defining a disrupted reflective surface including a plurality of facets over a curved surface. Each of the facets is configured to reflect an incident light beam in a common direction, for example, toward a given target. A reflective coating, such as a chrome plating layer, overlies the disrupted reflective surface. The facets may have similar shapes and/or be arranged in a repeating pattern, but with one or more irregular features. The sizes, shapes, and/or orientation direction of the facets may varying in a gradient based on the curvature of the curved surface. The trim component also includes a light source to illuminate the disrupted reflective surface. The light source may be hidden so it is not directly visible to a viewer, but instead is reflected by the disrupted reflective surface.