Thick Waterfall Lens Structure for Visible Vehicle Light Displays
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for a light system with a lens that appears thick from the exterior and includes a display mechanism that can display images, decorations, labels, or a combination thereof through one or more surfaces, with a thickness of about 3 mm or more or about 7 mm or more and about 15 mm or less.
Innovation Solution
The light system comprises a lens with a body portion and a waterfall portion that extends at an angle, made of two materials with different deposition characteristics, and a display mechanism located adjacent to both portions. The lens has a thickness of about 8 mm or more and about 12 mm or less, allowing the display mechanism to be visible through the lens when illuminated by light sources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If the lens thickness is increased to enhance aesthetic appeal and visibility, then the visual appearance and display visibility are improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The lens is segmented into multiple functional layers including a first material layer, a second material layer, and a waterfall portion, allowing each layer to serve specific optical and aesthetic functions while collectively achieving the desired thick appearance and display visibility
Solution Approach 2:
The lens employs composite materials with different deposition characteristics - a first material and a second material with different optical properties - to create a multi-layer structure that achieves both aesthetic thickness and functional display visibility without requiring excessive overall thickness
2Ease of manufacture
If the lens thickness is reduced to simplify manufacturing, then the ease of manufacture is improved, but the aesthetic appeal and display visibility are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the lens have different thickness characteristics - the body portion and waterfall portion have specific thickness relationships that create the visual appearance of thickness while maintaining manufacturability through controlled local variations rather than uniform thickness throughout
Solution Approach 2:
The lens design incorporates a waterfall portion that extends in a specific geometric configuration, creating visual depth and thickness perception through spatial arrangement and angular relationships rather than relying solely on increased material thickness
3Ease of manufacture
If the lens is made with uniform material properties, then the ease of manufacture is improved, but the ability to control light transmission and display visibility is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
Different material layers are assigned different deposition characteristics and optical properties - the first material and second material have distinct transmission and refraction characteristics that are optimized for their specific positions in the lens structure to control light transmission and enhance display visibility
Solution Approach 2:
The use of composite materials with different optical properties allows precise control over light transmission, refraction, and reflection at different interfaces within the lens, enabling optimized display visibility through the thick lens structure while maintaining separate deposition processes for each material layer
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 light system effectively displays images, decorations, or labels through the lens, enhancing the aesthetic appeal while maintaining functionality, and achieving the desired thickness for a visually appealing and functional light system.
Implementation Method 1
one or more light sources that direct light through the display mechanism and the lens so that when the one or more light sources are illuminated the display mechanism is visible through the lens
Data Source
AI summary
A light system comprising: a lens comprising: body portion and a waterfall portion that extends at an angle relative to the body portion so that the waterfall portion is exposed when the light system is installed in a vehicle, wherein the lens comprises a material of a first deposition and a material of a second deposition and the material of the first deposition exhibits one or more different characteristics than the material of the second deposition; a display mechanism located adjacent to the body portion, the waterfall portion, or both; and one or more light sources that direct light through the display mechanism and the lens so that when the one or more light sources are illuminated the display mechanism is visible through the lens.