Vehicle Trim Panel Light Guide Plate Integration
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle interior trim panels with integrated light guide plates often experience peeling issues due to mismatched adhesive surfaces, leading to separation over time, especially in curved surfaces where the base and light guide plate are separately manufactured and adhered.
Innovation Solution
A light guide plate integrated trim panel is manufactured with a base that surrounds the circumference and bottom surface of the light guide plate, formed using a method where molten resin is injected between molds to create a seamless integration, eliminating the need for adhesive agents and ensuring the base and light guide plate maintain their adhered state.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the base and light guide plate are separately manufactured and adhered using adhesive agents, then the manufacturing process allows for separate production and assembly, but the adhered site separates over time due to mismatched adhesive surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The base and light guide plate are merged into a single integrated component manufactured through one-piece injection molding. The mold includes a light guide plate receiving portion that forms the light guide plate and a base receiving portion that forms the base simultaneously, eliminating the need for separate production and adhesive bonding, thereby preventing adhesion failure over time
Solution Approach 2:
The mold is designed with pre-formed receiving portions for both the light guide plate and base, including stepped portions and positioning structures. These preliminary structural arrangements ensure precise geometric matching and proper positioning during single-step injection, preventing surface mismatch before the actual molding occurs
2Strength
If the base and light guide plate are adhered with adhesive agents, then the components can be joined, but the adhesive surfaces cannot coincide perfectly causing peeling over time
Solution Approach 1:
The base and light guide plate are combined into a single molded part with integrated geometry. The injection molding process creates seamless transitions between components with precisely matching surfaces, eliminating adhesion interfaces and the associated precision problems of adhesive bonding
Solution Approach 2:
The injection molding process parameters (temperature, pressure, injection rate) are controlled to ensure precise dimensional accuracy and surface quality of both the light guide plate and base in a single operation, achieving better surface coincidence than post-assembly adhesive bonding
3Adaptability or versatility
If separate manufacturing and adhesion processes are used for the base and light guide plate, then production flexibility is maintained, but additional post processes such as protective film attachment and leather wrapping are required
Solution Approach 1:
The manufacturing process merges multiple operations into a single one-piece injection molding operation. The mold includes integrated receiving portions for both components, allowing simultaneous formation of the light guide plate and base, thereby eliminating multiple post-assembly steps such as adhesive application, protective film attachment, and leather wrapping
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 prevents peeling of the light guide plate and base, allowing for a durable and aesthetically enhanced vehicle interior with consistent lighting effects, as the base and light guide plate are formed in the same curved shape, ensuring long-term adhesion without separate finishing processes.
Implementation Method 1
a light guide plate configured to diffuse light emitted from a light source
Implementation Method 2
first injecting which forms a part of the base on the circumference of the light guide plate by injecting molten resin between the upper mold and the first lower mold
Data Source
AI summary
A light guide plate integrated trim panel for a vehicle is provided and includes, in the trim panel for the vehicle mounted to an interior trim of the vehicle, a light guide plate configured to diffuse light emitted from a light source; and a base formed to surround the circumference and the bottom surface of the light guide plate, wherein the side surface of the light guide plate is formed to be stepped to be fixed by the base holding the circumference of the light guide plate.