Vehicle Interior Trim Light Guide Radial Illumination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing illuminated interior trim components in vehicles often obstruct views of adjacent displays due to their height and may not match the brightness of TFT displays, leading to uneven light distribution when used as a light source.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle interior assembly featuring a light guide and a light transmissive interior trim component with a light source positioned radially outward from the guide, allowing for diffused lighting that is not between the guide and the display, providing a low profile and integrated appearance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If light emitting components are positioned behind the trim component to illuminate it, then the trim component achieves sufficient brightness to match TFT displays, but the trim component extends 25 mm or more above the display surface, obstructing the view of adjacent displays
Solution Approach 1:
The light source is repositioned from a vertical arrangement (behind the trim) to a radial arrangement (outward from the light guide), changing the spatial dimension of light delivery. This allows the light guide to be positioned between the light source and trim component without extending vertically above the display surface, eliminating view obstruction while maintaining illumination effectiveness
2Device complexity
If the display is used as a light source to illuminate the trim component, then the system complexity is reduced, but the trim component cannot achieve sufficient brightness to match the luminous intensity of the display
Solution Approach 1:
A dedicated light source and light guide are introduced as intermediary components between the light source and the trim component. The light guide acts as a mediator that efficiently transfers and distributes light from the light source to the trim component, enabling sufficient brightness without using the display itself as the light source, thus avoiding uneven light distribution
3Device complexity
If the light source is positioned behind the trim component, then the lighting structure is simplified, but uneven light distribution occurs due to light blockage when the graphics assembly is disposed over and about the display
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanical arrangement of light sources behind the trim is replaced with an optical system using a light guide. The light guide efficiently channels and distributes light from a radially positioned light source, eliminating light blockage issues while maintaining structural simplicity. This optical approach ensures uniform light distribution across the trim component without the complications of mechanical light source positioning
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 ensures sufficient light intensity for digital displays without obstructing views, offering a flush and integrated appearance by using a light transmissive trim component that receives and emits light from the guide, matching the brightness of TFT displays and providing uniform light distribution.
Implementation Method 1
a light guide and a light transmissive interior trim component with a light source positioned radially outward from the guide
Implementation Method 2
The interior trim component is light transmissive and configured to receive light from the light guide and to emit the light into a vehicle interior
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle interior assembly includes a light guide and a light source configured to illuminate the light guide. The vehicle interior assembly also includes an interior trim component at least partially disposed about a display. The interior trim component includes a light transmissive material configured to receive light from the light guide, and to emit light into a vehicle interior.