Vehicle Emblem Light Manipulation via Surface Relief Patterns
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for vehicle emblems that can generate distinguishing visual effects and interact with their environment, such as responding to approaching devices, while maintaining a recognizable brand identity.
Innovation Solution
The development of a vehicle emblem incorporating a light source, a cover assembly with transparent portions, and surface relief patterns that manipulate visible light, allowing for the emission and manipulation of light to create image patterns or object images visible from the external environment, triggered by events like an authorized mobile device's proximity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a traditional metal or plastic emblem is used, then the brand identity is clearly recognized, but the visual effects are dull and lack distinguishing features
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functional elements into a single integrated emblem assembly: a light source (LED or laser), optical elements (lens or diffraction grating), and branding elements (logo or text) are merged into one unit. This allows the emblem to provide both traditional brand identification and dynamic visual effects simultaneously, resolving the contradiction between visual appeal and structural simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The emblem serves multiple functions: it provides brand identification through the logo/text, generates visual effects through light manipulation, and can display dynamic patterns through the optical elements. This multi-functionality allows a single device to replace what would traditionally require separate components, addressing the contradiction between enhanced visual effects and device complexity
2Adaptability or versatility
If a light source and optical elements are added to create dynamic visual effects, then the distinguishing visual effects are achieved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The emblem incorporates dynamic light manipulation capabilities where the optical elements (lens or diffraction grating) can change the direction, pattern, or intensity of emitted light. This allows the emblem to adapt its visual output in response to environmental conditions or control signals, providing interaction capabilities while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure through the use of passive optical elements
3Illumination intensity
If surface relief patterns are used to manipulate visible light, then the visual appeal is enhanced, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The surface relief patterns can be created using replication techniques where a master template with the desired optical pattern is used to mass-produce identical patterns on the emblem surface. This approach allows for high precision optical patterns to be manufactured consistently across multiple units without requiring extremely complex manufacturing processes for each individual emblem
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs surface relief patterns with specific geometric parameters (ridge spacing, depth, orientation) that are optimized to manipulate light at visible wavelengths. By carefully selecting these parameters, the design achieves effective light manipulation while maintaining manufacturability through standard precision manufacturing techniques
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 emblem effectively enhances the visual appeal and interaction capabilities of vehicle emblems by projecting image patterns or object images, providing a welcoming feature and maintaining brand recognition through dynamic light manipulation.
Implementation Method 1
one or more surface relief patterns disposed on the cover assembly, the one or more surface relief patterns configured to manipulate visible light that the light source emits into an object image or into diffracted wavelengths
Implementation Method 2
one or more surface relief patterns disposed on the cover assembly, the one or more surface relief patterns configured to manipulate visible light that the light source emits into an object image or into diffracted wavelengths
Implementation Method 3
the one or more surface relief patterns, in embodiments, manipulate ambient light, such as from the sun, into the object image or into diffracted wavelengths
Implementation Method 4
the one or more surface relief patterns, in embodiments, manipulate ambient light, such as from the sun, into the object image or into diffracted wavelengths
Implementation Method 5
a light guide disposed between the light source and the cover assembly, the light guide having (i) a first end positioned to accept the visible light emitted by the light source and (ii) a second end positioned to emit the visible light toward the transparent portion of the cover assembly
Data Source
AI summary
An emblem for a vehicle comprises: (a) a light source configured to emit visible light; (b) a cover assembly disposed over the light source, the cover assembly having an inner surface, an outer surface, and a transparent portion that is transparent to the visible light, the visible light being incident to the inner surface, and the visible light that the light source emits transmitting through the transparent portion out of the outer surface to an external environment beyond the emblem; and (c) one or more surface relief patterns disposed on the cover assembly, the one or more surface relief patterns configured to manipulate (i) the visible light that the light source emits, (ii) visible light from the external environment, or (iii) both (i) and (ii).