Vehicle Light Guide Assembly for Selective Section Animation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional light guides in vehicles provide limited animation functionality due to the on/off nature of LEDs, restricting features like sequential turn indicators, and only basic fade-in/out animations are possible.
Innovation Solution
A light guide assembly with two sections, each illuminated by separate LEDs, allowing selective activation and directionally extracting light from one LED while blocking the other, enabling more complex animations and using fewer LEDs for enhanced display flexibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional light guides with single LED and uniform optical properties are used, then the structure is simple and cost is low, but animation functionality is limited to basic on/off and fade in/out
Solution Approach 1:
The light guide is divided into multiple sections with different optical geometries or properties, allowing each section to be selectively illuminated by specific LEDs. This segmentation enables complex animation patterns like sequential turn indicators while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
Different sections of the light guide are given different optical geometries or properties tailored to their specific illumination requirements. This local differentiation allows each section to respond selectively to specific LEDs, enabling versatile animation functionality without requiring complete structural redesign.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple LEDs are added to achieve sequential turn indicators and complex animations, then animation functionality improves, but power consumption and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the light guide into sections with distinct optical properties, the system can activate only the specific LEDs needed for particular animation patterns. This selective activation reduces overall power consumption compared to using multiple LEDs simultaneously or continuously.
Solution Approach 2:
A small number of LEDs are made multi-functional through the segmented light guide design, allowing each LED to illuminate different sections based on its position and the optical properties of adjacent sections. This enables complex animations with fewer LEDs, reducing power consumption and cost.
3Adaptability or versatility
If conventional light guides with uniform optical properties are used, then manufacturing is simple, but only basic on/off and fade in/out animations are possible
Solution Approach 1:
The light guide is segmented into sections that can be manufactured as separate components with different optical geometries, then assembled together. This approach maintains manufacturing simplicity for each section while achieving versatile animation functionality in the complete assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
Each section of the light guide is manufactured with local optical properties optimized for its specific function. This allows standard manufacturing processes to be used for each section while the combination of sections with different properties enables complex animation capabilities.
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 more complex animations and display flexibility with lower power consumption and cost, scalable by adding light guides and LEDs for additional sections or 'pixels'.
Implementation Method 1
the light guide includes a first section adapted to extract light from the first light source, but not the second light source, thereby illuminating the first section
Implementation Method 2
Each of the first section and the second section is manufactured with a bulk optical property or geometrical features to selectively extract light from only the first light source or the second light source
Data Source
AI summary
A light guide assembly, including: a light guide; a first light source optically coupled to the light guide; and a second light source optically coupled to the light guide; where the light guide includes a first section adapted to extract light from the first light source, but not the second light source, thereby illuminating the first section; and where the light guide includes a second section adapted to extract light from the second light source, but not the first light source, thereby illuminating the second section. The first section is adapted to directionally extract light from only the first light source. The second section is adapted to directionally extract light from only the second light source. Each of the first section and the second section is manufactured with a bulk optical property or geometrical features to selectively extract light from only the first light source or the second light source.