Vehicle Lighting Assembly Filters for Continuous Light Signatures

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle lighting assemblies suffer from visual interruptions in their extended light signatures due to gaps or slits, leading to reduced continuity, aesthetic issues, and impaired signal clarity.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of inwardly extending filter portions that homogenize light along the gap or slit, creating a continuous light signature by reducing the visual distance of emitted light across the separation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If outer lenses are spatially separated to form a gap or slit, then the lighting assembly achieves structural stability and compactness, but the light signature becomes interrupted creating visual distance and reducing continuity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidcontinuity of light signature
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The filter portions extend inwards along the gap in a dimensional direction that bridges the spatial separation between outer lenses. This inward extension creates an optical bridge that reduces the visual distance across the gap while maintaining the structural gap itself, effectively solving the contradiction by adding a functional dimension that connects the separated components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The inwardly extending filter portions act as intermediary elements that mediate between the separated outer lenses. These filter portions transmit and homogenize light across the gap, creating a visual bridge that connects the interrupted light signature while allowing the structural gap to remain for stability and compactness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Volume of moving object

If outer lenses are spatially separated by a gap, then the lighting assembly achieves compactness and robustness, but the light signature continuity is reduced and aesthetic appearance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovecompactnessVSAvoidaesthetic appearance
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The filter portions extend inwards along the gap, utilizing the depth dimension to create visual continuity. This inward extension allows the light signature to appear continuous from the front view while maintaining the compact structural gap, thereby preserving aesthetic appearance without compromising compactness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The filter portions are specifically positioned at the gap region where light homogenization is needed. By applying the filtering function locally at the interruption point, the solution improves aesthetic appearance and light signature continuity precisely where needed, while leaving the rest of the compact structure unchanged.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Stability of the object's composition

If outer lenses are spatially separated, then the lighting assembly maintains structural integrity, but the clarity of signal transmittance is negatively affected due to disconnection

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural integrityVSAvoidclarity of signal transmittance
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The inwardly extending filter portions serve as intermediary optical elements that bridge the structural gap. These filter portions homogenize and transmit light across the separation, ensuring that the signal remains clear and continuous despite the structural discontinuity, thereby preventing information loss while maintaining structural integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The filter portions create a continuous light transmission path across the gap by homogenizing light along the inward extension. This ensures that the useful action of light signal transmission remains continuous and clear, overcoming the disconnection caused by the structural separation of outer lenses.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

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

This solution enhances the continuity and steadiness of the light signature, improves the design and optical appearance, and ensures clearer signal transmittance, even under small observation angles.

Implementation Method 1

The filter is configured to homogenize the light that is received form the respective light sources. For example, a filter may be a light diffusor. A filter may comprise scattering particles to scatter light in a diffusive way

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight homogenization: Scattering

Data Source

PatentEP3961272B1Lighting assembly for a vehicle
Publication Date: 2025.06.18 VOLKSWAGEN AG
  • EP3961272B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3961272B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3961272B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a lighting assembly (1) and a vehicle (100) with such lighting assembly including two light sources (5A, 5B) with two outer lenses (20A, 20B) corresponding to the respective sources (5A,5B) transparent for the emitted light of the respective light source (5A, 5B) in an outwards direction; the filters (30A, 30B) are in direct contact with an inner surface of the respective outer lens (20A, 20B) and configured to homogenize the emitted light. A gap (40) is formed between the outer lenses (20A, 20B) and filters (30A, 30B) are aligned with each other. The invention provides inwardly extending filter portions (32A, 32B) which extend in an inwards direction on a respective side of the gap (40) such that the gap (40) is formed between the inwardly extending filter portions (32A, 32B).