One-Piece Vehicle Light Guide With Light-Trap Bridges
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lighting and signaling devices for motor vehicles, particularly electric vehicles, lack efficiency in displaying energy status and suffer from complex assembly processes and high costs, with limited control over light distribution and potential for light crosstalk.
Innovation Solution
A lighting and signaling device featuring light guides and connecting webs formed from one-component injection molding, with partially translucent light disks and decoupling elements, allowing independent control of light sources and preventing crosstalk, manufactured using a two-component injection molding process for reduced installation time and costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate light guides are used for different lighting functions, then lighting functionality is achieved, but assembly time and manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple separate light guides into a single integrated light guide element that contains multiple light guide sections. Each section can be independently controlled to perform different lighting functions (driving lights, indicator lights, charging lights), eliminating the need for multiple separate components and reducing assembly time.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated light guide element serves multiple functions simultaneously - it can display driving light status, indicator light status, and charging light status through different sections. This multi-functional design allows a single component to replace what would traditionally require multiple separate light guides.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate light guides are used for different lighting functions, then lighting functionality is achieved, but manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple separate light guides into a single integrated light guide element that contains multiple light guide sections. Each section can be independently controlled to perform different lighting functions (driving lights, indicator lights, charging lights), eliminating the need for multiple separate components and reducing assembly time.
3Area of stationary object
If light guides are positioned close together, then space is saved, but light crosstalk between adjacent light guides occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts or removes light at specific points within the light guide sections using light extraction structures. This prevents light from propagating between adjacent sections and eliminates crosstalk, allowing the light guides to be positioned close together without compromising light distribution accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces light extraction structures as intermediary elements between adjacent light guide sections. These structures act as mediators that control light propagation and prevent unwanted light transfer between sections, enabling compact positioning while maintaining optical isolation.
4Ease of operation
If separate light guides are used for each function, then independent control is possible, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple separate light guides into a single integrated light guide element that contains multiple light guide sections. Each section can be independently controlled to perform different lighting functions (driving lights, indicator lights, charging lights), eliminating the need for multiple separate components and reducing assembly time.
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 enables efficient assembly, reduced costs, and effective light distribution with independent control of light sources, preventing crosstalk and ensuring reliable operation under vibration tests.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of light guides (110, 120, 130, 140, 150) with independently controllable light sources (111, 121, 131, 141, 151) which light into a coupling section (112, 122, 132, 142, 152) of the light guides (110, 120, 130, 140, 150) via light coupling points (112, 122, 132, 142, 152) and can be controlled independently of each other
Implementation Method 2
a decoupling section (114, 124, 134, 144, 154) arranged downstream of the coupling section (114, 124, 134, 144, 154) in the direction of light emission, with decoupling elements (161) designed to deflect light incident on them from the optical fibers (110, 120, 130, 140, 150) in the feed-in section (113, 123, 133, 143, 153) and extract the light in the direction of light emission
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~6
Figure 7~8
AI summary
Lighting and/or signaling device for a motor vehicle, comprising: - at least two light guides (110, 120, 130, 140, 150) with a light coupling point (112, 122, 132, 142, 152) and an output coupling section (114, 124, 134, 144, 154), and at least one light source (111, 121, 131, 141, 151) assigned to the respective light guides, which feeds light into the respective light guides (110, 120, 130, 140, 150) via the light coupling point and a subsequent supply line section (113, 123, 133, 143, 153), wherein light fed into the light guides is discharged by means of output coupling elements (161) arranged in the output coupling section of the respective light guides via a light exit area in the output coupling section of the each light guide emerges to form a first light distribution, wherein the light guides (110, 120, 130, 140, 150) are designed as a one-piece light guide element (100),wherein at least one connecting bridge (300) between the individual optical fibers is designed as a light trap element with at least one output coupling element (310, 311, 312) to prevent light injected into one optical fiber from passing into another optical fiber by means of total internal reflection.