Vehicle Illumination Cladding With Switchable Hidden-Until-Lit Surface
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle illumination devices struggle to provide a uniformly illuminated surface in any desired color while being inconspicuous to adjacently arranged surfaces when switched off, and they often have limited color gamut and efficiency issues.
Innovation Solution
The illumination device comprises a light source, an optical element, a transparent cover layer, a switchable layer that can be transparent or reflective, a power supply, and a switching element. The switchable layer is bistable and can be switched between states with a short pulse-like voltage, allowing for low power consumption and flexible color adjustment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If a switchable layer is used to make the illumination device invisible when switched off, then the visibility of the device is improved, but the color matching precision with adjacent surfaces deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies color changes by using a switchable layer that can change its optical properties between transparent and reflective states. The layer is configured to reflect ambient light and match the color of adjacent vehicle surfaces when the illumination device is off, making it visually indistinguishable. When activated, the layer allows light to pass through for illumination. This dynamic color and transparency adjustment resolves the contradiction between visibility and color matching precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamics by using a bistable switchable layer that can dynamically transition between two stable states: transparent and reflective. This dynamic switching capability allows the illumination device to adapt its appearance based on operational requirements, resolving the contradiction between being invisible when off and providing precise color matching.
2Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If low transmission neutral density filters are used to create a hidden until lit effect, then the visibility when switched off is improved, but the energy efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using neutral density filters that continuously absorb light and waste energy, the patent employs a switchable layer that changes its optical properties only when needed. The layer reflects ambient light when the device is off (making it invisible) without absorbing energy, and allows light transmission when illuminated. This eliminates the continuous energy loss associated with neutral density filters while maintaining the hidden until lit effect.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent discards the energy-wasting neutral density filter approach and recovers energy by using a reflective switchable layer. The reflective layer utilizes ambient light rather than absorbing and dissipating it as heat, thereby eliminating the 90% energy loss associated with low transmission neutral density filters while achieving the same visual effect.
3Ease of manufacture
If the color gamut of color displays is limited, then the ease of manufacture is improved, but the color matching precision with adjacent surfaces deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses color changes by configuring the switchable layer to reflect ambient light in its reflective state, thereby inheriting the color properties of the adjacent vehicle surfaces rather than relying on limited color display gamuts. This approach achieves precise color matching through optical reflection rather than active color generation, resolving the contradiction between manufacturing simplicity and color matching precision.
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 solution provides a flexible and efficient illumination system that can match the color of adjacent surfaces, offering a uniformly illuminated surface that is inconspicuous when switched off, with improved efficiency and reduced power consumption.
Implementation Method 1
a second state in which the switchable layer reflects the incident light rays
Implementation Method 2
an optical element for guiding the light rays through the illumination device
Data Source
Figure 1A~2
Figure 3~4B
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The present invention relates to an illumination device (101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109) of or for a vehicle (50), comprising a light source (12, 12L, 12R) for providing light rays (Ir), an optical element (14) for guiding the light rays (Ir) through the Illumination device (101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109), a cover layer (22) comprising at least one first section (24) that is opaque to the light rays (Ir) and of a first color, and at least one second section (26) that is transparent to the light rays (Ir), and a switchable layer (28) switchable between a first state in which the switchable layer (28) is transparent for impinging light rays (Ir) or of the first color or a second color and a second state in which the switchable layer (28) reflects the impinging light rays (Ir), a power supply (30) for applying a voltage on the switchable layer (28), and a switching element (32) for turning on and off the power supply (30). Moreover, the present invention is drawn to a cladding component comprising (52) such an illumination device (101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109) and to a vehicle (50) comprising such a cladding component (52) and/or such an illumination device (101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109).