Two-Color Molded Vehicular Lamp Light Guide Body

Solution Overview

Problem

The miniaturization of vehicular exterior rear view devices has reduced the space available for mounting vehicular lamps, necessitating a miniaturization of these lamps while maintaining their functionality.

Innovation Solution

A vehicular lamp is designed with a light guide body formed as a two-color molded article of a light-transmitting and a non light-transmitting member, featuring a curved shape and reflective steps, allowing light to be emitted from a second surface exposed outside the vehicle body, eliminating the need for a traditional lamp body and outer cover, thus minimizing size.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If the vehicular exterior rear view device is miniaturized by replacing the rear view mirror with a camera, then the device size is reduced, but the space for mounting the vehicular lamp is also reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice sizeVSAvoidmounting space

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The light-transmitting member and non light-transmitting member are merged into a single two-color molded light guide body, eliminating the need for separate lamp body and outer cover components. This integration reduces the overall lamp size and allows it to fit within the reduced mounting space of the miniaturized vehicular exterior rear view device.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The light guide body utilizes a curved portion configuration that optimizes light path in three-dimensional space. The reflective steps on the first surface redirect light to exit through the second surface, creating an efficient compact optical path that maximizes light output within minimal spatial footprint.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Volume of moving object

If the lamp size is reduced to fit the miniaturized device, then mounting space is sufficient, but traditional lamp structures with separate components become difficult to implement

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelamp sizeVSAvoidlamp structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The light-transmitting member and non light-transmitting member are merged into a single two-color molded light guide body, eliminating the need for separate lamp body and outer cover components. This integration reduces the overall lamp size and allows it to fit within the reduced mounting space of the miniaturized vehicular exterior rear view device.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The light guide body serves multiple functions simultaneously: it guides light from the light source, provides structural support, offers protection through the non light-transmitting member, and enables light emission through the second surface. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate protective covers and mounting structures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Productivity

If a two-color molded light guide body is used instead of traditional lamp structures, then assembly efficiency is improved and size is reduced, but manufacturing precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveassembly efficiencyVSAvoidmolding precision

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The light-transmitting member and non light-transmitting member are merged into a single two-color molded light guide body, eliminating the need for separate lamp body and outer cover components. This integration reduces the overall lamp size and allows it to fit within the reduced mounting space of the miniaturized vehicular exterior rear view device.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention utilizes two-color molding technology that allows different material properties (light-transmitting and non light-transmitting) to be integrated in a single manufacturing process. This parameter change in the molding process enables complex geometries and material distributions to be achieved with standard manufacturing tolerances.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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

This design enables a significant reduction in lamp size, allowing for easier integration into miniaturized vehicular exterior rear view devices, improving aesthetic appearance and assembly efficiency while enhancing light utilization and protection from environmental factors.

Implementation Method 1

The light-transmitting member has a reflective step formed on a first surface thereof, which is in contact with the non light-transmitting member, so as to emit the light of the light source from a second surface of the transmitting member member

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectReflection: Reflection

Data Source

PatentUS10391930B2Vehicular lamp and vehicular exterior rear view device

Publication Date: 2019.08.27 KOITO MFG CO LTD

AI summary

A vehicular lamp includes a light guide body configured with a two-color molded article of a light-transmitting member and a non-translucent member, and a light source configured to introduce light to the translucent member. The light guide body has a curved portion. The translucent member has a reflective step formed on a first surface thereof, which is in contact with the non-translucent member, so as to emit the light of the light source from a second surface, which is opposite the first surface. The second surface is exposed to an outside of a vehicle body on which the vehicular lamp is mounted.