Vehicle Lighting Device Rotating Modules Adhesive Shield

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle lighting devices with rotating LED modules face issues due to adhesive reaching the rotation axis or electronic components during assembly, impairing module performance.

Innovation Solution

A protective shield is placed between the rotating lighting modules and the transparent cover/lens, intercepting the adhesive and preventing it from contacting the moving parts and electronics, ensuring a compact, cost-effective design.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If a continuous adhesive thread is used to connect the transparent cover to the housing body, then the assembly is simple and cost-effective, but the adhesive may reach the rotation axis and electronic components of the rotating lighting modules, impairing their performance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly simplicityVSAvoidmodule performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The housing body is divided into two separate components: the main housing and the adhesive cover. The adhesive cover is positioned to overlap with the rotating lighting modules, creating a physical barrier that segments the adhesive application zone from the sensitive electronic components. This allows the adhesive to be applied continuously without risking contamination of the rotation axis or electronics.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The adhesive cover acts as an intermediary element between the adhesive and the rotating lighting modules. It intercepts the adhesive thread before it can reach the rotation axis or electronic components, thereby protecting these sensitive areas while still allowing the adhesive to perform its bonding function between the housing and cover.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Volume of moving object

If rotating lighting modules are made compact to reduce overall device size, then the lighting device becomes more space-efficient, but the modules become more vulnerable to adhesive contamination during assembly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemodule sizeVSAvoidadhesive contamination risk
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

By separating the housing into main housing and adhesive cover components, the design creates a protected zone around the compact rotating modules. This segmentation allows the modules to be positioned closer to the adhesive application area without increasing their vulnerability, as the adhesive cover provides continuous protection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The adhesive cover is pre-positioned on the housing body before adhesive application. This preliminary action establishes a protective barrier in advance, allowing compact modules to be installed without risk of adhesive contamination during the assembly process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If the adhesive cover overlaps with the rotating lighting modules, then the adhesive is intercepted and protected from reaching sensitive components, but the structural complexity of the housing increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection effectivenessVSAvoidhousing structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The adhesive cover serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides the bonding surface for attaching the transparent cover to the housing, creates a barrier to intercept adhesive and protect sensitive components, and structurally supports the rotating lighting modules. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate protective components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The protective function and the bonding function are merged into a single component - the adhesive cover. Rather than having a separate protective shield and a separate bonding surface, the adhesive cover combines both roles, simplifying the overall housing structure while maintaining protection effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP3431864B1Lighting device for vehicles provided with rotating lighting modules
Publication Date: 2023.01.11 MARELLI AUTOMOTIVE LIGHTING ITAL SPA
  • EP3431864B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3431864B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3431864B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

Lighting device (1) including a cup-shaped housing body (2) and at least one rotating lighting module (5) arranged within the housing body facing a front inlet opening (3) thereof closed by a transparent cover or lens (4); each rotating lighting module having at least one light source (6) and a movable optical unit (10) rotating on a support (8) relative to the light source around at least a first axis (A); wherein a protective shield (21) is arranged at a bottom wall (13) of the housing body and between it and the transparent cover or lens (4) and is designed to run along at least part of a bottom profile (22) of the inlet opening, facing the rotating lighting module (5) and having a rim (23) projecting upwards in front of the transparent cover or lens (4) and between the latter and at least part of the support (8) and/or of a bottom section (20) of the movable optical unit (10).