Vehicle Cladding Light Guide for Uniform Apron Illumination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle apron lighting systems fail to provide uniform illumination around the vehicle regardless of the door position, leading to safety hazards and are prone to damage from external influences.
Innovation Solution
A cladding component with integrated light guides that connect to a light source, allowing flexible positioning and protection from external damage, using materials like PMMA or PC, and featuring coupling sections to ensure even illumination and minimize assembly complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If LEDs are mounted on the side panel to illuminate the area around the vehicle, then the illumination coverage is improved, but the LEDs become vulnerable to damage from stone chips and external impacts
Solution Approach 1:
The light guide is integrated into the cladding component by nesting it within the wall structure. The light guide is received by a recess in the wall and secured with adhesive, placing the light source and light guide inside the protected interior of the cladding component rather than exposing them on the exterior surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary structure (the cladding component wall with recess) that mediates between the light guide and the external environment. This wall structure with its recess and adhesive securing creates a protective barrier that transmits light while blocking physical damage from stone chips and impacts.
2Illumination intensity
If LEDs are mounted protruding beyond the side panel to ensure visibility, then the illumination is improved, but the visual appearance becomes unattractive and damage risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The light guide is nested within the cladding component's wall structure, specifically received by a recess that accommodates the light guide's diameter. This nesting arrangement keeps the light guide flush with or recessed into the exterior surface, maintaining a smooth, attractive appearance without protruding elements.
3Illumination intensity
If multiple LEDs are distributed along the side panel to provide uniform illumination, then the illumination uniformity is improved, but the device complexity and assembly difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the light guide from being a simple linear element and gives it a three-dimensional U-shaped cross-section with legs extending into the wall thickness. This extracted geometric form allows a single light guide to effectively illuminate multiple areas through light reflection and distribution, replacing what would otherwise require multiple separate LED components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges multiple illumination functions into a single integrated light guide component. The U-shaped cross-section with legs allows one light guide to perform the work of multiple LEDs by distributing light through its extended geometry and reflective surfaces, simplifying the overall device and assembly process.
4Reliability
If the light source is positioned remotely from the lighting location to protect it, then the reliability is improved, but the light guide requirements and assembly precision increase
Solution Approach 1:
The light guide is pre-positioned and secured in the recess of the wall before final assembly steps. The recess structure provides predetermined positioning features that guide the light guide into correct alignment, and adhesive securing is applied in advance to fix the light guide position, ensuring proper alignment before the light source is connected.
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 provides uniform and reliable apron lighting that reduces the risk of users missing obstacles and minimizes damage to the lighting system, ensuring consistent illumination and improved safety.
Implementation Method 1
one or more light guides which are arranged with respect to the through-openings such that light emitted by the light guide can pass through the through-openings
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 2a~3
Figure 4~5b
AI summary
The present invention relates to a paneling component (10) for a vehicle, comprising a wall (12) which delimits an interior space of the paneling component (10), one or more through openings (22) which penetrate the wall (12), and one in the interior space lighting device (26) arranged on the covering component (10), which can be connected to a light source (34) and which is arranged in relation to the through-openings (22) in such a way that light emitted by the lighting device (26) can pass through the through-openings (22). . The invention also relates to a lighting device (20) and a vehicle which includes such a trim component (10) and/or such a lighting device (26).