Vehicle Light Guide Structure for Partial Illumination and Gloss Finish
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle decoration parts that require night lighting cannot implement partial illumination and maintain a glossy metal surface during the day, leading to structural limitations and increased part count and costs.
Innovation Solution
A lighting apparatus using double-injection molding to create a light guide member with a transmission and shielding member, allowing partial illumination and a glossy surface, achieved through a light guide member with a transmission member made of a transparent material and a shielding member made of a black material, combined with a thin film deposition of metal for a glossy appearance during the day.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If plating or metal deposition is applied to decoration parts to express a glossy surface during the day, then the aesthetic appearance is improved, but the part cannot allow light to pass through during the day and cannot implement partial illumination at night
Solution Approach 1:
The decoration part is divided into multiple light guide members, each corresponding to a specific illumination region. This segmentation allows different portions of the decoration part to have different optical properties - some areas transmit light while others block light, enabling partial illumination at night while maintaining the glossy metal appearance during the day through selective metal deposition on the light blocking portions.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the decoration part are given different optical characteristics. The light guide members are designed with specific light transmission properties, and metal deposition is applied selectively to certain areas to block light during the day. This local differentiation enables the decoration part to express a glossy surface in some areas while allowing light transmission in others, resolving the contradiction between aesthetic appearance and light control functionality.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a decoration part is designed to require night lighting, then the emotional quality of the vehicle interior is improved, but the part has structural limitations and cannot implement partial illumination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple functions into a single integrated structure. The light guide members combine light transmission, light blocking, and structural support functions in one component. By integrating these functions into the decoration part itself rather than using separate components, the design eliminates structural limitations while enabling partial illumination capability, thus improving adaptability without increasing device complexity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate parts are used to achieve partial illumination and glossy surface, then the functional requirements are met, but the number of parts and manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple separate components into a single integrated light guide member structure. Instead of using separate parts for light transmission, light blocking, and structural support, the invention integrates all these functions into one molded component with varying optical properties in different regions. This merging reduces the number of parts while maintaining the capability to achieve both glossy surface appearance and partial illumination, thereby lowering manufacturing costs.
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
Enables partial illumination in vehicle decoration parts at night while maintaining a glossy metal surface during the day, reduces part count, and lowers manufacturing costs by using double-injection molding.
Implementation Method 1
a transmission member (151) and a shielding member (152), wherein the light guide member (150) allows light to be transmitted at a night time
Implementation Method 2
a shielding member (152), wherein the light guide member (150) allows light to be transmitted at a night time and blocks the light at a day time
Data Source
AI summary
A lighting apparatus for a vehicle, the lighting apparatus including: a rear panel; a printed circuit board (PCB) disposed in front of the rear panel and including a plurality of lighting sources; a rubber pad disposed in front of the PCB and configured to a plurality of through-holes formed based on positions of the plurality of lighting sources; a front panel snap-fitted to the rear panel; and a light guide member coupled to an accommodating space formed between a plurality of first buttons and a plurality of second buttons disposed on the front panel, wherein the light guide member includes a transmission member through which light emitted from the plurality of lighting sources transmits and a shielding member shielding the light.