Vehicle Light Heating Element and Radiator Vent Defogging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicle lights often fog up or frost over in cold and humid weather, leading to reduced efficiency and safety.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle light equipped with a heating element and a radiator vent that directs heated air onto the inside and outside surfaces, preventing fog and frost buildup through a temperature sensor-regulated system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If ventilation openings are added to allow air circulation, then cooling effect is improved, but fogging increases because humid air enters the light
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful humid air that causes fogging into a beneficial resource by heating it with heating elements and redirecting it through radiator vents to defog and defrost the light surface. The same air that would cause condensation is transformed into a heated anti-fogging agent.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces heating elements and radiator vents as intermediary components between the ventilation openings and the light surface. These intermediaries transform the cold humid air into heated air that actively prevents fogging rather than causing it.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If internal heaters are added to prevent fogging, then anti-fogging effect is improved, but the heated air cannot reach the front surface effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the heating function into multiple ceramic heating elements positioned at different locations within the light housing, each targeting specific areas. The radiator vent is also segmented into multiple spines that direct heated air to different zones of the light surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The radiator vent acts as an intermediary structure that captures heated air from the heating elements and redirects it toward the front surface of the light. The vent's spine structure serves as a mechanical mediator to channel and distribute the heated air effectively.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If heating elements are activated in cold weather, then defrosting effect is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a temperature sensor that continuously monitors the internal temperature of the light housing and provides feedback to the control system. When the temperature drops below a threshold, the sensor triggers the heating elements and blower motor to activate, and when the temperature rises above the threshold, the system shuts off, optimizing energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating system operates periodically rather than continuously, activating only when the temperature sensor detects cold conditions and deactivating when the light surface is sufficiently warmed. This periodic operation reduces overall energy consumption while maintaining effective defrosting.
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 effectively prevents fogging and frosting on both the interior and exterior of the vehicle light, ensuring more efficient and safe lighting in adverse weather conditions.
Implementation Method 1
As each ceramic heating element receives electricity from the vehicle, its surface heats up.
Implementation Method 2
Air is blown past the heating elements and directed through the radiator vent by two or more blower motors.
Implementation Method 3
This stream of air is directed by the radiator vent directly toward the inside of the front surface of the vehicle light, thereby heating it up and defrosting the outer surface of the light
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle light has a heating element and a radiator vent that creates and distributes heated air inside the vehicle light. This prevents fog buildup on the inside of the light in cold and wet weather, allowing for more efficient and therefore safer lights for vehicles. A series of ceramic heating elements is arrayed in front of individual spines of a radiator vent. As each ceramic heating element receives electricity from the vehicle, its surface heats up. Air is blown past the heating elements and directed through the radiator vent by two or more blower motors. A temperature sensor regulates the amount of electricity that is sent to each ceramic element.