Vehicle Illumination Device Using Bar-Shaped Light Guide and L-Shaped Lens
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicle illumination devices with cylindrical light guide members are bulky, costly, and restrictive in design due to the need for housings and light-shielding layers, limiting their compactness and mounting flexibility.
Innovation Solution
A compact direct-light illumination device featuring a bar-shaped light guide member and a diffusion member with an L-shaped lens unit, which eliminates the need for a large housing and light-shielding layers, allowing for stable positioning and uniform light emission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a cylindrical light guide member is used in conventional illumination devices, then light can be emitted from the entire circumference, but the device becomes bulky and requires a large housing, increasing size and mounting space requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the light guide member from the housing structure. The flat light guide member is positioned between the decoration member and cover member without requiring a dedicated housing, thereby segmenting the illumination function from the structural housing and reducing overall device volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the light guide member from a housing structure and positions it directly between the decoration member and cover member. This extraction eliminates the need for a separate housing, reducing device size and mounting space requirements while maintaining light emission functionality.
2Stability of the object's composition
If a housing is provided to hold the light guide member, then the light guide member is securely positioned, but component cost and assembly time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the light guide member positioning function into the existing cover member structure. The cover member simultaneously serves as both a structural component and a positioning element for the light guide member, eliminating the need for a separate housing and reducing assembly complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover member is designed to perform multiple functions: it provides structural coverage, positions the light guide member, and contributes to the overall device assembly. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for dedicated housing components, reducing both part count and assembly time.
3Loss of energy
If a reflection layer is provided on the housing to return light towards the cabin, then light utilization efficiency is enhanced, but the housing and reflection layer add to device size and complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the reflection function locally to the cover member surface rather than requiring a separate housing with reflection layer. The cover member's inner surface serves as the reflection surface, providing localized light reflection functionality without adding overall device volume or complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The reflection function is merged with the cover member structure. The cover member simultaneously serves as a structural component, positioning element, and reflection surface, thereby providing light utilization efficiency enhancement without requiring additional components or increasing device size.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If a light-shielding layer is provided on the decoration member, then light emission is controlled to target areas, but material selection and design freedom are restricted
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using a light-shielding layer to control light emission, the patent inverts the approach by using a light-permeable decoration member that allows light to pass through. The light guide member and cover member structure control light direction, thereby achieving light emission control without restricting material selection or design freedom for the decoration member.
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 the illumination device to be mounted in restricted spaces with reduced component costs and enhanced design flexibility, providing uniform light emission and improved aesthetic integration with vehicle interiors.
Implementation Method 1
the light emitted from a light source is utilized as direct light that is directly incident on eyes of a viewer
Implementation Method 2
a diffusion member including a lens unit, the lens unit having an L-shaped cross-section, and a light-emitting portion and a light-receiving portion
Data Source
AI summary
An illumination device of a vehicle, including: a light source; a bar-shaped light guide member; and a diffusion member having a lens unit, the lens unit having an L-shaped cross-section, and a light-emitting portion and a light-receiving portion, wherein the light guide member has a light-emitting surface, and the light guide member and the lens unit are disposed such that a light-receiving surface of the light-receiving portion of the lens unit is opposed to the light-emitting surface of the light guide member.