Vehicle Grill Hidden Light Apparatus Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicles face design limitations and space constraints for accommodating lamps, limiting their ability to exchange information and maintain aesthetic design while providing illumination, especially with the integration of light guides.
Innovation Solution
A hidden light apparatus is integrated into the vehicle's grill, featuring a grid pattern with embedded optical modules that include a light source and reflector, allowing light to be irradiated through perforated holes while maintaining the grill's design shape, even when not in use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a lamp is mounted on the vehicle to provide illumination and information exchange, then the illumination function is improved, but the design freedom and space utilization are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the lamp assembly with the grill structure by integrating the light source, reflector, and lens directly into the grill body. The grill itself becomes the housing for the optical components, eliminating the need for separate lamp mounting spaces and enabling illumination without compromising design freedom or space utilization.
Solution Approach 2:
The grill structure serves multiple functions: it acts as both the aesthetic exterior component and the functional housing for the illumination system. The same grill structure provides both design identity and light emission capability, allowing the vehicle to exchange information while maintaining design versatility.
2Shape
If a light guide is applied to improve exterior design, then the aesthetic appearance is improved, but the space for accommodating lamps becomes more limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the light guide function with the grill structure itself. The light source is positioned behind the grill pattern, using the grill's existing structure as the light guide medium. This integration eliminates the need for additional space dedicated to lamp accommodation while preserving the aesthetic exterior design.
Solution Approach 2:
The illumination is achieved by utilizing the depth dimension of the grill structure. The light source is placed in the recessed area behind the grill pattern, and light travels through the grill structure itself rather than requiring separate lamp housings. This dimensional approach allows aesthetic design to be maintained while providing sufficient space for the illumination components.
3Shape
If the grill pattern is visible when light is not irradiated, then the design is maintained, but the light transmission efficiency may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different properties to different parts of the grill structure. The outer grill pattern maintains its visible design characteristics, while the inner region where light transmission occurs is optimized for optical efficiency. The light source and reflector are positioned to illuminate specific areas of the grill pattern, ensuring that the design is visible from the outside while light transmission efficiency is maximized in the functional zones.
Solution Approach 2:
The grill structure is segmented into distinct functional zones: the outer patterned region for design visibility and the inner region for light emission. The light source, reflector, and lens are positioned to create separate illumination paths that pass through specific portions of the grill pattern. This segmentation allows the grill to simultaneously maintain its aesthetic appearance and achieve efficient light transmission without energy loss.
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 enables effective illumination while preserving the grill's design integrity, enhancing aesthetic appeal and light transmission efficiency, ensuring that the light is distributed uniformly and intuitively recognizable, meeting regulatory standards for daylight running lights.
Implementation Method 1
a reflector provided inside the grid panel to allow the light irradiated from the light source to be incident thereto and reflecting the incident light to be moved toward the grid panel
Data Source
AI summary
A hidden light apparatus for a vehicle is configured so that light is irradiated from a grill of the vehicle, and when the light is not irradiated from the grill, a shape of an irradiation area and a pattern shape of the grill are identical with each other to maintain a design of the grill. The hidden light apparatus includes the grill having an external surface in a pattern including a plurality of grids; a grid panel coupled to one of the grids in a same shape to form a surface of the one grid; a light source provided inside the grid panel and irradiating light; and a reflector provided inside the grid panel, wherein when the light source is turned off, the grid panel constitutes the pattern of the grill, and when the light source is turned on, the grid panel functions to illuminate the vehicle.